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News > May 2008 > Living
in Tune with Wildlife
 Living
in Tune with Wildlife
by Don Elroy, Advocacy & Education Coordinator
As spring is making its way into summer around
the country, we encourage everyone to spend time outdoors,
enjoy and learn about the wild animals who are our neighbors.
Our country has an abundance of wildlife who inhabit our neighborhood
parks, nature preserves, and even our own backyards.
We offer a small checklist of animals who
reside in central Texas and across the United States that
can be shared with your family. See how many of these animals
you can unobtrusively observe and identify. When you see an
animal, share a learning experience with family members by
getting facts on each species from books or internet sites.
Gain knowledge on each animal's habitat, their natural diet,
the IUCN status of each species and what you can do to help
protect these animals in their environment. Learning about
these animals and their needs will foster an appreciation
and strong bond with the natural world around us. Sharing
a compassionate ethic together instills a sense of caring
and openness that lasts a lifetime. Enjoy locating and learning
about these wonderful animals and celebrate wildlife all around
us.
Golden Cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia)
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This beautiful bird nests only one
place in North America: Central Texas. |
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Males of this species can be identified
by the bright yellow feathers on the "cheeks"
or sides of the head with a black strip through the
eye. |
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
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The Striped Skunk has a black body
with a white stripe along each side; the two stripes
join into a broader white area at the nape. His forehead
has a narrow white stripe. |
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The bushy tail is 7–10 inches
long (18–25 cm) and sometimes has a white tip. |
Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
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Their coats are a dull grayish brown,
other than on their faces, which are white. Opossums
have long, hairless, prehensile tails, which can be
used to grab branches and carry small objects. |
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They are often found in urban and
suburban settings. Nocturnal animals, they often forage
in neighborhood garbage cans. |
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Interesting Fact: Opossums are the
only North American marsupial. |
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
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White-tails live primarily in wooded
and brushy areas. |
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Their characteristic tails are held
erect when fleeing to display the white underside. The
rest of their body is reddish-brown in summer and grayish-brown
in winter. Fawns less than six months of age have bright
white spots scattered on their coats. |
Texas Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis
annectens)
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Found predominantly in eastern and
central Texas, with a disjunct population in Kansas.
They are a terrestrial species, generally found in dry,
lightly wooded areas. |
| • |
They have a greenish-black back with
a distinctive bright orange or red stripe down the center
and yellowish stripes on either side of the body. |
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
| • |
The Eastern Fox Squirrel is a common
sight in forests, wooded urban parks, and gardens of
the central and eastern United States (except New England),
as well as northern Mexico and southern Canada. |
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In the western part of their range
they have gray backs with rust-colored undersides. |
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The Eastern Fox Squirrel is the largest
tree squirrel and about 20% larger than its close relative,
the Eastern Gray Squirrel. |
Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo (Dasypus
novemcinctus)
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The Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo
is a solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, found in many
kinds of habitats, from mature and secondary rainforests
to grassland and dry scrub. It is an insectivorous animal,
feeding chiefly on ants, termites, and other small invertebrates. |
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An armadillo can jump three to four
feet straight in the air if sufficiently frightened. |
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The word armadillo is Spanish
for "little armored one." |
Listen carefully to the birdsong, follow your
heart into nature, and have a fun and compassionate learning
experience together. Stay in tune with wildlife and show your
respect for them during Wildlife Stewardship Month.
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