Identify Mammals with Minnesota’s Famous Identification Guide! Whether it’s stumbling upon an animal track or actually seeing wildlife in nature, interacting with mammals is a thrill. Learn to identify mammals in Minnesota. With Stan Tekiela’s popular field guide, mammal identification is simple and informative. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of animals that don’t live in your area. This book features 75 species of Minnesota mammals organized by family, and then by size, for ease of use. When you see a mammal, you can determine its family by common visual characteristics. Then turn to the corresponding section to find out what it is! Inside you’ll find: all 75 of Minnesota’s mammals, from mice to moose - facts about size, habitat, range, young, and more - times each animal is most likely to be active and signs that it might leave, such as rubs and scrapes - track patterns, size details, and scat photos - Stan’s naturalist notes and gee-whiz facts This field guide includes professional photographs and range maps, relevant information, and plenty of Stan’s expert insights. So grab Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide to help ensure that you positively identify the mammals that you see. Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the originator of the popular state-specific field guide series. Stan has authored more than 190 educational books, including field guides, quick guides, nature books, children’s books, playing cards and more, presenting many species of animals and plants. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers, and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations. Stan can be followed on Facebook and Twitter. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Family: Deer (Cervidae) Size: L 4-7' (1.2-2.1 m); T 6-12" (15-30 cm); H 3-4' (1-1.2 m) Weight: M 100-300 lb. (45-135 kg); F 75-200 lb. (34-90 kg) Description: Reddish brown during summer, grayish brown during winter. Large ears, white inside with black edges. A white eye-ring, nose band, chin, throat and belly. Brown tail with a black tip and white underside. Male has antlers with many tines and an antler spread of 12-36" (30-90 cm). Female has a thinner neck than male and lacks antlers. Origin/Age: native; 5-10 years Compare: Slightly smaller size than the much less common Mule Deer (pg. 269), which has a small thin white tail with a black tip. Habitat: all habitats Home: no den or nest; sleeps in a different spot every night, beds may be concentrated in one area, does not use a shelter in bad weather or winter, will move to a semi-sheltered area (yard) with a good food supply in winter Food: herbivore; grasses and other green plants, acorns and nuts in summer, twigs and buds in winter Sounds: loud whistle-like snorts, male grunts, fawn bleats Breeding late Oct-Nov mating; 6-7 months gestation Young: 1-2 fawns once per year in May or June; covered with white spots, walks within hours of birth Signs: browsed twigs that are ripped or torn (due to the lack of upper incisor teeth), tree rubs (saplings scraped or stripped of bark) made by male while polishing antlers during the rut, oval depressions in snow or leaves are evidence of beds; round, hard brown pellets during winter, cylindrical segmented masses of scat in spring and summer Activity: nocturnal, crepuscular; often moves along same trails to visit feeding areas, moves around less when snow is deep Tracks: front hoof 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) long, hind hoof slightly smaller, both with a split heart shape with a point in the front; neat line of single tracks; hind hooves fall near or directly onto fore prints (direct register) when walking Stan’s Notes: This deer is the most common large mammal in Minnesota and has the most widespread range. Originally not found throughout the state, its range expanded dramatically in the mid- to late 1800s due to logging and overhunting of native elk and caribou. Now found in nearly every habitat in every part of Minnesota. Also known as Virginia Deer or Whitetail. Much longer guard hairs in winter give the animal a larger appearance than in summer. Individual hairs of the winter coat are thick and hollow and provide excellent insulation. Falling snow often does not melt on its back. In summer, antlers are covered with a furry skin called velvet. Velvet contains a network of blood vessels that supplies nutrients to the growing antlers. New antler growth begins after the male (buck) drops his antlers in January or February. Some females (does) have been known to grow antlers. Deer are dependent on the loca