"WHAT'S IN A NAME?"

Mammals of North America - 4 Photos

Last week's Photo of the Week - "Tree Climber" created some controversy on my Twitter account, i.e. Long Tailed Weasel versus Stoat.

For those not familiar with my profile, I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and currently all the photos of  the animals featured on this website were taken in and around Calgary and southern Alberta and in the Rocky Mountains west of Calgary.

There is good reason for Scientific/Latin names for animals and having done some brief research, here are three examples of "What's In a Name" for the books!

PHOTO #1 - In North America, we refer to these as "Elk"

North American Elk"ENGAGEMENT"
(Banff, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #2 - In Europe, for example, these are referred to as "Eurasian Elk". In North America, we call that a "Moose".

North American Moose - Female"NOW WHERE DID THOSE CALVES GO?"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #3 - Bears similar to the one below if found "Inland" are referred to as "Grizzly Bears". While those on the coasts are referred to as "Brown Bears". (From some research, it appears Grizzly Bears are a subspecies of Brown Bears)

Grizzly Bear"GOT THE MUNCHIES!"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA_

And, of course, the infamous, Long Tailed Weasel. If one types in "Stoats in Canada" or "Stoats in Alberta" at "Google" for example, up pops (pardon the pun) references to the three species of Weasel. I have included some links to websites below for reference purposes. 

And yes, it has also been referred to as "Nature's Little Psychopath!" :)

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/weasel

http://www.saskschoolsinfo.com/animals/weasel.html

To end, really like those words that I have been exposed to through "National Geographic" - "Nature Just Is".

PHOTO #4 - Long Tailed Weasel

Weasel - Long Tailed"LITTLE HUNTER"