University of Illinois Extension

Identifying the Animal Causing a Problem

Mammals

Bats often huddle together to stay warm. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=bat">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Bats
An eastern chipmunk (<i>Tamias striatus</i>). Photo courtesy of Joyce Hofmann, Illinois Natural History Survey. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=groundsquirrel">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Eastern Chipmunk
Thirteen-lined groundsquirrel (<i>Spermophilus tridecemlineatus</i>). Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=groundsquirrel">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Thirteen-Lined Groundsquirrel
Fox squirrel (<i>Sciurus niger</i>) in a tree. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=treesquirrels">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Fox Squirrel
Eastern gray squirrel (<i>Sciurus carolinensis</i>) in a tree. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=treesquirrels">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Beaver (Castor canadensis) <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=beaver">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Beaver
Notice the flat, furless tail of the beaver (<i>Castor canadensis</i>). Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=beaver">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Beaver
Eastern cottontail (<i>Sylvilagus floridanus</i>). Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=cottontail">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Eastern Cottontail
<p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=cottontail">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Eastern Cottontail
Coyotes (<i>Canis latrans</i>) carry their tails low.Photo courtesy of Bob Gress. IDNR Image Library <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=coyote">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Coyote
Four coyote (<i>Canis latrans</i>) pups explore outside the den. Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=coyote">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Coyote
Plains pocket gopher (<i>Geomys bursarius</i>). Photo courtesy of Paul Nesbit. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=mole">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Plains Pocket Gopher
Muskrats (<i>Ondatra zibethicus</i>) can be distinguished from beavers by their thin, vertically flattened tail. Photo courtesy of Willowbrook Wildlife Center. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=muskrat">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Muskrat
The opossum (<i>Didelphis virginiana</i>) can be identified by the grizzled white fur, small, dark ears, and long, furless tail. Photo courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Dupage County. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=opossum">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Virginia Opossum
Female Virginia opossums (<i>Didelphis virginianus</i>) often carry their young on their backs. Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=opossum">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Virginia Opossum
Raccoons (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) can be identified by the dark face mask and ringed tail. Photo courtesy of Bob Gress. IDNR image library <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=raccoon">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Raccoon
Young raccoons (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) in a den inside a tree. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=raccoon">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Raccoon
Red fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>). Photo courtesy of Bob Coury, Painet Inc. IDNR image library <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=redfox">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Red Fox
Gray foxes (<i>Urocyon cineroargenteus</i>) are the only North American canines that climb trees. Gray foxes have been found in squirrel nests and abandonded hawk nests up to 60 feet above the ground. Photo courtesy of Steve Wayne, Painet Inc. IDNR image library <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=redfox">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Gray Fox
River otters (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) can be distinguished from beaver and muskrats by their stout, furred tail. Photo courtesy of Tim Daniel, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (IDNR image library) <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=river_otter">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
River Otter
River otters (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) once were almost gone from Illinois. In 1994, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources began releasing otters and successfully restored them to the state's rivers and streams. Photo courtesy of Robert Barber, Painet Inc.(IDNR image library) <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=river_otter">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
River Otter
Striped skunk (<i>Mephitis mephitis</i>). Photo courtesy of Erwin C. Nielsen, Painet Inc. IDNR image library <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=skunk">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Striped Skunk
A young skunk (<i>Mephitis mephitis</i>) in a tree. Photo courtesy of Robert Barber,Painet Inc. IDNR image library. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=skunk">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Striped Skunk
A prairie vole (<i>Microtus ochrogaster</i>) chewing on a stem. Photo courtesy of Michael Jeffords, Illinois Natural History Survey. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=vole">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Prairie Vole
This young white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) still has its spotted coat. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=deer">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
White-tailed Deer
Some white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) are adept at living in human-altered environments. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=deer">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
White-tailed Deer
Does leave their fawns unattended for several hours at a time. However, the doe is nearby, even if she is out of sight. Photo courtesy of Willowbrook Wildlife Center. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=deer">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
White-tailed Deer
The woodchuck (<i>Marmota monax</i>) is the largest ground squirrel found in Illinois. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=woodchuck">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Woodchuck
The woodchuck (<i>Marmota monax</i>) is a stocky animal with a short tail. They are much leaner in the spring after emerging from hibernation. Photo courtesy of Adele Hodde, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=woodchuck">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Woodchuck
Woodchuck (<i>Marmota monax</i>) at a burrow entrance. Photo courtesy of Liza Watson. <p><a href="directory_show.cfm?species=woodchuck">Continue to Wildlife Directory</a></p>
Woodchuck
Identify an Animal