mammals of connecticut

An example of a situation where exposure cannot be ruled out is when a bat is found in the same room as a sleeping individual or a very young child." "'Porpoises (Order "Cetacea", Family "Phocoenidae")* Harbor porpoise ("Phocoena phocoena") — rare, but sometimes found off the coast "'Seals (Order "Carnivora", Family "Phocidae")* Harbor seal ("Phoca vitulina") — This is the only marine mammal regularly living in Connecticut; found mostly in the eastern part of the coast (where there were at least several hundred as of 2004), but also in the west; not uncommon around Hammonasset Beach State Park, around Sheffield Island and Smith's Reef in the Norwalk Islands, and they have been spotted off Stamford and Greenwich; [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal" photo feature (caption of picture of two harbor seals in Norwalk), "The Advocate" of Stamford, Norwalk edition, p A11, March 18, 2008] found from late fall through mid spring, usually on isolated ledges and rocks; in the past, they may have been permanent residents, but sealers and fishermen who killed the seals to prevent competition probably stopped that; for the warmer months of the year, they migrate to the Maine coast. From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of one collision a year of a moose and an automobile across the state, but in the first half of 2007, there were four. From 1989 to 1991, they were reintroduced from New Hampshire and by 2004 were established in northern Connecticut. * Snowshoe hare ("Lepus americanus"; subspecies: "Lepus canadensis") — common in the northern part of the state, usually where there are dense thickets; the population in Connecticut doesn't soar cyclically, as the species does farther northRodents")* Groundhog also known as Woodchuck or Whistle Pig ("Marmota monax") — scarce when Europeans first came to North America, but they have thrived since then. An example of a situation where exposure cannot be ruled out is when a bat is found in the same room as a sleeping individual or a very young child." * Water Shrew ("Sorex palustris") — uncommon; found near water * Least Shrew ("Cryptotis parva") — rare in Connecticut, where the species reaches its eastern limit and close to its northern limit (it is also in central New York state); in this state, only found in coastal areas with high beach dunes and neighboring brackish marshes; [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326034&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Least Shrew", at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] ; all other shrews in the state have much longer tails (at least as long as the rest of their bodies) As of late 2007, the species was the only mammal listed on the Connecticut endangered species list, [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326210&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Endangered and Threatened Species Fact Sheets", at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] and it was the first mammal ever put on the list. Even before Connecticut was settled by Europeans, the moose population was never large, according to the DEP. ")Connecticut has several problems associated with its large deer population:* Motor vehicle accidents: State Farm Insurance estimates that more than 10,000 deer in Connecticut are hit by cars each year.Schweber, Nate, "Car Hits Deer. * Gray Seal ("Halichoerus grypus") — occasionally seen in Long Island Sound but usually lives farther northee also* Fauna of Connecticut* List of Connecticut birds* Flora of Connecticut* Long Island Sound for an extensive list of various species* List of Massachusetts mammals* List of mammals in North America* Mammals of New England* List of mammals* List of regional mammals listsNotesExternal links* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325726&depNav_GID=1655&depNav=| Wildlife Web pages at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site], * House mouse ("Mus musculus") common in cities and farms, associated with people and farmland; comes from Europe— * Norway rat ("Rattus norvegicus") — common wherever it can find food, such as at farms, in cities, near garbage dumps or waterfront areas; comes from Europe; Barn owls near the New Haven landfill often feed on them "'Jumping mice (Order "Rodentia", Family "Dipodidae", Subfamily "Zapodinae")* Meadow jumping mouse ("Zapus hudsonius") — rather common in Connecticut in areas with thick vegetation, including meadows but also old fields, forest edges, often near water * Woodland jumping mouse ("Napaeozapus insignis") — rather common in Connecticut in moist, forested areas or spots with thick shrubs, usually along streams "'New World porcupines (Order "Rodentia", Family "Erethizontidae")* North American porcupine ("Erethizon dorsatum") — uncommon in forested areas in the northern part of the state; usually found in mixed forests including eastern hemlockCarnivoresDogs, Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes (Order "Carnivora", Family "Canidae")* Coyote ("Canis latrans") — first spotted in Connecticut in the mid-1950s, with the first 10 years of reports only in the northwestern part of the state, although they have since spread across the entire state. Bears that persistently kill livestock, enter buildings or demonstrate similarly problematic behavior may be killed under state policy. [ ] Web page titled "White-tailed Deer" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] By the 1970s, the total state population was about 20,000, and up to 76,000 (a low estimate) in 2000.Fairfield County has the highest deer density in the state. This List of mammals in Connecticut includes both native and nonnative species (introduced or invasive) found in the state now or in the past, but not domesticated or farm animals.Many mammals formerly extirpated in the state have returned,… ""'Whales (Order "Cetacea", Family "Delphinidae")* Long-finned pilot whale ("Globicephala melas") — occasionally enters Long Island Sound; it rarely washes up on the shore in Connecticut. Other factors are the mixture of young and mature forests, milder winters, and fewer predators. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.Stelloh, Tim, "DEP forecasts more moose-car collisions: Official expects animal population to increase across the state"," The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 14, 2007, pp 1, A6] Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north. They thrived so well that in 1961, the first state-regulated trapping season began in order to manage their numbers in light of growing nuissance complaints; [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325970&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Beaver" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] the population is large enough now to be trapped, and generally 500 to 1,000 are trapped each year; in the 2001-2002 season a record 1,224 were trapped; in 2000 it was estimated there were between 5,000 and 8,000 beavers in the state; they can annoy homeowners with their tree cutting and flooding from their dams (which help some species but hurt others); in Connecticut, people must get a permit from their town wetlands commission before altering beaver dams to prevent or reduce flooding "'Mice, rats, voles, lemmings (Order "Rodentia", Family "Muridae")* White-footed mouse ("Peromyscus leucopus") — common in woods and especially along forest edges; particularly where there are plenty of nuts or large seeds; * Deer mouse ("Peromyscus maniculatus") — found in the northern part of the state * Allegheny woodrat ("Neotoma magister") — once existed at one site in western part of the state but now extirpated; it has also disappeared from many areas in the Northwestern United States * Red-backed vole ("Clethrionomys gapperi") — common in the state, especially in forests with plenty of ground cover such as logs, rocks or old stone walls * Meadow vole ("Microtus pennsylvanicus") — often found in abundance in pastures, meadows, marshes or wherever there is thick, unmowed grasses or sedges * Woodland Vole ("Microtus pinetorum") — common in the state; found mostly in partly wooded uplands * Muskrat ("Ondatra zibethicus") — common in ponds, lakes, slow-moviing streams, canals, swamps and marshes * Southern bog lemming ("Synaptomys cooperi") — usually lives along the edges of bogs, but also sometimes found in shady uplands with thick humus soil * House mouse ("Mus musculus") common in cities and farms, associated with people and farmland; comes from Europe— * Norway rat ("Rattus norvegicus") — common wherever it can find food, such as at farms, in cities, near garbage dumps or waterfront areas; comes from Europe; Barn owls near the New Haven landfill often feed on them "'Jumping mice (Order "Rodentia", Family "Dipodidae", Subfamily "Zapodinae")* Meadow jumping mouse ("Zapus hudsonius") — rather common in Connecticut in areas with thick vegetation, including meadows but also old fields, forest edges, often near water * Woodland jumping mouse ("Napaeozapus insignis") — rather common in Connecticut in moist, forested areas or spots with thick shrubs, usually along streams "'New World porcupines (Order "Rodentia", Family "Erethizontidae")* North American porcupine ("Erethizon dorsatum") — uncommon in forested areas in the northern part of the state; usually found in mixed forests including eastern hemlockCarnivoresDogs, Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes (Order "Carnivora", Family "Canidae")* Coyote ("Canis latrans") — first spotted in Connecticut in the mid-1950s, with the first 10 years of reports only in the northwestern part of the state, although they have since spread across the entire state. 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