Category Archives: Wildlife

Interpretive Blogs about Wildlife and Plants

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

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What animal can be found in almost every state, and in northern Canada to southern Mexico?

A Deer Mouse

The deer mouse occurs as part of essentially all communities in North America below the treeline (high mountainous areas where trees do not grow). It has the broadest distribution of any species within the genus.   

Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Characteristics

You may not see it in the wild very often. Why? Because it is active at night and a rather small mouse-like rodent.

You may however, see it in a research lab. Deer mice are used because they are easy to care for and keep themselves clean.

This mouse is only three to four inches full grown with a multicolored tail that may be four to five inches long. The colorings, tail length, and markings vary widely with the soft fur color ranging from brown to black. The white underside and feet are consistent. The mouse got the name “deer” because its color pattern was similar to that of a white-tailed deer.

Nesting

During the day the species spends a lot of time in trees a common nest location. They are excellent climbers and swimmers. They will also build soil burrows, use rock crevices, and a variety of other locations for their nests.

Nests are created using grasses, roots, mosses, wool, thistledown, etc.  They are often communal. Deer mouse litters are kept in separate, away from the communal nest.

These mice often stay in their original home range to reproduce. They are social, and will recognize and interact with mice that have overlapping ranges. Communications are chemical, visual, and vocal (such as shrieks, squeaks, trills, and drumming out a warning.

OCD-like Behavior

Movement is usually on foot walking or running. They will also leap when threatened. Limited movement leads to intrafamilial mating and limited gene flow within a range.

This may contribute to OCD-like behaviors that become evident by two months old. One behavior is creating overly large nests in the lab when not necessary.

Reproduction

This rodent reproduces profusely compared to other species and even to local mammals. Food availability, rather than season, will determined breeding opportunities.

It is not uncommon for female deer mice to have three or more litters per year. Captive deer mice have had as many as 14 litters in one year.

Mice reach adulthood at six weeks.

Diet

Deer mice are omnivores and will change their eating habits based on the season. This rodent heavily consumes arthropods such as spiders and caterpillars in the winter with seeds, insects in the spring, seeds, fruits, and leaves in the summer. They will also consume fungi.

Deer mice hoard their food and will store up to one pint of food in ground holes, tree cavities, and nests.

Predators

They are prey for almost everything like larger mammals, snakes, domestic pets, and birds. Deer mice are can carry viruses.

Disease Carrier

One particular virus to note is the Hanta. These rodents can carry the airborne hantavirus. Hanta can be passed to humans during clean up operations and through contaminated food.

Minimize the Risk

To minimize these rodents minimize potential nesting locations such as rock piles, firewood, and vegetation (especially vines connecting trees to attics) before cold weather hits. Close up any openings to your home. Get some help eradicating an infection.      

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Deer Mouse (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/deer-mouse)
–USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) (https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/pema/all.html)
–(Wikipedia, Peromyscus maniculatus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peromyscus_maniculatus)
–Orkin, Deer Mice (https://www.orkin.com/rodents/mouse-control/deer-mice)
–Animalia, Deer Mouse (http://animalia.bio/deer-mouse)

Redtail Surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus)

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Surf fishing is one of Oregon’s most underutilized fisheries.
There are plenty of places to fish and lots of fish to catch!

There are nine different species of surfperch found off the Oregon coast. The most popular surfperch is the Redtail.  It is popular because it is very tasty and frequently caught.

Redtails are found from Baja California northward up into Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Redtail surfperch are predominantly surf dwellers off sandy beaches.

Surfperch fishing (courtesy of ODFW)

Typically, they live in large schools in the surf zone about 30 feet from the shoreline (or between the second and fourth breaker row. They are attracted to the deeper holes and areas with high sand erosion.  

These fish concentrate just before spawning in the spring and early summer in sheltered waters such as estuaries and protected bay areas. Large numbers of these fish can be taken at this time. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife regulations are usually very generous and this fish can be released with minimal harm.  

Surfperch and Seaperch are sometimes confused. Seaperch live in kelp beds in deeper waters.

Identification

The Redtail Surfperch is a slim, oblong-shaped fish that is about twice as long as high and can weigh in at over three pounds and grow to around 16 inches long. The average size is about two pounds.

Redtail surfperch (courtesy ODFW)

This silver to white fish has eight to eleven reddish brown vertical bars on the sides. The red or pink fins have both rays and spines, and the tail is moderately forked. Coloration can vary depending on the time of year (breeding season) and age of the fish.

Prey

Surfperch prefer small crustaceans and will also dine on small crabs, shrimp, mussels, and marine worms. Sand crabs; sand, kelp, and tube worms; or clam necks and mussels can be used for bait. They will also take a shrimp pattern fly off of a flyrod.

Breeding

Surfperch breed in the fall and give birth to live young between June to August. A female will typically birth an average of 27 miniature replicas of the adults. Maximum number of young can reach 51.

Harvest Techniques

Scout out potential fishing locations ahead of time during low tides. Look for steeply sloped beaches where the waves are breaking hard, rocky areas near sandy or jetties, and places where the shore cuts inward. The best time to fish is an hour or two before high tide.

Fishing gear can be rented if desired. If you have your own set up, choose a #4 or #6 hook and secure it 24-30 inches below a 1- to 2-ounce sinker on an 8- to 10-pound line.  Sturdy flyrods can also be used.

Enjoying them

These are tasty fish and taste similar to their distant cousins (rockfish, snapper, and sea bass). Recipes for the ‘cousins’ will work just fine for surfperch. Typically, the fish is grilled whole, crispy-fried, or steamed Asian style. Filleting anything less than two pounds will waste too much meat.

You can also find these fish in West Coast Asian markets all year long whole or scaled and gutted. They may be referred to by other common names such as rosy surf fish, redtail seaperch, porgie, or Oregon porgie.

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (https://myodfw.com/fishing/species/redtail-surfperch and …/how-fish- surfperch)
–Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species
–The Spruce Eats (https://www.thespruceeats.com/cooking-with-pacific-surperch-1300660)

Douglas Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)

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Douglas Squirrel (courtesy of ODFW)

Squirrels used to ‘bad mouth’ my dog from their seemingly safe tree branch. What they didn’t know is that the dog liked to climb trees.

There is a good chance that one of those squirrels was a Douglas squirrel which is one of the smaller tree squirrels in Oregon. This rodent’s range extends southward from British Columbia coniferous forests through northern California including eastern edges of Oregon. It is native to British Columbia.

Physical Appearances

The coat colors will vary depending on region and season but are usually brown with rusty orange on the chest and under tail.  It will grow up to about 12-14 inches total (7-inches for the body, 5-inches for the tail).

They also have orange-colored front teeth that never stop growing and can overgrow if not constantly controlled.  

When active

Douglas’ squirrels are active during the daylight hours year around and known for their highly vocal (noisy) sputterings and scoldings. They use a system of calls during courtship, when defending territory, and as an alarm.

The dog didn’t like it one little bit.

Habitat

Douglas’ squirrels will spend most of their time climbing trees, looking for food, and watching (or scolding) predators. Home range for tree squirrels can extend one-half to 10 acres.

Squirrels are fairly safe in trees where their only predators might be owls and hawks. They are excellent climbers and jumpers with powerful claws for gripping tree bark and tails to help them balance.

The tail is multifunctional working to help them climb and leap around trees, but also to serve as an umbrella and warm blanket. They also communicate to other squirrels using their tails like a flag.

On the ground, squirrels are protected by their well-developed hearing, smell, and eyesight. These senses along with whiskers around their noses, chins and eyes help them sense their environment. 

Even then they can become prey for raptors, coyotes, bobcats, domestic cats and dogs (that are fast enough to catch them…unlike my dog). They are not afraid of humans.

Food

Tree squirrels consume plant materials such as seeds, nuts, buds, berries, leaves and twigs. They are opportunists and will eat fungi, insects, eggs, and nestlings. They serve as key distributors for fungi sores which develop mycorrhizal beneficial relationships with conifer tree roots.

Squirrels will also store food and recover it when needed. Storage sites include animal burrows, hollow trees, stumps, flowerpots, abandoned cars, wood piles, and buildings. 

Winter nests are always created in or near a food storage site. These nests typically are made from leaves, twigs, bark, moss and other soft materials, and sometimes insulation.

Reproduction

Tree squirrels rear two litters of young each year. The first litter is produced in early spring or summer, and the second is produced in August through September. The second litter may overwinter with the mouther.

Those teeth!

They will chew on solid object such as twigs, sticks, wires, and hoses to help clean and trim their teeth. The dog is not always to blame for the leaky hose.  Who knew?

REFERENCES:
–Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Marmots (https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/squirrels-chipmunks-and-marmots)
–Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/tree-squirrels# and https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/tamiasciurus-douglasii)
–Anamalia, Douglas squirrel (http://animalia.bio/douglas-squirrel)
–The Western Gray Squirrel and other Squirrels in Washington (https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/01024/wdfw01024.pdf)