Mammals of the Mountain!
Sierra Outdoor School is not just a place for students to take a short visit, but it is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Located
in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, in Stanislaus National Forest, many animals, plants, and ecosystems thrive in this area
at 4100’ feet. Today we are taking a closer look at the mammals of
this mountain community.
“What makes mammal a mammal?” Mammals have five main characteristics that classify them differently
from other groups of animals (such as birds, amphibians and reptiles).
1) Vertebrates. Mammals have a backbone called a spinal cord
that is made of different vertebrae bones.
2) Warm blooded. Using our metabolism and energy from the food we eat, we regulate our
body to keep a warm body temperature.
3) Mammals breath air through their lungs.
4) Young mammals nurse (drink milk) from their mothers when
they are born.
5) Mammals have hair or fur. Short or long, shaggy or smooth all
mammals have hair. Even mammals who look like they have no hair, at one point
in time in their life there was hair somewhere on their body.
The most common mammals that we see in the forest during our
classes at SOS are squirrels, chipmunks and mule deer. However, many other
mammals live here too, even if we don’t always see them. Wild animals are quite
elusive, and afraid of people. We know that we share a mountain home with them
at SOS because of the signs they leave behind, like tracks, shed fur and scat.
Other mammals that call this mountain home are rabbit, mice, grey fox, skunks,
coyotes, bobcats mountain lion and black bears.
Did you know that…?
….the grey fox is the only member of the canidae (dog
family) that can climb trees
…..the most common food item in the black bears diet is
actually plant materials such as berries.
…..Mule deer have a black tipped tail.
….striped skunks will not spray unless they feel threatened.
Before they do they give many warnings in the form of stomping there feet,
arching there back and raising there tail to look big and tough.
Written by : Sarah Johanson
Photos by : Angel Olavarria
Photos by : Angel Olavarria
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