| Class: |
Mammalia |
|
||
| Order: | Carnivora | |||
| Family: | Mustelidae, weasel family (long slender bodies, short legs) include skunks, mink, otter, weasel, martens, badger, wolverine. | |||
| Genus: | Taxidea | |||
| Species: | taxus | |||
| Name/ History: |
Marks on the face looks like a badge. | |||
| Size: |
Male
|
Female
|
Young
|
|
| Weight (lbs) |
17-25
|
13-20
|
Achieves
adult size by fall |
|
| Height (in) |
22-28
|
18-22
|
||
| Tail (in) |
3-4
|
3-4
|
||
| Rut: | July-August, promiscuous | |||
| Gestation: | Delayed implantation, fetus does not develop until February | |||
| Birth: | February-May above ground by themselves in 4-5 weeks, but tire easily. If they are moved they are probably carried by mother. | |||
| # young: | 2-5 | |||
| Age: | 12 years | |||
| Habitat/ Range: |
Open grasslands, deserts. Lives in own burrow. Range northern Canada to central Mexico, Pacific coast to central lakes states. | |||
| Food: | Rodents, vegetation, birds | |||
| Enemies: | Man (occasionally coyotes) | |||
| Disease: | Rabies, tularemia | |||
| Communication: | Scent seems to play dominant role. | |||
| Behavior/ Characteristics: |
Mostly nocturnal, solitary. | |||
