North American River Otter

Originally posted on another platform by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region.

Today’s Trivia Tuesday might be a tough one! The North American river otter is a skilled swimmer. It has webbed feet, a strong tail, flexible body, and water repellent fur that allows it to swim so effectively. Around how long can it hold its breath underwater?

A. 11 minutes
B. 8 minutes
C. 3 minutes
D. 15 minutes

Photo: North American river otter at Seedskadee and Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuges by Tom Koerner/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

#animal #mammal #RiverOtter #nature #wildlife 

Broadhead Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A broadhead skink spotted at Marais des Cygnes National #Wildlife Refuge in #Kansas. These lizards are often found in wooded habitats (they're "arboreal," meaning they can live in trees). They eat insects, small mammals, and other reptiles. 

Photo: Amy Coffman/USFWS 

#animals #reptile #lizard #skink #nature #wildlife #KS 




081017 

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Butterflies in Action

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Photobomb! A tiny white butterfly wants in on the #pollinator action as a #monarch sips nectar from a sunflower. 

Photo: Kristin Terwilliger/USFWS 

#animals #insects #Butterfly #Butterflies #nature #wildlife 

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A western kingbird surveys the scenery at Bear River Migratory #Bird Refuge in #Utah. Listen to hear its melodious morning music:http://bit.ly/2vjQXiL 

Photo: Donna Watson 

#animals #bird #nature #wildlife #UT 




080917 

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Nice Doggie!

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Two juvenile mountain lions seek safety from a nearby coyote at National Elk Refuge in #Wyoming.#InternationalCatDay #wildlife 

Photo: Lori Iverson/USFWS 

#animals #mammal #MountainLion #Coyote #WY #USFWS 

Black-necked Stilt & American Avocet

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A black-necked stilt (front) and American avocet (back) wade in shallow water at Bear River Migratory #Bird Refuge in #Utah. These birds reside at the refuge from April through November. 

Photo: Jim Barney/USFWS 

#animals #birds #nature #wildlife #USFWS #UT 




080517 

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Red-shafted Northern Flicker

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

What a beautiful photo of a male red-shafted Northern flicker in flight. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS 

#animals #birds #wildlife #nature #USFWS 




041817

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A male red-shafted Northern flicker on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A male red-shafted Northern flicker on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS 

#birds #nature #animals #wildlife 






041717 

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Prairie Crocus or Pasque Flower

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

The prairie crocus, or Pasque flower, is one of 33 species of herbaceous perennials native to meadows and prairies of North America in the genus Pulsatilla.

The species is in decline due to its reliance on shortgrass prairie ecosystems. Plowing up the prairie, which is increasingly occurring due to high agricultural commodities prices, causes the crocus to disappear.

Photo Credit: Rick Bohn / USFWS

#plants #wildflowers #nature 

#USFWS 




041317 

Resilient Wildlife

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

This photo shows, wildlife very quickly returned to recently-burned areas of RMA#NationalWildlifeRefuge. 
Credit: Cindy Souders / USFWS 

#habitat #wildlife #nature 




041217 

Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

"Hooray, it's Saturday!"
This is the long-nosed leopard lizard, one of the few lizard species known to make a sound when alarmed. That's probably what's happening here! In early spring they can be found in #sagebrush habitats, catching some sun on a warm rock. Photo: Young Cage. 

#animals #reptile #lizard #wildlife #nature 

#USFWS 




040817 

Start your morning with wildlife!

#Thursday

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Start your morning with wildlife! Tune in right now to the #sagegrouse lek cam, live daily until 10am:http://bit.ly/LekCam2017. 
Photo by Heather McPherron, USFWS. 

#animals #birds #wildlife #nature 




040617 

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)

#Wednesday

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Because of the flexibility of their diet, mountain bluebirds are able to migrate north earlier than most birds. Credit: Dave Fitzpatrick 

#animals #birds #MountainBluebird #wildlife #nature 




040517 

Mule Deer

#Friday

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

This mule deer on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is just one of #350species that rely on the#sagebrush ecosystem. 




033117 

Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan

#Thursday #USFWS

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

A juvenille (cygnet) trumpeter swan front left and an adult tundra swan rear right on Seedskadee NWR. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS 




033017 

Raccoon on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

#Thursday #USFWS

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Raccoon on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS 




033017 

First Day of Spring

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Spring is here! Spring is here!




032017

Two male northern harriers

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

Two male northern harriers fighting over a nesting territory on Seedskadee NWR Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS 




031917 

Sleepy Marmot

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:


#USFWS #animal #mammal #marmot

YAWN! It's the first Monday after daylight savings time, and this marmot didn't like losing an hour of sleep either! Check out more amusing wildlife photos taken at #nationalwildliferefuges:http://bit.ly/2mBTksT




031317

Eastern tailed-blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas)

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region:

#USFWS #Insect #Butterfly #Pollinator

The Eastern tailed-blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas) is a wide-ranging butterfly with a wingspan near an inch. Credit: Krista Lundgren/USFWS 




031117 

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