Rare Animals
Always highlight these animals!
Melanistic Gray Squirrel
Melanism is a genetic trait that produces extra melanin in the skin and fur, making an organism appear jet black if it has two sets of this recessive gene or brown/black if it only has one. Gray squirrels are known to carry this unusual genetic trait. Typically diurnal.
Often confused with: mink, gray squirrel, long-tailed weasel, squirrel
Key characteristics:
Looks like gray squirrel, but with all black fur
Bobcat
Bobcats are roughly double the size of a domestic cat and have a distinctive short (bobbed) tail. They have furry tufts that extend from their cheeks and ears. The fur of a bobcat can range from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, depending on the season and the individual, with black spots on their belly and legs.
Key characteristics:
Distinct markings on back of ear
Larger than a Domestic Cat
Short bobbed tail
Gray Fox
A rare, small to medium-sized animal with a mottled gray coat. Like coyotes, gray foxes have a black-tipped tail, but the black continues to trail up the back side of the tail. The smallest wild canid in Chicago, their chest is lighter relative to their gray back.
Most often confused with: red fox, coyote, domestic dog
Key Characteristics:
“cat-like” head
Long bushy tail with black stripe on top
Peppery gray fur on top, reddish-brown on its sides, chest, and the back of its head
Reddish colored legs and feet
Livestock (include the exact species in the comments)
Livestock species, such as pigs, goats, horses, sheep, etc., have been known to appear on our cameras every once in a while.
Long-Tailed Weasel
Similar to mink, weasels are small, long-bodied carnivores with brown/reddish fur and a white or tan belly.
Often confused with: mink, melanistic gray squirrel
Key characteristics:
Long, slender body (more slender than a mink
Dark back and light belly (summer coat) and all white (winter coat that may occur in northern parts of the state)
Long, black-tipped tail (hairy, but not bushy)
Ears more visible than a mink’s
Northern American River Otter
River otters are a relative of weasels, sharing the slender body and flattened head that mustelids (animals in the weasel family) have. They have round ears, webbed feet, and whiskers. River otters are dark brown to reddish-brown, with light brown to tan on their throat and belly. Otters are the largest mustelid in our area.
Mustelid (Weasel family) Size Comparison
These illustrations are here to provide you with a direct comparison for the size of the different mustelid species found in Illinois.
Never-before-seen Animals
These animals are thought to be present in this area, but we have never captured them on camera, and we are not likely to see them. If you ever think you see one, please find a staff member of St. Louis Wildlife Project before tagging the photo.
Because they haven’t been seen, please always highlight photos of this animal after confirming with STLWP staff!
