Know Your North American Carnivores Quiz

Answer: Gray wolf

Very few, if any, animals have been the subject of legend and deliberation more than the gray wolf. They were once often shot on sight due to the assumption by many that the entire species were blood thirsty killers. Seen as a threat to the livestock trade (beginning in the early 1800s), wolves were killed in great numbers - sometimes to collect a bounty. Times and circumstances have changed.

Some attitudes have changed, too. Beginning during the second half of the twentieth century gray wolves were reintroduced into some areas of North America where they had been completely eradicated.

Answer: Polar bear

Unlike other bear species, polar bears are almost exclusively meat eaters; the majority of their diet is seal meat. Unlike other bears, polar bears (with the exception of pregnant sows) do not require the period of denning in the winter months. Denning is a term used for bears because bears are not true hibernators. Polar bears may be in danger of going extinct due to global warming.

They were the first vertebrate species to be listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act as threatened by extinction primarily because of global warming.

Answer: Bobcat

Easily recognized by its bobbed or shortened tail, the bobcat is a member of the lynx family. Its species name is Lynx rufus. While many other large carnivores are facing extinction or, at best, drastic reduction of their numbers in the wild, the bobcat seems to continue to survive.

It is not viewed a huge threat to most of society because its diet primarily consists of other animals that themselves viewed as undesirable, for example, mice, rats, rabbits, etc.

Answer: Raccoon

Though classified as carnivores on the organizational chart of living things, raccoons are omnivores. They eat almost anything those sensitive yet powerful paws can find for them. They are fond of water animals like frogs, crayfish, fish and snail. They also eat insects, mice, eggs, fruits and plants.

In cities and suburban areas, raccoons eat mostly garbage and/or food left outside to feed other domestic animals or other wild life. Raccoons have often been observed doing what was thought to be "washing" their food. We have learned this action may not be a matter of cleaning the food, as much as it is simply wetting it to enhance the tactility of the food for those super-sensitive paws.

Answer: Northern river otter

The northern river otters have typically made their homes along river banks and shore lines throughout most of Canada and in certain parts of the United States - on the east coast as far south as the state of Florida. Primarily of nocturnal hunter they exist on a diet of wide variety that includes crabs, turtles, birds and eggs with fish (usually) comprising the largest percentage of their diet. Efforts to reintroduce the river otter must to be carefully planned, it was learned, because river otters are especially vulnerable to the effects of water pollution.

Answer: Wolverine

Michigan is called the Wolverine State but its official state animal is white-tailed deer. The wolverine is one of the largest members of the weasel family, Mustelidae. Though often identified as "state animal" the wolverine has rarely been known to live in the wild in Michigan.

It has faced survival challenges of its own. Once hated, it has been killed without regard. Into the twenty-first century, the wolverine faces the challenge of a changing climate. Without the longer, colder weather, female wolverines can not den (in the snow banks) to properly to birth and raise their young. Wildlife authorities fear this may continue to drastically reduce the number of wolverines in the wild.

Answer: Skunk

The image that most people would conjure when "skunk" is mentioned is that of a striped skunk; or, for example, the cartoon character, Pepé Le Pew. With a wide range that covers most of North America, skunks can be seen in the wild in a variety of coat colors or color patterns. Skunks have been known to be domesticated as pets with some success but owning one in much of the United States and Canada requires special permits and/or restrictive circumstances. Skunks and stink badgers are the mammals that are included in the family Mephitidae.

Answer: Walrus

Walruses, along with seals and sea lions, are labeled as "pinniped" or flipper-footed. The number of walruses in the wild was drastically reduced during the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting them for their tusks. Strict protection of walruses has seen some re-growth of their natural populations.

The main source of their diet is clams they find the ocean floor. Walruses will also eat sea cucumbers, sea worms and other marine animals. Calves are born weighing up to 150 pounds and can be four feet long.

As adults, their blubber may be as thick as five inches.

Answer: False

Although similar in appearance and genetic composition, they are different animals - both carnivores. To be even more confusing, though, some sea lions are (correctly) called fur seals. A few brief examples of the differences are: With only a few exceptions seals live in temperate regions; sea lions may be found in either tropic or temperate regions. Sea lions have external or visible ear flaps. Again, considering there are a few exceptions, but the majority of seals (called true seals) have ear holes with no ear flap.

Their locomotion - on both land and in the water - is different between the two pinnipeds as well. Sea lions can walk on land using all four limbs while seals crawl on land. In the water, sea lions' fore limbs are the power limbs of motion; the seals get more of their propulsion from the hind limbs when in water.

Answer: Red wolf

In size the red wolf falls between the gray wolf and the coyote. An adult red wolf's average weight is 45 to 80 pounds. They have faced the same worries of the gray wolf and for many of the same reasons. The red wolf once had a range that included much, if not all, of the Southeastern United States.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service not only strives to continue a successful re-introduction and breeding program, it has facilities that are maintained throughout the United States to increase the number of red wolves in captivity.