Critter ID

The purpose of this forum is to help people identify things they've seen while out hiking: wildflowers, trees, birds, insects, small animals, animal tracks, even geographical features like buttes or streams
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derwoodynck
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Critter ID

Post by derwoodynck » October 9th, 2018, 5:12 am

Saw a couple of small mammals over the weekend hiking around Klamath Falls. Hoping to get some positive IDs. The first one was in the Sprague River along the OC&E State Trail near Beatty. Our initial thought is mink or something similar.
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The second was up at Lake of the Woods. We're leaning toward muskrat on this one after initially expecting it to have been a nutria.
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Any thoughts?

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dmthomas49
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Re: Critter ID

Post by dmthomas49 » October 9th, 2018, 7:18 am

Nutria?
"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."
— John Muir

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bobcat
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Re: Critter ID

Post by bobcat » October 9th, 2018, 7:40 am

You're correct on both counts. I've seen a few mink down in that area as well. Muskrat, of course, are much smaller than nutria - it looks like a muskrat face and tail.

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Critter ID

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 11th, 2018, 7:01 am

It's hard to tell the size of the second critter, but nutria usually have a white more squarish muzzle.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Critter ID

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 11th, 2018, 7:02 am

Muskrat because of the white toenails.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

pcg
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Re: Critter ID

Post by pcg » October 11th, 2018, 8:07 am

Waffle Stomper wrote:
October 11th, 2018, 7:02 am
Muskrat because of the white toenails.
Thanks. I never knew to look for that.

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adamschneider
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Re: Critter ID

Post by adamschneider » October 11th, 2018, 8:59 am

pcg wrote:
October 11th, 2018, 8:07 am
Waffle Stomper wrote:
October 11th, 2018, 7:02 am
Muskrat because of the white toenails.
Thanks. I never knew to look for that.
Me neither. Apparently nutria have black toenails (and disgusting orange front teeth).

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Critter ID

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 11th, 2018, 12:31 pm

adamschneider wrote:
October 11th, 2018, 8:59 am

Me neither. Apparently nutria have black toenails (and disgusting orange front teeth).
Maybe not disgusting to another Nutria. :lol:
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir


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