MCR Monthly Newsletter
What’s Hatchn’ing at Merrill Creek Reservoir with Ranger Rich
About the Author: Richard Dansen Sr.
Rich has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in zoology and wildlife management. Rich has been with Merrill Creek Reservoir since 1995 where he teaches environmental education.
You can find Rich each weekend at the MCR visitors center talking about the wonderful wildlife and habitats of MCR. Stop by to say hi!
“In writing this monthly newsletter, I hope to inform and educate readers about some of the wonderful and fascinating events going on in nature at Merrill Creek Reservoir each month. Enjoy!”
– Ranger Rich
January
Happy New Year to all!
While some mammals like Bears, Chipmunks and Woodchucks survive the dead cold of winter by finding a den and lowering their metabolism and living off stored body fat, there are some animals that do not hibernate but instead, scratch out a living by staying active all winter. These animals include the “Dog-like” Canines such domestic dogs, foxes, coyotes, and wolves. At MCR we have three species of wild canines living here: Red Fox, Grey Fox and Coyote.
Foxes
I would like to start by clearing up a common point of confusion. A Grey Fox and a Red Fox are often confused as the same animal, but they totally different animals! As shown, a Grey Fox has a shorter muzzle, is stockier than a Red Fox and has brick red areas of fur around its neck and belly and a large grey “saddle” on its back and an all-grey tail. Whereas, a Red Fox has a long muzzle and is mostly brighter red fur with a very fluffy “White-tipped” tail.
During winter, foxes take advantage of one of nature’s most abundant food source … rodents! Mice, rats, and voles are also active in winter as they scurry through the grass and other vegetation and sometimes create tunnels hidden beneath the snow. However, foxes have superior hearing. In fact, a fox can hear a mouse’s heartbeat under 3 feet of snow! Wow! Although Red and Grey Foxes look very similar, they have different shaped eyes. Grey Foxes have oval shaped pupils while Red Foxes have vertical (“cat-like”) pupils which help them enhance their night vision for hunting.
Coyotes
Coyotes are also active during winter but are much larger than foxes. Typically, coyotes have greyish fur, but can also have black, brown and even blonde fur. Normally most canines are strict carnivores (eating meat only), but when hard pressed coyotes (and foxes as well) will consume fruit, nuts (acorns or hickory nuts) or vegetables when available. But like the foxes, coyotes mostly take advantage of the massive rodent population for food or will eat carrion. An interesting fact about coyotes is that research has shown that when constantly hunted in an area, Coyotes may increase reproduction (i.e. having more or larger litters/year or females may give birth at a younger age), it is postulated that this reaction is done to maintain or increase the size of the pack under hunting or environmental pressures. So, hunting coyotes may only increase the size of the pack! They are masters of survival as a species and invaluable for rodent control!
Wolves
There are no wolves left in New Jersey. According to Rue (1964) the last record of a native NJ wolf was in 1854 or 1855. Originally, wolves were widespread in NJ, but bounties were offered for killing wolves as early as 1682 and were still being paid as late as 1750.
Get out and enjoy an invigorating winter hike!
Ranger Rich
