The beaver is common throughout the Credit River watershed, especially in the northern portion. Beavers prefer forested habitats located next to water bodies. They construct dams across running water to create ponds in which they can build their lodges. These are known as beaver ponds. Generally beavers stay within a few hundred yards of their lodge when feeding and gathering building materials. They feed on leaves and bark. If you have a problem with a beaver on you property, you should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources.
|
This medium sized rodent is common on the northern part of the watershed. It needs large forests to maintain their large home territories. Chipmunks have a wide variety of calls and are quite vocal in defending their territory. Chipmunks never live in close vicinity to each other. They make their homes in burrows in the ground, where they also cache food. Chipmunks will visit bird feeders, but they do spend at least part of the winter hibernating.
|
This is one of the most common bat species in the Credit River watershed. These bats are active at night and feed on large quantities of insects. They can be seen on most summer evenings feeding on insects while flying, in any area with trees. The little brown bat has adapted to living and raising its young in areas that have been developed. This type of bat raises its young in maternity colonies in buildings. This species hibernates in caves and is very sensitive to human disturbance during this time.
|
This common watershed species is very unique because it is the only mammal in North America with spiny quills. Porcupines feed mostly on the leaves, twigs and bark of trees, and can cause damage to individual trees. They are slow moving and timid, but have very few predators. Humans pose the greatest threat to this species as cars kill many every year. |
This is the smallest squirrel found in the Credit River watershed, and it is the only one that can fly! This squirrel has flaps of skin that run between its front and back legs that it can spread out to glide from tree to tree. Flying squirrels prefer mixed or deciduous forests. This species is completely nocturnal, and makes its home in tree cavities, therefore making it a hard species to find, even though it is quite common.
|
White-tailed deer require wooded areas for cover and fields too feed in. They can be found throughout the watershed and spend their summers in fields and deciduous forests. They winter in coniferous forests in areas known as deer yards. Deer follow the same migratory path to these yards each year and winter in the same place. Deer yards are found throughout the watershed in Eastern white cedar swamps and forests. |
