Wildlife Identification and Management Flashcards

Which sign BEST indicates flying squirrel infestation rather than gray squirrel in an attic?

Answer: Nighttime scratching and running sounds

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, so nighttime activity sounds are the key distinguishing indicator compared to diurnal gray squirrels.

Which bird species is NOT protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and can be legally controlled without a permit?

Answer: European starling

European starlings are an introduced species not protected under the MBTA and can be controlled without a federal permit.

What does the presence of 'latrines' near the base of a large tree or on a flat rock most likely indicate?

Answer: Raccoon communal defecation site

Raccoons create communal latrines at consistent locations such as tree bases, flat rocks, rooftops, and decks.

Which fur characteristic helps distinguish a coyote from a domestic dog of similar size?

Answer: Coyotes have banded (agouti) guard hairs with multiple color bands per hair shaft

Coyote guard hairs display agouti banding with multiple color bands per shaft, giving their coat a grizzled appearance distinct from most domestic dogs.

An operator discovers a bat colony roosting in a church attic in July. What management approach is required?

Answer: Install one-way exclusion devices and wait until fall when young can fly before final sealing

During the maternity season, exclusion must be delayed until young bats are volant, typically by late August, to avoid trapping flightless pups inside.

Which snake characteristic indicates it is a venomous pit viper in North America?

Answer: Triangular-shaped head with visible heat-sensing pits between the eye and nostril

Pit vipers have triangular heads and distinctive heat-sensing pit organs located between the eye and nostril on each side.