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Wild Animals/Cannot identify tails

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Expert: Jonathan Wright - 11/5/2009


Question

Tails
My cat has been bringing home tails.  We live in Northern NJ on a lake and this morning I found three tails on our porch.  The tails are very soft, approximately 3.5 inches long, brownish-grey on top and whittish-brown underneath.  They are straight.  It seems like the tails detatch easily from the animal, there is usually no blood and no bodies to go with these tails.  Attached is a picture. Thank you for taking the time out to answer my question I appreciate your help.  

Answer
Dear Melissa

Thank you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.

www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/chkmamls.htm is a list of mammals from New Jersy. From this list, the only mammals I could find with fluffy tails about 3.5 inches long were squirrels. The Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) both live in New Jersey.

As the southern species seems to be smaller than the northern species (http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0112) and its tail is about 4 inches long, I reckon this is the species (http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/TMOT1/glauvola.htm) that your cat caught.

All the best

Jonathan
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentQuick response to my question. Would highly recommend this expert for any questions pertaining to wild animals. He took the time and researched my question and sent me different links regarding the animal I couldn't identify. Thank you.


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Jonathan Wright

Expertise

I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.

Experience

I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.

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