WHS and HCIS Wildlife Slideshow

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Russian River Watershed Science Program Healdsburg High School Center for Independent Study & Windsor High School Environmental Studies Core Students Present… CIRCUIT RIDER PRODUCTIONS, INC.

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Amphibians & Reptiles Birds Mammals Russian River Wildlife The everyday, extraordinary and endangered

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The Russian River Watershed Science Program is a comprehensive year-long environmental education class for high school students that is focused on riparian ecology, agriculture, field research, restoration implementation and community outreach. The program gets students out of the classroom and working on meaningful projects - students and collaborating landowners implement riparian restoration projects located on properties in the Russian River watershed. On rainy days, we use CRP’s computer lab. This slideshow was developed by participating students…

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Amphibians & Reptiles

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The tiger salamander is one of the largest salamanders around. It can reach a length of 8.5 inches! The body color is dark brown with yellow blotches.

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This is a picture of the larvae stage of the California Tiger Salamander.

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Habitat Its requires vernal pools, grasslands and oak woodlands. Water is a big part of its habitat too.

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The adult California Tiger Salamander migrates to breed. The eggs are laid in a mass and the mass ranges from 400 to 1,300 eggs! Usually it does not breed until they are 4 to 6 years of age!

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Due to the unique biology and life history, the California Tiger Salamander is extremely vulnerable to habitat destruction. We need to help the salamander and restore its home…or this will be its new home… Created by: Michael Alix

theGopher snake: 

the Gopher snake

Physical description: 

Physical description Between 36 and 96 inches long Ranges in color from cream-yellow to green-gray tan with large black, brown or red blotches on their backs Most have a dark line between their eyes

characteristics: 

characteristics In high elevations snakes hibernate during winter Sun bathe on rocks during hot days to prepare them for a busy night When hunting, they search in high trees and rocky crevices to find prey

Habitat: 

Habitat Prefer open grassy areas Active when weather is favorable Don’t usually come out when hot outside They like cooler temperatures

Gopher snake habits: 

Gopher snake habits Slow moving When inactive, snakes sleep in rodent burrows and under rocks Become nocturnal during summer Non-venomous Are prey to red-tailed hawks, kit foxes and coyotes

hunting: 

hunting All adult gopher snakes hunt mice, kangaroo rats, gophers, ground squirrel, rabbits, lizards, and birds They hunt using their sense of smell Prey is killed by constriction and suffocation

Breeding: 

Breeding Males vigorously defend territory against other males The males combat “dance” against other males to courtship female

The eggs: 

The eggs 6 weeks after mating, female lays her eggs under a rock (2-24 eggs) Hatchlings emerge after ten weeks fully developed, and are large enough to eat small mice Mature at 3-4 years Created by: Desiree Fonseca

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BIRDS

Great Blue Heron: 

Great Blue Heron

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Description Long legged wading bird Blue gray color with black stripe above each eye Bill is long, large and yellowish The legs are long, grayish with reddish thighs Stands four feet tall with wingspan of six feet Flies at a cruising speed of 23 miles per hour

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Habitat Can be seen beside freshwater streams, ponds, lakes, mudflats, estuarine marshes, and road ditches throughout the Russian River Watershed. Fishes by day and night, most active at dawn and dusk. They spear the fish with their beak and then swallow them whole.

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Breeding Great Blue Herons are very territorial They nest in tops of trees, rock ledges, sea cliffs, or even the ground Lay 3 to 5 large eggs that hatch in 28 days After two months the baby birds are ready to fly 69% of new born Great Blue Herons die in their first year Oldest know bird was 20 years and 3 months

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Status In one study of nesting behavior on the Oregon coast, Great Blue Herons had far more active nest sites in isolates areas. They prefer areas that are a way from human activities.

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Created by: Aarica Geitner

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exquisitely colored most easily identified by his smooth, iridescent green crest and crown and his purple face bill slopes downward end of tail is square less colorful than male mainly brown with a slight iridescence on the crown crest is shorter most easily identified by distinctive teardrop-shaped white eye patch

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Woodland streams or pools, forest bottomlands, river valleys, swamps, marshes, lakes, and creeks are all typical Wood Duck habitat.

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The Wood Duck’s diet consists mainly of aquatic plants, supplemented with aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, seeds, acorns, berries, and grains. They forage by moving rapidly and pecks and dabbles on the water surface. They may tip-up or dive for submerged food items.

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Ducklings require a high protein diet for rapid growth. Invertebrates such as dragonflies, bugs, beetles, and spider are important foods during the first few weeks of life, making high populations of these small creatures essential in habitats where the young will hatch and develop. Created by: Katelin Riolo

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The Osprey is found throughout the world, except in Polar Regions. Osprey

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·Their plumage is dark brown above and white below with a black “wrist” mark in their in the crook of the wings. · These birds are larger than most hawks with a wingspan of up to 54 inches and a body length of about 22 inches.

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·Two to four eggs are laid in a large nest made of sticks perched at the top of live or dead trees at heights from 3 to 100 ft. ·All Osprey nests are located next to water. ·Incubation of the clutch by both parents takes about 35 days. ·Young fly between 8 and 10 weeks of age.

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·Their diet consists almost exclusively of fish, but has been reported to include birds, turtles, snakes, and small mammals. ·To fish the osprey hover in the air 50 to 150 feet above a lake or river, then take plunges and reemerge with fish held parallel to its body. ·The soles of the ospreys feet are equipped with sharp, spiny projections that enable it to get a firm hold on slippery fish. ·This hawk has a reversible outer toe, which can be rotated so that it extends to the rear of the foot.

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·Fortunately the osprey’s nests are being protected by some concerned individuals and groups.

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Osprey Created by: Lizette Sanchez

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Standing 8-25” tall with a wingspan 36-60” long. Males and females are similar in appearance, except the female is the larger of the two. Their name is derived from the tuffs and feathers that appear to be horns. When they are irritated their tufts lie flat, and when they are inquisitive their ears stand upright.

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Nesting season is in January or February when the males and females hoot to each other. When close they bow to each other, with drooped wings. They do not build nests of their own, but utilize other nests such as the heron or hawk. They usually make 2-3 eggs, and they incubate the eggs for 30-35 days. The young are fed by both parents, and the young begin to wander near 6-7 weeks of birth. Owls are solitary in nature, and only stay with mates during mating season.

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Great horned owls mainly hunt at night, watching their prey or gliding slowly in the air. They can eat over 123 different types of animals. But its favorites are rabbits and hares. Several hours after eating, the great horned owl will chuck up such things as bones, feathers and fur of the meal that was indigestible.

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Owls have four toes on each foot. Instead of having 3 toes in the front and one toe in the back, their toes can rotate so that there are two toes in the front and two in the back. Great horned owls can live greater than 12 years, and have been known to live 29-38 years. Enemies include other great horned owls and northern goshawks during disputes over nests. Created by: Debra Peterson

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MAMMALS

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Adults weigh 10-25 pounds Broad, slightly flattened head Stiff, bristly whiskers Small black eyes and small rounded ears Fur is dark brown or reddish brown on the back and light brown or silver on the throat and belly Stout tail makes up 30-40% of its total body length

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An otter uses its tail like a rudder while swimming Their bodies are muscular and torpedo-shaped, allowing them to move through water with astonishing grace and power Their legs are short, with five fully-webbed toes on each foot Ears and nostrils are valved to keep out water

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They live primarily along rivers, ponds, and lakes in wooded areas Rests under roots or overhanging riparian vegetation, in hollow logs, and burrows of other animals

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The male river otter presumably mates with one or more females The female establishes the natal den shortly before giving birth to a litter of 1-6 young born blind and fully furred Weaned at 4 months, the young disperse in the fall or winter before the arrival of the next litter While socialable most of the year, during the breeding season competing males may battle

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They can remain submerged for several minutes and can dive to a depth of 55 feet, swimming at far as ¼ mile underwater if necessary A lone river otter amuses itself by rolling about, sliding, diving, or “body surfing” along a rapid current In family groups, otters frolic together in the water Also at ease on land, the river otter will lope along, then slide, and it also runs fairly well

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The Northern River Otter is active by day if not disturbed by human activity. Vocalizations include a whistle, probably used to communicate over distances, and a shrill, chattering call, emitted during the mating season. Otters chuckle softly to siblings or mates, apparently as a sign of affection. They also chirp, grunt, snort, and growl.

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Feeds mainly on fish, which are often caught in a quick broadside snap Also eats small mammals such as mice, as well as terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates Some anglers suspect the otter of depleting game fish stocks, particularly trout. While it will eat game fish, it more often eats the slower-moving suckers, chubs, daces, darters, and catfish, as well as schooling fish Created by: Shelly Hughes

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The Ringtail is also known as the miner’s cat, although it is not a cat at all. The ringtail is actually related to the raccoon family (Procyonidea)

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The ringtail get its name from the seven or eight rings that’s upon its tail. (note the name ringtail) The ringtail has large eyes which helps them see better at night for they are nocturnal, meaning that they only dwell at night.

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The ringtail lives across the southwestern U.S. and most of Mexico, with outliers in Northern California. You can find the ringtail at low to middle elevations. They dwell in hollow trees and logs. They are usually not found more than 1 km from permanent water.

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The ringtail has a seasonal diet. In the fall, the ringtail eats plants and insects and in the winter their diet consists of small mammals and birds. In the summer, the ringtail eats insects. The ringtail hunts at night and their preferred prey includes mice, woodrats, squirrels, and rabbits.

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The major predators of the ringtail are great horned owls, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats and us. The ringtail is sometimes killed by humans because of its habit of raiding henhouses.

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The mating ritual occurs between February and May, with one to four hairless young born in May or June. Eyes open and fur covers their bodies by five to six weeks. They are weaned by fall and can mate near the end of their second year.

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Created by: Monica McEldowney

Striped Skunks: 

Striped Skunks

Physical Description: 

Physical Description About the same size as an average sized house cat. Main body colors are black, with white. The skunk has short legs, with very powerful claws. The skunk leaves very distinctive tracks because of the design of its feet. The skunk has a stocky body, with a small elongated head. The skunk has small round ears, which give it excellent hearing. The skunk is capable of spraying a very fowl smelling substance.

The Stripes: 

The Stripes The striped skunk has a very distinctive pattern with its fur. Generally there are two white stripes that run the length of the body. These two stripes are on the outer ends of the back, leaving a somewhat large area of black in between them. The stripes meet just above the eyes, forming a helmet like shape on the head. There is also a thin white stripe that goes down the center of its muzzle. The striped skunk also has a white tip on its tail. The odd thing about the skunks fur pattern is that it is not protective in any way. The fur pattern is there to warn animals to stay away, and that this is one animal that you do not want to mess with.

The Spray: 

The Spray The striped skunk is capable of spraying a very fowl smelling substance. The spray can be smelt from up to a mile away. If the spray gets into your eyes it can cause intense pain and a fleeting loss of vision. The spray is used to fend off predators or potential threats. The spray of the skunk is a dirty yellowish color. To nullify the odor you can use tomato juice and/or ammonia. There is a substance in the spray called musk. This is used to make perfumes and colognes because it is what makes the smells stick to what ever it is sprayed on.

Habitat: 

Habitat The striped skunk lives in a variety of places, ranging from forest to grasslands, suburban neighborhoods to farm lands, even into the deserts. They are usually within two miles of water. Skunks live in burrows, either ones that they have dug, or burrows that another animal may have dug and abandoned. Striped skunks are only found in North America, anywhere from Canada to Northern Mexico. d

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Striped skunks are omnivores, meaning that they eat both grasses and meats. Insects make up a large portion of their diet. Small animals such as mice and birds also make up a substantial portion of their diet. Various fruits and vegetables are also eaten by these hungry little animals. Food

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Skunks have a bad reputation due to their unusual form of defense, in the form of their spray. But in reality, skunks are very shy and non aggressive, and will only use their spray as a last resort. Because of their gentleness, people go so far as to make skunks their pets, though before they do this they remove the glands that hold their spray. However, skunks are not a very safe animal to have, because they are the leading cause of rabies in the US. Created by: Matt Hyles

Gray Fox: 

Gray Fox Stands 12-16 inches at the shoulders. Weighs up to 16 pounds. Length of up to 47 inches. Can reach speeds up to 28 mph over short distances.

Habitat: 

Habitat Comes out mostly at night. When encountered they hide until intruder has passed. Found in wooded areas, sometimes bordering pastures and fields. Prefers to live in inaccessible areas.

Diet: 

Diet Mice, rats, rabbits, birds, invertebrates, fruit, berries, fish, and small reptile eggs. Known for the “mouse pounce.” Use many hunting techniques which vary from stalking to dash-and-grab.

Gray Foxes Den: 

Gray Foxes Den A hollow tree, or a vixen might dig her own den. This den may be up to 75 feet long and have as many as 10 exits. Once a chamber becomes too soiled to inhabit it becomes a chamber for food storage.

Breeding: 

Breeding Generally breed once year. Litters contain 2 to 8 young . Born weighing about 100 grams. They open their eyes after 10 to 14 days. They begin to forage independently after about 4 months.

Status: 

Status Are abundant enough to allow limited hunting and trapping seasons. These activities are highly regulated and occur only in the fall and winter so that newborns are not taken away from mothers. Protected forests benefit the foxes by providing habitat and high prey populations. Created by: Ray Sanchez

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Mountain Lion

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Mountain Lions are most commonly found in North America. They can weigh up to 150 pounds and be up to 8 feet long. A mountain lion has a small head with small, rounded, black tipped ears. Its long tail is also black tipped.

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Mountain Lions are solitary, strong territorial hunters. Unlike most other cat species, Mountain Lions are mostly active during the day. They only eat meat and their favorite prey is deer. Normally, people rarely get to see Mountain Lions in the wild, but if they do, they should stay away because they have been known to attack people.

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-Mountain Lions once roamed the United States from coast to coast, but today are found mostly around the Mississippi River. -During the 1800’s and 1900’s, most states paid bounties to hunt the mountain lions. This reduced their population substantially. The bounties were eliminated in 1960.

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Things to know: -Do not approach a mountain lion. -Avoid hiking alone, or between dusk and dawn. -Always give a mountain lion a way to escape. -Do not run from a mountain lion because this may trigger the lion’s instinct to attack. -Fight back if you get attacked. Created by: Helene Seillan

References: 

References http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/papr/gophersnake.html http://www.lowluckensfarm.co.uk/images/river%20habitat.jpg http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/ctigersal www.photo.net/photo/ everglades/heron1.jpg www.tdroddaphoto.com/ www.majestyofbirds.com/ greatblueheron.html www.vividlight.com/ articles/3205.htm www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i1940id.html http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bird_bios/speciesaccounts/wooduc.html http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/wood_duck.htm www.sciencenmore.com/ duck-wood.jpg www.birdsasart.com/ bn128.htm www.glennvice.com/ osprey%201.043.jpg www.outtakes.com/inside/ www.forestry.gov.uk/ forestry/Osprey home.ctcweb.net/ ~carlson/news0615.html

home.cogeco.ca/.../ great%20horned%20owl.jpg www.nhptv.org/.../ graphics/greathornface.jpgwww.owlpages.com/.../ greathorned1.htmlwww.benrey.com/ birds/owl2.htmhttp://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=MA0031www.borealforest.org/ zoo/otter.htmwww.bigdarby.org/ iMamRiverotter.htmwww.dnr.state.wi.us/.../ mammal/riverotter.htmwww.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/bassastu.htmwww.desertusa.com/mag01/mar/papr/ringt.htmlwww.humboldt.net/~tracker/ringtail.htmlwww.tazzmaynia.com/ info/info2.htmwww.friendsofsaguaro.org/ ringtails.htmlwww.bigbearlake.net/ animals/www.floodlight-findings.com/.../ gallery.htmlwww.npwrc.org/ 02-grayfox.htmlwww.bitwrangler.com/.../ bay-la-gray-fox-2.jpgwww.nhnature.org/images/ female%20standing.jpgwww.defenders.org/ donate/legacy/rtrust.htmlwww.sdnhm.org/kids/ eyes/local-mlion.htmlwww.naturegraphics.net: 

home.cogeco.ca/.../ great%20horned%20owl.jpg www.nhptv.org/.../ graphics/greathornface.jpg www.owlpages.com/.../ greathorned1.html www.benrey.com/ birds/owl2.htm http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=MA0031 www.borealforest.org/ zoo/otter.htm www.bigdarby.org/ iMamRiverotter.htm www.dnr.state.wi.us/.../ mammal/riverotter.htm www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/bassastu.htm www.desertusa.com/mag01/mar/papr/ringt.html www.humboldt.net/~tracker/ringtail.html www.tazzmaynia.com/ info/info2.htm www.friendsofsaguaro.org/ ringtails.html www.bigbearlake.net/ animals/ www.floodlight-findings.com/.../ gallery.html www.npwrc.org/ 02-grayfox.html www.bitwrangler.com/.../ bay-la-gray-fox-2.jpg www.nhnature.org/images/ female%20standing.jpg www.defenders.org/ donate/legacy/rtrust.html www.sdnhm.org/kids/ eyes/local-mlion.html www.naturegraphics.net