Virginia Opossum Statewide Housecat sized, Marsupial, Tail is prehensile More teeth than any other Kansas mammal bulk of the items eaten are insects, carrion, and small animals of various kinds, it also consumes fruits, grains, and other vegetation.

Northern Short-tailed Shrew NE Kansas River bottoms along the Missouri and Kansas rivers. Populations most dense in damp brushy woodlands, bushy bogs and marshes. Insectivore eating 3x their weight daily Toxic saliva Emits musk that makes them distasteful to predators

Least Shrew Statewide Smallest mammal in Kansas Diet of principally insects, earthworms, snails, and carrion- in 24 hours it eats percent of its weight Breed 2-3x per year with 4-6 offspring typical

Masked Shrew North central KS along Nebraska border Widest distribution of any shrew in NA, Northern US, Canada, Alaska 2 nd smallest mammal species in KS Most active after dark (85% of activity) Diet - consume a variety of invertebrates

Long-eared Bat Federally Threatened SINC in KS Currently known from north central KS Experiencing populations declines due to White-nose Syndrome a fungal disease. Few caves in KS could be a benefit to species since WNS infects cave- dwelling bat colonies

Big Brown Bat Statewide One of the largest bats in KS Most common bat found in houses

Cave Myotis South Central KS, Red Hills, area with abundant caves Wooly appearance Forage for insects primarily over water at dusk and just after dawn

Evening Bat Eastern KS, spreading westward along river corridors Inhabit dense woodlands, forage over clearings and ponds Appears to a specialist feeder on beetles (Coleoptera), benefit at removing pest species like cucumber beetles

Swamp Rabbit Restricted to extreme SE KS, only area with swampy habitat this species prefers poorly drained river-bottoms, swampy woodlands and along edges of rivers and creeks Semi-aquatic Largest cottontail in KS

Eastern Cottontail Statewide inhabit open forests, forest edges, brushy places, and weedy or grassy uncultivated fields near places of concealment.

Beaver Largest rodent in KS Statewide where water and food trees exist Primarily nocturnal, diurnal when undisturbed Ecological architects – dam building and tree removal creates habitat for other species

Muskrat Statewide where appropriate habitat exists Largest microtine rodent (rats & mice) Adaptations to aquatic enviro. Include dense waterproof fur, webbed back feet, laterally compressed tail Diet - a variety of aquatic plants including roots, bulbs, and stems as well as considerable animal material, favorites being clams, snails, fish, and crayfish.

Eastern Wood Rat Statewide Large and mouse-like Builds large nests of sticks, and whatever else is available, often collects trinkets Food is mainly leaves of trees, shrubs and forbs, but also includes fruit, berries, bark, tubers, nuts, mushrooms, and plant buds.

Hispid Cotton Rat Statewide Fairly large rodent grassy fields, weedy patches, roadside ditches, marshy areas, and heavy vegetation at the edges of forests Do not hibernate eat stems and leaves of grasses and other herbaceous vegetation

Southern Bog Lemming SINC Eastern ½ of state Vegetation surrounding springs, damp to wet grasslands, and marshes are their favored habitat Diet - stalks and blades of green grasses, and rarely, invertebrates

Meadow Jumping Mouse Eastern 1/3 of KS inhabits abandoned fields or grassy meadows associated with shrubs or trees, generally in moist situations Long hind feet Diet - principally seeds and grasses which they pull down to ground level by cutting the bases of the stalks

Bobcat Statewide Variety of habitats 2x size of a house cat Ears black with central white spot, coat heavily spotted Diet, mostly rabbits (50%), occasional fawns, and some rodents & birds

Raccoon Statewide Variety of habitats Primarily nocturnal Has grasping hands (plantigrade) Omnivores - most important animal foods are insects, crayfish, mollusks, and small vertebrates, plant foods include seeds, nuts, fruits, and grains

Long-tailed Weasel Statewide largest distribution of any weasel in the western hemisphere Active day and night Use modified prey burrows as dens generalist predator They consume a lot of water which may be why they are most common near permanent sources of water.

Least Weasel North central Kansas Smallest member of the order Carnivora Circumboreal distribution – northern half of land masses across the northern hemisphere voracious predator that specializes on mice and other small mammals

Mink Statewide wherever permanent water occurs. Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular (dawn and dusk) Semi-aquatic, often forages in water Prey species include frogs, snakes, crayfish, other invertebrates, fish, muskrats, and aquatic birds. Crayfish or muskrats often make up more than half of the diet

North American River Otter Several river systems in central and eastern Kansas Extirpated by the early 20 th century due to habitat loss and over trapping. Reintroduced in the 1980s, immigration from Missouri has resulted in greatest growth in populations. The largest component of the diet is fish, which are taken in proportion to their availability. Secondary components include crayfish and frogs.

Striped Skunk Statewide Musk glands Almost exclusively nocturnal Insectivores, but will eat a wide variety of foods if they are available. may have the highest incidence of rabies of any North American mammal

White-tailed Deer Statewide Smallest of the deer family in KS Browsers and grazers Crepuscular and nocturnal in warm weather gregarious, forming both family groups and mixed foraging groups Males solitary during rut (breeding season)

Moose Likely extirpated from state, never common Old records from southern KS, likely vagrants Largest of the deer species in NA