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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Black Skimmer Egg

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Sometimes an egg 🐣 is hidden in plain sight. A glimpse into the wonderful world of eggs:http://bit.ly/2nK5i3o ‬

Photo: Black Skimmer Egg by Greg Thompson, USFWS. 

#animals #birds #eggs #nature #wildlife 




041717


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Green Sea Turtle Buries Her Eggs

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Sea turtles begin nesting in early spring and continue through the hot summer months and into the fall. Got a beach vacation planned during that time? Fear not! Here are some ways you can help the sea turtles as you enjoy the beach:http://bit.ly/2o47wdT

Photo: Green sea turtle buries her eggs by Cape Hatteras National Seashore — with Elvene Patenio Aleria. 

#animals #reptile #turtle #nature #wildlife 




041317 

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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 

Bellowing Male Alligator

#Thursday

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Now is the time of year when male alligators can be seen or heard bellowing as a courtship display. The sound of a bellowing alligator (which is more like roar) is one you won't soon forget. Listen here:http://bit.ly/2p6jFz8 

Photo by Regina Snow at Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. See the rest:http://bit.ly/2p6qoJn

#animals #reptile #alligator #wildlife #nature #Mississippi #MS





040617

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 

Egg of the Murre (Uria aalge)

#Wednesday

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Common murre eggs like this one are pyriform – pear-shaped and pointed. They won’t roll away like oval eggs, which is important for birds that nest on cliff ledges and slopes. Learn more surprising facts about bird eggs : http://bit.ly/2nK5i3o

Photo by Brandon Saito/USFWS at Alaska's Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. 

#animals #birds #auk #murre #wildlife #nature 

#USFWS #alaska #AK 




040517 

Gopher Tortoise: Keystone Species

#Sunday #USFWS

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species with an estimated 300 other species – snakes, spiders, lizards and frogs – dependent upon its burrows for protection. But who protects the gopher tortoise? Turns out the U.S. military does. Full story:http://bit.ly/2o0d1x4




040217

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