130 Joshua Laerm, et al. 



Island. Transients are occasionally observed offshore (Odom et al. 

 1977). 



Canis latrans Woodhouse, Coyote. Wild canids predominantly 

 occur in the western half of the state. It is a matter of conjecture 

 whether they are coyotes introduced by sportsmen as suggested by Gol- 

 ley (1962), or whether they represent the eastern extension of a hybrid 

 swarm of coyote and red wolf (C rufus) as indirectly suggested by 

 Paradiso and Nowak (1971). Identifications are further complicated by 

 interbreeding with domestic dogs, C. familiaris. 



Vulpes vulpes fulva (Desmarest), Red Fox. The red fox occurs 

 statewide, but mostly north of the Fall Line, although it is known from 

 widely scattered locations throughout the Coastal Plain. It usually pref- 

 ers open habitat. 



Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber), Gray Fox. The gray fox is 

 more common in Georgia than the red fox and is statewide. It is known 

 from a variety of open and woodland habitats. Two subspecies are rec- 

 ognized in Georgia (Hall 1981): Urocyon cinereoargenteus cinereoargen- 

 teus (Schreber) occurs in the northern part of the state, south to the 

 central Piedmont, and U. c. floridanus Rhoads occurs in the southern 

 part of the state. 



Ursus americanus Pallas, Black Bear. Statewide, but uncommon 

 and generally restricted to wooded habitat in remote mountainous 

 regions, the Ocmulgee River area, and the Okefenokee Swamp. Two 

 subspecies are recognized in Georgia (Hall 1981): Ursus americanus 

 americanus Pallas is primarily restricted to the mountains, although 

 there are a few scattered locality records from the Piedmont and upper 

 Coastal Plain (Jenkins 1953); and U. a. floridanus Merriam has its larg- 

 est concentrations in the Okefenokee Swamp, with smaller populations 

 in the Ocmulgee River region. 



Procyon lotor (Linnaeus), Raccoon. Very common in a wide var- 

 iety of habitats statewide. Four subspecies are recognized in Georgia 

 (Hall 1981): Procyon lotor elucus Bangs occurs in the extreme southern 

 tier of counties, including Okefenokee Swamp; P. I. litoreus Nelson and 

 Goldman occurs in the eastern part of the lower Coastal Plain; P. I. 

 solutus Nelson and Goldman occurs in the tier of counties adjacent to 

 South Carolina; and P. I. varius Nelson and Goldman occurs in the 

 upper Coastal Plain, and north throughout the state. 



Mustela frenata Lichtenstein, Long-tailed Weasel. Statewide, gen- 

 erally in brushland and fields. Two subspecies are recognized in Georgia 

 (Hall 1981): Mustela frenata noveboracensis (Emmons) occurs in the 

 northern Piedmont and mountain provinces, and M.f olivacea Howell 

 in the southern Piedmont and Coastal Plain. 



Mustela vison Schreber, Mink. Statewide, and generally distributed 



