At birth, gray squirrels are about the size of a human thumb. Their eyes open when they are about 4 weeks old. At about 7 weeks they begin to explore outside the nest area. They are not weaned until they are 9 weeks old, and they cannot survive on…
A songbird's nest, depending on the species and habitat, may be in the branches of a tree or shrub, in a tree cavity, in a birdhouse, on an artificial structure like a porch light or even on the ground. Most songbirds incubate their eggs for about…
Striped skunks are mainly nocturnal animals, which means they are most active at night and spend most of the day in a burrow or den. They are very adaptable and can live wherever sufficient water, food and shelter exist. They have young, called…
Red foxes don't live in dens most of the year, but they do modify an existing, abandoned badger or woodchuck burrow when it's time to give birth. Red fox dens can be in forests, ravines or woodlots and sometimes in urban areas and roadsides. They…
A female raccoon will typically make her den in a tree cavity, but will sometimes occupy an attic or chimney, if accessible. Young raccoons, called kits, are born into litters of 2-6. Their eyes begin to open at about 3 weeks of age, and at 4 weeks…
Opossums are the only marsupial in North America. Female marsupials have a pouch on their abdomen in which they carry and nurse their young. Opossums are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active during the night. During the day, they hide…
The Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the tampering with and removal of active bird nests (a nest with eggs or chicks present). If a nest needs to be moved/destroyed for building purposes, or if a business is having issues with aggressive…
Gray foxes are primarily found in southern/southwest Wisconsin and have several notable differences from the more common red fox. Gray foxes have retractable claws (like cats), are excellent tree climbers, and are smaller in size with a gray coat.…
Young white-tailed deer, called fawns, are typically born in May and June. The doe may give birth to 1-3 fawns, and they can weigh as little as three pounds at birth. For the first 2-3 weeks after they are born, fawns lack the strength and speed to…
Coyotes usually mate in February or March, and pups are generally born in April. The number of pups in a litter is typically 3-7, but numbers can vary quite a bit. They den in abandoned, existing animal burrows that they modify, or they'll dig a new…