Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals

Alaska Brown Bear These two brown bears have gathered at a stream near Canoe Bay, Alaska, lured by the first fish of the salmon run. Abert’s Squirrel Only in winter do the perky ears of Abert’s squirrels grow tassels, or tufts of hair. Alaskan Moose Moose are the largest deer in the world. American Badger After a fruitless night of hunting, a badger has discovered a fresh target: the burrow entrance of a Wyoming ground squirrel. American Bison and Pronghorn This diorama is set in the mid-1800s, when the prairies teemed with tens of millions of bison. American Marten A marten emerges tentatively at the bare rim of Crater Lake in search of ground squirrels. American Mink Where there’s water, there may be mink. These svelte hunters seek fish underwater and waterfowl and mammals near shore. Bighorn Sheep A “bachelor band” of bighorn sheep stands before Mount Athabasca in the Canadian Rockies. Black Bear A black bear has startled a venomous cottonmouth snake in this Florida cypress swamp. Black-Footed Ferret Black-footed ferrets are North America’s rarest mammals. Black-Tailed and Antelope Jackrabbits The black-tailed jackrabbit and antelope jackrabbit are often seen idling or running together in Arizona and Mexico. Canada Lynx and Snowshoe Hare Despite its best efforts to hide, a snowshoe (varying) hare has captured the attention of a Canada lynx. Caribou Caribou, also known as reindeer, flourish in some of the world’s harshest places. Caribou The mating season for caribou, called the rut, has begun. Collared Peccary A distant cousin of the domestic pig, the collared peccary has a similar barrel-shaped body with daintier legs and feet. Cougar (Mountain Lion) Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park offers ideal habitat for cougars: shade to escape the heat, rugged terrain in which to... Coyote Where wolves and cougars are absent, coyotes are top predators. Although smaller, they may scavenge as much as they catch. Dall Sheep Camouflaged against the snow, Dall sheep thrive where few mammals can—on windy peaks in Alaska and northwest Canada. Eastern Cottontail Eastern cottontails thrive in brambles bordering open fields, and they are fond of green areas tended by people. Ermine and Vole In a heartbeat, this ermine will dart at an oblivious vole and dispatch it with a swift bite to the neck. Extinct American Mammals of the Ice Age Miniature models of mammoths and other ice-age mammals are depicted in two small dioramas at the entrance to the Hall of North American... Fisher and Porcupine As dawn breaks, a fisher has discovered its favorite prey, a porcupine, descending a tree. Gray Fox and Opossum A gray fox and a Virginia opossum are feeding upon ripe persimmons in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Grizzly Bear You’d be wise to avoid stumbling upon this scene in the wild. Groundhog Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, spend much of their lives underground. Jaguar The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. Its muscular, compact frame is built for strength and stealth rather than extended... Mountain Goat No mammal is more sure-footed on steep peaks than the mountain goat. Mule Deer The large, mule-like ears of these deer inspired western explorer William Clark, in 1806, to give these animals their name. Musk Ox A herd of musk oxen hunkers down to wait out a snowstorm. Nine-Banded Armadillo Surrounding this mother armadillo is an unusual family group: identical quadruplets. North American Beaver The beaver is not your typical rodent. It’s the largest one on the continent and the only one that can cut down mature trees. Northern Flying Squirrel An agile skydiver, the northern flying squirrel doesn’t fly—it glides. Raccoon In the forest, raccoons live near lakes or streams. But human environments also suit them fine. River Otter As morning mist veils a lake in Algonquin Provincial Park, a young female river otter comes ashore and inspects a spider web. Sewellel (Mountain Beaver) Neither a beaver nor a high-mountain dweller, the sewellel is a rather singular animal. Spotted Skunk and Ringtail (Cacomistle) The remarkable handstand of the spotted skunk is a warning to discourage the two curious ringtails from getting any closer. Striped Skunk The sun set a half-hour ago—the cue for a mother skunk to lead her five kits from their den on a hunting sortie. Wapiti This handsome deer is known by many names. “Wapiti” is one. Western Gray Squirrel This perspective, high in towering sugar pines, affords a rare close-up of two western gray squirrels. White-Tailed Deer The leaves of blackgum trees, already ablaze in scarlet, attract a fawn, doe and buck. Wolf Group hunting is how wolves can prey on animals much bigger than themselves. Wolverine Canada’s Barren Lands are so far north that trees barely grow and the summer sun sets near midnight.