Wildlife Identification and Management Flashcards

Which physical characteristic BEST distinguishes a Norway rat from a roof rat?

Answer: Norway rats have a tail shorter than their head-body length

Norway rats have a tail that is shorter than their combined head and body length, while roof rats have a proportionally longer tail that exceeds their head-body length.

What type of wildlife damage is indicated by cone-shaped holes approximately 3 inches in diameter dug throughout a residential lawn?

Answer: Skunk foraging for grubs

Skunks create small, cone-shaped holes in lawns when digging for grubs and insects, which is their characteristic foraging pattern.

Which species is the PRIMARY reservoir host for the rabies virus in the eastern United States?

Answer: Raccoon

Raccoons are the primary terrestrial reservoir for rabies in the eastern United States, accounting for the majority of reported wildlife rabies cases in that region.

An NWCO operator observes a medium-sized mammal active during daylight with patchy fur loss and crusted skin. What condition should be suspected?

Answer: Sarcoptic mange

Patchy fur loss with crusted, thickened skin is the hallmark presentation of sarcoptic mange caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite.

Which track pattern is characteristic of members of the weasel family (Mustelidae) in snow?

Answer: 2x2 bounding pattern with paired tracks

Mustelids typically move in a bounding gait that produces a distinctive 2x2 paired track pattern in snow.

What is the gestation period of the Eastern gray squirrel, which is important for timing exclusion work?

Answer: 44 days

Eastern gray squirrels have a gestation period of approximately 44 days, and exclusion work should be timed to avoid separating mothers from dependent young.