Category: Mammal

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 11/28/08 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: The red squirrel is known to “tap” maple trees. It bites the bark until sap flows out, and returns later for a sweet treat after the water in the sap has evaporated. More Information: http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/Redsquirrel.htm

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/26/13 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: American red squirrels experience severe early mortality (on average only 22% survive to one year of age). The survival probability, however, increases to age three, when it begins to decrease again. Females that survive to one year of age have […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/8/13 Observation Time: 6:08 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Muskrat Scientific Name: Ondatra zibethicus Comments: Muskrats are fairly common near water in Sharon. They are native to North America, and related to voles and lemmings, but they are in a different genus from true rats. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/4/11 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Groundhog Scientific Name: Marmota monax Comments: This individual probably just emerged from hibernation. More Information: Mass Audubon Society

Observer: Ellenor Yahrmarkt Observation Date: 5/11/09 Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: Fox kits in a den under a foundation More Information: Wikipedia: Red Fox & National Geographic

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 2005 Observation Location: Back yard Common Name: Red Foxes Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: My wife saw the mom walking in our back yard. A few days later, I saw one of the babies standing beside my swimming pool. I thought it was a strange looking cat; and then I thought, dog; and then I thought, fox. He scooted under the stockade fence. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/16/12 Observation Time: 8:55 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: This red fox showed up in our back yard. I took these photos out the window. Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments and, unlike […]

Observer: Andrea & Herb Daroff Observation Date: 7/4/10 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Pilgrim Drive Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: The fox was within 10 feet of our house. It spent a good 10 minutes sniffing around (looking for bugs maybe?) This was not the first time we have seen a fox in our yard but this is the first […]

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 4/17/10 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag and Lakeview St Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: A fox was spotted walking from the Massapoag Yacht Club into our backyard. It proceeded across our back lawn to our neighbor’s yard, and then it returned to our sideyard, walked up our front driveway toward Lakeview St, eventually returning in […]

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 4/13/10 Observation Time: 6:00 a.m. Observation Location: backyard Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: Fox was spotted walking across our backyard, close to Lake Massapoag. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 3/3/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Lakeview St. Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: My sons and I were finishing breakfast and saw a fox walk across our backyard, close to Lake Massapoag. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Observer: Alison Siegel Observation Date: 1/5/10 Observation Time: 6:00 a.m. Observation Location: Lakeview St. Common Name: Red Fox Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes Comments: A fox was spotted running on the frozen lake early in the morning. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Observer: Marla Lonergan Observation Date: 6/11/14 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: 5 Tisdale Road Common Name: Bobcat Scientific Name: Lynx rufus Comments: Second bobcat sighting in Sharon in less than a week. See the NECN report. More Information: Wikipedia  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/24/10 Observation Time: 8:20 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: I saw a small, gray-colored fox with a huge bushy tail at dusk (no photo opportunity). More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Suzy Levenson Observation Date: 6/7/14 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: 155 Billings St Common Name: Bobcat Scientific Name: Lynx rufus Comments: The bobcat was calmly sitting in my backyard looking at my housecat who was sitting in a window. There were three snapping turtles in the backyard at the same time. Then the bobcat quietly walked away into the woods. More Information: Wikipedia  

Observer: Brittaney Dunham Observation Date: 5/1/14 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: 16 High Plain St., Sharon Common Name: Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: This bold coyote comes into our back yard pretty regularly. As a result, our dog yard has an 8-foot fence. More Information: Nature Works and Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/20/14 Observation Time: 7:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Beaver Scientific Name: Castor canadensis Comments: Beavers are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras, weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb). They build dams to form ponds in which they then build a lodge to protect themselves from predators. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: John Wraga Observation Date: 3/2/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Traphole Brook at High Plain St. Common Name: Mink Scientific Name: Neovison vison Comments: Mink are semi-aquatic. They eat crayfish, small frogs and fish, along with small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice, and muskrats. They also prey on ducks and other water fowl. This mink was hit and killed by a vehicle as […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/13 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Sharon train station Common Name: Eastern Cottontail rabbit Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus Comments: The Eastern Cottontail is an introduced species that is now common in Sharon. Much rarer is the native New England Cottontail, which is smaller and has shorter ears and a black spot on its forehead. If is very hard to tell these two […]

Observer: Kirk Thomas Observation Date: 3/3/13 Observation Time: 6:20 a.m. Observation Location: Griffin Land Common Name: Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: The eastern coyote (Canis latrans var.) is a wild North American canine of both coyote and wolf origins. The hybridization likely first occurred in the Great Lakes region, as western coyotes moved east. It was first noticed during the early 1930s to the late […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: 5 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: This species and the closely related Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids. The gray fox’s ability to climb trees is shared only with […]

Observer: Art Newman Observation Date: 11/4/11 Observation Time: 9:12 a.m. Observation Location: Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: Spotted running across Billings St., headed for the Devil’s Rock trail. Coat in transition with yellowish flecks on her body. The gray fox has rounded ears, a pointed muzzle and long hooked claws. The gray fox can climb and will occasionally forage for food or rest in […]