#eastern spiny mice

[antiqueanimals]

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol. 11, Mammals II. 1972.

1.) Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)

2.) Black rat (Rattus rattus)

3.) Greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica)

4.) House mouse (Mus musculus)

5.) Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

6.) Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius)

7.) Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)

8.) Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutus)

9.) Eastern spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus)

10.) Greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor)

11.) Giant white-tailed rat (Uromys caudimaculatus)

12.) Typical striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys striatus)

13.) Southern multimammate mouse (Mastomys coucha)

14.) Four-striped grass mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)

15.) Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

[michiganwarriorcats]

Prefix: Chestnut-

A brown, golden, or white cat.

Description: the American chestnut is a large deciduous tree in the beech family. During late summer, chestnut trees produce spikes of white male catkins and small clusters of white female flowers. The nuts grow in groups of three within spiny green burrs, and they fall from the tree in autumn after they ripen. Their leaves are long and serrated, and during autumn, they become a beautiful golden hue. The bark is greyish brown and furrowed. Chestnuts were once widespread across eastern North America; however, a fungus known as chestnut blight was introduced to America from imported Japanese chestnut trees during the 1900s, and the pathogen rapidly killed billions of American chestnuts. Before the blight, American chestnuts were a critically important food source for many animals, including bear, deer, mice, squirrels, and ground birds. Additionally, insects would consume the trees' leaves. Currently, scientists are trying to increase the American chestnut’s resistance to the blight through genetic modification and hybridization with other chestnut species.

[jack-beresford]

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Mature Size - (50-80′ x 40-80′) Can occasionally grow over 120′ tall.

Shape and Form -  A large deciduous tree with a dense, upright-oval to rounded-spreading crown. It is a low-branched tree with its mature trunk ranging from 2-3’ (less frequently 4’) in diameter. Shallow, wide root system.

Growth Habit - Slow growth rate. In the wild, beeches often form thickets or colonies by suckering from the shallow roots.

Leaves - Ovate to elliptic dark green leaves (to 5” long) have coarse, widely-spaced marginal teeth and prominent parallel veins, each vein ending at the tip of a marginal tooth. Foliage turns golden bronze in fall, and usually remains on tree throughout winter.

Flowers - Monoecious yellowish green flowers bloom in April-May, the male flowers in drooping, long-stemmed, globular clusters and the female flowers in short spikes.

Fruit/Seeds -  Female flowers give way to triangular nuts enclosed by spiny bracts. Beechnuts ripen in fall and are edible.

Bark - Trunks have distinctive thin, smooth, gray bark.

Region - USA native. Native to eastern North America.

Hardiness Zones - (3-9)

Habitat/Growing Conditions - Occurs in rich woods of ravines, slopes and valleys.  Best grown in deep, rich, moist but well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Intolerant of wet, poorly drained soils. Difficult to transplant and does not always grow well in urban settings. Tolerates shade, as it is a late successional growth plant.

Plant Community - Northern Hardwood Forest

Eco-indicator - Because American Beech needs plenty of moisture and rich soil to thrive, it naturally occurs in bottomland forests. Early settlers often looked for beeches as a sign of a good potential place to clear the forest for farming.

Other info - The only Fagus species native to North America, assuming the distinct population in Mexico, Fagus mexicana, is treated as a subspecies.

Beech wood is used to make flooring, furniture, veneer plywood, and railroad ties.  It is especially favored as fuel wood because of its high density and good burning qualities.

Beech mast is eaten by a variety of birds and mammals, including mice, squirrels, chipmunks, black bear, deer, foxes, ruffed grouse, ducks, and bluejays.

Current Nursery Status and Availability - Easily available in nursery trade. Dirr lists no cultivars of this species in his 6th edition woody plants manual.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a865

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/faggra/all.html

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/detail.php?pid=175

Dirr - “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants”

Wessels - “Reading the Forested Landscape”

[cameronf24]

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs

As winter turns to spring, many gardeners are out inspecting their gardens, and all too often they are finding plants damaged by winter. Cold and ice is one thing, but when animal damage is spotted, it can be particularly demoralizing. Of course, we can hardly blame the animals, who only want to survive, but when we see plants chewed to the ground, stripped off lower foliage, or with no bark left, it is hard not to seek revenge.

Rather than trying to keep out the wildlife, a better approach is to modify what you plant. There may be lots of plants loved by your wild neighbors, but there are plenty more that they avoid. When replacing damaged plants, the line of least resistance suggests that the obvious solution is to choose plants that will be ignored next winter.

What Animals Are We Talking About?

Large animals like deer can cause extensive damage to plants, including hedges and windbreaks. Deer typically graze all the foliage to 4 or 5 feet above the ground – sometimes even more. If you find bark stripped from the base of trees, this is mice or vole damage. Voles are close relatives of mice, and they are also known for their characteristic tunnels under the lawn, where they eat grass roots. Bark damage will usually kill a tree, especially if it is all the way round the trunk. New growth will often come in spring, but then suddenly die as the roots starve.

These animals have different feeding preferences, so it is a good idea to first of all identify the problem. If you anticipate mouse or vole damage, repellant sprays can sometimes help, but these are less reliable for deer, and they need frequent re-spraying.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens

Arborvitae, also known as Thuja, is a popular evergreen for hedges, and conflicting reports are everywhere on how resistant to deer this plant actually is. The confusion arises because there being several species of Thuja, and they show different resistance. White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis, found in Eastern states, is often eaten by deer, but Western Redcedar, Thuja plicata, is normally left alone. Since this is one of the parents of the popular Green Giant Cedar, that plants resistance to deer is well-documented.

For shady areas Hemlock (Tsuga) makes a beautiful hedge that will be left alone by deer. Soft-foliaged Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) is also seldom bothered, and they different varieties of this plant are beautiful evergreens for any garden.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens:

Thuja Green Giant – because it has genes from the Redcedar, this plant, the best hedging plant you can grow, is also resistant to deer.

Holly (Ilex) – almost all hollies are left alone by deer. No wonder, with their spiny leaves. Both American holly and the different kinds of Japanese holly are notable for being ignored.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – not only wonderful with its dramatic steely blue needles, these trees are left alone. Planted more closely, and trimmed from time to time, they make tough hedges and screening plants

Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) – as well as making wonderful clipped specimens, this tough juniper grows into a beautiful drought-resistant hedge that animals leave alone.

Deer-resistant Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Turning to flowering trees, besides the issue of winter damage, some trees have fruit that attractive deer, or even moose and elk. Apples – the eating kind and crab-apples too –  are very popular, and deer will stand on their hind-legs to reach those tasty treats, often breaking branches at the same time. Since the bark of apples is a favorite of mice as well, finding a substitute for them is a good idea. Cherry and plum trees of all kinds are also popular winter food for deer and mice, so they are not good choices if you have problems with your local wildlife. Here are some ideas for beautiful flowering trees that deer and mice will leave alone.

Deer-proof flowering trees:

Crape-Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) – with so many varieties is many colors, these are prime choices if deer are your problem. Their continuous flowering and love of heat are also big positive features.

Magnolia – Both the deciduous and evergreen types of magnolia, with their spectacular flowers, are left alone by deer to bloom in gorgeous white or pinks.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – this native shrub has beautiful white flowers in early spring, and edible berries, but it is left alone by deer.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus) – smothered in white or pink blooms, all the many kinds of these beautiful trees will be left alone, as also will the fruits.

Shrubs That Deer Ignore

Many smaller, shrubby plants are also resistant to deer, including Boxwood for hedges and edging, adding another big plus mark to that valuable plant. Other shrubs that are normally ignored include the following garden-worthy plants.

Deer-proof shrubs:

Forsythia – deer won’t bother this cheerful favorite, as it welcomes in spring some of the earliest flowers in your garden.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus) – is another beautiful tree, usually grown in the form with dramatic purple leaves is left alone by these pesky critters.

Dogwood (Cornus) – speaking of color, the bright red and yellow winter twigs of these shrubby relatives of the flowering dogwood are also ignored.

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia) – with their dramatic yellow flower clusters and large, glossy leaves, these shade-tolerant shrubs tolerate deer just as well.

 All in all, there are lots of plants to choose from that deer will leave alone. Instead of investing in an expensive fence, or spraying repellents all winter, choose the right plants and you can sit back and know that your garden will be safe until spring arrives.

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs posted first on https://www.thetreecenter.com

[mpullmanlaw]

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs

As winter turns to spring, many gardeners are out inspecting their gardens, and all too often they are finding plants damaged by winter. Cold and ice is one thing, but when animal damage is spotted, it can be particularly demoralizing. Of course, we can hardly blame the animals, who only want to survive, but when we see plants chewed to the ground, stripped off lower foliage, or with no bark left, it is hard not to seek revenge.

Rather than trying to keep out the wildlife, a better approach is to modify what you plant. There may be lots of plants loved by your wild neighbors, but there are plenty more that they avoid. When replacing damaged plants, the line of least resistance suggests that the obvious solution is to choose plants that will be ignored next winter.

What Animals Are We Talking About?

Large animals like deer can cause extensive damage to plants, including hedges and windbreaks. Deer typically graze all the foliage to 4 or 5 feet above the ground – sometimes even more. If you find bark stripped from the base of trees, this is mice or vole damage. Voles are close relatives of mice, and they are also known for their characteristic tunnels under the lawn, where they eat grass roots. Bark damage will usually kill a tree, especially if it is all the way round the trunk. New growth will often come in spring, but then suddenly die as the roots starve.

These animals have different feeding preferences, so it is a good idea to first of all identify the problem. If you anticipate mouse or vole damage, repellant sprays can sometimes help, but these are less reliable for deer, and they need frequent re-spraying.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens

Arborvitae, also known as Thuja, is a popular evergreen for hedges, and conflicting reports are everywhere on how resistant to deer this plant actually is. The confusion arises because there being several species of Thuja, and they show different resistance. White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis, found in Eastern states, is often eaten by deer, but Western Redcedar, Thuja plicata, is normally left alone. Since this is one of the parents of the popular Green Giant Cedar, that plants resistance to deer is well-documented.

For shady areas Hemlock (Tsuga) makes a beautiful hedge that will be left alone by deer. Soft-foliaged Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) is also seldom bothered, and they different varieties of this plant are beautiful evergreens for any garden.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens:

Thuja Green Giant – because it has genes from the Redcedar, this plant, the best hedging plant you can grow, is also resistant to deer.

Holly (Ilex) – almost all hollies are left alone by deer. No wonder, with their spiny leaves. Both American holly and the different kinds of Japanese holly are notable for being ignored.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – not only wonderful with its dramatic steely blue needles, these trees are left alone. Planted more closely, and trimmed from time to time, they make tough hedges and screening plants

Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) – as well as making wonderful clipped specimens, this tough juniper grows into a beautiful drought-resistant hedge that animals leave alone.

Deer-resistant Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Turning to flowering trees, besides the issue of winter damage, some trees have fruit that attractive deer, or even moose and elk. Apples – the eating kind and crab-apples too –  are very popular, and deer will stand on their hind-legs to reach those tasty treats, often breaking branches at the same time. Since the bark of apples is a favorite of mice as well, finding a substitute for them is a good idea. Cherry and plum trees of all kinds are also popular winter food for deer and mice, so they are not good choices if you have problems with your local wildlife. Here are some ideas for beautiful flowering trees that deer and mice will leave alone.

Deer-proof flowering trees:

Crape-Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) – with so many varieties is many colors, these are prime choices if deer are your problem. Their continuous flowering and love of heat are also big positive features.

Magnolia – Both the deciduous and evergreen types of magnolia, with their spectacular flowers, are left alone by deer to bloom in gorgeous white or pinks.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – this native shrub has beautiful white flowers in early spring, and edible berries, but it is left alone by deer.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus) – smothered in white or pink blooms, all the many kinds of these beautiful trees will be left alone, as also will the fruits.

Shrubs That Deer Ignore

Many smaller, shrubby plants are also resistant to deer, including Boxwood for hedges and edging, adding another big plus mark to that valuable plant. Other shrubs that are normally ignored include the following garden-worthy plants.

Deer-proof shrubs:

Forsythia – deer won’t bother this cheerful favorite, as it welcomes in spring some of the earliest flowers in your garden.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus) – is another beautiful tree, usually grown in the form with dramatic purple leaves is left alone by these pesky critters.

Dogwood (Cornus) – speaking of color, the bright red and yellow winter twigs of these shrubby relatives of the flowering dogwood are also ignored.

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia) – with their dramatic yellow flower clusters and large, glossy leaves, these shade-tolerant shrubs tolerate deer just as well.

  All in all, there are lots of plants to choose from that deer will leave alone. Instead of investing in an expensive fence, or spraying repellents all winter, choose the right plants and you can sit back and know that your garden will be safe until spring arrives.

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs syndicated from https://www.thetreecenter.com

[elsielewi5]

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs

As winter turns to spring, many gardeners are out inspecting their gardens, and all too often they are finding plants damaged by winter. Cold and ice is one thing, but when animal damage is spotted, it can be particularly demoralizing. Of course, we can hardly blame the animals, who only want to survive, but when we see plants chewed to the ground, stripped off lower foliage, or with no bark left, it is hard not to seek revenge.

Rather than trying to keep out the wildlife, a better approach is to modify what you plant. There may be lots of plants loved by your wild neighbors, but there are plenty more that they avoid. When replacing damaged plants, the line of least resistance suggests that the obvious solution is to choose plants that will be ignored next winter.

What Animals Are We Talking About?

Large animals like deer can cause extensive damage to plants, including hedges and windbreaks. Deer typically graze all the foliage to 4 or 5 feet above the ground – sometimes even more. If you find bark stripped from the base of trees, this is mice or vole damage. Voles are close relatives of mice, and they are also known for their characteristic tunnels under the lawn, where they eat grass roots. Bark damage will usually kill a tree, especially if it is all the way round the trunk. New growth will often come in spring, but then suddenly die as the roots starve.

These animals have different feeding preferences, so it is a good idea to first of all identify the problem. If you anticipate mouse or vole damage, repellant sprays can sometimes help, but these are less reliable for deer, and they need frequent re-spraying.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens

Arborvitae, also known as Thuja, is a popular evergreen for hedges, and conflicting reports are everywhere on how resistant to deer this plant actually is. The confusion arises because there being several species of Thuja, and they show different resistance. White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis, found in Eastern states, is often eaten by deer, but Western Redcedar, Thuja plicata, is normally left alone. Since this is one of the parents of the popular Green Giant Cedar, that plants resistance to deer is well-documented.

For shady areas Hemlock (Tsuga) makes a beautiful hedge that will be left alone by deer. Soft-foliaged Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) is also seldom bothered, and they different varieties of this plant are beautiful evergreens for any garden.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens:

Thuja Green Giant – because it has genes from the Redcedar, this plant, the best hedging plant you can grow, is also resistant to deer.

Holly (Ilex) – almost all hollies are left alone by deer. No wonder, with their spiny leaves. Both American holly and the different kinds of Japanese holly are notable for being ignored.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – not only wonderful with its dramatic steely blue needles, these trees are left alone. Planted more closely, and trimmed from time to time, they make tough hedges and screening plants

Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) – as well as making wonderful clipped specimens, this tough juniper grows into a beautiful drought-resistant hedge that animals leave alone.

Deer-resistant Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Turning to flowering trees, besides the issue of winter damage, some trees have fruit that attractive deer, or even moose and elk. Apples – the eating kind and crab-apples too –  are very popular, and deer will stand on their hind-legs to reach those tasty treats, often breaking branches at the same time. Since the bark of apples is a favorite of mice as well, finding a substitute for them is a good idea. Cherry and plum trees of all kinds are also popular winter food for deer and mice, so they are not good choices if you have problems with your local wildlife. Here are some ideas for beautiful flowering trees that deer and mice will leave alone.

Deer-proof flowering trees:

Crape-Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) – with so many varieties is many colors, these are prime choices if deer are your problem. Their continuous flowering and love of heat are also big positive features.

Magnolia – Both the deciduous and evergreen types of magnolia, with their spectacular flowers, are left alone by deer to bloom in gorgeous white or pinks.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – this native shrub has beautiful white flowers in early spring, and edible berries, but it is left alone by deer.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus) – smothered in white or pink blooms, all the many kinds of these beautiful trees will be left alone, as also will the fruits.

Shrubs That Deer Ignore

Many smaller, shrubby plants are also resistant to deer, including Boxwood for hedges and edging, adding another big plus mark to that valuable plant. Other shrubs that are normally ignored include the following garden-worthy plants.

Deer-proof shrubs:

Forsythia – deer won’t bother this cheerful favorite, as it welcomes in spring some of the earliest flowers in your garden.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus) – is another beautiful tree, usually grown in the form with dramatic purple leaves is left alone by these pesky critters.

Dogwood (Cornus) – speaking of color, the bright red and yellow winter twigs of these shrubby relatives of the flowering dogwood are also ignored.

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia) – with their dramatic yellow flower clusters and large, glossy leaves, these shade-tolerant shrubs tolerate deer just as well.

All in all, there are lots of plants to choose from that deer will leave alone. Instead of investing in an expensive fence, or spraying repellents all winter, choose the right plants and you can sit back and know that your garden will be safe until spring arrives.

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs published first on https://www.thetreecenter.com

[treesellcenter]

Deer Resistant Trees and Shrubs

As winter turns to spring, many gardeners are out inspecting their gardens, and all too often they are finding plants damaged by winter. Cold and ice is one thing, but when animal damage is spotted, it can be particularly demoralizing. Of course, we can hardly blame the animals, who only want to survive, but when we see plants chewed to the ground, stripped off lower foliage, or with no bark left, it is hard not to seek revenge.

Rather than trying to keep out the wildlife, a better approach is to modify what you plant. There may be lots of plants loved by your wild neighbors, but there are plenty more that they avoid. When replacing damaged plants, the line of least resistance suggests that the obvious solution is to choose plants that will be ignored next winter.

What Animals Are We Talking About?

Large animals like deer can cause extensive damage to plants, including hedges and windbreaks. Deer typically graze all the foliage to 4 or 5 feet above the ground – sometimes even more. If you find bark stripped from the base of trees, this is mice or vole damage. Voles are close relatives of mice, and they are also known for their characteristic tunnels under the lawn, where they eat grass roots. Bark damage will usually kill a tree, especially if it is all the way round the trunk. New growth will often come in spring, but then suddenly die as the roots starve.

These animals have different feeding preferences, so it is a good idea to first of all identify the problem. If you anticipate mouse or vole damage, repellant sprays can sometimes help, but these are less reliable for deer, and they need frequent re-spraying.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens

Arborvitae, also known as Thuja, is a popular evergreen for hedges, and conflicting reports are everywhere on how resistant to deer this plant actually is. The confusion arises because there being several species of Thuja, and they show different resistance. White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis, found in Eastern states, is often eaten by deer, but Western Redcedar, Thuja plicata, is normally left alone. Since this is one of the parents of the popular Green Giant Cedar, that plants resistance to deer is well-documented.

For shady areas Hemlock (Tsuga) makes a beautiful hedge that will be left alone by deer. Soft-foliaged Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) is also seldom bothered, and they different varieties of this plant are beautiful evergreens for any garden.

Deer-resistant Hedges and Screens:

Thuja Green Giant – because it has genes from the Redcedar, this plant, the best hedging plant you can grow, is also resistant to deer.

Holly (Ilex) – almost all hollies are left alone by deer. No wonder, with their spiny leaves. Both American holly and the different kinds of Japanese holly are notable for being ignored.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – not only wonderful with its dramatic steely blue needles, these trees are left alone. Planted more closely, and trimmed from time to time, they make tough hedges and screening plants

Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) – as well as making wonderful clipped specimens, this tough juniper grows into a beautiful drought-resistant hedge that animals leave alone.

Deer-resistant Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Turning to flowering trees, besides the issue of winter damage, some trees have fruit that attractive deer, or even moose and elk. Apples – the eating kind and crab-apples too –  are very popular, and deer will stand on their hind-legs to reach those tasty treats, often breaking branches at the same time. Since the bark of apples is a favorite of mice as well, finding a substitute for them is a good idea. Cherry and plum trees of all kinds are also popular winter food for deer and mice, so they are not good choices if you have problems with your local wildlife. Here are some ideas for beautiful flowering trees that deer and mice will leave alone.

Deer-proof flowering trees:

Crape-Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) – with so many varieties is many colors, these are prime choices if deer are your problem. Their continuous flowering and love of heat are also big positive features.

Magnolia – Both the deciduous and evergreen types of magnolia, with their spectacular flowers, are left alone by deer to bloom in gorgeous white or pinks.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – this native shrub has beautiful white flowers in early spring, and edible berries, but it is left alone by deer.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus) – smothered in white or pink blooms, all the many kinds of these beautiful trees will be left alone, as also will the fruits.

Shrubs That Deer Ignore

Many smaller, shrubby plants are also resistant to deer, including Boxwood for hedges and edging, adding another big plus mark to that valuable plant. Other shrubs that are normally ignored include the following garden-worthy plants.

Deer-proof shrubs:

Forsythia – deer won’t bother this cheerful favorite, as it welcomes in spring some of the earliest flowers in your garden.

Smoke Tree (Cotinus) – is another beautiful tree, usually grown in the form with dramatic purple leaves is left alone by these pesky critters.

Dogwood (Cornus) – speaking of color, the bright red and yellow winter twigs of these shrubby relatives of the flowering dogwood are also ignored.

Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia) – with their dramatic yellow flower clusters and large, glossy leaves, these shade-tolerant shrubs tolerate deer just as well.

  All in all, there are lots of plants to choose from that deer will leave alone. Instead of investing in an expensive fence, or spraying repellents all winter, choose the right plants and you can sit back and know that your garden will be safe until spring arrives.

[antiqueanimals]

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, vol. 11, Mammals II. 1972.

1.) Eastern deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

2.) Pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei)

3.) Packrat (Neotoma cinerea)

4.) Marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris)

5.) Northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori)

6.) Agile kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis)

7.) Desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti)

8.) California pocket mouse (Chaetodipus californicus)

9.) Mexican spiny pocket mouse (Heteromys irroratus)

10.) Plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)