FRIENDS OF LATODAMI ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION CENTER

Latodami - Important Mammal Area

Latodami Environmental Education Center has been selected by the Mammal Technical Committee of the PA Biological Survey as an Important Mammal Area (IMA). It has joined 44 other sites in Pennsylvania’s Important Mammal Area Project, an international pilot project, to be the first IMA sites identified anywhere in the world.

IMA’s serve as an inspiration and a model for mammal habitat conservation and education. According to Alana Hartman, IMAP Coordinator, “IMA’s include very special places: habitat for species of special concern, exceptional habitat for a diversity of more common mammals, places that support large concentrations of a single mammal species, and sites where exemplary programs are in place for educating the public about mammals.”

We are very proud to be a part of this project. This designation recognizes Meg Scanlon’s educational programs and impressive service as North Park’s naturalist. We welcome you to join us at Latodami to learn more about wild mammals.

The IMA project is being conducted jointly by the PA Wildlife Federation, PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, National Wildlife Federation, PA Game Commission, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Mammal Technical Committee of the PA Biological Survey, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Major funding is from the State Wildlife Grant Program, which is administered by the PA Game Commission. The project is also supported by the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.

As you are walking Latodami’s Trails keep an eye out for mammals. Send us an email at contact@latodami.org of the mammals you see (time/date/location).

On 7/20/2005, 2 muskrats were reported swimming in the pond. “They appeared to be gathering leaves as one was swimming through the water with a mouth full”.

MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA

Text by Joe Stavish 1998

The mammals of Pennsylvania all share similar characteristics. They are covered with hair, are born alive, and are warm blooded. They can be found living on and, in the water, and even in the sky. All mammals nurse their young and provide extended care for them. There are 63 species of mammals in Pennsylvania, 14 are true hibernators.

BEAVER: The beaver is a large rodent that can weigh between 30 and 60 pounds. Beavers create dams of sticks and mud across streams. They also build large cone-shaped houses of similar material near the edge of a lake. When alarmed the beaver will dive under water and create a loud smack at the water’s surface with its long flat tail. The preferred food of the beaver is aspen, poplar, birch, maple, willow, and alder. The beaver has been exterminated in much of its former range, but is now being reintroduced. It can live up to 11 years in the wild and 19 in captivity.

EASTERN CHIPMUNK: Everyone is familiar with the chipmunk. Squirrel-like, runs with a busy tail straight up in the air and lives under every loose brick in your yard. In the wild though, the chipmunk inhabits deciduous forest and bushy areas. The chipmunk is a solitary animal except for mother and her young. Chipmunks feed on seeds, bulbs, fruits, nuts, insects, meat, and eggs. They store food underground when it is abundant. In the wild the chipmunk will have a home range usually less than 100 yards. Chipmunks readily come to feeding tables. They also display territorial behavior. They breed in April and again from June to August. They have between 2 and 8 young per breeding period. Lives 3 years or more in the wild and 8 years in captivity.

TREE SQUIRRELS: There are 3 species of diurnal tree squirrels living in Pennsylvania. They are the Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel, and the Red Squirrel. The fox squirrel is the largest, growing up to around 23 inches, it has a brownish orange back and tail. The gray squirrel is second largest and grows to about 21 inches. It is a light gray color on its back and tail. The smallest of the tree squirrels is the red squirrel, it grows up to 13 inches and is a rusty red color. Other squirrels that exist in Pennsylvania are the nocturnal flying squirrels which are rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits.

LITTLE BROWN BAT: Of the 12 species of bats found in Pennsylvania the little brown bat is the most commonly seen species of North Park. All of the bats in Pennsylvania are insect eaters, none eat fruit like bats in Africa. The little brown bat grows to a total length of 3.7 inches, usually smaller. This bat flies an average speed of about 13 miles per hour. By late autumn in Pennsylvania, many bats gather in caves and abandoned mine shafts to hibernate. Little brown bats feed mainly on flying insects such as beetles, mosquitoes, moths, bugs, and flies. They can live up to 25 years in the wild.

OPOSSUM: The opossum is the only North American marsupial (animal with a pouch). They are about the same size as a House Cat but are more heavily bodied, have shorter legs, and a pointed nose. They have a long scaly tail that is similar to a rat’s. They have five toes on each foot and are good climbers. They are usually only active at night and feed upon carrion, insects, eggs, meat, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. The opossum seeks shelter in hollow trees and logs, brush piles, and old dens. When frightened they may act dead (“play possum”). Their usual home range is from 15-40 acres and they may live seven years or more. They have the most teeth of all mammals, 50.

CHECKLIST OF PENNSYLVANIA MAMMALS

Virginia Opossum

Masked Shrew

Maryland Shrew

Northern Water Shrew (rare)

West Virginia Water Shrew (threatened)

Smoky Shrew

Long-tailed or Rock Shrew

Pygmy Shrew

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Least Shrew (endangered)

Hairy-tailed Mole

Eastern Mole

Star-Nosed Mole

@ Little Brown Bat

@ Keen’s Bat

@ Indiana Bat (endangered)

@ Small-footed Bat (threatened)

@ Silver-haired Bat (rare)

@ Eastern Pipistrelle Bat

@ Big Brown Bat

@ Red Bat

@ Seminole Bat

@ Hoary Bat

@ Evening Bat (rare)

@ Northern Long-eared Bat (rare)

Eastern Cottontail

Appalachian Cottontail (at risk)

New England Cottontail

Snowshoe Hare (at risk)

Eastern Chipmunk

# Woodchuck or Groundhog

Gray Squirrel

Fox Squirrel

Red Squirrel

Southern Flying Squirrel

Northern Flying Squirrel (threatened)

Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel (endangered)

Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel

Beaver

Marsh Rice Rat (extirpated)

Deer Mouse

White-footed Mouse

House Mouse (exotic species)

Eastern Woodrat (threatened, historically found in North Park)

Allegheny Woodrat (threatened)

Norway Rat (exotic species)

Black Rat (exotic species, extirpated)

Southern Red-backed Vole

Yellow-nosed or Rock Vole (at risk)

Meadow Vole

Pine Vole

Southern Bog Lemming

Muskrat

# Meadow Jumping Mouse

# Woodland Jumping Mouse

Porcupine (historically found in North Park)

Coyote

Wolf (extirpated)

Red Fox

Gray Fox

Black Bear (transient)

Raccoon

Pine Marten

Ermine or Short-tiled Weasel

Least Weasel

Long-tailed Weasel

Mink

Badger

Eastern Spotted Skunk (at risk)

Striped Skunk

River Otter (at risk)

Bobcat

Mountain Lion (extirpated)

Lynx (extirpated)

Marten (extirpated)

Elk

* White-tailed Deer

Fisher (endangered)

* State Mammal

# Hibernating Species

@ Hibernating and/or migrating Species

Species Found in North Park

Endangered: in danger of extinction in Pennsylvania

Threatened: likely to become endangered

At Risk: vulnerable to habitat modifications or exploitation

Rare: found in restricted areas or at low numbers over a broad area

Friends of Latodami Environmental Education Center is an independent group that supports Latodami’s mission.

It is not officially affiliated with Allegheny County