Transcript Minnesota Mammals Past to Present

Minnesota
Mammals
Many of the animals
we see today—deer,
beaver, wolves, cats,
bears, moose, and
several species of
birds such as loons—
moved into the area
at the close of the
Pleistocene and
adapted to the
warmer
temperatures of
today.
 Whitetail deer have played a very important role in the
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history of our country.
Deer were an item of trade between Indians and
European settlers.
The American Indians and early settlers depended on
the Whitetail Deer for food, clothing, implements,
ornaments, ceremonial items, used the bones of the
whitetail deer to make harpoons, picks, and needles.
The hides provided shelter year round.
They utilized deer hides, hooves, and antlers.
 Lived primarily in southern Minnesota where food
and cover was available. They preferred living along
hardwood forests, river bottoms, and prairie grooves.
 Up until 1860 deer were very rare in the heavy
evergreen forests of the northern and northeastern
counties. They preferred habitat with many openings.
Originally 63% of Minnesota was forested, today
approximately 33% is forested.(2001)
 White tailed deer moved northward when forest were
opened up by cut-over and by fires. New growth of
deciduous shrubs and small trees were and still are a
favorite food for deer. They became more populated in
Superior National Forest by 1920.
 The population in northern counties continued to
increase as more and more land in the southern part of
the state was converted into farm land and more people
settled the area. Deer survival in the northern climate is
however more difficult because of winter weather.
Whitetail Deer
In many parts of the United States
extensive clearing of land,
unregulated hunting, and loss of
habitat brought the whitetail deer
population to a record low by the
late 1800's.
Changing land uses, introduced
game laws, and for a time a lack of
natural large predators caused the
whitetail deer population to
rebound dramatically (1930's to
1950's).
 Localized population of deer began to grow in the early
1900’s due to federal and state laws that prohibited
hunting white tailed deer and the development of fully
protected wildlife refugees. The result of the
overpopulation was:
 Over browsed habitats leading to starvation during
severe winters.
 Deer consumed all available food sources leaving
nothing for oncoming winter. The deer made browse
lines, areas that can be visually be seen where deer have
depleted the entire area of all vegetation and browse.
 15-20 deer per square mile was the population estimate.
 During 1850 - 1900 deer had been marketed
commercially
 1870 -1880 was the height of commercial marketing of
wildlife. Marketing wildlife meant:
 Meat was sold in meat markets.
 St. Paul customers could purchase deer meat at 8 -10
cents per pound.
 In 1872, six tons of venison was sent from Litchfield, MN.
to Boston MA. market.
Unlimited numbers of deer were taken by settlers
and market hunters.
 Market hunters were
commercial hunters,
who exploited animals as
a natural resource, for
both money and
economic development.
 Poaching refers to the
unlawful or illegal
harvest, possession, sale,
transport and use of
wildlife or their parts
 Before that no hunting license was required and there
were no restrictions on animals taken.
 By 1900 a hunting license was required, the fee was $.25,
the harvest limit was 5 deer.
 By 1901 the limit was set at 3 deer.
 By 1905 the first season was established. Hunting deer
was limited to a 21 day season and only 2 deer could be
harvested.
 The limit was narrowed to 1 deer by 1915.
 The purpose of the buck only law was to protect does
and fawns.
 By 1933 the deer population was sufficient to support an
annual hunting season once again.
 In Minnesota’s northern, northeastern and north
central counties the annual hunting season did not
return until 1942.
 Since the opening of a regulated firearm season with
specific and limited harvest numbers the white tailed
deer population is stable.
 30 subspecies exist – northern subspecies are larger
than southern species
 In 1900 – 500,000 whitetail deer remained in the
United States
 Estimated today over 30,000,000 deer in the United
States
 MN DNR estimates there are about 1,000,000 whitetail
deer in Minnesota (in spring after fawns are born),
 Size
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3 feet tall at the withers
Adult females weight 85 - 130 pounds
Males over 100 to 300 pounds
Birth weight is 4 to 8 pounds.
 Color
 Fall/Winter pelage- thick, grayish in color, short under
fur with long guard hairs. Shed in April-June.
 Summer pelage- short thin, reddish brown in color.
Shed August-September
 Fawn pelage- spotted for protection. In AugustSeptember lose spots.
 It is thought that mule deer were always present in
Minnesota. However early explorers never
mentioned mule deer presence.
 The first recorded kill of a mule deer was in 1887 in
East Pembina, Kittson county. By 1950 mule deer had
been noted as being seen regularly across the state.
 They had been observed and harvested in 22
counties.
 Size Males 150 to over 3oo pounds. Height at
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shoulders is 3 to 3 ½ feet
Birth weight averages 6.5 pounds
Bodies are more stocky than whitetail
Color varies from gray to brown
Tail is flat and tipped with black
Get their name for their long ears which are
reminiscent of a mule’s ears
 The mule deer is known for its bouncing gait,
landing on all fours. It can reach speeds of over
35 miles per hour, cover 25 feet in a single jump,
and clear a 6 1/2 foot fence. Also, the body can be
turned completely in the opposite direction
during a single bound.
 Peak breeding season is in November
 Mule deer live primarily in western
United States, in the Dakotas and
Manitoba Canada. Some live in
western Minnesota and have been
reported as living in southwestern
and metro area counties as well as
north central counties.
 No breeding colony currently exists in
Minnesota.
 The moose is Minnesota’s largest and most
distinctive large game mammal.
 Lives primarily in the northern wilderness.
 The moose is a boreal forest mammal. Living
north and east of Duluth MN. between upper
Red Lake and Lake of The Woods. They live
where there is balsam fir, white spruce, birch
and aspen, and swamps.
Before the lumberjacks moved into
the north woods the moose was
the most common big game animal
in the northern forest. The decline
in the population was due to:
 Lumberjacks killed moose to eat, they were also thought to
be in the way humans and were hunted with out regard to
the effect the unregulated hunting would have on the
population. In 1660 a number of writings by early settlers
indicated their presence and killing. One party of individuals
reportedly killed 600 moose in 1660.
 Logging, mining and extensive forest fires destroyed moose
habitat.
 As white tailed deer migrated to the northern forest they
began to compete with the moose for food and cover
resources.
 The moose population became quite scarce in
Minnesota by 1885.
 The first laws protecting moose occurred in 1887.
Hunting season of moose was closed in 1922 when the
population was estimated to be less than 2,500. The
season remained closed until 1972 when populations
reached 4,600. The current hunting season is highly
regulated and offered yearly.
 The moose population has decreased recently. In 2011
the population was estimated at 4,900 and in 2012 at
4,230. In 2006 it was estimated at 8,840.
 SIZE
Moose are taller than horses and can measure up to 7.5 feet
(2.3 m) tall at the shoulder. Bulls in Minnesota average 950
to 1000 pounds. Calves weigh 25 to 35 pounds when born.
COLOR
Dark cocoa-brown with light colored legs. During the
winter they turn a grayish color, helping to camouflage
them in the snow-covered landscape. The long legs of the
moose are lighter in color than the body.
 Moose antlers grow
to be up to 5 feet (1.5
m) long or more.
Each year, the old
antlers are shed;
new antlers emerge
the following
spring.
 Browse on twigs and
leaves
 Grass and marsh plants
 Aquatic vegetation
growing in lakes and
streams relished in
summer
 Can dive up to 20 feet
and stay under water for 1
minute to feed on
submerged vegetati0n
Moose need an average
of 45 pounds of
vegetation per day and
up to 120 pounds in the
fall
Elk
Elk were once distributed
over most of Minnesota,
but the native races,
believed to be Cervus
elaphus canadensis in the
wooded forests and C. e.
manitobensis on the
prairie, were nearly
extirpated from the state by
the early 1900s.
Elk Distribution in
North America
Elk Distribution
in Minnesota
 Elk were commonly known as “white rump”. The largest antlered
deer is similar to the red deer of Europe except that it is much larger
in size. Many early European settlers were confused by the large red
deer that was known as elk in the US.
 Elk were native to Minnesota and were once abundant. They were
most abundant in the prairie and hardwood transition forest zones
of the south, west and northwest. Father Hennepin frequently
encountered “stags” along the upper Mississippi 1880, Carver saw
them above the falls of St. Anthony in 1766 and Pike wrote of the
great elk along the Mississippi near Monticello and St. Cloud.
 Link to Elk Bugling
 Color is tan with a white rump
 Height = 4 to 5 feet
 Weight = 500 – 1100 pounds
 Birth weight average is 35 pounds
 The elk disappeared around 1900, their
disappearance from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
Michigan was attributed to:
 Fenced pastures, and developed farm land
 Market hunters
 Settlers abundantly utilized the elk for food and
clothing. Labor gangs utilized the elk for food.
 Entire herds were wantonly killed for the two canine
teeth which sold as tusks for $75 per pair.
 In 1915 a herd of 54 animals were placed in an enclosure near
Lake Itasca. All died but 13 within one year.
 In 1929 8 elk were taken to Superior National Forest however
herds never established.
 In 1935 27 elk were shipped to the northern Beltrami, Lake of
the Woods and Roseau counties. This herd grew to 100 by
1940.
 The herd began to move west into agricultural lands along
the Red River Valley and the herd size grew to 200 - 300
head. Hunting season had been closed in 1893 which helped
the herd to grow. However very little was done to manage the
herd and it slowly diminished.
 Most recently the small herd, left from the original
restocking in 1935 in Beltrami county, still exist and
caused a controversy in the 1980’s. Many individuals
living in the area complained of many problems with
the herd and so the government reacted by attempting
to re-locate the herd. The measure failed and caused
even more controversy.
 A herd in Kittson and Roseau Counties may have
migrated from Canada/North Dakota, and/or be from
the reintroduced herd
Bison
The bison or buffalo once
thrived on Minnesota prairies.
However, by 1900, settlement
and slaughter by market
hunters and the U.S. Army
combined to reduce buffalo
numbers to a handful of captive
bison. Soldiers killed
thousands of buffalo in an
attempt to starve out Native
American tribes.
 Prior to the North American settlement, bison ranged
from the Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains and
beyond to the Sierra Nevada Range and from Mexico into
Canada.
 Two species exist:
 Plains Bison - most numerous and ranged over a larger area.
 Woodland Bison - lived mainly in forested areas.
 Plains bison were very important to the survival many
Native American tribes. The Native Americans killed only
the bison they needed for food and shelter. They made
complete use out of the animal.
 At birth a bison calf weighs about fifty pounds. A full
grown adult bull can weigh around 2000 pounds. Cows
(female bison) average around 1,000 pounds
 A full grown bull is about six feet tall.
 Both male and female buffaloes have horns.
 Bison are dark brown
 At one time over 60 million existed in the
U.S. The largest herd extended for 50 miles
in one direction and 25 miles in another,
and contained 4 million animals.
 White settlers did not live well with bison
and so the slaughter of millions of animals
began. Many animals were needlessly killed
and wantonly wasted. The slaughter
reached its peak in 1870 and by 1883 was
nearly over.
 Prairie regions of Minnesota supported large herds of
plains bison. Radisson, Hennepin, LeSueur, Carver and
Pike all reported encountering large herds in Minnesota,
including area of the Falls of St. Anthony, Kanabec
county.
 LeSueur party reported killing 400 bison near Mankato
to sustain them through the winter of 1700.
 By 1850 all the bison had disappeared from eastern
Minnesota. In 1867 a large herd was observed in the Red
River Valley but were on the North Dakota side.
 Bison skulls were used by surveyors in plotting the
treeless section of S.W. Minnesota. Each section
corner (4 skulls) one skull at the half section mark.
Skulls were readily available for surveyors to use. This
occurred in the early 1870’s.
Bison
Skulls
 A herd of bison reside at Blue Mounds State Park.
In 1961 Blue Mounds State Park added three bison
from the Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge near
Valentine, Nebraska to start the present bison
herd. Today, the Blue Mounds' herd is maintained
at more than 100 bison.
 Member of the deer family
 Only deer species in which both species grow antlers
 Diet Ground and tree lichens preferred, also shrubs,
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grasses, and willows
Size Average height 4 feet at shoulders
Length 6 feet Weight 250 to 700 pounds
Color Deep brown in summer and nearly white in
winter
Lifespan 10-15 years
 They are a wilderness animal of the northern
forests, muskegs and bogs. They require large
tracts of wilderness and are even less tolerant of
man and his activities than moose. Their range is
the southern limits of the northern boreal forests
to the Arctic. They are also on occasion found in
southern Canada. Four species exist.
 (Tundra Reindeer) (Barren Ground Caribou)
 Woodland Caribou
 Mountain Caribou
 Quebec - Labrador Caribou
 Woodland caribou were once fairly common in northern
Minnesota.
From 1660 - 1880 explorers, Native Americans, voyagers
and biologists all reported caribou as abundant and a
source of meat supply from Lake Superior to Lake of the
Woods.
 By 1880’s population diminished Unrestricted shooting
for meat was a major factor as well as logging, mining,
forest fires settlement and clearing of land
 By the 1920’s they were diminished in Minnesota and
completely disappeared by 1940. The herd had
numbered in the thousands originally and was reduced to
3 cows by 1937. The last of the caribou survived until
1940 in the “Big Bog” of the Red Lake area.
 The last hunting season for woodland caribou was 1904.
 In 1936 an intensive program was undertaken to
reintroduce caribou to Minnesota. Ten animals were
brought in from Canada in 1938. Some died and few
calves were ever born and by 1946 no evidence could be
found that the animals existed. Since 1995 only an
occasional sighting is reported in the Rainy River region.
Those animals are thought to be wanders from Ontario.
 Unsuccessful re-introduction efforts were made in the
late 70’s and early 80’s.
 Antlers are a pair of bony, branched structures that
protrude from the frontals of the skull of animals and
are shed annually
 Most easily recognized characteristics of family
Cervidae (deer-elk-moose-caribou)
 Present only in males (except for caribou)
 Members of the Bovidae
family have horns (Bison
– Cattle )
 Horns are also paired
and protrude from the
frontals, but they are
permanent, unbranched,
and made up of a bony
core and a keratinized
sheath.
 Their original range included the extreme western
edge of Minnesota. All sightings and comments are
restricted to the western edge of Minnesota.
 Antelope were never abundant in Minnesota. Most
resent sightings in Lac Qui Parle 1977 - 78 and 1982.
 The last antelope hunting season in Minnesota was
1892.
 Antelope is a native of America and did not migrate
from Asia as is true of deer, moose, bighorn sheep and
bison.
 The American subspecies of the pronghorn
(Antilocapra americana americana) may be
infrequently found in far western Minnesota.
 Although they are often referred to as "pronghorn
antelope" they are not antelope, and are not related to
the African or Asian antelopes or any other family.
 They are the last survivors of a once widespread North
American family known as Antilocapridae. Many of
their ancestors had pronged horns on both the top of
the head and on the upper nose.
 Adult Pronghorns may be
from 4-4 1/2 feet long, 3-3
1/2 feet high, males weigh
100-150 pounds, females 75100 pounds. Live 5-10 years,
mate from September
through October, gestation
7-8 months, generally have 2
fawns born in May or June.
Color is light tan to reddish
tan, with white cheek
patches on chin, neck,
chest, sides and rumps, ears
are trimmed with black.
Males have a dark patch
under the lower jaw.
 pronghorn antelope
(Antilocapra
americana) is the
fastest land animal
of North America
 Their eyesight is
phenomenal and
compares to a human
using 8X binoculars
 Both males and females
have horns; the males are
larger. Their pronged
horns, which range from
15-19 inches, are shed
annually. Tracks are 2 3/4
- 3 1/2 inches long and
they have no dewclaws
 Pronghorns shed the outer
keratinous layer of their horns
annually, but retain the bony
core. Unlike the horns of the
family Bovidae, the horn
sheaths of the pronghorn are
branched, each sheath
possessing a forward pointing
tine (hence the name
pronghorn).
 Black bear inhabited most of Minnesota at the time it
was settled. They were found in timber lands and
survived where large deciduous forest existed.
 Today black bear are found in the northern one third
of the state or generally north and east of the line
from Roseau to Pine City. This migration of bear to the
north was due to settlers clearing land for farms and
logging.
 Typical weights
 Males (Boars) of breeding age: 125-500 lbs. or more
 Females (Sows) of breeding age: 90-300 lbs. or more
 Height- An average adult black bear measures 2-3 feet tall
at the shoulder when on all four legs.
 Cubs weigh ½-1 pound at birth
 Female black bears give birth to two or three blind,
helpless cubs in mid-winter and nurse them in the den
until spring, when all emerge in search of food. The
cubs will stay with their very protective mother for
about two years
 Consists of grasses, roots,
berries, and insects.
 Also eat fish and mammals—
including carrion
 Easily develop a taste for
human foods and garbage.
 Bears who become habituated
to human food at campsites,
cabins, or rural homes can
become dangerous and are
often killed—thus the
frequent reminder: Please
don't feed the bears!
 .Pelage
 Black bears are not always black.
 B. They can be brown, black, blonde and
cinnamon and on very rare occasion albino.
 The same litter of cubs may include all three
colors.
 The black bear of Minnesota is of the geographical
sub-species that is most common and widely
distributed of 15 -18 sub-species found in North
America. It ranges from northern Georgia through the
Appalachians to Labrador and west to the Rocky
Mountains across Canada and Northern U.S.
 As settlements moved westward, the black bear
disappeared from the cleared areas for farming. It
remained in areas too hilly or mountainous for
farming.
 Until recently black bear were regarded as nuisance.
They were killed for bounty because they were thought
to be dangerous and pesky. No laws restricted the
hunting of black bears. The fat of the ear commonly
know as “bear grease” was used greatly by settlers as a
cooking oil and hair oil. It was a very valuable product.
 The first legislation protecting bears was in 1917 but was
repealed in 1919. Various restriction on hunting and
trapping were applied and rescinded from 1923 - 1943. In
1945 a bounty was established, within 5 years 1700 bear
had been killed for bounty.
 By 1960 the average bounty kill dropped to 67 per year.
All bounty killing was eliminated in 1965
 In 1956 -1970, hunters that held deer permits were allowed to hunt
bear. The average harvest was 146 bear per year. In 1971 the
legislature established bear as big game animal and authorized a
hunting season for black bear. During the 1970’s an average of 141
bears were harvested per year.
 In 1981 1,800 bear were harvested.
 A development of a permit system and five bear per year
management units was established with limited number of
permits issued.
 In recent years, bear have expanded their range into more
agricultural lands. Nuisance problems have increased as they do
extensive damage to grain crops, bee hives and orchards and rarely
but occasionally prey on small livestock.
 A Wolves are carnivores
 It is not certain the impact wolves have on the population of
deer and moose. It generally varies a great deal and does
not seem to currently limit the populations seriously.
 Wolves consume an average of 15 deer per year
 They are more likely to prey upon very young or very old,
weak or sick animals.
 Wolves continually hunt whenever they travel. They do not
kill daily and so when they are on the move they are always
alert to possible prey. When deer are aware of wolves
presence they generally flee the area.
 Deer family members often fall prey to wolves in the
winter in deep snow or on frozen lakes. Deer are not
adapted well to winter escape because of their long
thin legs and their small toed hooves. They are able to
defend themselves from wolves if they stand their
ground. Their hooves make excellent weapons.
 At one time, wolves lived though out Minnesota. Due
to settlement and clearing of forest they moved north.
Their current range is the Superior National Forest and
northern Minnesota.
Wolf Attack on Elk
 In 1849 -1965, the wolf population declined rapidly.
Wolves were thought to be dangerous and were
killed for bounty. Wolves were taken by hunters
and trappers employed by the state from 19491956. From 1969 - 1974 a predator control program
that included taking wolves by designated trappers
in areas of verified livestock losses for an incentive
of $50 per wolf.
 By 1967, wolves in Minnesota were listed on the
endangered species list classified as threatened.
This gave the wolves complete protection inside
the Superior National Forest. Outside of this area
they were unprotected until 1974.
 In 1975, wolves were considered endangered and their
management became the responsibility of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
 In 1975, an eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Team was
formed to develop a wolf management plan which
resulted in five management zones, optimum wolf levels
for each zone limited public taking of wolves outside
sanctuaries and reclassifying of the wolf from
endangered to threatened.
 Minnesota's wolves transitioned from federal
protection under the Endangered Species Act to state
management by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources on Jan. 27, 2012.
 A wolf trapping and hunting season was started in the
2012 hunting season
2012 estimates that there are approximately 3000 wolves in
Minnesota
 Bobcats on occasion kill deer but are in no way a
serious threat to the deer population.
 They tend to prey on rabbits, birds and other smaller
game mammals rather than deer.
 They primarily live in northern Minnesota in forested
areas.
 About 2,000 are estimated to live in Minnesota
 General description: A medium-sized animal with a
very short "bob" (which means cut short) tail, with
light brown or gray fur on the top and white fur, often
with black spots, on the belly.
 Length: Adults are 26 to 36 inches long, plus a 4- to 7inch tail.
 Weight: Adult females weigh 20 to 25 pounds, and
adult males about 30 pounds.
 Color: Brown or gray on top, white on the belly often
with black spots.
 The cougar – sometimes
referred to as a mountain
lion or puma – was found
throughout most of
Minnesota prior to
European settlement,
though never in large
numbers. Today, they are
rarely seen but
occasionally do appear.
 Color Grayish to reddish brown with black tip on tail
 Weight Males average 137 pounds
 Height 25-30 inches at shoulder
 Length 6.6 feet from nose to tip of tail
 Potential management considerations could include ones
similar to those outlined for wolves in the Minnesota Wolf
Management Plan. Those include: population monitoring,
habitat management, enforcement against illegal take,
dispensing information, and supporting educational
efforts and research.
 but also rabbit, squirrel, porcupine and
other smaller animals.