Mammals
Hiding Fawn - Tom Hausler - Naturescapes Photography Contest 2012
Mammals are a unique class of vertebrate animals. As we all know, they possess hair and females have mammary glands. Mammals range in size from the inch and a half long bumblebee bat to the 98-foot-long blue whale. They may be carnivores, insectivores, omnivores, or herbivores. Various mammals may fly, glide, swim, climb, burrow, leap, or run, allowing for a diverse collection of species within our local ecosystems. Although there are approximately 6,400+ mammalian species worldwide, about 180 (including native, introduced, terrestrial, and marine) can be found distributed across the ten eco-regions of Texas, with approximately 60 of those species in Hays County.
You can expect to see white-tailed deer, raccoons, and squirrels daily. Frequently seen mammals include foxes, skunks, and armadillos. Although rarely sighted, Hays County is also home to mountain lions, bobcats, and porcupines.
You can find a list of local mammals of Texas here.
Links & Resources
The Texas Wildlife and Identification Guide
National Museum of Natural History’s North American Mammals
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Federal and State Listed Mammals in Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Wildlife Fact Sheets
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Animal Diversity Web-Mammals
