Alaska's Wild Wonders: A Mustelid Mystery : simplebooklet.com

XAnr  te c ge  re f es m  to tM Em U. vi,  Mi,  Fir  Ri te,  Le wa,  e te,  Aman t  FETNo y ow  of  caciss t ut ses ar h ine do  ot et te? Vi ur se r e c: ad.kav an l n pe."5 toesWolverine pawSharp clawsSharp pre-molars for cutting and tearing meatLong, narrow skullAmerican marten skullLo, r odSon cSal sNaw lCasa tFi esSap wMa ber n alMul hel:American Marten (Mas eca) 19-25 in.; forestsWolverine (Gu lo)2.5-4 ft.; ranges across forests and tundraSea otter (End ti)3-5 ft.; ocean, most often in kelp beds near the coast.Least weasel (Mul il) 5-8 inches; meadows, shrubby areas, and open forestsMink (Neon n)12-18 in.; forests and areas near fresh waterErmine (Mul ena)6-12 in.; edges of forests and wetlandsFisher (Pea pni)24-36 in.; coastal forest in Southeast Alaska onlyRiver otter (Lor cani) 2.5-4 ft.; near fresh water and coastsTe m Mula  ma  of cavo, or  et, am. Mul ar w or r cuit h ney d it  hu p. h og r bo, uts o t an a s l a ans ih ce be,  h us  A L  main r oy  an re.  t ow  ses o sid  la, ir  (oy g wot i n e r he,  gel it Me h uts o saDirect register walkSomething mysterious had happened. Ferocity opened her eyes to realize she could not remember much of anything–who her family was or where she belonged. She started to search for clues. “Who am I?” she wondered. She noted her warm fur, small head, sharp teeth, long slender body, strong neck, and claws. Chapter 1: Who am I?Mul kus t cas d e

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ClickmFir d at per  n her  olte r e bon n o ppi. kbuw a w, ilg i h me mof ks iv te l en  wa,some  l ev od,  o wunwe nne. vis ery  inbor ad l re h a e inte b no  t in. a t ar  extoan v i h e.  ur ne!Can you spot the American martenpeeking out of a tree den?So  sic seySo BkCa n al k amwa? ? Click e c o t tiy  desA mink burrow along the banks of a creek. The size andlocation of a burrow can help identify who lives in it.4.5 in.Iltin Ma RVoleSubniveanzoneSnow layerErmine often spend time beneath the snow in burrows and tunnels in thewinter, called the subnivean zone. Mul, ih r al d ad g is e  abne nma y or il  buw fo hle. ne  la wes te ms As usd ar das t ey  as y o rans i w, ot an y. al was en  ov d i nte rs o r h on–i ve. r pod or rhan rti sel fo t mul wi y, al ki. isar n opl els d en  te mer  siv tite r a t ut  hi n as se d inmo m fe t l o t bo wt eyda r 0 w!Bu t i n urDirectregister walkFerocity poked her head out of the dark den to nd she was in a tree, andblinked at the bright wintery world. She carefully climbed onto a branch andwas surprised at how steady she felt. She bounded effortlessly from the limbto the trunk and then lept from the tree, landing on the cold snow below. Shespotted a small tunnel leading into the snowpack. Ferocity tried to squeeze inbut soon realized that it was a burrow belonging to an animal smaller than her.Chapter 2: Where am I?

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Stride length for animals that bound and lope is the distance between the groups of tracks.Measure the stride length of this animal trail: _____in.To move through snow, river otters often slide on their bellies and propel themselves forward with their hind feet.Find three common gaits that mustelids use on each page under the story! Hind feet are blue, front feet are pink. See if you can move like mustelids do on all fours.Bonus question! Why are there only hind feet in two of the gait diagrams? Answer on the bottom of the next page. Move like a MustelidRiver otters have webbed feet that help them swim eciently.Te r ga der te tn o h im ve Mli ses a l bo an h l. ese  hi d he mul per  u  log i: ey h  wi t hi f an bo tog h a av gus  ur c. t as  yo ma) Mi hi fPalmToe padClawsWebbingToe padHeel pad(only front feet)PalmClawsWorelet . - 6" Wih 2  55"Ri telet 22  3."wih .5  37"Erlet . - 2"wih 7  0."Al r se r i ins r gah ar pona t no ta zMul tak ha  ovl od pe  suy w  te t l on  ft a hi (ak fe Tak  is  go l o h sis  e tk ri tk fo me,  in med  te rs  ar mel le lin d or Re ts a wed hi f ad  ot he fu te on r id  ta ce  pleTak d is3x4 lopeFerocity bounded across the snow, landing lightly and springing off the snowpack. She found the tracks of many animals, large and small. Perhaps she could nd tracks that matched her own. She spotted a set of tracks that had ve toes with claw marks on both the front and back feet–just like hers! But as she approached and looked at their size, they were much larger than her own. And the tracks looked very different. Are those feet...webbed? Chapter 3: Are my tracks clues?

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De hi h met ces  im  cad fu Mal ve et p  fut  ipn or inti (am) roto n ser ret (i tu f ma) sid ce v it u quis t aw m o t suv i h rer ab. In s ih y d e,  hi f an g n e tk de  te r feWolverine fur is well known for shedding frost. Wore n-uWore h ho, s ur fu ta ss s epal l Wer fu  se r tig  ped g pe wo p te si  exm od  h it Wer al ve tti rig  t ur ar te ye wh n ot  coro t er tisA coat for each seasonThere are two mustelids in Alaska that turn white in winter to camouﬂage, or blend in, with snow. Least weasels turn all white. Ermine turn white with a black-tipped tail.Mink have distinctive dark brown fur. Their fur also keeps them warm in water. Erminewinter coatLeast weaselsummer coatDense sea otter fur: underfur and guard hairs.Futa fWat  weAns at  in  we h a st ne l un-er of unf cod  lor tev gu hi ta l er  unf Mul ta sd  lo  te  we– ot, er ots d ik–poc a l of  o t r at p ep r aw r he n  ta nas y y a w.Se er v e ds ur  y am t or 00 ir pe qe c Sa r ro  re sa csas  xes  fo t fu Gin s is s ad p i wn ar  se ot f Bo h ar t red  wih s em  ti war n e s hin f bub (a)3x4 lopeThe tracks led to a creek and disappeared into a hole in the ice. Underneath, dark water burbled. Would she be able to survive down there? She touched her nose, then one of her feet to the rushing water and immediately shivered. No, she decided, she must not have the kind of fur to keep her warm enough in cold water. Looking a bit further downstream, she spied a dark familiar shape swimming in a slow pool along a bank of the creek. Ferocity noticed shiny dark brown fur, and that this mustelid looked comfortable in the frigid, icy water.Chapter 4: What fur do I have?

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Ho n le wo t bex 6 ll.Yo il dx 0Yo ig:Do  m:The least weasel is the smallest carnivore in North America, but it has a BIG appetite. Least weasels have to eat 30 percent of their body weight each day, mostly consuming small rodents such as voles. Calculate how much you would have to eat if you ate like a least weasel, in pounds, and in voles!What if you were a least weasel?Tat it lSe er v i h e n u to t p em  re Wi an  te b, ey  "av" te w ti fot s  ra p he l f an irra,  ma r o t di We dg on  me t se te t i t art  he n' os Sea otters use tools to open shells of marine prey. Noh ic popeFirA sal petFir wh i n e ft o Ses as re tur go  hun run he il te r a t im do t heft hi g te n an as cis of cb u  te h h el rad Un te se t o bi "qed" ss il t in  ta n r of  pup ha  no Mul ar w or g ih g ad n ig melis wih s at y t e  LO  siv Mo mli r ril cavo, eg oy . u ts ca  omro, an vag o sol ale pt fo, e s an re. Fey atFet ilris b ar niy2x2 lopeFarther down the stream, Ferocity found a place to cross. A sharp scent lled her nostrils. It smelled of food—of meat! She spied a hint of movement in a spruce tree. Then, another musty scent mixed in. Could that be one of her kind? Peering down from above her on the tree trunk was a dark colored, cat-like creature larger than Ferocity, with a long, uffy tail. Chapter 5: What do I eat?

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Fo We, l, acWe ded  teTe re r ec o aqi mul - e te, r or n in S or li sy i h e n e p fo te o. er r ad k e seaqi mul, en he s en ti  la. r or p mo f ir ti  wa, h est o t en Mi s e,  sd o te  la t tes n d ir er re on  le vey  r ece h hat i  des s fos r, s rot net qa pt an re. A mink on the banks of a creek in winter. Mink spend time in water and on land. Challenge:Mustelid Maps!On the ADF&G website, ﬁnd where each mustelid species lives in Alaska. What do you notice? Do their ranges (or the total area a species lives within) overlap? How do you think the habitat they need shapes where they are in Alaska?A wolverine wearing a Global Positioning System (GPS) collar and an ear tag, which identiﬁes a wolverine if the collar slips o for any reason. What are the four key components of habitat that an animal needs to survive? (Answer below)1._________ 2._________3._________ 4.________We d oves dBiis n ak t o r at er ves go d t a te pr o p te .  o t, reces c S ol n oves t e tit to c hi cis e t Reces  mir te men rol wot in  psal fow m ad i h dhi w be l arHat is  e we n il es  he  go bi m ha erh n al es  suv om tes e  he a t e l  te hit es  tes y e  sl a Wore r an a ra   to 0 se mi.  ons t es as ve  n age a of t 0 qa le Wh as t e t 100 s es abs od  in  hit  a sil ve!Hat i h i's a2x2 lopeScampering on through the trees, Ferocity looked around and noted that she had reached a clearing in the forest with a steep cliff that descended to the ocean. A group of furry mammals oated together in the kelp not far off shore. Wrinkling her nose at the smell of salt in the air, she knew immediately that the ocean was not where she belonged. Turning away, she headed back towards the familiarity of snowy trees. A bit later, she heard footsteps just ahead, and peeked around a rock out of curiosity. The largest mustelid face she had ever seen was peering back at her, and there was something unfamiliar around his neck. Chapter 6: Where do I live? Submit

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Anr  te t of . Ti mu s mul i  cal cib d on es  ros  re Ti mli t  buw re t  le wa r en as  s co h i no paz or r ad l tak ta  re t. Mah t te t ec!Ti l mul iv mo nel  te an, a t net  f a ml an s os  ra sl  ma pe. Mah t te:Ti mli r we n te b s a bkpe t Te bow  to sal  Fot n he p te r wir  he ne ze Mah t te: Ti la qu mul it b fe o le n te  in t an li na rwe ra k as re, an v. ac h sedTi lr ut li n in  fet  Soas sa n hus cis  pe. ac h sedTi mu s mul wi w,  bon  t ke t am  te h sim, a d ot  wed e. Mah t te:It  h ag mel an rs o n in l re d od. I  n atiMah t te:Fet ol t  n  buw  hi we. It  h alt ni in t Ama, a cg ol  wir Mah t te:M.U.S.T.E.L.I.D.Label the mustelids in the photos below using your knowledge and hints from every page. Next, write the code letter in the box to match each mustelid you identied to the clues Ferocity collected along her journey. Hint: the letters for each mustelid are another clue to matching a mustelid with Ferocity! Research her species further on the ADF&G website for more on her diet, habitat, and characteristics.Epilogue: Match the mustelids!

Alaska's Wild Wonders: A Mustelid Mystery