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Mammals of Ohio
An updated, informative review of the status and biology of the fifty-five species of mammals living wild in Ohio, richly illustrated with photographs, maps, drawings, and original artwork. This comprehensive reference illustrates how species within each of the seven orders of mammals in Ohio share modes of reproduction, locomotion, and nutrition, providing a framework for understanding the fascinating world of mammalian biology. Presentations of natural history in each account of the various species are enhanced with descriptions of intriguing adaptations for avoiding demise from predators, food shortages, and the frigid conditions of Ohio winters. The book is richly illustrated with range maps, exquisite skull drawings, beautiful photography, and engaging artwork. Challenges to wildlife conservation are considerable in Ohio, with its vast industrialized urban centers distributed across a largely agricultural landscape. With frequent citations of scientific reports and conservation efforts of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and of other public and private entities, this book instills an appreciation for the rich mammalian fauna of Ohio, as well as knowledge on how to join efforts to protect it. Covering all of the state’s mammals, from tiny, obscure shrews to the magnificent white-tailed deer, Mammals of Ohio is a definitive resource for professional biologists and students. The narrative style throughout the book is accessible, providing the general reader with an appreciation for the full scope of the rich mammalian diversity in the state.
456 pages, Paperback
Published March 18, 2022
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June 28, 2022
This is an outstanding book! I really thought I would just browse / flip through the pages, but I was drawn in by the organization, layout, and presentation of material!
Starting out there is a Foreward, Preface, Acknowledgments, Introduction, and brief "Natural History of Mammals in Ohio." From here, readers are introduced to different Orders and within each order, a Family / Families, and then within each Family, specific mammals. At the end of the book, there is a chapter on, "Other Ohio Mammals: Extirpated, Occasional Occurrence, and Prehistoric," 4 Appendices that include things such as, "Dental Formulas of Ohio Mammals, Equivalent Metric and Imperial Units of Measure," and more! Also, there is an Index.
Scattered throughout, there are pencil drawings, photographs, maps, tables, and more!
For each Chapter or Order, there is a color photograph of an animal that will be discussed in the chapter, an Introduction to the animal that includes the number of genera, as well as the number of species distributed throughout the world and where or where they are not located. Also provided in this section is a general description of the species in this order, a diagram of the skull, as well as what species may be found in Ohio.
Next is / are the species - In this instance, we will use the Bobcat aka Lynx rufus, which includes a color photograph of the animal, a Species Description, two maps - one where they may be found in Ohio; the other, where they may be found in North America. There is also information provided under the headings of Distribution & Abundance, Habitat, Diet, Reproduction, Mortality, Behavior, and Conservation. At the end of each species' section is is list of Literature Cited - this might be a small list, or as in the case with the Bobcat, is 3/4 page long.
Some interesting things to note: Within the Introduction, there is a section on Conservation with definitions for Endangered, Threatened, Species of Concern, Special Interest, Extirpated - a species of subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European settlement and has since disappeared from the state, and Extinct. There is also a two-page table that illustrates the Order, Family, Species (common and Latin names), and Conservation Status for that animal. For example, the American Black Bear is Endangered, while many Bats are Threatened, Endangered, or there is Concern.
There is a paragraph that talks about the Status of Mammals in Ohio, but you'll have to read the book to learn more!
The population of Eastern Cottontails has declined in the Midwest since the mid-1900's due to, in general, more intensive agricultural practices. A more detailed explanation may be found on pg. 40.
Many of the Latin names contain a term that means that species in a different language. For example, with the American Beaver aka Castor canadensis, Castor is Greek for "Beaver." Incidentally, canadensis refers to Canada, where the first specimens were collected.
No species of mammal except humans has a greater impact on its environment than the Beaver.
A Chippy aka a Chipmunk is from the Order: Rodentia, which is only fair since it looks like an overgrown mouse! Also, they are EVERYWHERE in Ohio!
Also, if you have a natural aversion to critters such as chippies, mice, rats, voles, muskrats, squirrels, etc., you might want to consider living somewhere else! We have a lot of these. As a matter of fact, we can even break our Rodentia down to Old World Rats and Mice and New World Rats and Mice. You literally cannot make this stuff up!
Did you know there's such a thing as Jumping Mice? I kid you not! There is also more than one species in this Family. You Are Welcome!
Amazingly, Shrews belong to another Order: Eulipotyphla. This order, with 440 species, is fourth highest in species richness in the worldT, behind Old World Rats and Mice, Cricetid Rodents, and Vespertilionid Bats.
The chapter on the Order Carnivora was most interesting. I was amazed at all of the Families / Species that fall under this order.
Bobcats were removed from the Ohio Endangered Species List and downlisted to Threatened in 2012 and then delisted in 2014. Go Bobcats!
Striped Skunks fall under the Order: Carnivora. who knew?
Although Black Bears are omnivorous, they still belong to the Carnivora Order. The whole discussion of their diet was most interesting.
Also, Black Bears experience very low NATURAL mortality, and most causes are human related - vehicle collisions, legal hunting, and poaching.
If you want to learn more about the White-Tailed Deer, you will have to wade through other Orders to find Cetartidactyla.
I'm not a huge fan of Bats, but there are a lot of them in Ohio and so there is a huge section that talks about them towards the end of this book.
Some interesting items discussed in the section called Extirpated Mammals: American Bison, Mountain Lion or Cougar, North American Porcupine, Timber or Gray Wolf, which is one of my favorite animals, Wapiti or Elk, as well as others.
Well Done!
Starting out there is a Foreward, Preface, Acknowledgments, Introduction, and brief "Natural History of Mammals in Ohio." From here, readers are introduced to different Orders and within each order, a Family / Families, and then within each Family, specific mammals. At the end of the book, there is a chapter on, "Other Ohio Mammals: Extirpated, Occasional Occurrence, and Prehistoric," 4 Appendices that include things such as, "Dental Formulas of Ohio Mammals, Equivalent Metric and Imperial Units of Measure," and more! Also, there is an Index.
Scattered throughout, there are pencil drawings, photographs, maps, tables, and more!
For each Chapter or Order, there is a color photograph of an animal that will be discussed in the chapter, an Introduction to the animal that includes the number of genera, as well as the number of species distributed throughout the world and where or where they are not located. Also provided in this section is a general description of the species in this order, a diagram of the skull, as well as what species may be found in Ohio.
Next is / are the species - In this instance, we will use the Bobcat aka Lynx rufus, which includes a color photograph of the animal, a Species Description, two maps - one where they may be found in Ohio; the other, where they may be found in North America. There is also information provided under the headings of Distribution & Abundance, Habitat, Diet, Reproduction, Mortality, Behavior, and Conservation. At the end of each species' section is is list of Literature Cited - this might be a small list, or as in the case with the Bobcat, is 3/4 page long.
Some interesting things to note: Within the Introduction, there is a section on Conservation with definitions for Endangered, Threatened, Species of Concern, Special Interest, Extirpated - a species of subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European settlement and has since disappeared from the state, and Extinct. There is also a two-page table that illustrates the Order, Family, Species (common and Latin names), and Conservation Status for that animal. For example, the American Black Bear is Endangered, while many Bats are Threatened, Endangered, or there is Concern.
There is a paragraph that talks about the Status of Mammals in Ohio, but you'll have to read the book to learn more!
The population of Eastern Cottontails has declined in the Midwest since the mid-1900's due to, in general, more intensive agricultural practices. A more detailed explanation may be found on pg. 40.
Many of the Latin names contain a term that means that species in a different language. For example, with the American Beaver aka Castor canadensis, Castor is Greek for "Beaver." Incidentally, canadensis refers to Canada, where the first specimens were collected.
No species of mammal except humans has a greater impact on its environment than the Beaver.
A Chippy aka a Chipmunk is from the Order: Rodentia, which is only fair since it looks like an overgrown mouse! Also, they are EVERYWHERE in Ohio!
Also, if you have a natural aversion to critters such as chippies, mice, rats, voles, muskrats, squirrels, etc., you might want to consider living somewhere else! We have a lot of these. As a matter of fact, we can even break our Rodentia down to Old World Rats and Mice and New World Rats and Mice. You literally cannot make this stuff up!
Did you know there's such a thing as Jumping Mice? I kid you not! There is also more than one species in this Family. You Are Welcome!
Amazingly, Shrews belong to another Order: Eulipotyphla. This order, with 440 species, is fourth highest in species richness in the worldT, behind Old World Rats and Mice, Cricetid Rodents, and Vespertilionid Bats.
The chapter on the Order Carnivora was most interesting. I was amazed at all of the Families / Species that fall under this order.
Bobcats were removed from the Ohio Endangered Species List and downlisted to Threatened in 2012 and then delisted in 2014. Go Bobcats!
Striped Skunks fall under the Order: Carnivora. who knew?
Although Black Bears are omnivorous, they still belong to the Carnivora Order. The whole discussion of their diet was most interesting.
Also, Black Bears experience very low NATURAL mortality, and most causes are human related - vehicle collisions, legal hunting, and poaching.
If you want to learn more about the White-Tailed Deer, you will have to wade through other Orders to find Cetartidactyla.
I'm not a huge fan of Bats, but there are a lot of them in Ohio and so there is a huge section that talks about them towards the end of this book.
Some interesting items discussed in the section called Extirpated Mammals: American Bison, Mountain Lion or Cougar, North American Porcupine, Timber or Gray Wolf, which is one of my favorite animals, Wapiti or Elk, as well as others.
Well Done!
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