Mammal Information

What Is a Mammal? Mammals live on land, at sea, in the air, and under the ground. All mammals, from bats to whales, share a number of important traits that make them different from other animals. Mammals are warm-blooded, they have fur or hair, and most mammals give birth to live young (rather than laying eggs).

Attack and Defend For a wild animal, surviving each day can be hard. Carnivores use speed, strength, and intelligence to catch a meal. Prey species often have to think fast to protect themselves. Making a Getaway What would you do if you were being chased by a predator? Probably the same thing most wild animals do: run and hide. Prairie dogs dive into their burrows. Squirrels head for safety in trees. The House Mouse rushes for cover—like behind your refrigerator! Eastern Gray Squirrel © Rod Planck   Kickoff Time! Male Elk and Moose have huge antlers but do not often use them as weapons. Instead, they use their razor-sharp hooves. Predators like Mountain Lions or wolves are close to the ground and easy to kick. Elk © Michael Francis - The Wildlife Collection   Blending In Some mammals have coloring that helps them blend in with their environment. This is called camouflage. The Snowshoe Hare is brown in the summer, white in the winter, and brown and white in the spring when the ground is patched with snow. Snowshoe Hare in its winter coat. © Rod Planck - Photo Researchers, Inc Predators in Action The Mountain Lion is a superb hunter. It can leap more than 20 feet in a single bound and run faster than a deer for short distances. Mountain Lions creep up close to their prey and then leap onto the victim’s back, holding it long enough to deliver a bite on the neck. Mountain Lion © Daniel J. Cox - naturalexposures.com What a Stink! When threatened, skunks launch a stream of rancid eye-burning musk. Most of the time a skunk does not even need to use its weaponry. It simply stomps its feet—the signal that it is ready to spray—and the enemy runs away. Striped Skunk © Daniel J. Cox - naturalexposures.com A Sharp Defense The slow, clumsy porcupine is protected by thousands of quills on its tail and back. The quills are extremely sharp and painful—and can even kill. Common Porcupine© Gerald & Buff Corsi - Focus on Nature, Inc.