Mammals

Spotting animals in the wild can be a challenge but here are some tips:

• Animals spend much of their time near food and water. Areas like streams, river banks and shorelines are good places for wildlife viewing

• Consider time of day and season for what animals may be out, often early morning or late afternoon/early evening hours

• Move slowly, quietly or stay still

• Learn about their habits and food supply

• Look for signs of animals through scat, tracks and trails

Animals leave evidence of their presence - get familiar with what they leave behind

Common Maryland Mammals **includes introduced & invasive species

Common Footprints & Scat A simple activity with students if for them to create scat from food items for others to identify - tootsie rolls work great for this!

Finding Mammals in the Wild

Make Tracks!

Flying Fur!

Bats in your backyard provide pest control and their nightly displays of flying acrobatics are fun to watch. The Chesapeake Bay has many species of native bats including: Big Brown, Little Brown, and Virginia Big-Eared. Bats are commonly misunderstood but extremely important animals in Maryland.

Build a Bat Box