Mississippi State Mammal
White-tailed Deer (common name) Odocoileus virginianus (scientific name) Overview The white-tailed deer is native to the United States and a common sight in all but a few states. It is the most popular choice in the country as a state animal, having been designated as such by Mississippi in 1974, Arkansas in 1993, Illinois in 1980, Nebraska in 1981, New Hampshire in 1983, Ohio in 1988, Pennsylvania in 1959, South Carolina in 1972, and Michigan in 1997. The whitetail is a medium-sized brown deer that was an important source of food and leather for the indigenous peoples of the country. It remains the country’s most important game animal and is prized for its meat (called "venison") and the challenge of hunting it, especially with a bow and arrow. Whitetails are larger in the northern part of its range and the smallest sub-species can be found in the southernmost part of the U.S. in the Florida Keys. Close-up STATUS Official State Land Mammal ALSO KNOWN AS Virginia deer, Columbian white-tailed deer, Southern white-tailed deer, whitetail PHYSICAL DETAILS Reddish brown in summer and grayish brown in winter. A small population of white (not albino) deer is found in upstate New York. Males shed their antlers from late December to February and re-grow them every year in late spring when they are covered with a fuzzy tissue known as "velvet."    Males Females Size length 4–8 ft (120-240 cm); shoulder height 32–42 in (80-106 cm) length 62–87 in (160-220 cm); height 32–40 in (80-100 cm) Weight 130–300 lbs (60 kg–130 kg); average 250 lbs (114 kg); largest 500 lbs (230 kg) 90–200 lbs (40–90 kg); average 150 lbs (68 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 15 years; average of 2–3 years in the wild HABITAT Range: Southern Canada to Peru; absent from California, Nevada, and Utah; introduced to parts of Europe and New Zealand. Conservation: Least Concern (LC). Deer were severely depleted throughout their range in the U.S. by the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hunting restrictions brought populations back to historic levels, but then the elimination of the animal’s natural predators led to an overpopulation of whitetail deer over much of its range. BEHAVIOR Whitetails will stay completely still when they sense danger and then will raise their tail in a flash of white and run away at great speed. They are athletic animals that can jump 8-foot (2.5-m) fences and swim at 13 mph (21 kph). Male deer ("bucks") grow antlers they use for marking trees in their territory and sparring with other males to determine the hierarchy within the herd. Bucks rarely eat or rest during the mating season (the "rut") when they will attempt to mate with as many females as possible. Whitetail females ("does") will tenaciously defend their fawns, up to the point of risking their own lives. Top land speed recorded: 40 mph (64 kph) DIET Plant shoots, twigs, buds, leaves, pine needles, cactus, grasses, acorns, wild apples, plums, corn, mushrooms, sumac, hay, and grains. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: May–June Average litter size: 1–3 fawns Size at birth: 3–14 lbs (1.4–6.3 kg); average 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) for females and 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) for males TRIVIA The white-tailed deer is an iconic symbol of the American wilderness. Davy Crockett and his buckskin attire symbolized how Americans adapted to their environment and conquered the vast wilderness. Whitetail-related stories like The Yearling and Bambi are a part of the national culture. Deer hunting is also an extremely popular sport and an important source of income in many rural areas. Many collegiate and professional sports teams are named after the whitetail, including the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. A profile of a whitetail buck’s head appears on the state flag and the coat of arms of the state of Vermont.
	Click to enlarge an image Male White-tailed Deer (Buck) Female White-tailed Deer (Doe) with Fawn Young Spotted Fawn White-tailed Deer with New Antler Growth CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Odocoileus Species: O. virginianus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Mississippi State Mammal
Red Fox (common name) Vulpes vulpes (scientific name) Overview Red foxes adapt well to different environments and are more widely distributed than any other wild, carnivorous animal in the world. Though the foxes in Mississippi today are probably native, they were not common in the state until deforestation changed their habitat. The red fox became one of the Mississippi state land mammals in 1997 and shares the distinction with the white-tailed deer, a state emblem since 1974. Foxes look like medium-sized dogs. They’re generally slim but have long, bushy tails. Though they’re often considered pests and do sometimes seek prey on poultry farms, they usually do more good than harm by consuming mice and rabbits that damage gardens and crops. Red foxes are usually not aggressive either to humans or to other animals, but they can carry rabies. Close-up STATUS Official State Land Mammal ALSO KNOWN AS Fox PHYSICAL DETAILS The fox has pointed, upright ears tipped with black; a long, slender, pointed muzzle; yellow eyes; and a black or dark brown nose. The animal’s body is lean but its tail is bushy, tipped with white or black, and usually about one third as long as its body. Most foxes are medium-to-light reddish brown on top and a much lighter grayish or whitish color underneath. Legs and feet are normally black or shaded with black. Males are a little larger than females, but the difference is so slight they are difficult to tell apart based on appearance. Size also varies depending on where the animal lives. Red foxes from desert areas of the U.S., for example, are smaller than those from European forests.    Males Females Size Combined head and body length from 17.9 to 35.4 in (455 to 900 mm), tail length from 11.8 to 21.9 in (300 to 555 mm) Combined head and body length from 17.9 to 35.4 in (455 to 900 mm), tail length from 11.8 to 21.9 in (300 to 555 mm) Weight 6.6 to 30.9 lbs (3 to 14 kg) 6.6 to 30.9 lbs (3 to 14 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 12 years; average of 3 years in the wild HABITAT Forest, tundra, prairie, desert, mountains, farmlands, and urban areas Range: Across the northern part of the world from the arctic to the southern United States. Also introduced to Australia and the Falkland Islands. Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC). Red foxes are highly adaptable and can survive in a wide variety of environments, including alongside humans. BEHAVIOR Red foxes may have multiple mates or choose one mate for life. They breed in winter, usually January or February. Gestation is 51 to 53 days, and females give birth in dens that they find or dig specially to raise their young. Litters of up to 11 kits are possible, but most give birth to four or five, which are blind. Young foxes open their eyes when they are about a week old and are steady enough to go outside at about four weeks. Kits are weaned at two months, and both parents feed the kits until they can hunt and forage for themselves, normally at six months old. Many kits, especially females, remain near their parents longer or don’t travel far as adults. Males are more likely to seek new territory. Though foxes may go out in daylight, they are mostly nocturnal and prefer to hunt at dusk or in the night. Top land speed recorded: 30 mph (48 kph) DIET Small mammals including mice, rabbits, and voles; small birds; insects; fruit; and sometimes other plant matter. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: March–April Average litter size: 4–5 kits Size at birth: (100 g) TRIVIA Though the red fox does commonly have a reddish brown coat, about a quarter have a black, cross-shaped strip on the back and ten percent or so have silver gray to black coats. An average red fox eats 1–2 lbs (0.5–1 kg) of food every day Foxes can leap as high as 6.6 feet (2 m).
	Click to enlarge an image Fox Kits At Play Red Fox on the Prowl Two Young Fox Outside Their Den Inquisitive Red Fox Red Fox with Winter Coat CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Vulpes Species: Vulpes vulpes
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press
Mississippi State Water Mammal
Bottlenose Dolphin (common name) Tursiops truncates (scientific name) Overview Dolphins belong to the order of cetaceans and are actually toothed whales.  They are, therefore, warm-blooded animals that give birth to live young, whom they suckle. Bottlenose dolphins have keen hearing and sight, as well as a reputation for being extremely intelligent. Dolphins use echoes to sense their surroundings and communicate with each other using sounds such as clicks and whistles. They're also strong, fast swimmers that can dive deep and jump completely out of the water. The bottlenose dolphin was designated the official state water mammal of Mississippi on April 12, 1974. It is also the state marine mammal for South Carolina. ALSO KNOWN AS Sea angel Close-up STATUS Official State Water Mammal PHYSICAL DETAILS The bottlenose dolphin gets its name from its short, stubby snout, which on its flattened oval body vaguely resembles a bottle's neck. Its nose is actually a blowhole on top of its head. This dolphin has a triangular back fin, two short flippers at the sides of its body used for steering, and a forked tail. The top of its body is gray, ranging in shade from slate to medium gray. Its sides are lighter colored, and its belly can range from pale gray to pinkish. A bottlenose has up to 100 conical teeth. Points are quite sharp, an adaptation that helps this dolphin keep hold of slippery prey.  Males Females Size 8–13 feet long (2.5–3.6 m) 7–10 feet long (2.4–3.7 m)   Weight 400–800 lbs (180–362 kg) 400–700 lbs (270–317 kg) LIFESPAN About 30 years old HABITAT Shallow coastal waters including bays, around ocean islands, lagoons, estuaries, and occasionally near the mouths of rivers. Range: Tropical and temperate oceans worldwide. Conservation: Not endangered, but coastal populations have shown they are on the decline because of pollution, habitat degradation, hunting, as well as accidental deaths caused by getting trapped in fishing gear. BEHAVIOR Bottlenose dolphins are social animals, usually traveling in pods, groups of individuals of various sizes. When feeding, much larger groups of perhaps hundreds of dolphins can forage together. Smaller groups may break off from the larger group to perform a particular activity, such as raising new calves, and return to the larger group later. Dolphins communicate using both sounds that can be heard and echolocation. During mating season, males may fight each other to get near females or try to defend small groups of females from other males. On the other hand they sometimes work together to separate a receptive female from her group. An individual male can also attract a female using physical movements such as arching his back. A female gives birth about a year after mating, usually to a single calf. The newborn nurses for up to 20 months and stays close to its mother for years afterward. When a mother bottlenose must leave a group to forage, other pod members look after her offspring while she's gone. A female is mature when she's five to 10 years old, and a male when he's eight to 13. Bottlenoses often don't begin mating until years after they mature. Top swimming speed recorded: 22 mph (35 kph) DIET Fish, including catfish, eel, and tuna, as well as squid and crustaceans such as crab and shrimp. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Every 3-6 years Birthing period: Year round Average litter size: one Size at birth: 20–66 pounds (9–30 kg) TRIVIA Bottlenose dolphins may migrate, but usually retain the same territory for decades. Although generally strong predators, young, weak, and aging bottlenose dolphins are prey for sharks and killer whales. Bottlenoses are known for their ability to learn, which makes them popular in aquarium shows and on television programs or in movies. They also fill noncombatant roles by the military, detecting underwater mines or enemy divers.
	Click to enlarge an image Bottlenose Dolphin Surfing a Boat's Wake Bottlenose Dolphins at Play Closeup of Bottlenose Dolphin CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Family: Delphinidae Genus: Tursiops Species: Truncatus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press