Michigan's Wildlife

Bovine Tuberculosis in White-tailed Deer

Recently it has been reported that there has been another White-tailed Deer to be tested positive for Mycobacterium bovis, also known as Bovine Tuberculosis. The animal that was positive for this disease was a 4 year-old female White-tailed Deer harvested in Benzie County during the 2023 harvest, which is the first reported case of Bovine Tuberculosis in that county.

The first reported case of Bovine Tuberculosis in a White-tailed Deer within the state was a Doe harvested in Alcona County in 1975. The next reported case was in 1994 when a Buck was harvested in Alpena County. In total, from 1994 to now, 65,000 White-tailed Deer have been submitted for testing with only 340 animals being positive with Bovine TB.

Paragraph from an article released by the Michigan DNR on Bovine Tuberculosis,

Testing revealed that most of the TB positive animals were located in a core area in the northeastern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The core area is located around the four corners where the counties of Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, and Alcona meet. Antrim, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mecosta, Osceola, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, and Shiawassee Counties have also had animals test positive for bovine TB.

Benzie County will now be added to the list of confirmed cases of Bovine TB in White-tailed Deer.

These counties within the state have asked hunters every year for their harvested White-tailed Deer heads so they can conduct a thorough study for potential TB cases. The needed number to test is around 6,000 or more. Early stages of Bovine TB in White-tailed Deer are found within the lymph nodes of the head, thus the need for the heads.

Hunters have always been taught that during the harvest of White-tailed Deer, if there are any lesions within the rib cage (or within the entire body) either white or yellowish in color, that Deer has TB. This is sound advice but out of all White-tailed Deer that have been submitted for testing only 42% had these noticeable lesions.

Bovine Tuberculosis is usually passed from one infected Deer to another through respiratory secretions (coughing or sneezing) when White-tailed Deer are in close proximity with one another. It can also be passed with the consumption of contaminated feed.

White-tailed Deer are not the only wild animal species within the state that has been reported having Bovine TB. It has also been found in Elk, Black Bear, Bobcat, Coyote, Opossum, Northern Raccoon, and Red Fox. But these cases are far fewer as these animals are not tested as often as White-tailed Deer.

Work Cited

SCHMITT, STEPHEN M., et al. “Bovine Tuberculosis in Michigan Wildlife and Livestock.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 969, no. 1, Oct. 2002, pp. 262–268, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04390.x. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
“Bovine Tuberculosis.” Michigan.gov, 2024, www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/wdm/bovine-tuberculosis.
“Be a Partner in Disease Surveillance; Turn in Deer Heads.” Dairy, 9 Dec. 2020, www.canr.msu.edu/news/be-a-partner-in-disease-surveillance-turn-in-deer-heads.

Article highlighting first case of Bovine TB in Benzie County:
https://www.outdoornews.com/2024/02/23/is-latest-bovine-tuberculosis-deer-an-isolated-case-in-michigans-benzie-county/

Is latest bovine tuberculosis deer an isolated case in Michigan's Benzie County? - Outdoor News The discovery of a lone tuberculosis-infected deer in Benzie County is expected to have minimal effect on hunting in the northwestern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Emily Sewell, who leads the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) response team to the discovery of bovine tuberculos...

Caught on Camera!

A man from Houghton in Michigan's Upper Peninsula found that his trail camera captured two videos of a Cougar killing a White-tailed Deer. I do not need to emphasize how rare videos like this are. This was over a month ago, so if you have seen the videos by now you are ahead of me. The videos show the raw side of nature that not a lot of people want to discuss. Nature is beautiful, but it is not always kind. Predators need to eat too.

Have a great day!

You can watch the videos here. The article written is also a very good read as well.

Michigan man captures rare video of cougar killing a deer - Outdoor News Eli Schaefer from Houghton, Mich., still can’t believe he was lucky enough to capture video of a cougar killing a white-tailed deer.

Saving a Declining Species

Michigan is home to a plethora of Upland Game Birds. You have species like Ruffed Grouse, Northern Bobwhite Quail, and Ring-necked Pheasant, just to name a few. These species are usually the topic of avid hunters that hope to meet their bag limits every year during these species' respective hunting seasons.

The topic species of discussion today is the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus). A species which is primarily found in the Upper Peninsula, with a small planted population within the Lower Peninsula.

They are very similar in size to the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), but do have a slightly longer wingspan and different colors and markings that make this species stand out.. As their name suggests they do in fact have a “sharp” pointed tail that is bright white underneath.

Male Sharp-tailed Grouse use this pointed tail during their impressive courtship routines by positioning their tail straight up into the air, paired with their wings pointed straight out to their sides, with rapid stomping movements on the ground. They also inflate purple colored air sacs, which are extensions of the esophagus, to amplify their courtship calls and show their overall health. These small areas where they show this display are called “Leks”.

Youtube Video showing this Display: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSuXT0Wo_nE

The first recordings of Sharp-tailed Grouse within Michigan were on Isle Royale in 1888. This was not too long before the species made its way into the western Upper Peninsula, believed to have happened due to deforestation and wildfires which created open prairie-like habitats, which is what this species needs to thrive.

Today, the largest population of Sharp-tailed Grouse within Michigan is in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Chippewa and Mackinac Counties are the only established hunting counties in Michigan for Sharp-tailed Grouse, which are mainly comprised of private farmlands.

Sharp-tailed Grouse conservation and habitat restoration for the species is a real concern in the Upper Peninsula. Many want to see the species thrive without intervention, but as of right now people have to be involved. The Hiawatha National Forest, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, and the Upper Peninsula Resource and Development Council will be working together to establish better habitats for nesting, foraging, and the ever important Leks. This initiative has already been in the works over the last two years and will continue within 2024.

It was planned that in 2023 there would be a managed burn in established Sharp-tailed habitats near Raco, which is in Chippewa County. The total acreage of land to be burned will total upwards of 2,000 acres. Controlled burns are good for taking out invasive plant species and dead or decaying plant material, which opens the soil to nutrient intake allowing planted seeds of warm-season grasses to take root and grow. This planting is scheduled to happen sometime this year. The grasses that are being planted are adapted to infertile soil and respond well to areas where a burn has occurred.

Hopefully all of this hard work will eventually boost the population of the Sharp-tailed Grouse. Maybe similar tactics could be used for other Upland Game Bird Species in Michigan and other surrounding Great Lakes States that are also seeing population decline.

Works Cited

“Sharp-Tailed Grouse Overview, All about Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Www.allaboutbirds.org, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sharp-tailed_Grouse/overview.
“Saving Michigan’s Sharp-Tailed Grouse | Michigan Out-of-Doors.” Www.michiganoutofdoors.com, 22 June 2022, www.michiganoutofdoors.com/saving-michigans-sharp-tailed-
“Habitat.” Michigan Sharp-Tailed Grouse Association, 4 Oct. 2016, michigansharptails.wordpress.com/habitat/

Sharp-tailed Grouse Photo taken by Tom Reichner, from Shutterstock. Standard License Use. Photo is only used for Educational purposes.

Hawks of Michigan

One of the most exciting moments while being outdoors is observing one of Michigan’s Hawk species in flight. Fast and agile birds of prey that have the ability to sit patiently while remaining unnoticed and wait for their next meal, but also the agility to chase their prey in tight, narrow passageways through the canopy.

In this article I will be covering all of the native Hawk species found in Michigan. The information given will include facts like habitat types, prey, and Michigan range, just to name a few. This article will also cover Hawk species that migrate through or to Michigan during the winter months, and those species that can be rarely found within the State.

This article will not include the Bald/Golden Eagles. As though they are part of the Accipitriformes order, they are considered by most Ornithologists to be different due to their greater sizes and superior strength. The Osprey will also not be added to this article as though it is commonly called the Fish or Fishing Hawk and it used to be classified with other hawk species, it has been classified into its own family.

If you have any Hawk pictures that you would like to share with Michigan’s Wildlife feel free to leave them in the comments section to share with others. Because the information for each species is limited, if anyone would like more information on one of these beautiful birds please feel free to ask and I will post more detailed information to the page. Have a great day!

Species Profiles- Native Species

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Size: 17-22 inches.
Wingspan: 43-56 inches.
Habitat: Grasslands, fields, pastures, roadsides, woodlands, and parks.
Prey: Small rodents, rabbits, hares, other birds, and reptiles.
Michigan Range: Found throughout the State of Michigan.
Michigan Status: Least Concern.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Size: 15-20 inches.
Wingspan: 37-42 inches.
Habitat: Open fields, roadsides, backyards, deciduous swamps, and hardwood stands.
Prey: Amphibians, reptiles, small mammals (rodents), and other birds.
Michigan Range: Found throughout the entire Lower Peninsula and in Central to Eastern Upper Peninsula. Absent/Less Common in the Western Upper Peninsula.
Michigan Status: Threatened.

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
Size: 13-17 inches
Wingspan: 31-39 inches.
Habitat: Mixed deciduous/coniferous forests, usually near a water source.
Prey: Small mammals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.
Michigan Range: Found throughout the entire State of Michigan.
Michigan Status: Least Concern.

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Size: 14-19 inches.
Wingspan: 24-35 inches.
Habitat: Woodlands, open forests, parks, and backyards.
Prey: Mostly small birds, but will also eat small mammals as well.
Michigan Range: Found throughout the entire State of Michigan.
Michigan Status: Least Concern

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Size: 9-13 inches.
Wingspan: 16-26 inches.
Habitat: Mixed Coniferous and Deciduous Forests with a thick canopy for nesting. Less common in areas of little tree cover.
Prey: Small birds, rodents, and insects.
Michigan Range: Found throughout the entire State of Michigan
Michigan Status: Least Concern

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Size: 18-24 inches.
Wingspan: 38-45 inches.
Habitat: Mixed-hardwood Forests.
Prey: Small to medium sized birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects.
Michigan Range: Found year throughout the entire Upper Peninsula and in the upper Lower Peninsula. Can also be found further south within the state during the winter months.
Michigan Status: Special Concern (SC)

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Size: 16-20 inches.
Wingspan: 38-48 inches.
Habitat: Wetlands like marshes with tree cover, grasslands like that of old fields and prairies.
Prey: Small birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Michigan Range: Breeding range extends throughout the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula. Can be found year round in central to southern Lower Peninsula.
Michigan Status: Special Concern (SC)

Migratory Species- Winter Migration

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
Size: 18-23 inches.
Wingspan: 48-56 inches.
Habitat: Outcroppings, cliffs, boreal forests, tundra, uplands, prairies, marshes, bogs, dunes, and fields. Open area is primarily where this species likes to hunt.
Prey: Primarily small mammals and carrion.
Range: Breeding range is widespread from Alaska, throughout far Northern Canada from Yukon and Northwest Territories, Victoria Island, Nunavut, Baffin Island, northern Quebec, and Newfoundland. Winter range consists of most of the United States, absent from the southeast United States.
North American Status: Least Concern

Rare Species- Occasional visitors to Michigan

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Size: 20-23 inches.
Wingspan: 53-60 inches.
Habitat: Prairies, grasslands, and agricultural areas.
Prey: Mainly small mammals. Occasionally reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects.
Range: Central to Western United States, extending into Canada in the breeding months, can be found year round in areas of Idaho. Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Winter ranges extend from these areas and can go down into Mexico.
North American Status: Least Concern.

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Size: 17-22 inches.
Wingspan: 47-54 inches.
Habitat: Prefer prairie, grasslands, and agricultural areas with much open space.
Prey: Mammals and insects.
Range: Has a breeding range that covers most of the Western and Central United States, extending north into Canada, and south into Mexico. Winter migration sees this species traveling to South America, with some small populations found in Florida, Texas, and California.
North American Status: Least Concern.

*Red-tailed Hawk photo taken by Joshua Chrisman of Michigan's Wildlife*

Disappearing Muskrats

A concerning decrease in Common Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) has not only been noticed throughout the Eastern United States, but population numbers have also been declining at an alarming rate within the entire Midwest region as well.

The main reason for this decline is new agricultural and urban developments impeding on desired wetlands for this important Michigan species. Which can also devastate other important wetland animals as well.

Common Muskrats, like many other animal species, are known as an indicator species. This means that the Muskrat serves as a measure of environmental conditions in a certain habitat. So, if there are no Muskrats within a certain ecosystem, it could be an indication that the ecosystem is inhospitable for wildlife to thrive within it.

Certain species of birds and mammals actually rely on the Muskrat to “pave the way” as they greatly change wetland structures by creating open water and reducing invasive wetland vegetation as well.

The Michigan DNR, with other Great Lakes Basin States, are now involved in a Muskrat population study to see if the Great Lakes Region is in line with the massive Muskrat decline within the Eastern United States. Population studies are primarily based on harvesting numbers.

These numbers have been on a downward slope since the mid 1970’s within the entire Midwest, and more recently they are around the lowest they have ever been. Similar numbers in the early 1990’s and early 2000’s have also been reported, with large population spikes in between.

Hopefully with the combined efforts of the Michigan DNR, and the other Great Lakes Basin states, it can be determined what can be done to help one of Michigan’s most valuable mammal species.

Works Cited

“Great Lakes Muskrats and Wetlands.” ​, www.wildlifeecology.org/muskrat_gl.html.

Gwizdz, Bob. “Michigan DNR a Participant in Study on Declining Muskrat Population.” Outdoor News, 14 Feb. 2024, www.outdoornews.com/2024/02/14/michigan-dnr-a-participant-in-study-on-declining-muskrat-population/.

“Monitoring Muskrats.” Www.cmich.edu, www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/office-research-graduate-studies/graduate-studies/graduate-student-story-archive/monitoring-muskrats.

Common Muskrat photo by FotoRequest, from Shutterstock, Standard License Use. Only used for Educational purposes.

I am sure many of you a time or two have wondered how female Black Bears (Ursus americanus) give birth during hibernation and why they do. I hope this article can shed some light on this fascinating mystery. Have a great day!

It all starts with the act of mating. This begins in early summer prior to nuts and berries starting to ripen, so breeding doesn't take the females away from consuming their fat storage for the winter. This timeline may seem off to some of you, but it is completely natural for this species.

The fertilized egg doesn't attach to the lining of the uterine wall until November or December, a delayed pregnancy. Females by this time have already prepared for winter, loading their bodies up with as much fat as they can in order to sustain themselves, and their cubs as well.

Female Black Bears have a very short gestation period, only about 2 to 3 months in length. This puts birth at around February to March. A shorter gestation and small cub size, as cubs are less than a pound at birth, are adaptations that are designed to help Black Bears survive hibernation during the winter months.

Female Black Bears, who are fasting during hibernation, have a switch in energy base from glucose (sugar) to fatty acids. The fetuses have a hard time utilizing these fatty acids in utero. Black Bear mothers are able to nourish their cubs much better with their milk after they are born. Because a large amount of cub development happens after birth, this is sometimes known as an external pregnancy.

There is a very untrue myth about Black Bears giving birth to cubs when they are asleep, then being surprised in the Spring when they have cubs in the den with them. They are actually very aware of what is happening. So much so that Cubs are able to stir their mother awake when they want to nurse.

Female Black Bears can give birth to as many as 6 cubs, but usually only 2-3 on average. When mother and cubs emerge from their den in the Spring the cubs are about 4.5-11 lbs in weight. The cubs will remain with their mother through the next winter. The following Spring after their second winter with their mother, they will be forced away as she is steadily approaching estrus.

If you have any other questions about Black Bear hibernation please do not hesitate to ask in the comment section below.

*American Black Bear photo taken by Kerry Hargrove, from Shutterstock, Standard License Use, Photo used only for educational purposes*

Turtle Hibernation

Have you ever wondered how our turtle species in Michigan hibernate during the winter months? Or whether turtles hibernate underground or underwater? This post covers all you need to know about turtle hibernation and how every turtle species hibernates. Turtles will most likely be out soon due to the warmer weather, if they are not already out in some areas of the state. Hope you enjoy!

Turtle Species in Michigan (this list includes the subspecies found in Michigan)
1. Eastern Snapping Turtle
2. Common Musk Turtle
3. Spotted Turtle
4. Wood Turtle
5. Eastern Box Turtle
6. Blanding’s Turtle
7. Northern Map Turtle
8. Midland Painted Turtle
9. Western Painted Turtle
10. Red-eared Slider
11. Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle

How the different turtle species in Michigan Hibernate

Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to early April in shallow water where they will either sit on the bottom or dig themselves into the bottom mud, sometimes found underneath debris in the water or overhanging banks. These turtles will sometimes be seen through ice fishing holes.

Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to early April underwater in bottom mud or beneath logs or overhanging banks. They have even been reported using old or new Muskrat houses. They will usually enter into hibernation when water temps reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to late March in shallow water sitting on the bottom or submerged in bottom mud. Before winter hibernation the Spotted Turtle has already gone into a summer hibernation-like state when the temperatures are too hot in which it will dig under the leaf litter, dig into root systems, or reside in muskrat burrows.

Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) Aquatic/Semi-Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to early April most of the time being underwater either sitting on the bottom of a stream or placing itself underneath rocks, logs, or overhanging banks. This turtle might congregate with others of its species during the hibernation months.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Semi-Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to early April with hibernation underground on land. This is a very terrestrial turtle and will only go into water unless they need to cool off on hot summer days or to travel from one point to another. Eastern Box Turtles will dig burrows that can range from 1-2.5 feet deep, but some are so shallow that their shells are still visible underneath the leaf litter in late fall or early winter, some will even hibernate in old mammal burrows.

Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) Aquatic

Hibernates from late October or early November to mid April underwater sitting on the bottom of stream or pond, rarely do they submerge themselves in bottom mud or underneath underwater debris. During the winter months this turtle can sometimes be seen sluggishly moving underneath the ice.

Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) Aquatic

Hibernates from early November to early April underwater either sitting on the bottom of a stream or underneath a rock or log, and maybe even partially submerged in bottom mud. Some Northern Map Turtles even hibernate in Common Muskrat burrows.

Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) and the Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) Aquatic

Hibernates from October or November to March or April burrowing into bottom mud and remaining dormant through the winter months. In Michigan there are two different Painted Turtle subspecies. The Midland Painted Turtle can be found throughout the entire Lower Peninsula and Central and Eastern Upper Peninsula, while the Western Painted Turtle can be found in the Central and Western part of the Upper Peninsula only, the Central Upper Peninsula is the only area in Michigan where both of these subspecies have overlapping ranges.

Red-eared Slider (Tachemys scripta elegans) Aquatic

Hibernates from mid-October to early April underwater submerged in bottom mud, under overhanging banks, or in muskrat tunnels. This species was introduced into Michigan through the pet industry and released by those owners that did not wish to raise the turtles anymore. Their native range within the United States is from Illinois, west to Kansas, south to Texas, and to the southeastern coast from Georgia up to Virginia. But since their release into the state they have become naturalized and a recognized species by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera) Aquatic

Hibernates from October to April, in more northern regions they may even remain in dormancy until May. They shallowly bury themselves in bottom mud and rarely move during the winter months.

Differences between Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Turtles

Aquatic- Most of the turtle species in Michigan are considered Aquatic as they spend most of their time in or around water. They breed, eat, and hibernate all in water.

Semi-Aquatic- There are only a few species of turtles in Michigan that can really be classified as Semi-Aquatic (Ex. Eastern Box Turtle and Wood Turtle). These species spend half of their time or most of their time on land than in the water.

Underwater Hibernation

It is not unknown that turtles have lungs and need air to breathe. But what is uncommonly known is how they are able to stay submerged for months on end without needing to surface to breathe. Most turtle species in Michigan hibernate underwater, either sitting on the bottom of a stream, creek, slow moving river, lake, pond, or submerged even further down into the bottom mud. Most turtles, if not all turtles, are able to do this by means of bimodal respiration. This means that turtles have two different ways of breathing air. The first way is by using their lungs; the second way is by absorbing the air in water through their skin. During hibernation a turtle's metabolic rate decreases and so does the demand for O2 making it easy for turtles to stay submerged underwater for long periods of time as they do not need to absorb as much air to stay alive.

Underground Hibernation

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is the only turtle species in Michigan that regularly hibernates deep in the soil on land, even though they are also able to hibernate underwater. When the temperature decreases in the fall Eastern Box Turtles will start to dig into the ground, and the colder the temperatures get outside the deeper the turtle will go, the average depth being 2-2.5 feet underground. Even though these turtles submerge themselves into the soil they are still susceptible when it comes to the frost line in Michigan, which happens to be about 3-4 feet down on average. Parts of the Eastern Box Turtles body completely freeze, while others are kept alive and unfrozen by shunting most of their blood to the central core of the body which in turn mobilizes glucose (produced in the liver) to the vital organs of the body like that of the brain, heart, and eyes. These high glucose levels in the vital organs make it so they are the last organs to freeze. Eastern Box Turtles can have 33-58 percent of their body completely frozen for almost 50 hours and still recover afterwards.

Blanding’s Turtle photo taken by Joshua Chrisman of Michigan’s Wildlife

They're coming!

It is “normally” a little early to start talking about Sandhill Cranes as they usually do not return from migration until late February or mid March. But as of five days ago, I heard their familiar call from far off. And it has also been reported to me that some have already been seen in farm fields. This warmer winter is going to bring so many species back from migration and out of hibernation much earlier than previous years.

Here is some interesting species history information about the Sandhill Crane, hope you enjoy!

The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) as a species is over 2.5 millions years old, making it one of the oldest bird species known today. In fact the oldest fossil records of Sandhill Cranes, or Sandhill Crane like birds, are fossil remains of a bird that was found in Nebraska that is dated to be over 10 million years old. The reason that these time periods differ is because the birds that lived 10 million years ago were most likely relatives or even direct ancestors of our modern day Sandhill Crane, the only thing different between the two was that the older ancestors had slightly different body structures.

An interesting fact about the relatives is that their fossils (as stated before) were found in Nebraska. Today, there is an area in Nebraska that is a major migration spot for the Sandhill Crane called the Platte River. On average, half a million Sandhill Cranes migrate every year to this same area to congregate with one another. Which means that this area of the Platte River, even though the river wasn't around 10 million years ago, was a migration route for the ancestors of modern Sandhill Cranes, meaning that these routes haven't changed for this species in the last 10 million years.

The call of the Sandhill Crane is always described as being an “older call”. One that doesn't sound anything like any other bird species today. Their call is very unmistakable, and is one that Woolly Mammoths, American Mastodons, Smilodons, and Homotheriums, (Smilodon and Homotherium being Saber-toothed Cats) would have heard.

So, the next time you see a Sandhill Crane you are not only looking at a beautiful bird, but you are also looking into the past of a species that has witnessed the extinction and evolution of many animals, and has also witnessed major geographical changes.

Sandhill Crane Photo taken by Joshua Chrisman of Michigan's Wildlife

Good Morning!!

Sharing another fantastic field guide today. Mammal Tracks & Sign.

This book has come in handy more than once when trying to identify prints in the mud or snow.

This book was first published in 2001, but in 2019 a second edition was published with more photos and more life sized prints included in the guide. Also includes range maps of all mammals in North America. Gives sizes of the tracks and also detailes descriptions of what each mammals walk, trot, or sprint looks like as well.

Either guide would be a great choice.

Anyone else use this guide or a different tracks and sign guide?

This little Mammal not only blends in with its surroundings during the winter months, but it thrives in cold weather! I hope you enjoy this animal info on the Short-tailed Weasel.

Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea)

Size & Description
Body Length: Male- 8.5-13.5 inches. Female- 7.5-11.5 inches.
Tail Length: Male- 2.5-3.5 inches. Female- 1.5-2.5 inches.
Weight: Male- 67-116 grams. Female- 25-80 grams.
Description: Summer coat is mostly brown from its head, back, and outer legs, white underneath from the chin to inner front and hind legs. Tip of the tail is black. Winter coat is all white retaining its black-tipped tail.

Habitat & Den

In the Great Lakes Region this little mammal can be found in Mixed Coniferous and Deciduous forests, marshes, swamps, and shrubby areas. Dens can either be in an old log, under rocks, or in old rodent burrows. Nests are well constructed and often lined with tall grasses, leaves, or fur taken from previous prey.

Diet: Carnivore

Mainly hunts for small mammals, but will also prey on amphibians, reptiles, and small birds as well.

Breeding, Young, & Lifespan:

Breeding for the Short-tailed Weasel usually begins in early to late summer. Birth doesn't actually happen until March to May of the next year. This is due to a delayed development for the embryo, which is also present in other Weasel species. Actual gestation is only 27 days. 4-9 pups are born at a time with the female primarily rearing the young, males have been reported to help on occasion. It takes about 6 weeks for the young to reach the size of their mother, adult size happens shortly afterwards. Short-tailed Weasels typically only live 1-2 years in the wild. In captivity they can live on average 6-7 years, but some individuals have been reported living as long as 12 years.

Michigan Range:

Although it is absent in the far southern part of the state, Short-tailed Weasels can be found throughout most of the state of Michigan. More prevalent in the northern regions of the state.

Predators:

Coyote, Red Fox, Gray Fox, American Marten, Fisher, and numerous Owl and Hawk Species. Not the easiest prey to catch for these predators though, as like other Mustelids, the Short-tailed Weasel is a fierce little mammal, even for its small size. Humans also play in predation for this Weasel as numerous are taken by trappers every year. This has dwindled down for a number of years now as the demand for pelts has lessened greatly.

Other Common Names:

Ermine or Stoat.

Similar Species:

In Michigan the Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata), and the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) are both very similar to the Short-tailed Weasel.

Interesting Facts:

1. Territorial ranges for the Short-tailed Weasel are different for Males and Females. Males can have a territory of 63 acres, whereas the females only have a range of 29 acres. This is quite a large area for a small mammal as it can take 10-15 days for Males to patrol their entire territory.
2. Short-tailed Weasels black-tipped tail has a very important use as a distraction. Hawks and Owls have a tendency to focus on the tail while making their attack. The weasel in turn can easily either defend itself or flee.
3. This weasel has a very unusual breeding habit. Males will not only breed with females that have an active litter, but they will also breed with every young female in the litter as well. And due to the delayed gestation these females (who are so young during the time of breeding that their eyes are not even open yet) will be fully mature to give birth to their first litter.

State Status:

Least Concern within the state.

Works Cited

Don E. Wilson & Sue Ruff, The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals, Published Vancouver/Toronto Canada UBC Press, 1999.

Allen Kurta, Mammals of the Great Lakes Region (Third Edition), Published Ann Arbor, MI University of Michigan Press, 2017.

Short-tailed Weasel photo taken by Michal Pesata, from Shutterstock, Standard License Use