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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. 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

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

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

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

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

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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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.