Mammals Of Mount Rainier National Park - free ebook by Russell K. Grater

MAMMALS of MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK

MERLIN K. POTTS Assistant Park Naturalist and RUSSELL K. GRATER Park Naturalist Copyright 1949 by Mount Rainier Natural History Association Published by THE MOUNT RAINIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION Longmire, Washington 1949...

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FOREWORD

There are few places remaining in this country today where one may observe wild animals in a natural setting, free to move about, unrestricted by bars or enclosures, and exhibiting little of the instinctive fear of man instilled through many wildlife generations by the advance and expansion of settlement and civilization. The national parks are among the greatest wildlife sanctuaries of the world. Most wild creatures are quick to recognize the protection afforded by such a refuge, and thus becom

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The writers of Mammals of Mount Rainier National Park are indebted to the following individuals for their critical assistance and encouragement in the preparation of the manuscript: Dr. A. Svihla, Zoology Department, University of Washington , Mr. Herbert Evison, Chief of Information, National Park Service , Mr. Victor H. Cahalane, Biologist, National Park Service , Mr. E. Lowell Sumner, Regional Biologist, Region Four, National Park Service . Through their constructive suggestions the finished

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INTRODUCTION

In looking back through the years during which mammal studies have been carried on at Mount Rainier, three periods stand out in which considerable field research was accomplished. The first of these was in July and August, 1897, when a party headed by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Vernon Bailey, Dr. A. K. Fisher and Walter K. Fisher made the first field studies of the mammals of the park. Following this very important piece of work there was a lull in field activities until the summer of 1919 when a part

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WILDLIFE TRENDS

When the first wildlife survey was made in 1897 it is likely that the conditions of that year came nearest to representing the original status of the various species—a status that has changed drastically in many instances in the years that have followed. At that time the park was little known and the faunal relationships were relatively undisturbed. In the years since 1900, however, the region has experienced radical changes. Trappers have reduced the fur bearers in large numbers, logging activi

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WILDLIFE PROBLEMS

Since the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, it has become increasingly obvious that the occupation of the national parks by man and wildlife must inevitably result in wildlife problems. The act creating the National Park Service is specific in its language; it says that the Service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the areas by such means and measures necessary “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to pro

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LIFE ZONES OF MOUNT RAINIER

Life zones, as defined in relation to plant and animal life, are areas inhabited by more or less definite groups of plants and animals. The classification of these zones which is accepted by many biologists was devised by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, who named six zones; the Arctic-alpine, Hudsonian, Canadian, Transition, Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran. If one travels from the Southwestern United States into the high country of the Rockies or the Pacific Northwest, he will pass through all six of these

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COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER, BLACK-TAILED DEER Odocoileus hemionus columbianus (Richardson)

The Columbian black-tailed deer is a typical member of the deer family, about the size of its eastern relative, the white-tailed deer. The antlers of the males are forked, rather than having the tines rise from a single main beam as do those of the white-tail. The upper surface of the tail is conspicuously dark brown or black over its entire length. The color of the pelage varies with the season, but is the same in both sexes. In summer the back and flanks are reddish to reddish yellow; in winte

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN MULE DEER, MULE DEER Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque)

The mule deer is similar to the preceding subspecies in general character. Perhaps the most noticeable field difference is the tail, which in the mule deer is narrow and black-tipped, above and below , rather than wider and dark brown or black over the entire upper surface and entirely white below as in the black-tailed. The large ears, from which this species derives its common name, are distinctive, the black-tailed deer is the smaller and darker of the two subspecies. Specimens in park collec

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AMERICAN ELK, WAPITI Cervus canadensis nelsoni Bailey

The elk is the largest animal found in the park, and the largest member of the deer family found in North America, except the moose. The adult males have tremendous, wide-branching antlers, which are shed annually. The sexes are slightly different in coloration, with females lighter than the males. The head and neck are dark brown, flanks and back a tawny to brownish gray, large yellowish rump patch, legs dark brown. The young are light brown, spotted with white. An adult male in good condition

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CASCADE MOUNTAIN GOAT, WHITE GOAT, MOUNTAIN GOAT Oreamnos americanus americanus (Blainville)

The goat is completely unlike any other park animal, and is easily identified by its resemblance to a large white or yellowish-white domestic goat. Both sexes have short, black, sharp-pointed horns, and are otherwise alike, except that the males are generally somewhat larger, and have a distinct beard. Specimens in park collection: None. The Cascade mountain goat is found in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Records indicate that it probably ranged into the Oregon Cascades some decades ago, b

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OLYMPIC BLACK BEAR Ursus americanus altifrontalis Elliot

There are two color forms of the black bear in the park—the black and the brown. The all black or mostly black is the phase most commonly observed, but brown individuals may often be seen. The black phase sometimes has a brown patch covering the muzzle and a white spot on the chest. The color ratio is usually about five black to one brown. Specimens in park collection: None. The black bear was formerly found over most of wooded North America, but has now become extinct over much of the original

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PACIFIC RACCOON Procyon lotor psora Gray

The raccoon has a stocky body about the size of a small dog, with relatively short legs and a sharp-pointed muzzle. The coloration is grizzled gray-brown with black-tipped hairs sometimes giving a dark appearance. The top of the head is blackish, and a broad, “mask-like” black band extends across the face and eyes, bordered above and below with white. The tail is brownish, encircled by six or seven blackish rings. The underparts are light brown, silvered here and there with whitish hairs. The so

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CASCADE HOARY MARMOT, WHISTLING MARMOT, WHISTLER Marmota caligata cascadensis Howell

The Cascade hoary marmot is one of the largest North American rodents, a close relative of the woodchuck of the East, with the head and body about twenty inches in length, tail about nine inches. The body is stout and clumsy in appearance; the legs are short and stout; the head is short and broad with a blunt nose, small, broad, rounded ears, and small eyes. Adults have a black face; the nape, shoulders, and upper back gray; the remaining portion of the back and rump is black grizzled with gray;

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THE CHIPMUNKS

Two kinds of chipmunks, the Cooper and Hollister, are known to occur within the park. Although their altitudinal ranges overlap, the two species may be quite readily distinguished by their variation in size and other characteristics. A brief discussion of each follows: The Hollister chipmunk is a lively and audacious little animal. The Cooper chipmunk, Tamias townsendii cooperi Baird, is the larger of the two species mentioned above. It is predominantly dark brown in color; the light colored str

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CASCADE MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL, BIG CHIPMUNK Citellus saturatus (Rhoads)

As the name implies, the mantled ground squirrels are ground dwellers. In general external appearance they resemble the eastern chipmunks, but are considerably larger, and much bigger than their environmental associates, the western chipmunks. They may be further distinguished from the latter species by the more robust body, the conspicuous white eye-ring, and the absence of stripes on the head. The Cascade species of mantled ground squirrel is about twelve inches in length overall, with a flatt

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DOUGLAS PINE SQUIRREL, CHICKAREE Tamiasciurus douglasii douglasii (Bachman)

A dark grayish brown squirrel about twelve inches in length overall; with prominent ears; moderately slender in form; tail almost as long as the body, somewhat flattened, well clothed with hair but not bushy, more gray than the body. The underparts vary from a pale yellow brown to reddish brown. The sexes are colored alike; the pelage is fairly long, soft, but not silky. The characteristic appearance is one of extreme alertness. Common throughout forested sections, the Douglas pine squirrel is a

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CASCADE FLYING SQUIRREL Glaucomys sabrinus fuliginosus (Rhoads)

A medium-sized, arboreal squirrel; dark-brown above, light brown on the under parts, light gray or sometimes light brown on the sides of the face, the sexes colored alike, the young darker than the adults. The eyes are large and dark, the pelage is soft and silky. The flat, furry tail and the fold of loose skin between the fore and hind legs on either side distinguish this animal from any other. Specimens in park collection: None. Flying squirrels inhabit a large part of forested North America.

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CASCADE PIKA, CONY Ochotona princeps brunnescens Howell

This small, rodent-like animal is robust, short-legged, with a tail so short that it is not noticeable in field observation. The sexes are colored alike; gray-brown above, whitish below, ears darker, feet light. The pelage is soft and quite dense. In general appearance the pikas closely resemble the rabbits, except for their small size, short legs, and short, rounded ears. The peculiar “bleating” call is unmistakable. Specimens in park collection: RNP-12, RNP-13, and one mounted specimen; Headqu

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PACIFIC BEAVER Castor canadensis leucodonta Gray

The beaver is the largest North American rodent, and the species found in Mount Rainier National Park is the largest of any of the recognized geographical range. An adult will weigh thirty pounds or more, up to a maximum of sixty pounds. The form is robust; the tail is broad, flat, and scaly; the ears are short; the hind feet webbed. The pelage is composed of short, soft underfur, with long guard hairs. The sexes are alike in size and color, a dark, glossy, reddish brown above, lighter brown bel

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MOUNT RAINIER APLODONTIA, MOUNT RAINIER MOUNTAIN BEAVER Aplodontia rufa rainieri Merriam

A stout-bodied rodent, about the size of a muskrat, with a tail so short that it is concealed in the fur. Sexes are alike in size and color; upper parts light brown with a darker overcast, under parts a dull brown, sometimes showing white patches. Eyes and ears small. Specimens in park collection: RNP-80, RNP-104, and a mounted specimen, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. The various subspecies of aplodontia are found only along the western coast of North America, from the mountain ranges westw

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YELLOW-HAIRED PORCUPINE Erethizon dorsatum epixanthum Brandt

The porcupine is a large, short-legged rodent (total length about 30 inches), clumsy and awkward appearing, slow-moving, bearing long, sharp quills or spines over most of the body and on the short, club-like tail. The pelage is composed of soft, brownish-black or black hair. Intermixed with the pelage, and extending beyond it are the quills and long, stiff, shiny, yellowish-tipped hairs, which give a yellow tinge to the underlying dark color. It is impossible to confuse this unique animal with a

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THE VARYING HARES

Two kinds of varying hares, or snowshoe rabbits, are known to occur within the park. A brief discussion of each follows: The Washington varying hare, Lepus americanus washingtonii Baird, is a medium-sized hare, larger than the common cottontail rabbit. Mammalogists differ in their discussions of the coloration of this species. The variations of opinion are of interest. H. E. Anthony, in his Field Book of North American Mammals , thus describes the Washington Varying Hare: “Summer and winter pela

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WESTERN BUSHY-TAILED WOOD RAT Neotoma cinerea occidentalis Baird

This large, gray-brown rat (head and body nine inches, tail eight inches), can not be mistaken for any other park animal. It closely resembles a several times magnified white-footed mouse, except that the tail is so well-haired as to be almost like that of a squirrel. The ears are conspicuous, the eyes large and lustrous, the feet, underparts, and underside of the tail are dull white. Specimens in park collection: RNP-19 and RNP-20, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. The wood rats are found ove

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WASHINGTON WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE, DEER MOUSE Peromyscus maniculatus oreas Bangs

The white-footed mouse is about the size of a house mouse, with the head and body about three and one-half inches in length, the tail about four and one-half inches. The ears and eyes are large; the tail is comparatively long, blackish-brown above, white below. The general coloration over the head and back is a rather dark tawny-brown, intermixed with black hairs, with a preponderance of black toward the base of the tail. The underparts are white, with the lead-gray hair bases showing through; t

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RAINIER POCKET GOPHER Thomomys talpoides shawi Taylor

The sturdily built pocket gopher, with its long, sharp, fore claws, tiny eyes and ears, external cheek pouches, robust body, and short legs, can hardly be confused with any of the other rodents. The head and body are about six inches in length, the thinly haired, whitish tail about two and one-half inches. The color is light brown above, with the lead-colored hair bases showing through in places; paler brown on the sides; gray-white below, with white on the throat and a small, irregular white pa

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THE MEADOW MICE

Three species of meadow mice are known to inhabit the park, and of these, two are so similar that the positive field identification of each is difficult in most instances. Only the Cascade meadow mouse, or water vole, shows sufficiently distinctive characteristics to permit easy recognition. Of the two similar species, the Oregon meadow mouse is probably most likely to be encountered. The Oregon meadow mouse, Microtus oregoni oregoni (Bachman), is similar in general coloration to the Olympic mea

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MOUNTAIN LEMMING MOUSE, OLYMPIC PHENACOMYS, HEATHER VOLE Phenacomys intermedius oramontis Rhoads

The lemming mouse is similar in appearance and habits to the meadow mice; the head and body are four and one-half inches to five inches long; the tail from one to one and one-half inches. The back is a grizzled gray-brown, showing a yellowish tinge; the belly is gray-white; the fur is sprinkled with black hairs. The dull color and short tail distinguish this mouse from all others except the Oregon meadow mouse. The latter is slightly smaller, the hair is less woolly, but field distinction is dif

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CASCADE RED-BACKED MOUSE Clethrionomys gapperi cascadensis Booth

The red-backed mouse is slightly larger than a house mouse; in a typical specimen the head and body are about four inches long, the tail slightly less than two inches. The distinguishing characters which separate this animal from the other mice are the broad, reddish-brown stripe over the back from the forehead to the base of the tail (this stripe distinguishes it from the held mice), and the inconspicuous ears and short tail which are so different from the large ears and long tail of the white-

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NORTHWESTERN JUMPING MOUSE Zapus princeps trinotatus Rhoads

The Northwestern jumping mouse is a little larger than a house mouse, head and body about four inches, tail about six inches. The back is dark, sprinkled with buff; a broad band of buff, sprinkled with blackish hairs, extends along the sides; the underparts are pure white. The long tail is dull gray above, white below, and almost naked except for a tiny tuft of dark hair at the tip. This mouse may be easily distinguished from any other park animal by the long hind legs and tail. Specimens in par

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THE MOLES

Within the park are found three different kinds of moles, two of which are very closely related and similar in general appearance. The third is distinct in size and coloration. The Townsend mole, Scapanus townsendii (Bachman), is considered to be the largest of its kind on the continent, with a total length of about eight inches. The body is stout, with tiny eyes, short legs and tail. The fur is dense and velvety, blackish-brown in color, usually with a purplish tone. It is found in “extreme nor

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THE SHREWS

The smallest of our North American mammals, the shrew, is represented in the park by six different forms, all closely related and similar in general appearance. The wandering shrew, Sorex vagrans vagrans Baird, is a small shrew with dark brown upperparts and ashy gray underparts. The tail tends to be bicolor with a dusky color above and paler below. This species is found from southern British Columbia through western Washington and Oregon into northern California. Only two records have been obta

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THE BATS

Of the four types of bats known to occur in the park, only two are closely related. These two are very small as compared to their larger cousins. The Miller bat, Myotis yumanensis saturatus Miller, is a small bat with the upperparts dark glossy yellowish brown and the underparts golden. The sides, chin and throat are somewhat darker than the underparts. The fur over the entire body is slaty black at the base. The membranes of the wings are blackish. This bat is found in the transition zone of Br

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MOUNTAIN COYOTE Canis latrans lestes Merriam

The mountain coyote resembles a small collie dog in size, with a slender body, erect, pointed ears, and bushy tail. The upper parts of its body are light brownish gray, with numerous long, coarse, black hairs. The under parts are whitish, with the long hairs of the throat tipped with black. The tail is heavily tipped with black above and light beneath. The muzzle and crown of the head is a bright yellowish brown. Specimens in park collection: RNP-98, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. The geogr

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TIMBER WOLF Canis lupus fuscus Richardson

The wolf is a large, dog-like animal, with dull yellowish-brown fur, heavily clouded over the back and tail with black-tipped hairs. Occasionally it is almost entirely black or grayish. The young are black at birth, changing later to the adult coloration. Specimens in park collection: None. These animals were formerly found over most of the United States, Canada, and Alaska, but they have been exterminated over much of the original range. A few wolves are still found in the timbered regions west

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CASCADE RED FOX Vulpes fulva cascadensis Merriam

The Cascade red fox is about the size of a small dog, with a very slender body, bushy tail, erect ears and pointed muzzle. It may have several color “phases” of which the red is the one most often seen. In the “red” phase the head and upper parts are a straw yellow; ears blackish and underparts white. The tail is yellowish mixed with black, with a prominent white tip. The “cross” phase is of the same general coloration as the red, but has a dark band running across the shoulders and a dark band

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NORTHWESTERN PINE MARTEN Martes caurina caurina (Merriam)

This animal is slightly smaller than a house cat, with soft, heavy fur and a bushy tail. The coloration above is rich, dark brown, darker along the back and tail; face grayish; a large patch of buff or orange on the throat and breast. Specimens in park collection: RNP-44, RNP-108; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. Martens inhabit the forested regions of northern North America. The Northwestern pine marten is found from southern British Columbia south to northern California, in and west of the

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FISHER Martes pennanti (Erxleben)

The fisher is considerably larger than the marten, although resembling this near relative in general characteristics. The coloration above ranges from buffy gray to brownish black, with the under parts black or blackish. The hair over the head, neck and shoulders has a grayish appearance. Spots of white may occur on the throat and breast. Specimens in park collection: None. The fishers are now confined almost entirely to the northeastern United States and Canada, west to British Columbia, althou

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MINK Mustela vison energumenos (Bangs)

The body of the mink is somewhat like that of a weasel, but heavier and considerably larger. The legs and ears are short; the tail is bushy. The coloration is brown, darkening along the back and becoming almost black on the tail. Sometimes irregular white streaks or spots occur on the throat, chest or belly. The mink occurs over nearly all of North America, from the Gulf of Mexico north to the Arctic Circle. Records from the park are few in number and show that it ranges mostly at the lower elev

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WASHINGTON WEASEL, LONG-TAILED WEASEL Mustela frenata washingtoni (Merriam)

The Washington weasel is the largest weasel known to occur in the park, measuring around fifteen inches in total length. During the summer it is dark brown above, darker on the head, with the under parts a dull yellow, lighter on the chin and throat. About two inches of the tip of the tail is black. In the winter its coloration may range from a dull brown, with white underparts, to almost pure white except for a yellowish tinge on the belly, rump and tail. The black tip of the tail remains uncha

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LEAST WEASEL, ERMINE Mustela ermina gulosa Hall

The least weasel is small, with a total length of around ten inches. In the summer it is dark brown above, darkest on the head, with the underparts whitish, usually tinged with pale yellow. The tip of the tail is black. In the winter the coat may range in color from a light brown among animals at lower elevations to a pure white at higher altitudes. The tip of the tail remains black, however. Specimens in park collection: RNP-70, RNP-87, and RNP-111; Longmire Museum Park Headquarters. This wease

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WOLVERINE Gulo luscus luteus Elliot

The wolverine has a stocky body, with a powerful head, neck and legs. The legs and tail are short, the coloration is blackish or dark brown, a broad, yellowish band beginning at the shoulders runs along either side and reunites on the animal’s rump. The lower parts are generally blackish, except for the throat and chest, which are usually mottled with white or salmon color. Large males may measure as much as three feet in length, including the tail, which is about ten inches long, and weigh up t

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PACIFIC OTTER Lutra canadensis pacifica Rhoads

The otter is one of the largest members of the weasel family, somewhat minklike in general appearance, with a small head and rather short legs. The feet are webbed and the tail is thick and tapering toward the tip. The general coloration above is dark chestnut-brown, becoming somewhat paler on the underparts, throat and cheeks. Specimens in park collection: Mounted specimen, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. Otters are geographically distributed over most of North America. The Pacific Otter is

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LITTLE SPOTTED SKUNK Spilogale gracilis latifrons Merriam

This animal has a slender body about a foot in length, with short legs and a plumelike tail. The general coloration is black with a prominent white spot on the forehead, four white stripes running from the head onto the back, white patches and stripes along the sides, the rump spotted white, and the tail broadly white-tipped. Specimens in park collection: None. The spotted skunks, often erroneously called “civet cats,” are found over most of the United States. The little spotted skunk occurs on

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PUGET SOUND STRIPED SKUNK Mephitis mephitis spissigrada Bangs

Larger and stockier than the little spotted skunk, the Puget Sound striped skunk is black, with a narrow white stripe through the forehead, a broad white stripe starting on the head and dividing at the shoulders into two broad stripes that run back along the sides of the body. There are long white hairs on the tail; the tip of the tail is black. Specimens in park collection: RNP-43, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters. The Puget Sound striped skunk is found from northwestern Oregon through the lo

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NORTHWESTERN COUGAR Felis concolor oregonensis Rafinesque

The cougar is the largest of the cats found in the region, measuring up to more than eight feet in total length and weighing 150 pounds or more. The body is slender, with a small head and long tail. Its coloration above may range from reddish brown to gray brown, darkest along the back. The underparts are whitish with the light areas extending forward as far as the chin. The tail is brown with a prominent black tip. Young cougars are somewhat lighter in color, with large dark spots along the bac

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BOBCAT, NORTHWESTERN WILDCAT Lynx rufus fasciatus Rafinesque

The bobcat is a typical member of the cat tribe, and resembles the common domestic cat in many respects. It differs in size, being perhaps twice as large, has longer legs, a very short tail, and big feet. The Northwestern Wildcat is a rich rufous brown over the back, grizzled with black; paler on the sides; with white underparts splotched with black. The legs are barred with dark brown and black. The tail is dark brown above with black bars, the extreme tip and underside is white. The ears are s

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CANADA LYNX Lynx canadensis canadensis Kerr

The lynx is like the bobcat in size and build, but is lighter in color, and may further be distinguished by the black tipped tail, longer ear tufts, more conspicuous side whiskers, and broad spreading feet. Specimens in park collection: None. The range of the lynx is principally in Canada, although it extends into northern Oregon in the Northwest, southward in the Rocky Mountains into Colorado, and as far south as Pennsylvania in the northeast. Taylor and Shaw, in Mammals and Birds of Mount Rain

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HYPOTHETICAL LIST

Although not known to occur in Mount Rainier National Park prior to the date of this publication, the following mammals may be recorded: The occurrence of the following mammals was listed by Taylor and Shaw, Mammals and Birds of Mount Rainier National Park , 1927, as follows: It is believed that the three species above are not now found within the park....

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