WNY Camera Trapping Project ID Guide (Canisius College Applied Conservation Team)

The American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, is one of the smaller squirrels found in Western New York. When identifying, note the small size, bold white eye ring, and white belly. These squirrels are smaller than Eastern Gray Squirrels or Fox Squirrels. Tail is usually less bushy than that of a gray squirrel, and rusty red in color. *As with other squirrel species, please use the details or comment box to mark the individual as melanic if you identify one that is black in color. less ↑

The Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is a small member of the squirrel family (Sciuridae). They can be identified by their small size and coloration. Chipmunks have reddish-brown fur on their back and sides, and white fur on the stomach. They have a white stripe bordered by black on each side of the body, and one black stripe on the center of the back. Chipmunks will often run with their tail held straight up, which can be useful for identifying them in night photos with no color. less ↑

Sciurus carolinensis, the Eastern Gray Squirrel, is the most common squirrel seen on our WNY cameras. Like the American Red Squirrel, it has a white eye ring and belly, but is larger, usually more gray or brown in color, and often has a bushier tail. It is notably larger than the red squirrel. *As with other squirrel species, please use the details or comment box to mark the individual as melanic if you identify one that is black in color. less ↑

The Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger, (also known as the Eastern Fox Squirrel), is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. Despite the differences in size and coloration, they are often mistaken for American Red Squirrels or Eastern Gray Squirrels in areas where the species co-exist. Fox squirrels are less common on our cameras than the other species listed in this guide, but they can be found in the area. Fox squirrels usually have a rust-colored belly and a black outline to the tail. Gray Squirrels typically have a white belly and the tail looks frosted in white. As adults, Fox Squirrels are larger than Gray Squirrel. *As with other squirrel species, please use the details or comment box to mark the individual as melanic if you identify one that is black in color. less ↑

In NYS, we have two species of flying squirrels, Northern and Southern. As images of these animals are almost exclusively captured at night, it is very hard to distinguish between them, although Southern is more common. Therefore, all flying squirrels should be tagged in our database only as "Flying Squirrel (Cannot ID)." They are most often captured while on a tree, but sometimes are also seen mid-glide. They can be identified by their large eyes, flattened appearance against the tree, and the flaps of skin along their sides that aid them in gliding (although this is not always visible in images). less ↑

The woodchuck, Marmota monax, also known as a groundhog, is a large rodent. It is sometimes confused with the beaver or the muskrat. The tail is a good identifying feature. The woodchuck will have a tail about 6 inches long, which is furry, but not as bushy as that of a squirrel. In contrast, beavers will have a large, flat tail and muskrats will have a long, thin, relatively hairless tail that is slightly flattened on the sides. Woodchucks are typically a grizzled brown or gray color and are usually active during the daylight hours (mostly in the morning and later afternoon/evening). less ↑

The North American Beaver, Castor canadensis, is regularly seen on cameras near ponds, lakes, or streams. The beaver is most often confused with the muskrat or the woodchuck. It is larger than either of these species, and can easily be distinguished if the tail is visible. Beavers have a flat, wide hairless tail that looks like a paddle. Muskrats have a long rat-like tail which is relatively hairless. Woodchucks have furry tails about 6 inches long. If the back feet are visible, this can also aid in identification. Beavers have fully webbed hind feet. Muskrat hind feet are only partially webbed, and woodchuck feet are not webbed at all. less ↑

The Brown Rat, Rattus norvegicus, is also referred to as the Common Rat, Street Rat, Sewer Rat, or Norway Rat. This species is commonly found in urban and suburban areas. Rats can often be distinguished from other small mammals in camera trap images by their size and long, hairless tail. They will be smaller than muskrats, larger than mice and voles. Remember that if you are not certain of the identification of a small mammal, you may use the tag "small mammal (cannot ID)" to indicate that. less ↑

The muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent found in wetlands. Muskrats are are most commonly confused with beavers and woodchucks. They are considerably smaller than beavers, and can be easily distinguished by their tail if it is visible. Muskrats have a long, relatively hairless tail, while beavers have a wide flattened tail like a paddle. Beavers also have more strongly webbed hind feet than muskrats. These characteristics can also help to distinguish it from the woodchuck, which is not semiaquatic and lacks any toe webbing. The woodchuck has a furred tail about 6 inches in length. less ↑

The North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is a large species of rodent. The beaver is the only rodent in North America that is larger than the North American porcupine. Porcupines are easily identified by their quills. A porcupine may have as many as 30,000 quills. The quills are hairs with barbed tips on the ends. The porcupine has quills on all parts of its body except the stomach. The longest quills are on the rump. Porcupines are black to brownish-yellow in color and have strong, short legs. They have a round body, small ears and a small head. Porcupines are excellent climbers and are often seen in trees. Porcupines are common in the southern portion of WNY, but are rare in Northern Erie and Niagara Counties. However, porcupines have occasionally been seen in the area and could occur on our cameras. less ↑

The Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, is our only local species of wild rabbit. There are few species that the cottontail may be easily confused with other than the domestic rabbit. The eastern cottontail has speckled brown-gray fur above, reddish-brown fur around its neck and shoulders and lighter fur around its nose and on its undersides. It has big eyes and a tail that is puffy white on the underside. In the winter its fur may be more gray than brown. Wild rabbits can be distinguished from domesticated rabbits by their fur color and other features. Wild rabbits never have floppy ears, and will usually have light brown fur. They have long, narrow faces, while pet rabbits have plumper cheeks and wide, round eyes. less ↑

The Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is easily identified by its coloration. Two thick white stripes along the back and tail contrast its black coat. The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, with some animals appearing almost entirely white on the back, and otherwise having much thinner white stripes and more visible black between them. The striped skunk also has a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. less ↑

The American Mink, Neogale vison, is a long, slender mammal with a brown body and white chin. White patches may also be seen on the throat. Monk are most commonly confused with other members of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which in WNY include fishers, river otters, long-tailed weasels, and stoat (also called ermine or shot-tailed weasels). Size is the most obvious way to differentiate mink from fisher, as fisher will be much larger. River otters are even larder and have webbed toes and a tail that is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. The long-tailed weasel and stoat are smaller than mink, and have white or yellowish fur on the belly. less ↑

The Short-tailed Weasel, Mustela richardsonii, is also known as the ermine or stoat. It is most commonly confused with the Long-tailed Weasel. Both species are ferret-like in shape, with a small head, long thin body, and short legs. Both have brown coloration above and white or yellowish fur on the belly, and both have a black tip at the end of the tail. Both turn white in winter in New York, except for the tail tip which remains black. The short-tailed weasel can be differentiated by its slightly smaller size and the shorter tail. The tail of the Long-tailed Weasel is 3 - 6.5 inches long, while the tail of the Short-tailed Weasel is only 1.5 - 3.5 inches long. The Short-tailed Weasel body is 7.5 - 13.5 inches long, while the Long-tailed weasel is 11 - 22 inches long. When in the brown color phase, the color of the feet also differs, with Long-tailed weasels having brown feet and the Short-tailed Weasels having white feet. less ↑

The Fisher, Pekania pennanti, is a one of the larger members of the Mustelid (weasel) family found in New York. Fishers are most commonly confused with mink, although they can be easily distinguished by their large size. Adults can be up to 30 inches long, including their long bushy tail. They are brown in color, and often appear blackish on the rump and tail, with a white or cream-colored bib on their chest. They are excellent climbers and may often be seen climbing trees. They are similar in weight to a Red Fox, but have much shorter legs than a fox. Their legs are longer than those of a mink, and they carry themselves with a more upright posture than mink. less ↑

The Long-tailed Weasel, Neogale frenata, is also known as the "bridled weasel" or "big stoat". It is most commonly confused with the Short-tailed Weasel (also called ermine or stoat). Both species are ferret-like in shape, with a small head, long thin body, and short legs. Both have brown coloration above and white or yellowish fur on the belly, and both have a black tip at the end of the tail. Both turn white in winter in New York, except for the tail tip which remains black. The long-tailed weasel can be differentiated by its slightly larger size and the length of the tail. The tail of the Long-tailed Weasel is 3 - 6.5 inches long, while the tail of the Short-tailed Weasel is only 1.5 - 3.5 inches long. The Short-tailed Weasel body is 7.5 - 13.5 inches long, while the Long-tailed weasel is 11 - 22 inches long. When in the brown color phase, the color of the feet also differs, with Long-tailed weasels having brown feet and the Short-tailed Weasels having white feet. less ↑

The North American river otter, Lontra canadensis, is the largest member of the family Mustelidae (weasels) in New York. Otters are not commonly seen on our trail cameras, but do appear occasionally in locations with aquatic features (lakes, ponds, streams, etc). River otters can be distinguished from other semiaquatic mammals (muskrats, beavers) by their body shape. They share they characteristic long, sleek shape and short legs of other mustelids. They are considerably larger than other local members of the weasel family. River otters have webbed feet and a tail that is thick at the base and tapers to a point at the tip. less ↑

The coyote, Canis latrans, is our largest wild canid in New York. Coyote coloration can range from gray to red to blonde. Their legs, ears and cheeks are often reddish, and many have a white chin and a dark spot just below the base of the tail when observed from behind. The tip of the tail is usually black. Coyotes are easily distinguished from foxes by their larger size and longer legs. Coyotes are most commonly confused with domestic dogs, particularly German Shepherd mixes. Coyotes generally look sleeker than dogs, with a more pointed muzzle and flatter forehead. A dog’s chest is deeper than a coyote’s, giving the appearance that a coyote has longer legs than a dog. less ↑

The Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, is one of two fox species found in New York State. Gray foxes are sometimes confused with red foxes because of a reddish or rusty coloration on the sides of their necks and on their legs. Their overall coloration is best described as a salt and pepper gray with a dark streak extending down the center of the back, along the top of the tail and ending in a black tail tip. The grey fox also has a more "cat-like" face than either the red fox or the coyote. Because many of our fox images are obtained at night, when photos are not in color, another helpful tip is to look for the some of the characteristics of the red fox that are present in night images - black on the lower legs (black "boots" and black ears (seen only on the back side of the ear). Red foxes have a white tail tip, while gray foxes have a black tail tip. Coyotes also possess a black-tipped tail, but can easily be distinguished from foxes by their larger size and longer legs. less ↑

The Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes, is the most common fox species in our region. The name Red Fox can be deceiving because they can actually be red, grey, black, and even white (if albino or leucistic), although red is the most common. The black legs of the red fox is a good identification clue - especially in night photos. The back side of the the ears are also tipped in black, and the tail is tipped in white. The red fox has a more "dog-like" face when compared to the gray fox. less ↑

The bobcat, Lynx rufus, is the only species of wild felid found in NYS. Bobcats can be identified by their large size (compared with domestic cats), and their characteristic short tail. The tail is dark on top, with black at the tip, and white underneath. They have tufted ears and long fur on the cheeks. They range in color from yellowish to reddish brown, and are typically dappled with dark spots and streaks. These markings can be highly variable. Bobcats always have a distinctive white spot on the back of their black ears. Bobcats are present in the southern portion of WNY, particularly near the PA border. They are not known to occur in our current UWIN study area. However, bobcats have been expanding their range within NY over the past few decades, and a transient animal in the outer edge of our study area is always a possibility. less ↑

The American Black Bear, Ursus americanus, is the only bear species present in New York. Bears are common in the southern portions of WNY, particularly close to the Pennsylvania border. Bears are rare in Erie and Niagara Counties, but individuals are seen occasionally in Buffalo suburbs and transient bears are a possibility in any area of the state. Black bears are easily identified by their large size. Despite their name, black bears can range in color from black to a rusty brown color (called a cinnamon phase) or even blonde. less ↑

The White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, is our only native ungulate in Western New York. Deer are easily identified on camera. During much of the year, males can be identified by their antlers. However, they shed the antlers in the winter and begin to regrow them in spring. In our database, you will only need to tag whether deer are antlered, anterless, or young. Young deer (fawns) can be identified by their white spots, which they gradually lose after a few months. less ↑