SOME MAMMALS SEEN RECENTLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

I have been slowly adding the following few species to my blog because seeing them is rapidly become rare due to the constantly increasing populated/overbuilt areas occupying former "wild lands" in northern Los Angeles County, Southern California.

WESTERN BRUSH? RABBIT

I was unable to see the tail of this rabbit, thus I was unable to positively identify it. I think it is it the Western Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachman), a species of cottontail rabbit that is gray, black, or brown with small ears and a small dark tail (unable to see in my photo). Just as soon as I took this picture, this very shy specimen “took off running” into the dense foliage. I did not even think to look at the color of its tail! Next time, I shall be more observant.

This species is found from Oregon to the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Its range is also the east side of the Sierra Nevada in California.

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WESTERN FOX SQUIRREL

This post concerns a genus of squirrel native to North America. Today, there is the “Eastern” Fox Squirrel and and “Western” Fox Squirrel. The latter, which was introduced to the western United States near the turn of the century, evolved from the Eastern Fox Squirrel. That particular squirrel lives today in the eastern and central United States and ranges from Canada to Mexico. That particular variant has gray color and is smaller than the new variant that now lives in California. The new variant is characterized by gold-colored fur on its belly and a bushy tail. It is also the largest species (up to 29 inches long and weighs up to 3 pounds) of tree squirrels native to the United States. 

Classification:

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Genus Sciurus

Species S. niger Linnaeus, 1758

This squirrel is most active in late morning and mid-day. It is aboreal (i.e., spends most of its time in trees). They do not live in groups.

The geologic range of “fox” squirrels sensu lato [= in the broad sense] is Middle Holocene (7,000 years ago) to present day.

Remains have been found at Rancho La Brea (tar pits) = Pleistocene age. 

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COYOTE

Coyotes can be found throughout the United States, including Alaska. They are omnivores and eat practically anything. They can weight up to about 40 pounds (collie-dog size). I have seen many of them in my years of hiking and field work in southern California. Unlike a few human land owners I have come across, they have never been aggressive toward me. They are most common around where humans dump their garbage in an irresponsible manner.

Classification:

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Genus Canis

Species C. latrans

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BLACK BEAR

 Bear image taken by a security video camera in the evening, just north 

of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, southern California. 

This elusive species comes in many different colors: from solid black to shades of brown and tan. They eat grass, berries, flowers, nuts, grub, insects, honey, fish, and small mammals. They are usually not aggressive but their behavior, like all wild animals, can be unpredictable.

Classification:

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Genus Ursus

Species U. americanus

Black bears were introduced to Southern California in the 1930’s after over hunting by humans caused the extinction of the California grizzly bear.

In all my field work over many years in Southern California, I only saw one black bear (a mature one!), and it was about a quarter-of-a-mile away and never detected me.