Tag: mammal

109/150: This little brown bat may be gone soon! That means more mosquitoes biting you!

Posted on by Jaclyn McKeown
Animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Myotinae: Myotis: Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831)

The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) was once a common species around North America but is now considered Endangered and protected federally in Canada under the Species at Risk Act. The little brown bats are insectivores that are 6-10 cm long, weigh 5-14 grams and live for 6 to 7 years. They are nocturnal and can be found roosting in attics and barns during the summer months and in winter they hibernate in caves or mines. Continue reading “109/150: This little brown bat may be gone soon! That means more mosquitoes biting you!” →

56/150: Are Moose mothers baby thieves?

Posted on by Katelyn Hill
animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Capreolinae: Alces: Alces americanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The second week of May begins the start of moose baby season! Baby moose clock in at approximately 30 pounds and can outrun a person within the first five days. Moose calves and their mothers bond quickly and calves are observed calling and attempting to rouse their mothers into playing (usually without success). Continue reading “56/150: Are Moose mothers baby thieves?” →

48/150: Talk about using your nose!

Posted on by Renee Miskie
Animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Talpidae: Scalopinae: Condylura cristata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Moles belong to the family Talpidae which are known for their burrowing behaviours. The star-nosed mole is interestingly distinguishable from all other moles due to a ring of tentacle-like organs surrounding the snout. These fleshy appendages form the star-shaped Eimer’s organs. Continue reading “48/150: Talk about using your nose!” →

43/150: It’s not the Easter bunny, it’s the Eastern cottontail!

Posted on by Angela Telfer
animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus: Sylvilagus floridanus (J. A. Allen, 1890)

Hopping around a meadow (or your lawn) at night, it’s the Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridianus)! Often associated with Easter and the Easter bunny, this rabbit is common in southern Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, and throughout the eastern United States and Mexico. Continue reading “43/150: It’s not the Easter bunny, it’s the Eastern cottontail!” →

13/150: Did the opossum play possum?

Posted on by Kristin Rodrigo
Animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae: Didelphis: Didelphis virginiana (Kerr, 1792)

The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial found in North America. These furry creatures are also one of the oldest mammals on the planet, dating to at least 70 million years ago! Often wrongly mistaken for rodents, the Virginia opossums do not possess hair on their large ears and their tails, with the exception of its base. Continue reading “13/150: Did the opossum play possum?” →

12/150: Meet the Vancouver Island Marmot for Groundhog Day!

Posted on by Sarah Chan
animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae: Xerinae: Marmota: Marmota vancouverensis (Swarth, 1911)

This year, Ontario’s ever so fluctuating winter weather has everyone eagerly looking forward to Groundhog Day. As the groundhog emerges from their burrows, citizens of Ontario are on the edge of their seats as they wait to see if the groundhog sees its shadow, indicating the early or late arrival of spring. Continue reading “12/150: Meet the Vancouver Island Marmot for Groundhog Day!” →

3/150: I’m the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn’t very nice – Wolverine, 1982

Posted on by Allison Brown
Animalia: Chordata: Mammalia: Carnivora: Gulo: Gulo gulo (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is an elusive and savage species. Across their Holarctic distribution, wolverines establish large home ranges (100-900 km2) and are found at low densities (one animal per 40-800 km2). Check out this rare footage of a baby wolverine in the wild.  Continue reading “3/150: I’m the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn’t very nice – Wolverine, 1982” →

Bison, Prairie Dogs and Thunderstorms

Posted on by Danielle Wright

Hello! Danielle again, here to tell you about the BIOBus crew’s adventures in Grasslands.

Today we ventured from our normal location, the East Block of Grasslands National Park, and drove to explore the West Block of Grasslands National Park. There is no direct route between the two blocks, so we had to drive north above the parks, and then head west. Continue reading “Bison, Prairie Dogs and Thunderstorms” →