American Alligator

• Kingdom:   Animalia
• Phylum:      Chordata
• Class:         Sauropsida
• Order:        Crocodilia
• Family:       Alligatoridae
• Genus:        Alligator
• Species:      A. mississippiensis

• Alligators can reach a size of between 13-18 feet.
• Alligators usually have between 74-80 teeth.
• Alligators are found primarily in freshwater swamps and marshes, as well as small rivers and lakes.
• Alligators eat a wide variety of food ranging from insects, small fish and frogs, to turtles and small mammals as they grow.
• Alligator populations were almost decimated in the early 20th century due primarily to hunting. Their hides (skins) were used for various leather products. In the 1960's laws were enacted to protect them, and their recovery has been remarkable.
• Alligators hibernate in the winter in burrows that they dig in the banks of rivers/lakes.
• Alligators have a broad snout, which distinguishes them from Crocodiles who have a narrow snout.

Cougar                                                              

Scientific Name: Puma concolor

• Kingdom:    Animalia
• Phylum:       Chordata
• Class:          Mammalia
• Order:         Carnivora
• Family:        Felidae
• Genus:        Puma
• Species:      P. concolor

Facts

• Cougars are also known as Mountain Lians, Puma, and Panther.
• Cougars are the largest cats in North America.
• Cougars do not roar like lions or tigers. They make a chirping sound, much like a bird, and also a whistle sound.
• Cougars occur in the wild in the Western and Southewestern parts of the United States. They also occur through Mexico, Central America and South America. In those areas they are known as Panthers.
• The Florida Panther is a subspecies of Cougar that is extremely endangered. There are fewer than 100 left in the wild. Habitat loss and poaching are the main reasons for their low numbers.
• Cougars are large, muscular cats. They average 7 to 9 feet in total length of which up to a third is tail and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds when full grown.
• An adult cougar is tan colored with black coloration on the sides of its muzzle, the backs of the ears, and the tip of the tail. Couger kittens are mottled with black spots and have ringed tails until they are about 6 months old. Kittens also have blue eyes until they are about 16 months old, at which time the color turns to a hazel color.
• The cougar has the greatest natural distribution of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere except for man.
• Cougars primarily feed on large mammals, preferring deer, but they will also eat coyotes, porcupines, beaver, mice marmots, hares, raccoons, birds and even grasshoppers. They kill by stalking to within 30 feet of their prey before pouncing from its hiding place. It leaps onto its victim’s back and bites into the neck and holds with its sharp claws.

Bald Eagle                                                      

Scientific Name: Haliaeetus luecocephalus

• Kingdom:   Animalia
• Phylum:      Chordata
• Class:         Aves
• Order:        Falconiformes
• Family:       Accipitridae
• Genus:       Haliaeetus
• Species:     H. leucocephalus

Facts

• Bald Eagles live along rivers or near lakes with large trees and along ocean coastlines. Nests are built near the top of large trees near the water. Nests are usually 6 feet in diameter and can be up to 6 feet tall.
• Bald Eagles can have a wingspan of 78-96 inches (6-8 feet), can be 30-40 inches long, and can weigh between 8-14 pounds.
• Only adult Bald Eagles have the characteristic white head, neck and tail. This occurs about the age of 4-5 years. Immature Bald Eagles are all dark with some white mottled in the wings and tail.
• Bald Eagles feed mainly on fish, small birds, carrion, rabbits and injured waterfowl.
• Bald Eagles are often brought to rehabilitation centers for a wide variety of reasons. The most common: shot, caught in a leg hold trap, poisoned or hit by cars.
• The Bald Eagle was listed as an endangered species throughout most of the United States, with the exception of Alaska. In 1995 status was changed to “threatened” for the entire United States. There have been recent proposals by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to have them removed from the Endangered Species list completely.

Elk                                                              

Scientific Name: Cervus canadensis

• Kingdom:   Animalia
• Phylum:      Chordata
• Class:         Mammalia
• Order:        Artiodactyla
  • Suborder:   Ruminantia
• Family:       Cervidae
  • Subfamily:  Cervinae
• Genus:  Cervus
• Species:  C. canadensis

Facts

• Elk are members of the Deer family, which also include Moose and Caribou.
• Elk can weigh from 500 pounds (Cow) to 700 pounds (Bull).
• Only the bull elk grows antlers. They are grown each year and shed, usually in late winter. Elk antlers can weigh 40 pounds for the pair.
• Elk live in a variety of habitats, from coastal forests, to alpine meadows, to dry desert valleys to snowy mountain ridges.
• Elk feed primarily on grasses and woody plants.
• Elk are preyed upon by man, Mountain Lions (Cougars), Bears, Wolves and Coyotes.
• There are about 1 million elk living in the United States.
• Elk are farmed in the United States for meat, and for the velvet that their antlers produce. The velvet is a primary ingredient for holistic medicines.

Llama                                                                      

Scientific Name: Llama glama

• Kingdom:  Animalia
• Phylum:     Chordata
• Class:        Mammalia
• Order:       Artiodactyla
• Family:       Camelidae
• Genus:        Lama
• Species:      L. glama

Facts

• Llamas are members of the Camel family.
• Llamas are domesticated animals and have never been wild.
• In South America, Llamas are used as pack animals, for the production of fibers (from their fur) for rugs and rope, as a meat source and even their dung is used for a heat source.
• In the United States, llamas are used for fiber production, show and as guard animals.
• Llamas are considered ruminants, however they only have a three compartment stomach versus the four for true ruminants.
• Llamas have two toed feet, with a toe nail sticking out of each end of the toe. They walk on leathery pads on their feet, which give them excellent traction.
• Llamas (like camels) will spit when angered or disturbed.

North American River Otter                          

Scientific Name: Lutra canadensis

• Kingdom:   Animalia
• Phylum:      Chordata
• Class:         Mammalia
• Order:        Carnivora
• Family:        Mustelidae
  • Subfamily:  Lutrinae
• Genus:         Lontra
• Species:      L. canadensis

Facts

• River Otters live in rivers, streams and lakes, with wooded shorelines.
• River Otters are the largest member of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasles, skunks, ferrets and badgers.
• River Otters can weigh from 15 to 25 pounds.
• River Otters are nocturnal (only at night) and during the day they live in underground dens.
• River Otters have webbed feet for swimming. Their nostrils and ears are able to close when they go under water.
• A River Otters’ fur is almost waterproof. It is so dense that their skin (at the base of their fur) is kept dry while swimming.
• River Otters eat fish, crustaceans, crayfish, amphibians, insects, small mammals and birds.
• River Otters are preyed upon by Bald Eagles, Bears and Coyotes.

Gray Wolf                                                

Scientific Name: Canis lupis

• Kingdom:   Animalia
• Phylum:      Chordata
• Class:         Mammalia
• Order:        Carnivora
• Family:       Canidae
• Genus:        Canis
• Species:     C. lupus

Facts

• The Wolf is the largest member of the canine family.
• A Wolf’s lifespan is about 12 years in the wild, and up to 16 in captivity.
• Wolves range in color from grizzled gray, to black to all white.
• Wolves live in a variety of habitats ranging from woods, tundra, deserts and mountains.
• Wolves in the wild, prey on large hooved mammals such as Elk, Moose and Deer. They will also feed on smaller mammals such as Beaver and Rabbits.
• In the United States, the range of the wolf have been reduced to Alaska, Minnesota, Idaho, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Michigan and Montana.
• Wolves live in packs with the Alpha Male and Alpha Female leading the packs.
• Wolves communicate by howling (vocalizing), scent marking, body expressions, and facial expressions.