IDENTIFICATON OF FUR BEARING ANIMALS By Jill Tipton Edited by: Kaci Hatch

Objectives List and describe nine Texas game animal species List and describe nineteen Texas fur-bearing animals Explain the regulations which pertain to the trapping and raising of fur-bearing animals in Texas.

What is a fur-bearing animal? Fur-bearing animals refer to vertebrate animals with a pelt valued for its use in trimming or lining of garments. Texas law identifies the following as fur-bearing animals: Badgers Weasels Beavers Muskrat Nutria Raccoon Foxes Skunk

Game Animals vs. Fur Bearing Animals Classification as a game animal requires production, growth, or natural living in the sate or part of the state. Examples: White-tailed deer Squirrels Mule deer Javelinas Desert Bighorn Sheep Elk

Licenses A trapper license cost $15 for a resident of Texas and $250 for a non resident. This allows the trapper to take fur-bearing animals for personal use, when taken outside the commercial season.

illegal Issues To take otter with fire arms To use leghold style trap Use smoke, explosives, or chemical irritant of any kind Shoot at or attempt to take a fur-bearing animal from a boat on public waters in Texas

Sale or Purchase Of Fur-Bearing Animals or Pelts 1. Fur-bearing animals and their pelts can only be sold by: Licensed trappers; Licensed retail buyers or wholesale dealers; Fur-bearing animal propagators 2. Live fur-bearing animals or their pelts can be sold only from November 1 through April 5.

Fur-Bearing Animals That Will Be Identified Badgers Beavers Foxes Red Fox Desert Fox Swift Fox Gray Fox Minks Muskrats Nutria Opossum Otter Racoons Ringtails Snunks Black Bear

Badger Covers the western half of Texas Large, robust, short-legged “weasel” with a broad body and short, thick tail They have a distinct white stripe that extends from tip of the nose back over the top of the head to shoulder area. They are active throughout the year

Beaver Aquatic rodents Found over a large area of Texas Broad, flat, scaly tails Webbed hind feet Dark brown color

Red Fox Bright, golden yellow body Chin, throat, & belly mid-line of belly are white Forefeet & legs are black

Desert Fox Smaller body Upper body is buffy gray Sides, tail & mid-belly are clear buff Throat is white Have large ears

Swift Fox Smallest of the American foxes Upper parts are pale buffy yellow with frosted white Tail is buffy gray with a black tip

Gray Fox Gray upper body Reddish brown legs White throat, cheeks, & mid-line of belly Found in most Texas counties

Weasel Long, slender animal Short legs & long tail Small, rounded ears

Mink Size of a house cat Dark brown Semi-aquatic Prefer small streams

Muskrat Large, brownish, aquatic, scaly-tailed rodent Tail is naked Inhabit marshes

Nutria Aquatic rodent that resembles the beaver Long, round sparsely haired tail Dark underfur with long, glossy dark brown guard hairs Native to South America and introduced to US in 1938

Opossum Long, scaly, prehensile tail Nocturnal White base and black tipped fur

Otter Large, dark brown animal with slender body Webbed feet & long thick tail Aquatic and feed mostly on fish

Raccoon Blackish facial mask with white outline Tail is black and white alternating rings nocturnal

Ringtails Resembles a small fox Long, tail with alternating white and black rings Nocturnal Bodies are gray

Spotted Skunk Small white spot on forehead Six distinct white stripes on body

Striped Skunk Two white stripes on sides of back Stripes connect at the neck region & continue down the head Inhabits every county in the State

Black Bear Medium-size bear Black or brown Front claws are slightly longer and curved for climbing They reside in the mountainous areas of the Trans-Pecos region

Objectives List and describe nine Texas game animal species List and describe nineteen Texas fur-bearing animals Explain the regulations which pertain to the trapping and raising of fur-bearing animals in Texas.