Mammals of Indiana: A Field Guide

In Memory of the Recently Extirpated Native Species

xi In Memory of the Recently Extirpated Native Species The mammalian fauna of Indiana is constantly changing, as is evidenced by the number of species that have become extirpated over the past 150 years. Other species may be extirpated in the future. For this reason, most states have compiled lists of endangered and threatened species. The Indiana endangered (in danger of extirpation) list currently includes the Indiana myotis, gray myotis, evening bat, swamp rabbit, Franklin’s ground squirrel, Allegheny woodrat, and bobcat. The threatenedspecieslistisnolongerrecognizedinIndiana (speciesthat arelikelytobecomeendangeredwithintheforeseeablefuture); it included only one species, the badger. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is currently very rare in Indiana and is of only accidental occurrence. The southeastern myotis wintered regularly in caves in south central Indiana but is now probably extirpated. EXTIRPATED NATIVE SPECIES (Dental formulas given below are described on pp. 26–27.) Porcupine,Erethizondorsatum.Theporcupineisbestknown for its quills, which occur over most of the dorsal part of the body except for the face and inside of the legs. They are present ontheundersideofthetail.Thequillsareyellowish-whitewith black tips and range from about 1 to 4" in length. Though not as obvious as that of the skunk, the porcupine has a black and white warning pattern that tends to alert would-be predators. The total length of the porcupine is 36–40" (900–1,000 mm), tail 150 mm, hind foot 87–100 mm. Weight 15–25 lbs or more when fat. Skull: length 92–111 mm. Dental formula: I 1 C 0 P 1 M 3 = 20 1 0 1 3 Porcupines mate in late autumn. One young (occasionally two) is produced. The young are very large. Porcupines are Mammals.indb 11 3/31/10 3:08 PM xii   In Memory of the Recently Extirpated Native Species born with eyes opened and fully haired, often with quills. The porcupine declined because of loss of forest and also because of killing by humans, as they, like bats and snakes, have an undeserved bad reputation. In reality, they are a very interesting species that reproduces very slowly. Most of the late records of this species in Indiana were in the 1800s. Gray wolf, Canis lupus. There is confusion in the literature about the native species of Canis in Indiana involving the timber wolf, Canis lupus; red wolf, Canis rufus; and coyote, Canislatrans . The timber wolf was present at the time of settlement and disappeared by 1908. The coyote apparently was rare at the time of settlement but increased after disappearance of the gray wolf, especially since the 1980s. There is much more question about the Texas red wolf. It may simply have been a southern, smaller form of the gray wolf and may or may not have been in Indiana. Most workers today consider it to be a full species, although genetically it is similar to the gray wolf, the coyote, and the domestic dog. The gray wolf is very large, weighing about 100 lbs. Adult males measure about 1,300– 1,800 mm, tail 400 mm, hind foot 240 mm. The main food of wolves was deer and other large species, which were hunted in packs. The gray wolf is now gone from the eastern United StatesexceptforareasinMinnesota,Wisconsin,andtheupper peninsula of Michigan. Skull: 232–263 mm. Dental formula: I 3 C 1 P 4 M 2 = 42 3 1 4 3 Black bear, Ursus americanus. The black bear is about 5–6' long (1,500–1,800 cm) with a tail of 5" (125 mm), hind foot 71/2" (185 mm), weight about 200–500 lbs (90–227 kg). The skull is about 10" (255 mm) long. Dental formula: I 3 C 1 P 4 M 2 = 42 3 1 4 3 The black bear is very dark brown or black. Black bears den in hollows in trees, under banks, under tree trunks, and in other such protected places. They remain in the den for most of the winter but do not truly hibernate. They produce one to four young (usually two) during their winter denning period. Bears are remarkable for their tiny size at birth, Mammals.indb 12 3/31/10 3:08 PM In Memory of the Recently Extirpated Native Species   xiii only about 200 grams and about 180 mm in length. Black bears feed on grasses and forbs in spring and fruits and mast in summer and fall. They will also eat berries of many kinds but especially blueberries, as well...