NWCO Wildlife Identification and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physical characteristic BEST distinguishes a Norway rat from a roof rat?
- Norway rats are always black in color
- Norway rats have a tail shorter than their head-body length (Correct answer)
- Roof rats have smaller ears than Norway rats
- Norway rats are smaller than roof rats
Correct 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.
The tail-to-body length ratio is the most reliable field identification marker between these two common rats. Norway rats have a thick, shorter tail that does not exceed their head-body length. Roof rats have a thinner, longer tail that exceeds head-body length. Color is unreliable as both species vary. Norway rats are actually larger than roof rats, and roof rats have proportionally larger ears.
Question 2: What type of wildlife damage is indicated by cone-shaped holes approximately 3 inches in diameter dug throughout a residential lawn?
- Mole tunneling
- Skunk foraging for grubs (Correct answer)
- Groundhog burrow entrances
- Squirrel food caching
Correct 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.
Skunks forage for grubs, beetle larvae, and other soil-dwelling invertebrates. Their damage pattern consists of small cone-shaped holes approximately 3-4 inches in diameter and 1-3 inches deep, scattered across the lawn. Mole damage appears as raised surface tunnels and mounds. Groundhog burrows are much larger with excavated soil piles. Squirrel digging creates smaller, shallower depressions.
Question 3: Which species is the PRIMARY reservoir host for the rabies virus in the eastern United States?
- White-tailed deer
- Eastern cottontail rabbit
- Raccoon (Correct answer)
- Virginia opossum
Correct 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.
The raccoon variant of rabies is the dominant terrestrial strain in the eastern United States. Raccoons account for approximately 30% of all reported wildlife rabies cases nationally and are the dominant reservoir east of the Appalachians. Skunks are the primary reservoir in the central states, foxes in parts of the southwest and Alaska, and bats carry rabies across all regions. Virginia opossums are notably resistant to rabies.
Question 4: An NWCO operator observes a medium-sized mammal active during daylight with patchy fur loss and crusted skin. What condition should be suspected?
- Rabies
- Sarcoptic mange (Correct answer)
- Canine parvovirus
- Lyme disease
Correct answer: Sarcoptic mange
Patchy fur loss with crusted, thickened skin is the hallmark presentation of sarcoptic mange caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite.
Sarcoptic mange is caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei and is common in foxes, coyotes, and other canids. Clinical signs include progressive hair loss, crusted and thickened skin, and secondary bacterial infections. Severely affected animals may appear nearly hairless and are often active during unusual hours. While rabies can cause behavioral changes, it does not cause hair loss. Mange is also zoonotic and can temporarily infect humans.
Question 5: Which track pattern is characteristic of members of the weasel family (Mustelidae) in snow?
- Diagonal walking pattern
- 2x2 bounding pattern with paired tracks (Correct answer)
- Single-file straight line
- Alternating hopping pattern like a rabbit
Correct answer: 2x2 bounding pattern with paired tracks
Mustelids typically move in a bounding gait that produces a distinctive 2x2 paired track pattern in snow.
Members of the weasel family characteristically move in a bounding or loping gait that creates a distinctive 2x2 paired track pattern. The hind feet land in or near the impressions of the front feet, creating pairs of prints with consistent spacing between pairs. This differs from the diagonal walk of canids, the single-track pattern of foxes, and the Y-shaped hopping pattern of rabbits.
Question 6: What is the gestation period of the Eastern gray squirrel, which is important for timing exclusion work?
- 21 days
- 44 days (Correct answer)
- 63 days
- 90 days
Correct 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.
The Eastern gray squirrel has a gestation period of approximately 44 days. This is critical for NWCO operators because exclusion work during nesting season risks separating a mother from dependent young trapped inside. Best practice is to wait until young are mobile enough to exit on their own (approximately 10-12 weeks of age) before installing one-way exclusion devices.
NWCO Wildlife Identification and Management 2
Which physical characteristic BEST distinguishes a Norway rat from a roof rat?