Carnivores (Carnivora)
Carnivores vary greatly in size and appearance. Many carnivores live mainly on fresh killed prey (for which which they hunt or scavenge), however, others are omnivorous and eat a great deal of vegetation. The term predator refers to carnivores which hunt prey for food. Many carnivore mammals can be found in the Columbiana area. Those observed in Harmon Park are indicated.
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Observed in the Park
Coyotes are common to our area and have often been observed in and around the Park. They prey on rodents, rabbits, birds (including chickens), cats, small dogs, and small livestock. Coyotes also scavenge, taking advantage of fresh road kill, and subsidize their diet with eggs, fruits and melons, and other vegetation.
Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Observed in the Park
Gray foxes are small (7-14 lbs) predators that feed similarly to coyotes, except choosing smaller prey. They are colored 'salt and pepper' gray along the back and undersides with rusty-red feet, legs and sides. Their bushy tails are tipped in black and feature a prominent blackish area down the mid-dorsal line. Their vocalizations are harsh “yips” that are rarely heard.
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Red foxes, like gray foxes, feed similarly to coyotes, except choosing smaller prey. They are usually primarily reddish in color (though others exist) with a white underbelly, chin and throat and black ear-backs, lower legs and feet. Their long bushy tails are black with white tips. Their vocalizations are harsh “yips” that are rarely heard.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Bobcats are medium sized and reddish-brown to smoky-gray in color with spots or streaks of black along the back and sides. They have a white belly with black spots, a very short tail that is white on the underside with a black tip, ears with black tufts, and the fur along the side of the face hangs down as if it was wearing sideburns. They are very elusive and rarely seen even where populations are high. They feed on small animals like rabbits, rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, voles, opossum, raccoon, skunk, birds, etc...
Cougar (Puma concolor)
Observed 5 miles from the Park
Cougars are also often called Mountain Lions, Pumas, or Panthers. These are large cats (75-220 lbs) tawny, gray, red, or shades of brown in color with long tails tipped black. Their presence in Alabama today is disputed though their historical distribution throughout the state is proven. The Alabama cougar may or may not be the same as the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi).
American Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
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mushrooms, grasses, and other plant materials, as well as small mammals, such as mice and ground squirrels, deer, elk and moose fawns, fish, crayfish, carrion and even rubbish left by humans in trash cans and campsites. Vegetation makes up around 80% of their diet.
Black Bears are occasionally spotted across the state but are rare and of the highest conservation concern. Males average 250 lbs and females average 150 lbs. They are usually black but can be brown, cinnamon (reddish-brown), or blond, and sometimes have a a white chest blaze. They have stocky, compact bodies, with pronounced brown muzzles, small tails, rounded ears, and small eyes. They are omnivorous and eat insects, roots, berries, acorns and other nuts, mushrooms, grasses, and other plant materials, as well as small
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Found statewide in Alabama, especially in open areas, forest edges, and urban habitats, the skunk is common, however abundance varies with some regions have high populations and others having few, or none. To date, none have been observed in the Park, or within Columbiana proper for that matter. have long stocky bodies on short thick legs with powerful claws. The head is small and elongated with small eyes and small rounded ears. They
cannot see very well, but have excellent hearing. Weight varies from six to 14 pounds, while length varies from 20 to 31 inches, excluding the tail which varies from seven to 16 inches. Striped skunks are typically black with two white stripes extending from the base of the neck down the back to the tail. Often the tail has two white stripes, but occasionally is just a mix of white and black hairs without a distinct pattern. The top of the head sports a white cap, while a white stripe runs from the nose to the forehead. The most notorious feature of the striped skunk is the scent glands that produce a fowl smelling yellowish musk. The spray can reach 12 to 15 feet, and the odor can be detected up to a mile. Striped skunks are omnivorous, feeding on both meat and plants. They are very opportunistic feeders and have a diet consisting of grubs, insects, small mammals, fish, fruits, crayfish, eggs, carrion (dead animals) and anything else it can find. The striped skunk gorges itself in the fall in preparation for a lean winter.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Observed in the Park
Raccoons are around 16-28 inches long and weigh 11-57 pounds. Their grayish coat has dense underfur to provide insulation in cold weather. Distinctive features include their extremely dexterous front paws, their facial "mask", and their "ringed tail."
Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris)
Observed in the Park
Dogs (feral strays and unfenced pets) are listed in some places as the #1 predator of goats and the #2 predator of sheep and lambs. Though they rarely kill for food, their instincts - especially when they are in groups (packs) - compel them to hunt, chase, and kill a variety of wildlife including rabbits, deer, woodchucks, mice & rats, moles & voles, squirrels & chipmunks, birds, cats, other dogs, and more.
Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Observed in the Park
Some researchers estimate that domestic cats (primarily ferals) kill 1.3–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals in the U.S. annually, and are likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for US birds and mammals.
