Coyotes are wild canines, with dog or wolf-life features. Weights are slightly heavier for males, with average weights in the western states of about 30 pounds for males versus 25 pounds for females.

A coyote immigration has impacted eastern states since the early 1950's and the eastern coyote is now recognized as a true breeding subspecies of coyote. The eastern coyotes do attain larger body weights that western coyotes, and this may reflect hereditary traits as a result of cross breeding between northern coyotes and eastern timber wolves. Weights of over 60 pounds have been recorded for some eastern coyote males, although the majority of the males weigh between 30-35 pounds.

Coyotes have 42 teeth including four long incisor teeth. Eyes are yellow or amber, with round, black pupils which indicate that coyotes were probably daytime hunters before man began persecuting the species.

Guard hairs on a coyote pelt are about 3 inches long on the back, and 5 inches long in a patch between the shoulders known as the "mane" or "hackles".

Coloration varies with individuals and sections, with most coyotes being mottled greys with lighter colored bellies. Brownish and reddish colors also occur commonly in areas, and melanism or black colors occur more rarely.

Raccoons weights vary from region to region. Generally, raccoons attain larger weights in northern states and lighter weights in northern states and lighter weights in southern states. Most adult male raccoons in northern states weigh 15-18 pounds during fall harvest season, with females averaging 2-3 pounds less. In some southern areas, mature males weigh about 9-10 pounds with females from the same areas weighing 8-9 pounds.

Occasionally specimens in northern states may weigh 30 pounds. Several individual raccoons have been taken from the wild weighing more than 50 pounds, but whether these animals may have been fed as captives is unknown.

Raccoons have 40 teeth, including 4 elongated and sharp canine teeth.

The fur of raccoons has guard hair of 2-2 1/4 inches long on the back areas, and the underfur is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches long and dense. Depending upon market demands, raccoon fur is used both as a long haired fur and as a sheered and dyed, short haired fur.

Fur colors vary in areas. Most raccoons are a dirty blondish with darker color of guard hairs mottling the overall appearance. Reddish colors occur regularly in areas and some raccoons are darker colors.

The grey fox is often confused with the red fox because the gray has rusty-red fur on its ears, ruffs and neck. Overall coloration is gray, and the darkest color extends in a suggested stripe along the top of the back down to the end of the tail. The belly, throat and chest areas are whitish in color.

Gray foxes appear to be smaller than red foxes. The shorter leg length and stockier body are deceptive. Many gray foxes weigh about the same as red foxes in the same habitat types. Males and females both weigh 8 to 11 pounds on the average. Weights are often around 8 pounds in the southern states and closer to 11 pounds in the northern states.

Compared to red foxes, greys have shorter muzzles, and shorter ears which are usually held erect and pointed forward.

Many gray foxes stand about 15 inches tall at the shoulders and overall lengths are 40 to 44 inches including tails of 12 to 15 inches.

Gray foxes have dark eyes with elliptical pupils. Teeth number 42 including 4 canine teeth. Both male and female gray foxes have a scent gland under the skin on the top of the tail.

The long fur of the red foxes gives them an appearance of being larger than they really are. Red foxes commonly weight 10 to 20 pounds in many areas with occasional large specimens weighing up to 14 pounds. Red fox are slightly heavier in the northern part of their ranges, and slightly lighter in the southern locations.

Distinctive marks on red fox include feet that are usually black, with black fur also on the backs of the ears. A white tipped tail is common, and the red colors of the fur mute with grayish or whitish fur on the throat, bottom of the neck and belly ares.

The eyes of the red fox are yellow or amber in colors with elliptical pupils.

Red foxes have 42 teeth, including 4 canine teeth to help them catch and kill prey species.

Fishers are usually dark brown in color. Males often times have a lighter, grizzled coloration on the face, head, and over the shoulders. The longer guard hairs in the fur are usually 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length on the body and a 1/2 inch longer on the tail. The fur on males is much coarser than on the females, and both are darkest on tail and legs. Two small, white patches of fur are found in the front armpit areas.

Males may measure 36 inches or longer and adult males often weight 10 to 12 pounds. Males rarely weigh more than 14 pounds.

Females weigh about 1/3 of the average weight of males and most females are about the size of large mink, although their longer fur makes them appear to be larger. Typical females weigh between 4 to 5 pounds.

Fisher have 38 teeth, including four sharp canine teeth and flat topped molars to aid in chewing.

A pair of anal musk glands are present on both males and females and this musk is often released when the fisher is frightened or angry.

Marten have silky fur with guard hairs of about 1 1/2 inches in length. Colors vary from lighter buffs to darker browns and many marten exhibit throat patches that are orange in color or sometimes creamy white.

Males are consistently larger than females. Average males are 2 to 3 pounds in weight, with overall lengths of 25 to 30 inches including a furred tail of 9 to 12 inches. Tails are usually the darkest color on the individual animals.

Females are about 1/2 smaller than males in all sections.

Martens have 28 teeth, including 4 sharp canine teeth and flattened molars to allow chewing of foods.

The marten have five toes on each foot, however, the toe that is similar to our thumb is reduced in size and usually does not appear in tracks left by the marten.

Martens have a pair of scents glands located near the anus. The musk is released from these glands when the marten is excited and the odor is not as powerful as mink, weasel or skunk musk.

Martens also have a large gland on their stomachs which give off odors during the mating season.