Stan Tekiela Invites you to Discover the Mammals of Wisconsin
Whether you visit an animal track or see wildlife in nature, interacting with mammals is a thrill. With Stan Tekiela’s famous Mammals of Wisconsin Field Guide, identification is simple and informative.
The Mammals of Wisconsin Field Guide features all 71 species found in the state, organized by family and then by size. When readers see a mammal, they can determine its family by common visual characteristics and then turn to the corresponding section to find out what it is!
Fact-filled information contains the particulars to know, while full-color photographs provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification.
This second edition includes updated photographs and range maps, expanded information, and even more of Stan’s expert insights. Here are three examples:
The Little Brown Bat is one of the smallest and most common bats in the state. Many people construct large wooden bat houses to provide daytime roosts for this species. The genus Myotis means “mouse ear” in Latin and was presumably given for its small mouse-like ears. The bats often forage for food over rivers and lakes, beneath streetlights, and wherever large groups of flying insects congregate. This bat typically eats about half its body weight in insects every night. A lactating female can eat up to 110% of her weight in food nightly. The high volume of insect consumption makes this tiny animal desirable to have around. Farmers benefit greatly from its voracious appetite.
The Black Bear is the only bear in Wisconsin. The black bear is unique to North America. It has a shuffling gait and frequently appears clumsy. Did you know that it hibernates up to six months per year, beginning in late fall? The bear’s heart rate drops from 70 to 10–20 beats per minute. The body temperature drops only 1–12°F (-17°C to -11°C), which is insufficient to change mental functions. During hibernation, the black bear doesn’t eat, drink, pass feces, or urinate, yet it can be roused and move around in the den. The female can lose up to 40% of her body weight during hibernation.
Did you know that the Meadow Vole, sometimes mistakenly called meadow mouse or field mouse, is not a mouse and does not enter homes like mice? Meadow Voles fair well in abandoned farmlands and most moist places with thick grass, including fields.
While many other small mammals include insects in their diet, the meadow vole is one of the few small animals that is strictly vegetarian. The meadow vole is the most prolific mammal on Earth by far, with the female able to reproduce at 3 weeks. A female has a postpartum estrus, which allows her to mate almost immediately after giving birth. The mature mammal has 3–10 pups (average 7) up to 15 times per year!
About the author: Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela has published more than 190 field guides, nature books, children’s books, wildlife audio CDs, puzzles, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 35 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs.
Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, Stan’s syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers, and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations. Stan can be followed on Facebook and Twitter. He can be contacted via www.naturesmart.com.
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