Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 10: Management of Game Species
Unit 10: Management of Game Species
Lesson 2: Furbearers of California
Duration: 2 Hours
Students will be able to:
1. List the major furbearers in California, and describe their major characteristics including;
habitat range, mating and feeding habits.
Suggested Activities:
10.2A Wildlife Research Paper - Students pick a species of furbearing wildlife. Prepare a report
describing its habits and life cycle.
Teaching Outline
I. Furbearers of California
A. General information
1. Furbearers are animals with soft, silky (fur) hair covering their bodies; some
furbearers are classified under other categories as the mountain lion (big game) and
rabbits (upland game)
3. Quality of pelt determined by the condition of the skin; size of the pelt; color, texture
and silkiness of the fur; and fullness of the underfur and guard hairs
4. In California, pelts are in prime condition in November to January when guard hairs
have grown to their full length
B. Opossum
1. Now found through most of the U.S.
2. Marsupial with a pouch for carrying their young; only marsupial in North America
3. Ears are naked
4. Have a prehensile tail, which is used in securing food and tree climbing
5. Up to 20 young may be born 13 days after mating
6. Babies are about the size of a honey bee and are placed inside the pouch and attach
themselves to a nipple, where they stay for about 4 or 5 weeks; leave the mother at 8
weeks
7. Life span is about 8 years; they breed at about one year of age and have one or two
litters per year
8. Usually, most active at night
9. Fake death when frightened
10. Will eat almost anything, including fruit, meat, vegetables
C. Raccoon
1. Found in Southern and Eastern states and California along the coast but not in
Northern Great Plains or Rockies
2. Weigh about 15 or 20 lbs.
3. Long brown fur with black band across the face and black rings on the tail
4010.9
Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 10: Management of Game Species
4. Breeds in February after hibernation; gestation period is about 63 days; two to six
young are born; may breed at one year of age
6. Will eat almost any vegetable material, insects, meat
D. Mink
1. Found in most of Northern U.S., including Rockies and most coastal areas
2. Found usually in wooded areas near water
3. Mates in February or March; gestation period is 43 days
4. Three to eight young are born blind; leave den at 7 weeks
5. One litter born per year
6. Food is mainly fish, rats, mice, poultry
7. Mother remains with family through first summer
8. Many are now raised for their furs in captivity
E. Bob Cat
1. Found throughout most of the U.S.
2. They stand about 15 inches tall and weigh up to 40 lbs.
3. Breed once for the season; gestation period is about 50 days
4. One to four young are born and reared by both parents
5. Very clean animals and usually have a den in a hole or log
6. Main food supply is rodents, insects, birds, etc.
F. Beaver
1. Found in most of the U.S. except the South
2. Mates for life and breeds early in the year
3. Gestation period is 90 days, two to eight young are born
4. Young leave home at two years of age and start breeding at about three years
5. Eat mainly the bark and cambium layer of trees that grow near shore; they store a food
supply for winter
6. Den may be in the dam or on the bank
7. Easily eat themselves out of house and home
G. Muskrat
1. Found in marshes and waterways throughout most of U.S. and Canada
2. 29 day gestation
3. Three litters per year, March through late summer
4. Eat mainly plant material
5. Lives in burrows or in piles of vegetation
6. Very important fur bearers
7. Not liked by big farms because of destruction to levies and waterways
H. Otter
1. Two types: Sea otters and river otters
2. Sea otters almost became extinct, but they are regaining numbers off the Monterey
County Coastline
4010.10
Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 10: Management of Game Species
3. River otters found in waterways through most of U.S. and Canada
4. Mates for life
5. Gestation period is about 60 days
6. 1-5 per litter
7. Family stays together for a year
8. Makes den in a bank or a hollow log
9. Makes slides into streams or lakes
10. Eat mainly flesh, including mollusks and small ducks
11. Produces offensive odor when disturbed
12. Valuable fur, but have been over-harvested in some areas
13. Protected in California
I. Weasel
1. Have scent glands
2. Semi-aquatic in habits and diets
3. Carnivorous
J. Wolverine
1. Range is high in the Sierras (5,000 - 13,000 feet)
2. Fairly scarce; protected in California
K. Skunk
1. Two species found in California
a. Striped skunk: range is most of California below 6,000 feet
b. Spotted skunk: found in same areas, but away from the water
2. Omnivorous
3. Can carry rabies
L. Badger
1. Solitary animal
2. Found on sandy flats
3. Protected in California
M. Fox
1. Three species found in California
a. Red fox: found in the Sacramento Valley and high Sierras (above 5,000 feet)
b. Gray fox: most common fox in California; highest number in brushlands
c. Kit fox: found in sandy areas
4010.11