What Animal Is Dark Colored, Low To The Ground, Climbs Trees, Lives In Florida?

Mammalian Carnivores of Florida ¹

Florida's diverse wild animals includes a group of mammals that are cannibal (meat-eating). These mammalian predators belong to the animal lodge Carnivora, which are characterized by having teeth adjusted for tearing and consuming flesh. However, it should not be thought that all members of this animal society eat only meat; several, including Florida black bears and coyotes, are omnivorous and volition eat both animal and plant materials. This document provides an overview of Florida'south mammalian carnivores from large to minor. Although other animals in Florida also consume meat (opossums, for example, members of Order Marsupialia, or pouched mammals), this document focuses only on Florida mammals in Lodge Carnivora.

Although ecologists and wildlife enthusiasts consider the existence of Florida's carnivores both of import and fortunate in a world where many big carnivores are rapidly disappearing, there are people who fright and dislike carnivores. At that place are also people who kill carnivores on sight. Fright and persecution of carnivores, combined with intensive homo population growth and habitat destruction, is threatening the continued existence of carnivores worldwide.

When European settlers first arrived on North American shores, they brought with them a prejudice against predators. The first wildlife legislation enacted in the British colonies was a compensation upon wolves. This policy of killing predators dominated wildlife policy until the ecologist Aldo Leopold demonstrated the important function of predator-casualty relationships in the 1950s. Aldo Leopold documented that while the removal of predators initially increased the deer population, the deer population ultimately complanate. Predation, and particularly predation by top-level carnivores, is a critical ecosystem function. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the loss of elevation-level predators can have negative effects on ecosystems, including declines in biodiversity.

Predator-prey relationships are complex. The removal of large predators has been shown in some cases to atomic number 82 to an increase in deer and other herbivore populations that damage and somewhen alter habitats. When grey wolves were nearly extirpated from Yellowstone National Park, the elk population increased, but abundance of woody and herbaceous plants decreased, which in plough affected other herbivores. After wolves were reintroduced, elk populations decreased, only abundance of other herbivores like beavers and bison increased, peradventure due to an increase in woody or herbaceous vegetation. Elimination of large predators also may result in an increment in "mesopredators," small to center-sized animals like raccoons and opossums, which may in turn increase predation pressure on ground-nesting birds such as turkey and quail, every bit well equally other small-scale game and non-game species. In California, a study suggested that the subtract in coyote populations allowed for an increase in mesopredators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and domestic cats, which in turn resulted in higher mortality of bird populations. Analogous results were found in a report of duck nesting success in the Prairie Pothole Region of Due north America, where nest predation by foxes was much greater in areas where coyotes were actively controlled whereas nesting success was greater where coyotes were not controlled. As our understanding of the complex interplay between predators and prey has increased, so has our acknowledgment that these relationships are of import for both general ecosystem function and the continued being of diverse species within the food web.

Florida's carnivorous mammals are remarkable, and some of Florida's mammals tin can be establish nowhere else. This document provides data for each of Florida'southward thirteen land-based carnivore species. Our beliefs and deportment every bit humans will be disquisitional for their continued survival in Florida.

Large Mammalian Carnivores

Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi)

Effigy 1. A Florida panther.
Credit: Jay Staton Photography

Figure ii. Florida panther skull.
Credit: Florida Natural History Museum, Kristen Grace

Figure three. Florida panther tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

The Florida panther is tan with a lighter buff or white underbelly but may be darker brownish to rust colored along the mid-line of the dorsum. The tips of their long tails, sides of their muzzles, and backs of their ears are blackish. Panther kittens are dark-brown to gray with darker dark-brown to black spots that fade as they become adults. Adult male Florida panthers weigh 85–155 pounds and are approximately seven anxiety long from the nose to the tip of the tail. Females are smaller, weighing fifty–100 pounds and measuring around six feet long.

Start described in 1896 by naturalist and hunter Charles Barney Cory, the Florida panther is one of 15 subspecies of puma that occur in North America. Also known as cougars and mountain lions, pumas are one of the well-nigh widely distributed carnivores in the Americas, ranging from North America to Due south America. However, the Florida panther, which is smaller, has longer legs, smaller feet, and a shorter, darker coat than western species of puma, at present occurs just in the southeastern United States. Effectually the 1900s, Florida panthers ranged throughout most of the southeast, simply their distribution was reduced due to hunting and habitat loss. In 1967, the Florida panther was listed as a federally endangered species, and shortly the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began conducting field observations and telemetry research. In the 1990s the Florida panther population was estimated at 20–25 individuals. These panthers had several physical signs of inbreeding and reduced genetic variation associated with their small population size, such every bit kinked tails, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and parasites, and undescended testicles and depression sperm count in males. The furnishings of inbreeding also were believed to be responsible for low pregnancy rates and depression kitten survival. To improve the genetic health of the Florida panther, 8 female pumas from Texas were captured and translocated to Florida. V of these females successfully bred with male person Florida panthers before they were recaptured and returned to Texas. As a result, the genetic health of the Florida panther population improved, kitten survival increased, and the panther population eventually tripled.

Today the Florida panther population is estimated at 120–230 adult and sub-adult panthers. However, the remaining breeding population is restricted to southwest and south-central Florida, where big tracts of habitat still exist on public conservation areas and privately endemic cattle ranches. Because the overall breeding population size is so modest, suitable habitat is limited, and panthers' need for large range areas (Table 1) are unmet, the Florida panther is still considered in danger of extinction and is listed equally an endangered species at both the federal and state levels. Florida panthers mate throughout the year with a superlative in winter and spring. Boilerplate litter size is 2–3 kittens; notwithstanding, rarely do all kittens survive. Panther kittens will stay with their mothers for upwards to two years.

Despite conservation efforts, connected habitat loss and fragmentation associated with development and road construction threaten the connected survival of this large cat. To survive, panthers crave suitable habitat, prey, and space. Panthers are territorial, which means they defend their domicile ranges against unrelated panthers. Confrontations between panthers may finish in injury or death. (A abode range is an area in which an beast or grouping of animals spends almost of its time searching for food and mates. These may overlap and are non always defended. Home ranges that are defended are called territories. Territories typically practise non overlap.)

Like all cats, the Florida panther eats only flesh. Because it cannot survive on other nutrient, each panther requires a large surface area to back up sufficient prey populations to meet its energy requirements. Depending on the quality of the habitat, the home range of an developed male panther may be as much as 200 square miles and overlap the home ranges of several females with which he mates. Females have smaller home ranges of nigh 75 square miles. Considering panthers utilize such large areas, they traverse, hunt, and shelter in many different habitat types, but they prefer mature upland forests such every bit hardwood hammocks and pinelands, where they hunt for their preferred prey, white-tailed deer and feral hogs. To learn more than nigh Florida panthers and the FWC direction plan, visit https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/.

Florida Black Comport (Ursus americanus floridanus)

Figure four. Florida black bear defenseless on game camera.
Credit: Carlton Ward Jr.

Figure 5. Florida black bear skull.
Credit: Kon Studio

Figure 6. Florida black conduct tracks. The black area represents the function of the paw that typically makes contact with the basis, whereas the grey represents a part of the paw that may or may non brand contact with the ground and be credible in a track.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

The Florida black bear is i of xvi subspecies of blackness bear that occur in North America. Although this subspecies does not await much different from black bears in other parts of Northward America, the Florida black bear does have some singled-out physical characteristics. For example, Florida bears take a highly biconvex forehead and a long, narrow skull. Florida blackness bears also have shiny black fur, a brown nose, and a short tail. In Florida, male black bears weigh 250–450 pounds, and the smaller females counterbalance 125–250 pounds.

There are seven geographically separated breeding subpopulations of black bears in the state from the panhandle to the southwest peninsula (Table 1). Historically, the Florida black bear subspecies was institute from southern Georgia and Alabama through virtually of Florida. It was listed every bit threatened from 1974 to 2012, with an estimated population of 300–500 bears in the 1970s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Through conservation efforts past the FWC and other agencies that enforced hunting regulations and preserved habitat, the populations have rebounded, and the Florida black bear was delisted in 2011, with populations increasing almost ninety% from 2002 to 2015. The FWC initiated the Florida Black Bear Management Programme in 2012 to conserve the bear population through the cosmos of conduct management units (BMU). Today the population is estimated to consist of about 4,046 individuals, and in June of 2015 the FWC approved a limited bear hunt in four of the seven BMUs as a means to stabilize subpopulation bears. A total of 304 bears were harvested during the 2015 effort. To learn more than about Florida blackness bears and the FWC management plan, visit https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wild animals/behave/.

Black bears breed from June to August. Bears accept an unusual breeding adaptation called delayed implantation, in which the egg is fertilized during the summer just does not implant into the uterine wall until early winter. Average litter size is 2–3 cubs, and these cubs typically stay with their mother for 2 years. Florida black bears have reduced durations of hibernation, often chosen denning, compared to northern black bears in colder climates. Denning occurs from mid to late winter through mid-Apr, with an boilerplate denning menstruation of 100–113 days.

The Florida blackness bear has an omnivorous (plant and beast) diet and uses a wide range of food items and habitats. Although bears are often predatory when opportunity allows, nutrition studies typically report that fruit and other plant materials constitute well-nigh of their diet. Because diet requirements that include plants are more easily met, black comport home ranges are smaller than those of panthers, averaging about 60 square miles for adult males and 12 square miles for adult females. Home range overlap is mutual for male black bears. Cores of female home ranges, however, do not usually overlap. Male black bears will defend a food source or mate when present, and males will ofttimes fight for these resource. In addition smaller, less dominant bears volition avoid encounters with more dominant individuals.

Blood-red wolf (Canis rufus)

Figure 8. Ruby wolf skull.
Credit: The Wolves of North America VII, Edward A. Goldman

Figure 9. Red wolf tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Clarification

Ruby-red wolves are medium-sized, betwixt the size of a coyote and a greyness wolf. Adults counterbalance 45–eighty pounds, with males averaging x% larger than females. They are brown and buff colored with black along their backs and the tips of their tails and cerise ears, heads, and legs. Red wolves have broad heads, wide muzzles, pointed ears, and long, thin legs.

Historically, the cherry-red wolf was common throughout the eastern and south-fundamental Usa, including Florida. Today there are no wild populations of red wolves in Florida. They were trapped and killed almost to extinction by the early 20th century. Past the eye of the xx^th century, the few remaining red wolf populations were at risk of hybridization with coyotes, potentially resulting in hybrids that were more than coyote than wolf. Today, the ruby wolf is i of the most endangered wolves. In Florida, habitat loss and intense predator control efforts to protect livestock resulted in the extinction of the subspecies Canis rufus floridanus in 1920. In 1967, the red wolf was listed every bit federally endangered and the US Fish and Wildlife Service began conservation efforts to protect the species. Every bit extinction of this species in remaining habitats became imminent, a captive convenance program began in 1973 with 17 ruby-red wolves captured. In 1980, the red wolf was listed as extinct in the wild.

Red wolves were social animals that lived in familial packs, typically consisting of a convenance pair and their offspring. Red wolf packs were territorial and defended their territories from other canids and wolves. The last wild red wolves were found in moist, densely vegetated habitats such as hardwood forest, coastal prairie, and marsh habitats. Research has indicated that wolf pack territory size varied greatly depending on pack size, available resources, and habitat and ranged from 25–500 or more square miles. The alpha male and female person within a pack mated in belatedly winter and averaged 2–eight pups. Other adults in the pack helped intendance for the young. Prior to extinction, red wolves preyed mostly on rabbits, rodents, and other modest prey. Released scarlet wolves today, still, rely more on white-tailed deer, raccoon, and rabbits.

Although the red wolf is extinct in the wild, in that location remain a couple of very small groups of scarlet wolves living outside zoos. Starting in 1990, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Florida has been used as an island propagation site for red wolf recovery. One convenance pair and up to two resulting almanac litters have been allowed to roam freely on the island. These ruddy wolves are equipped with radio telemetry collars so staff and researchers tin rails them. At about xviii months, the wolves are relocated to the 1.ii one thousand thousand acre ruddy wolf recovery area in eastern North Carolina. Today more than 40 red wolves live in native habitats in eastern Northward Carolina as part of an experimental population, and more than than 200 blood-red wolves are living in captive convenance facilities throughout the United states. There remains business organization about the experimental populations of Northward Carolina, considering coyotes have expanded into the area and continue to hybridize with red wolves, threatening their already small-scale gene pool. To larn more than about the red wolf recovery program, visit https://world wide web.fws.gov/redwolf/.

Medium Mammalian Carnivores

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Figure xi. Coyote skull.
Credit: Pereszlenyi Á. (2015) Skull Base—Online Skull Collection (http://skullbase.info/)

Effigy 12. Coyote tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Coyotes are smaller than wolves and larger than foxes, with adults weighing twenty–40 pounds and males typically larger than females. Their fur color is a mixture of browns, grays, whites, and even black, and they have big triangular ears, a long slender muzzle, and a bushy tail.

The coyote is a relatively recent add-on to Florida'due south list of carnivores. Following the elimination of wolves throughout most of the continental U.s. during the last century and increased habitat alteration, the geographic range of coyotes expanded across the country to include the eastern states. Coyotes were documented in the Florida Panhandle during the 1970s and expanded their range into due south Florida by the 1990s. Although xvi subspecies of coyotes are documented in North America, it is not clear which subspecies have contributed to Florida populations. Considering coyotes arrived in Florida primarily by manner of range expansion (although intentional introductions of small numbers past hunters have been documented), they technically are not an exotic species, nor are they historically native to Florida. Therefore the status of the species is hard to define.

Coyotes are skilled hunters. Although coyotes prefer open habitats such as rangelands, they tin can use a variety of habitats (including suburbs and large cities) and are opportunistic in their diets. Coyotes primarily casualty upon small mammals such equally rabbits and rodents but also large mammals such every bit white-tailed deer, peculiarly fawns. Coyotes also consume insects, large amounts of fruit, and fifty-fifty grass at certain times of the yr. Coyotes will scavenge and eat carrion. Coyotes occasionally impale livestock and minor pets, creating disharmonize with humans. Females reproduce annually and boilerplate 6 pups to a litter. Pups typically disperse at eight–ten months of age. Like other carnivores, coyotes are territorial and establish dwelling ranges that typically cover 5–20 foursquare miles. Little enquiry has been done to estimate population size, but based on home range studies, it appears that densities in rural areas are approximately one breeding pair per x–15 square miles. These ranges are occupied by a breeding male and female, which is the basic social unit of measurement for coyotes. Although non much is known about coyotes in Florida, it seems articulate that coyotes are hither to stay. (For more information, refer to Wildlife of Florida Factsheets: Coyote, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw443).

Bobcat (Lynx rufus floridanus)

Effigy 15. Bobcat tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Bobcats are at least twice as large as a domestic true cat, averaging 15–35 lbs, with males typically larger than females (Tabular array 1). They have brownish/tan fur covered with small blackness markings that are especially prominent when young. The tail is brusque and bobbed with a black tip. The backs of their ears are black with a white spot (also very prominent on young, fading with age), and they oft have a "ruff" around their neck.

The bobcat is Florida's smaller and only "spotted" wild true cat. Wild cats that have spotted coats are sometimes melanistic, which means their fur (or pelage) may be very dark or even black. This occurs in leopards and jaguars in other regions of the world, where they may exist referred to equally blackness panthers. Melanism likewise has been documented in bobcats in Florida but has never been documented in Florida panthers. Like the panther, the Florida bobcat is a distinct subspecies, of which in that location are 12 in North America. Also like the panther, bobcats are entirely carnivorous, preying upon pocket-sized animals such as rabbits, rodents, and birds simply much less frequently on large animals such as white-tailed deer. Bobcats are easy to distinguish from Florida panthers by their much smaller size and brusque tails. For more than information on visual comparisons between bobcats and panthers, refer to Did I See a Panther? (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw144).

Bobcats are solitary except during their breeding flavor (Aug–Mar). Females average 1–four kittens per litter that disperse at about 8 months of age. Bobcats are territorial, just because they are smaller and hunt prey that is more than abundant, they crave less state surface area than do larger carnivores. Home ranges vary from 5–half-dozen foursquare miles in rural, undeveloped habitat and 1–2 square miles in urban areas. Male dwelling house ranges are larger and overlap the home ranges of several females. Bobcats are found throughout Florida, and they utilise a variety of habitats, ranging from forests to prairies to, occasionally, urban areas. Bobcat populations are non listed at the state or federal level as threatened or endangered. There is little to no data estimating population size; even so, a survey of wild animals agencies suggests they were recently increasing everywhere except for Florida, where they were reported as decreasing, although nevertheless fairly common. For more data, refer to Wildlife of Florida Factsheets: Bobcat, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw444.

Grayness fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus)

Figure 17. Gray fox skull.
Credit: Pereszlenyi Á. (2015) Skull Base of operations—Online Skull Collection (http://skullbase.info/)

Figure 18. Grey play a trick on tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Gray foxes are typically grayness on their faces, sides, backs, and tails with a black stripe down the back and tail. The underbelly is white, and the neck and underside of the tail is a rusty-yellowish color. Some grey foxes can actually have more red or chocolate-brown or a mix of these colors and are often confused with red foxes. However, the gray fox has a distinct, "cat-like" face with a smaller and shorter muzzle. Adult grayness foxes counterbalance well-nigh 7–thirteen pounds and are typically around 40 inches long including a pes-long tail.

The gray fox is Florida'south smallest wild canid. This species is native to Florida and one of 7 subspecies to occur north of United mexican states. The Florida subspecies inhabits Gulf States from southern South Carolina to Florida, west to eastern Texas and along the Gulf Coast, except for Louisiana. Breeding occurs in the spring with females averaging 3–v pups that volition stay with their parents until late summer or fall. Home range sizes have been estimated at 0.2–ii.6 foursquare miles. Gray foxes prefer to feed on mice, rats, and rabbits simply will also swallow fish, fruits, insects, and some carrion. Grayness foxes have been known to prey on domestic fowl such equally chickens, but this beliefs has been described every bit rare. This may be because the greyness play a trick on is very reclusive and prefers dense forested habitat during the day and more open fields and wooded areas at night. The gray fox is capable of climbing copse and is often called the "tree fox," which is an important survival strategy considering gray foxes are preyed upon past larger predators, including domestic dogs and coyotes. Historically, hunting of the gray fob for sport and fur caused populations to pass up, and the species was listed equally threatened in some areas. Today, gray play a joke on populations are idea to be stable but there are little data available, possibly due to the foxes' secretive habits.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Figure xx. Reddish fox skull.
Credit: Pereszlenyi Á. (2015) Skull Base—Online Skull Collection (http://skullbase.info/)

Figure 21. Red fox tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Ruddy foxes are orange/red over most of their bodies, except for a white tipped tail, underbelly, and cervix or muzzle. They also have blackness ear tips and legs. This coloration differs from the gray fox, which is more often than not greyness with red around the neck, shoulders, and legs. Cerise foxes are as well slightly larger than grey foxes and resemble a small domestic dog. They weigh x–15 pounds and are near iii feet long including their tails.

The carmine flim-flam is not native to Florida (except perchance in the Panhandle) and is thought to accept become established through introduction by hunting clubs. All the same, a recent study showed that red foxes in the southeastern United States originated from range expansion from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, similar to coyotes, and are now found throughout the state. Breeding occurs in late autumn or early on winter, females average 5 pups, and these pups stay with their parents for nearly half dozen months. The red fox can alive in a variety of habitats just typically prefers uplands mixed with fields and pastures and edges. Unlike the grey fox, they avoid dumbo forested habitat. They can also live in suburban areas, such every bit parks or golf courses. The home range size of red foxes varies with habitat, climate, and food resource, simply they generally travel 1–v miles from their den. Red foxes are mainly carnivorous, eating rabbits, mice, rats, and other minor animals. Cherry foxes will also eat fish, insects, birds, eggs, frogs, reptiles, worms, and fruits. They are lonely hunters, and when food is abundant, they will cache food in the ground. Ruby foxes accept acute hearing, allowing them to notice prey in tall grass. They are known to leap into the air and pounce on their casualty. Scarlet foxes are highly adaptable and have adjusted to human-converted open up habitat—including farms. They are oftentimes reported to assault pocket-sized livestock like chickens.

North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

Figure 24. North American river otter tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Clarification

The Due north American river otter has thick, protective dark chocolate-brown fur with a lighter dark-brown underbelly and face. As Florida's only semi-aquatic carnivore, otters tin live on state and water. Their narrow bodies, apartment heads, curt legs, webbed feet, and strong tails allow for streamlined movement in h2o. They have long whiskers to notice prey under water, clawed anxiety to grasp slippery casualty, and a full prepare of teeth to tear flesh. Adult otters weigh between xi–30 pounds and can grow to exist up to iii–4 anxiety including their tail.

The North American river otter occurs in Canada and most of the United states of america. In Florida, they are institute everywhere except for the Keys and alive in freshwater swamps, ponds, rivers, and creeks. They have also been observed in coastal estuaries but are more common in freshwater environments. At that place is also mention of 2 subspecies, 50. c. lataxina and L. c. vaga, that accept been found in Florida, although at that place is petty to no data on these subspecies. Breeding occurs in late wintertime to early jump. Otters have a unique breeding adaptation called delayed implantation in which the egg is fertilized during the summertime simply does not implant into the uterine wall until early winter. Females boilerplate i–3 pups, and these pups may disperse or remain in familial/social groups. Dwelling house range size is typically 3–15 square miles, with male home ranges overlapping multiple female home ranges. River otters are a top predator inside aquatic habitats and adopt to swallow aquatic casualty such as fish, crawfish, frogs, and crabs merely will as well eat birds, eggs, reptiles, and other small mammals. Otters are social, living in small family groups typically consisting of a mother and her immature. Even so, adult males and juveniles are often more lonely. One time hunted for their fur almost to extinction, today river otter populations are abundant.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Figure 26. Northern raccoon skull.
Credit: Pereszlenyi Á. (2015) Skull Base—Online Skull Collection (http://skullbase.info/)

Figure 27. Northern raccoon tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

The northern raccoon is 1 of the about recognized mammals in North America. Their small furry bodies, black face up masks, and ringed tails make them highly distinctive. Developed raccoons counterbalance betwixt x–30 pounds and are about 2–3 feet long including their tails.

Raccoons are classified as carnivores but consume a varied nutrition, including plants, fruits, seeds, carrion, and most anything out of residential garbage cans. Raccoons are known to prey on small pets and livestock such every bit rabbits and chickens. This adjustability has allowed them to thrive in nearly all habitats, including urban and residential areas. In Florida, convenance typically occurs from March–April, females average three–iv young, and young usually disperse past 10 months of age. Males are somewhat territorial, and home ranges average ane–3 square miles, only they will travel more than a mile from their home range to access an abundant food resource. In areas where nutrient is plentiful, raccoon densities accept been 100 per square mile. Historically, panthers and cerise wolves would take preyed on raccoons, only today they have few natural predators in Florida. Contempo studies have shown a dramatic decrease in raccoon populations nearly Everglades National Park, which coincides with an increase in populations of invasive Burmese pythons. Although raccoons are killed by alligators, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, and great horned owls, most raccoon fatalities are from vehicle collisions. One of the major concerns with raccoons is the potential for transmitting disease and parasites to people and pets, especially rabies. Rabies is always a concern, and studies have reported up to i of 200 wild raccoons have been exposed to rabies. Do not handle wild animals, particularly if they are acting strangely, wandering aimlessly, approaching without fear, or behaving aggressively. For more information on raccoons or rabies, refer to Northern Raccoon (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/UW/UW03300.pdf) and Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Rabies (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw282). Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is an intestinal parasite of raccoons that occurs throughout Florida but is depression in prevalence. This roundworm can infect humans that come in contact with raccoon feces. Be certain to wash your easily after working outside, monitor modest children in areas with common raccoon latrines, and do non permit pets to roam unsupervised outside where they could be exposed to raccoon feces.

Pocket-sized Carnivores of Florida

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Effigy xxx. Striped skunk tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Clarification

The striped skunk has thick blackness fur with a white stripe that starts from the nose and splits at the cervix to form two stripes that end at the base of the tail. Striped skunks take modest heads and ears, short legs, and big, bushy tails. Developed striped skunks weigh between 6–8 pounds and measure out up to 32 inches including their tails.

The eastern striped skunk is the larger of two species of skunks that occur in Florida. Skunks are most unremarkably known for their ability to spray. When threatened, they spray a strong-smelling and quite unpleasant oily musk from scent glands near their anuses. The oily musk may bear up to 15 anxiety, and skunks store about a tablespoonful of the stuff in their glands, which is enough to spray 5–vi times in a row. Their main predators are great horned owls; other potential predators such as bobcats and coyotes are typically deterred past their smelly defense strategy. Striped skunks feed mostly on insects, but they will eat mice, rats, eggs, chicks, frogs, crayfish, and fruits. They have likewise been known to raid garbage cans in residential areas. Skunks accept a breeding adaptation called delayed implantation, in which the egg is fertilized simply implants at a afterwards engagement. Females average 4–seven young during the spring that disperse within a couple months. Striped skunks are typically solitary unless convenance. They are crepuscular, meaning they are very active at dawn and sunset, notwithstanding they do hunt throughout the nighttime. The striped skunk prefers open areas, but they can alive in a multifariousness of habitats such as wooded areas, deserts, and even urban environments. Skunks brand dens in hollow trees or logs, brush piles, or abandoned animal burrows, simply they will occasionally dig their ain burrows. Typical domicile ranges are 0.5–1.5 miles from their den. While skunks may exist viewed as pests, they may assistance control mice and insect populations.

Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius)

Figure 33. Spotted skunk tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Eastern spotted skunks are easily distinguishable from striped skunks by the spotted design of their fur. Spotted skunks accept thick blackness fur, white spots on their faces, horizontal white stripes on their necks and shoulders and irregular vertical stripes along their backs. Spotted skunks are smaller than striped skunks, weighing virtually 2 pounds. They are almost 20 inches long, including their tails.

Like the striped skunk, the spotted skunk tin can spray a smelly musk from its anal scent glands, simply rather than but lifting its tail, information technology does a handstand and then sprays. Spotted skunks are typically faster than striped skunks, and they are the merely skunks able to climb trees. Dissimilar striped skunks, spotted skunks are typically more social and may share a den with several individuals. Females average five young during the spring, and these kits are capable of foraging on their ain at four months. Spotted skunks are also more than carnivorous than striped skunks, eating generally small mammals. Still, they will also eat insects, fruits, vegetables, and food scraps or garbage. Spotted skunks prefer airtight-awning forests or dense underbrush likely to reduce the risk of predation. Den sites are typically plant in hollow logs, rock piles, and brush piles. Yet, they will frequently merits a burrow of another species as a den and have on several occasions been observed occupying the burrows of Florida burrowing owls, maybe fifty-fifty eating the owls' eggs. Home ranges of the spotted skunk are like in size to those of the striped skunk, but males have been observed increasing home range size up to 3 square miles during the spring, virtually likely as a result of searching for a mate.

American mink (Neovison sp.)

Figure 34. Everglades mink (Neovison vison evergladensis).
Credit: Jay Staton Photography

Figure 36. American mink tracks.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Concrete Description

Mink are role of the weasel family and are semi-aquatic. They have sleek, thick, dark brown fur, sometimes with white spots on their chins and chests, flattened heads with small whiskers, and pocket-size rounded ears. Mink also take 5 partially webbed toes to help them swim. They are small, weighing most fourteen–28 ounces, and can grow up to 25 inches long.

Mink are typically solitary except when with young. Breeding typically occurs in the fall during the wet flavour. Females give birth to an average of four young, which are weaned 4–half dozen weeks later on nascency. Like black bears and eastern striped skunks, mink have delayed implantation equally a convenance adaptation. Mink feed on modest mammals, snakes, and insects. They are typically nocturnal feeders and are known to be fierce fighters, oftentimes attacking prey much larger than themselves. When startled, mink volition hiss or snarl. Also, they are capable of releasing an unpleasant-smelling liquid when stressed. Mink are extremely cryptic, or hard to detect. There are piffling to no information on the three geographically distinct subspecies of mink in Florida. The Atlantic salt marsh mink (N. v. lutensis) is plant along the upper northeastern Atlantic coast in Nassau, Duval, and St. Johns counties; the Gulf salt marsh mink (N. v. halilimnetes) is found forth the gulf coast from Franklin to Pasco County; and the Everglades mink (Northward. 5. evergladensis) is restricted to southern Florida, specifically the freshwater marshes and swamps of Everglades National Park, Large Cypress National Preserve, and the Fakahatchee Strand. Historically, the Everglades mink'southward range stretched into the northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, but the final record of an Everglades mink is from 2011 when mink hair was found in the stomach of an alligator captured on the southwestern coast of Everglades National Park. The Everglades mink is listed equally threatened at the state level. Mink populations confront threats of habitat loss and deposition as human development encroaches on their already isolated and small range. Canine distemper is also deadly to mink. The FWC started conducting surveys on mink populations in 2013, and data are currently being analyzed.

Long-tailed weasels (Mustela sp.)

Figure 39. Long-tailed weasel tracks. On the hind rail, the blackness area represents the part of the mitt that typically makes contact with the footing, whereas the outline represents a part of the paw that may or may non make contact with the ground and appear in a track.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Physical Description

Long-tailed weasels are long and slender with short legs and long tails. They are typically brown with lighter underbellies. They resemble mink, but they are smaller, weighing about 300–450 grams, and they favor dry out upland habitats.

The long-tailed weasel is the smallest carnivore in Florida. Information technology is a widely distributed species, ranging from southern Canada to parts of South America. In Florida in that location are two subspecies, the Florida long-tailed weasel (Mustela fernata peninsulae), which is slightly larger with coarser fur and is found in due south-cardinal Florida, and the southeastern long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata olivacea), which is more chestnut dark-brown with a black-tipped tail and is found in northern Florida and the Panhandle. Long-tailed weasels are strict carnivores, feeding on mice, rats, rabbits, birds, eggs, reptiles, and amphibians. Like the mink, they are known to attack prey much larger than themselves. When nutrient is arable, they will stash nutrient for later. Long-tailed weasels are lone, except during mating flavor. Weasels have delayed implantation and average 3–nine young that volition disperse at about 3 months of age. Males can exist very territorial merely may overlap ranges of multiple females.

Disease amidst Florida'due south Carnivores

Interactions amongst carnivores tin increment adventure of affliction transmission. Rabies tin can merely be transmitted by mammals, and carnivorous mammals are the virtually commonly infected. Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous arrangement, and although there is a vaccine, untreated individuals become seriously ill and can die. Rabies is nigh commonly spread through saliva when an infected individual bites a not-infected private, but it also can be spread through other bodily secretions. In the Us, 90% of reported rabies cases were in wildlife and domestic animals, and the virus is almost common in animals like raccoons, bats, cats, dogs, bobcats, fox, skunks, otters, and even horses. Bats and raccoons are known to act as reservoirs for rabies in Florida, meaning the virus is maintained and circulates inside these populations. Other species like otters, bobcats, and skunks are not known to be reservoirs of rabies only can still transmit the virus if they go infected and seize with teeth or scratch another beast before death. If reservoir animate being populations get abundant, there may be an epizootic event in which a rabies outbreak occurs in the population with many individuals infected at once. This in turn poses more risk to other wildlife, domestic livestock or pets, and people. For more information on rabies in wild animals, refer to Facts almost Wild fauna Diseases: Rabies (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw282).

Pseudorabies (PrV) is a virus that causes rabies-similar symptoms merely that is not rabies. Humans are non afflicted by PrV. It is almost commonly institute in swine but can bear upon other mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, and raccoons. It is sometimes referred to every bit "mad itch" because cattle or other livestock volition rub against objects to relieve skin irritation. Although PrV is most commonly found in feral swine, other animals that prey on or collaborate with swine are at risk for infection. In Florida, PrV has been reported in domestic dogs and cats, coyotes, and panthers. In a 1986 report, it was reported present in one 10-month-one-time black carry cub who virtually probable had fed on an infected feral swine. Florida panthers commonly casualty on feral swine, and to date 8 panthers are known to take died from PrV. For more information, refer to Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Pseudorabies https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw388.

Canine distemper (CDV), another virus of wild and domestic carnivores, has symptoms like to pneumonia. Information technology is spread from actual secretions by direct contact or indirectly through airborne "droplets," or it tin can be transferred via contaminated inanimate objects. In Florida, there have been reports of CDV infection in coyotes, raccoons, foxes, otters, skunks, black bears, and even the Everglades mink. CDV is about ordinarily plant in domestic dogs and tin exist a problem in close-proximity areas such as fauna shelters, where it spreads easily. Epizootic events as a result of CDV have been reported for gray fox and raccoon populations, with many individuals dying and populations declining. In 2004, the virus was plant in 4 costless-ranging Everglades mink in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and was suggested to take caused an epizootic event that led to a decline in the population. In the mid-1990s, a written report found that eight% of 66 bears were positive for CDV antibodies, pregnant they had in one case been infected but recovered. While all carnivores are at risk for CDV, it is most commonly found in raccoons, otters, and mink.

Conservation and Management of Florida'south Carnivores

Differences in behavioral patterns, habitat preferences, and diets enable Florida'south carnivores to fill up unique ecological roles. Although many of these species may compete for prey or even prey upon each other, these differences allow carnivores to partition resources efficiently, which reduces contest for needed resources and enables these different species to survive and fifty-fifty co-exist in the same areas.

The chief threats to Florida'south carnivores are habitat loss and fragmentation. These two factors work in tandem through the reduction of suitable habitat that can support species and by isolating populations and preventing the exchange of genetic data and maintenance of a healthy gene pool. Other threats too exist, such as mortality on roadways, disease manual, and impacts from invasive species, merely the continued loss of natural areas and of import wildlife corridors is the greatest threat, particularly for larger carnivores such as the Florida panther and blackness bear. For example, the continued urbanization of southwest Florida, including the structure of new and larger roads to support this growth, may continue to tuck and confine the Florida panther population into ever-smaller areas. Route mortality, which currently is reported to constitute near half of all documented sources of expiry of panthers that have been tagged or radio collared, too will undoubtedly increase. The time to come of the Florida panther, therefore, is dependent upon conservation action ensuring that enough space and suitable wildlife corridors connecting large tracts of natural areas are preserved to enable these large cats to continue to survive in Florida. For more information, refer to Habitat Requirements of the Florida Panther https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw390.

Florida black bears face similar problems because of their need for big areas of suitable habitat and wildlife corridors to connect populations. Although direction actions have enabled black bear populations to increase, bears go along to exist killed in vehicle collisions. Nuisance activeness from bears attracted to garbage and other sources of food provided past humans is becoming an increasingly serious problem. These nuisance bears tin can get dependent on homo nutrient sources, which ultimately increases their exposure and danger to humans. Relocation of nuisance bears is typically not effective, and repeat offenders must sometimes be euthanized. Keeping garbage and other food resources securely locked abroad can reduce nuisance bear activity. For more information refer to https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw389, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw429, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw430, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw437.

The examples provided with the Florida panther and black carry are probably the most problematic considering of the big habitat requirements needed for viable populations of these two species. However, by protecting the habitat needs of large-ranging or "umbrella" species such as these, the habitat needs of many other species and the ecological roles they perform tin be protected. In summary, the loss of predators in ecosystems can have unpredictable results and the conservation of Florida'southward carnivores helps maintain the complex ecological relationships that be among predators and casualty and between herbivores and plant communities. Past conserving large tracts of habitat required past carnivores and maintaining connectivity amidst natural areas across the landscape, we ensure that sufficient habitat is preserved to back up carnivores and the many other species of plants and animals that constitute Florida's natural environment.

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Tables

Table 1.

Ecological and biological parameters of Florida's mammalian carnivores. (DI = delayed implantation, NC= Northward Carolina)

Source: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW464

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