Pronghorn

     

Pronghorn standing in tall grass

Photographed by Gary Kramer

     Pronghorns are one of North America’s most interesting mammals. Not only do pronghorns have the longest land migration in the continental United States, they also are the fastest land animal in North America.
     Pronghorns can run at speeds close to 60 miles per hour. Although pronghorns are not as fast as cheetahs, they maintain a fast speed for a longer period of time than cheetahs.  When a cheetah has run out of energy, the pronghorn is still going. 
     Pronghorns are ungulates (hoofed animals) and related to goats and antelope.  They have the body shape of a deer with long legs, short tail,and a long snout.
     The fur is a reddish-brown color, but it can also be tan or dark brown.  Pronghorns have white markings on the face, neck, stomach,and rump. The neck markings are white stripes. The rump has extra long white hairs that the pronghorn can stick up when scared. This also signals to other pronghorns that danger is nearby.
     The most noticeable characteristic of pronghorns is also the source of their common name.  Both males and females have a pair of short horns on the top of the head. The female’s horns are small, usually only a bump.  In contrast, the males’ horns are around 10-12 inches long.  They also have a unique shape, because unlike other ungulates, a pronghorn’s horns point backwards. The horns extend straight up and then curve towards the rump.  At the front of the horn is a small notch or prong that points forward. Hence the name, pronghorn.
     Pronghorns have large eyes and fantastic vision. Their large eyes can spot predators from very far away, which is helpful on the flat grassland habitat of the Red Desert and the Great Plains.
      Pronghorns are herbivores. They eat grasses, forbs, sagebrush and other prairie plants.
They seldom drink water, because they receive most of their water from the plants they eat.
     Some threats to Pronghorns include habitat loss due to fences and roads to make it difficult for pronghorns to migrate, human-wildlife conflicts, and overexploitation by historic hunting greatly reduced the population size.
     Two subspecies of pronghorn are on the Endangered Species List. Peninsular pronghorns and Sonoran pronghorns are both listed as Endangered. 

How to Help:
People can help increase Pronghorn population by donating to the cause via National Wildlife Federation, becoming a member of the National Wildlife Federation to help get alerts and raise awareness for their population, and by adopting a pronghorn to save one that is currently endangered.

Sources:
https://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help.aspx
https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Pronghorn.aspx
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/antelope/

Polar Bear

Polar Bear laying on the ice

Photograph from Friendak.com

     Polar bears are classified as marine mammals because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. They have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellant coat that insulates them from the cold air and water. Considered talented swimmers, they can sustain a pace of six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat like a rudder.
     Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive.
     Polar bears are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Over thousands of years, polar bears have also been an important part of the cultures and economies of Arctic peoples. Polar bears depend on sea ice for their existence and are directly impacted by climate change—serving as an important indicator species.
    The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group show that three subpopulations are in decline and that there is a high estimated risk of future decline due to climate change.
Because of ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change, polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008.
     There are several factors that contribute to the decline in Polar Bears, such as climate changes, conflicts with humans, environment destruction, and industrial development.
     As climate change forces polar bears to spend longer time onshore, they come in contact more often with Arctic coastal communities and others working in the Arctic. Unfortunately, these interactions sometimes end badly for both humans and bears.
    In the Arctic, most industrial development has been on relatively small pieces of land. As summer sea ice retreats, a new ocean is emerging, which allows more opportunities for industrial development at sea and on larger parcels of land.
At the same time, the retreating ice is resulting in more polar bears spending longer periods on land for denning. These factors combined are putting polar bears and industrial activities on a potential collision course.
     Offshore petroleum installations and operations in the Arctic are expected to increase in number. This expansion would affect polar bears and their habitat in many ways, including contact with spilled oil would be fatal, an oil spill would affect the entire food chain, and noise generated from onshore and offshore oil operations would cause disturbance.
     Increased Arctic shipping represents a risk to polar bears. As traffic by barges, oil tankers and cargo ships in Arctic waters increases, so do the risk of oil spills and human disturbance to polar bears.

How to Help:
People can help increase polar bear population by adopting a polar bear on websites, such as the World Wildlife Fund, by reaching out to local and national activists about the polar bears' current state of destruction, and by learning about the polar bears and raising awareness about their importance to the environment.

Sources:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear
https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Polar-Bear.aspx

Ocelot

Ocelot staring into the distance.

Photograph by Frans Lanting/ Corbis

     Ocelots range in color from light yellow to reddish-gray with dark spots and stripes. They have dark spots on their cheeks and their tails have rings of dark fur. They are carnivores, and typically prey on rodents, rabbits, young deer, birds, snakes, and fish.

     Ocelots are nocturnal, living in trees and dense brush during the day, and extremely active during the night.

     Ocelots used to range as far east as Arkansas and Louisianan, and throughout Texas and Mexico.

     Currently, Ocelots are endangered due to threats from habitat loss due to agriculture, hunting for their fur, and pet trade.

How to help:

     You can help save endangered Ocelots by symbolically adopting one to help save them in the wild, visit the Wildlife Action Center to send a notice to government officials, learn how to be a powerful advocate for wildlife, and stay informed about their threats and support their species. Visit the Defenders of Wildlife for more information on Ocelots and how to help rescue them.

Sources:

http://www.defenders.org/ocelot/what-you-can-do

Mexican Bobcat

Mexican Bobcat

Photographed Group2.podbean.com

     The Mexican Bobcat is a subspecies of the bobcat, and it is often confused with the Lynx because of the markings and color from central Mexico. It is a medium-sized feline with a coat that varies from light grey to reddish-brown. The bobcat gets its name from its tail that is noticeably smaller than other cats.
     The Mexican bobcat can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, coastal swamps, deserts, and scrubland. They are known to sleep in hollow trees, hidden dens, thickets, and rock crevices. They are solitary and nocturnal, and they are rarely seen by humans. They feed on just about anything, from small mammals to large.
     The bobcat was once one of the most heavily hunted and traded of the cat family. They were hunted for their pelts. Today, threats include habitat loss due to growing human population, illegal hunting, and they are often killed from preying on farmers' livestock.

How to Help:
     The Defenders of Wildlife has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife to track, capture, and collar bobcats in the State of New Jersey in order to determine their movements and which habitats are important to their survival. This information will help biologists create a protection and management strategy that focuses on preserving the most critical bobcat habitat.
     Society can help by donating to this cause at Defenders of Wildlife



Sources:
http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?ID=9&sp=39
http://www.defenders.org/bobcat/bobcats

Margay

Margay sitting in a tree

Photograph by Roberto Pedraza Ruiz

     Margays have a brownish-yellow to tan coat with black spots, stripes, and splotches,
lengthwise along its body, and white on its chest, belly, and insides of the legs. Margays are mainly tree-dwellers, restricted to forest habitat associated with dense lowland forest below. They originated in Mexico, in the southern side of North America. Margays are intolerant of altered habitat, which is a key cause of their threatened status.  
     Unfortunately, very little is known about the Margay's ecology. Unlike most wild cats, when the forests are destroyed these cats are unable to adjust to the new environment.
     In the late 1980s, the Margay was one of the most heavily exploited cats for the fur trade. In some areas they are still hunted illegally for their coat. In 1991, the Margay was the most common pelt in the southern Mexico fur trade, despite its protected status.
     The combination of over-hunting for fur, capture for the pet trade,
and massive deforestation has destroyed wild populations of this little wild cat. They have never been common and are rare in captivity and in the wild.

How to Help:

     Due to the fact that Margays are not widely known and the lack of knowledge for its needs, researchers do not have quality information for this cat's needs. Organizations like Big Cat Rescue and Panthera accept donations for the cause. You can also help by being a voice for the Margay population and bring awareness to the public.

Sources:

http://bigcatrescue.org/margay-facts/

www.wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/south-america/margay

Killer Whale

    

Killer Whale jumping out of the water

Photograph from coloringkids.com

     Killer Whales, also known as Orcas, are black on top with white undersides and white patches near their eyes. Gray or white saddles lie behind their dorsal fins, which are unique across individual killer whales and populations. They are highly sociable mammals, relying on underwater sound for orientation, feeding, and communication. Killer Whales produce whistles and pulsed calls, named echolocation for communication and keeping the group together. They are found in all parts of the ocean, but mainly colder regions near northern North America, like the North Atlantic,  Canada, and Pacific oceans. Their diet includes fish, small mammals, sharks, and sea birds.
     Currently, the Killer Whale is not on the list of endangered animals, but some specific populations are threatened, and others are considered extremely vulnerable to a number of threats.
     The threats Killer Whales face are natural dangers in their habitats and by human activities. In the natural dangers category, Killer Whales suffer from fungal and bacterial infections or they can get parasites that can undermine their quality of life. They have also been known to suffer from Hodgkin’s disease, tumors, stomach ulcers, and skin diseases. Other large animals are not a problem for the orcas. If they are full-grown healthy adults, they have no predators
     Human activities pose a greater threat to them, such as commercial-hunting, or whaling, to market their bodies, which is one of them most important threats to killer whales, capturing for entertainment, habitat pollution, excessive noise due to their communication, decreased prey, collisions with boats, issues with fisherman, and climate changes.

How to Help:

     Conservation efforts in the Recovery Plan for the Southern Resident Killer Whales include support salmon restoration efforts, clean existing contaminated areas, improve ship activity, prevent oil spills, enhance public awareness, and research coordinating with these conservation efforts. The public can help by adopting a whale and donating to the World Wildlife Fund.

Sources:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale

http://www.killer-whale.org/killer-whales-endangered/

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/killer-whale.html

Jaguarundi

    

Jaguarundi sitting in a tree

Photographed by Dreamstime Photography

     The Jaguarundi is a small wildcat with short, rounded ears. Its fur color can appear brown to dark brown and gray in color. They are sometimes called otter cats because of their short legs, slender bodies, and small flattened heads. They prefer lowland brush areas near water and dense tropical areas as their habitat. They are exceptional tree climbers and swimmers. Jaguarundis prey on fish, small mammals, reptiles, and birds. They are solitary animals except for during mating seasons. Jaguarundis are found in Arizona, Mexico, Texas, and Panama. These animals were said to be kept as pets by early settlers to control rodent population in villages and crops.
     Four out of the eight subspecies of Jaguarundi are currently listed as endangered; the Panamanian Jaguarundi, Guatemalan Jaguarundi, Gulf Coast Jaguarundi, and Sinaloan Jaguarundi. The species is rare and threatened mainly by hunting for their fur, accidentally caught in traps for other animals, and habitat loss.
     Recovery efforts are hampered by a lack of knowledge about the animal, its behavior, and its needs. A captive breeding program has began at the Desert Museum at the University of Arizona. The Jaguarundi is protected by the state of Texas, as well as by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which prohibits international trade in the species.

How to Help:
     Unfortunately, there are not many organizations that specifically focus on helping the Jaguarundi species, due to the lack of knowledge of its needs. However, many organizations, such as the Defenders of Wildlife, focus on helping a wide range of animals and species. You can donate to the cause to help raise money for game preserves and raise awareness for Jaguarundis.


Sources:
http://bigcatrescue.org/jaguarundi-facts/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Jaguarundi.aspx