MAMMALS

White-tailed deer feed on a variety of vegetation, sticks, trees, shrubs, and plants. They can be seen in all habitats at Severson Dells, including the prairie and forest. 

Coyotes are omnivorous and eat seeds, berries, birds, and mammals such as eastern cottontail rabbits, thirteen-lined squirrels, and white-footed mice. They are usually nocturnal but may appear during the day, as well. They are not aggressive towards humans.

They feed mainly on bulbs, seeds, fruits, nuts, green plants,  mushrooms, insects, worms, and bird eggs. Like other chipmunks, the Eastern Chipmunk has pouches in its cheeks for food storage. They live in wooded, grassy, or rocky areas areas to provide cover.

Eastern Gray Squirrels primarily feed on nuts, seeds, buds, and flowers of trees. They are commonly seen in the forests and around bird feeders at Severson Dells. 

The eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is the most common rabbit species in North America.

They are well adapted to living near humans. Raccoons require ready access to water, and often dip their hands and food in water when eating.

Virginia Opossums are the United States' only marsupial. The term  “playing possum” comes from their instinctual behavior to shut down and  “play dead” when a threat is detected.

Photo Credits: pestworld.org

Our forests are home to several species of bats, including the endangered Little Brown Bat! We commonly detect Big Brown Bats, Hoary Bats, Eastern Red Bats, and Evening Bats flying near the pond and the creek.

Photo Credit: Larry Meade

Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family. They live in wooded areas adjacent to open areas.

Photo Credits: Wiki Commons

These mouse-like animals can be found along the ground, in leaf litter, and in small burrow tunnels. At Severson Dells, you can find the Masked Shrew, Northern Short-tailed Shrew, and the Eastern Mole.

Photo Credit: animaldiversity.org

 Striped Skunks feed on beetles, insects, crickets, bees, bird eggs, and voles. When frightened or disturbed, they can spray musk up to 10 feet away, leaving a yellow haze and a musky smell in the air.

A mouse’s diet consists of flowers, seeds, plant and animal matter, nuts, invertebrates, and insects. Many mice are well adapted to human areas and can be found inside buildings as well as outdoors.

Photo Credits: J.N. Stuart

Muskrats are found in semi-aquatic areas like ponds, swamps, and marshes. Their diet consists of cattails, water lilies, sedges, ferns, mussels, snails, crayfish, and frogs.

They are called “flying squirrels” because of an extra flap of skin that extends from their front legs to back legs that allows them to glide through the air. Flying Squirrels are nocturnal and have excellent night vision.

Photo Credits: uniprot.org 

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels are only active during the day. They feed on grass, seeds, and large insects.

Photo Credits: kpyrockford on iNaturalist