Mammal Study

Mammal Study merit badge requirements

1. Explain the meaning of "animal," "invertebrate," "vertebrate," and "mammal." Name three characteristic that distinguish mammals from all other animals.
2. Explain how the animal kingdom is classified. Explain where mammals fit in the classification of animals. Classify three mammals from phylum through species.
3. Do ONE of the following:

   a. Spend three hours in each of two different kinds of natural habitats or at different elevations. List the different mammal species and individual members that you identified by sight or sign. Tell why all mammals do not live in the same kind of habitat.

   b. Spend three hours on each of five days on at least a 25-acre area (about the size of 3 1/2 football fields). List the mammal species you identified by sight or sign.

   c. From study and reading, write a simple life history of one nongame mammal that lives in your area. Tell how this mammal lived before its habitat was affected in any way by man. Tell how it reproduces, what it eats, what eats it, and its natural habitat. Describe its dependency upon plants, upon other animals (including man), and how they depend upon it. Tell how it is helpful or harmful to man.

4. Do ONE of the following:

   a. Under the guidance of a nature center or natural history museum, make two study skins of rats or mice. Tell the uses of study skins and mounted specimens respectively.

   b. Take good pictures of two kinds of mammals in the wild. Record the date(s), time of day, weather conditions, approximate distance from the animal, habitat conditions, and any other factors you feel may have influenced the animal's activity and behavior.

   c. Write a life history of a native game mammal that lives in your area, covering the points outlined in requirement 3c. List sources for this information.

   d. Make and bait a tracking pit. Report what mammals and other animals came to the bait.

   e. Visit a natural history museum. Report on how specimens are prepared and cataloged. Explain the purposes of museums.

   f. Write a report of 500 words on a book about a mammal species.

   g. Trace two possible food chains of carnivorous mammals from the soil through four stages to the mammal.

5. Working with your counselor, select and carry out one project that will influence the numbers of one or more mammals.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2014 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #637685)

A FREE workbook for Mammal Study is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Mammal Study requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Bird Study - Environmental Science - Fish and Wildlife Management - Forestry - Gardening - Geology - Insect Study - Mammal Study - Nature - Oceanography - Plant Science - Reptile and Amphibian Study - Soil and Water Conservation - Sustainability
• Boy Scout awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award - William T. Hornaday award - World Conservation Award
• Venturing: Ranger Award electives: Ecology - Plants and Wildlife; Awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award - William T. Hornaday award - World Conservation Award
• World Conservation Award
• Wolf Scout
  • Paws on the Path, Grow Something, Requirements 1 and 2 from Spirit of the Water
• Bear Scout
  • Fur, Feathers, and Ferns, Bear Goes Fishing, Critter Care, Requirement 3 from Baloo the Builder
• Webelos Scouts (Including Webelos II's earning the Arrow of Light award)
  • Building a Better World, Into the Wild, Into the Woods, Earth Rocks, Adventures in Science
• Cub Scout awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - World Conservation Award

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)