Wild mammals stir high interest among human observers. A white-tailed deer, black bear, or river otter is sure to draw the eyes of all who see it. Even mice, shrews, weasels and other small furbearers rarely fail to garner a reaction. This may be because we share a close kinship with mammals. After all, everyone reading this IS a mammal – Homo sapiens, to be specific. Our evolutionary roots are much more closely intertwined with other mammals than birds, reptiles, fish or other types of frequently encountered fauna.