Birds
Fish
Herps
Insects
Mammals
Plants
Black Rat
The Black rat, also called the Asian black rat, Ship rat, Roof rat or House rat (Rattus rattus), is a common long-tailed rat. Thought to have originated in northern tropics, this rodent has now spread to most warm climates.
The Black rat lives wherever humans live, and is especially fond of cities. It has excellent hearing and a great sense of smell. Black rats dig very well and often build complicated burrows. Black rats can't see colors, only how light or dark something is. They can, however sense tiny movements in the ground and feel their weay in the dark with their paws and whiskers. These skills give them an advantage in the dark places where they nest.
Blue Whale
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the order of baleen whales. It is the largest mammal to ever to have lived.
The blue whale was abundant in all of the world's oceans until the beginning of the 20th Century, when it overhunting drove it close to extinction. It is now protected by the international community, although illegal whale hunting still takes place. Blue whales feed almost exclusively on krill and small fish. At birth, the blue whale weighs as much as a baby hippopotamus and can grow to weigh up to 2.7 tons. When breathing, the blue whale sprays a 40 foot-high column blow that can be seen many miles away.
Bottlenose Dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the most recognizable member of the dolphin family. It can be found in all seas except the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans.
The bottlenose dolphin's elongated jaws form a beak-like snout or a rostrum, which gives the animal its common name. The bottlenose dolphin uses echolocation, similar to sonar, to find its prey in vast waterways. These dolphins communicate with each other through squeaks, clicks, whistles and body language. The bottlenose dolphin has a horseshoe-shaped, double-slit pupil that enables it to have good vision in both underwater and air viewing.
Eastern Chipmunk
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is a small rodent found in eastern North America. It prefers rocky or forested areas with lots of cover.
The eastern chipmunk transports food in cheek pouches to their underground burrows for storage. During winter, eastern chipmunks enter a prolonged state of torpor but do not actually hibernate. They have a distinct bird-like chirping call that gives them their common name. The eastern chipmunk's major predators include foxes, hawks, raccoons, weasels and snakes.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
The eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common species in North America.
The eastern cottontail rabbit eats green vegetation such as grasses and clover in the summer and bark, buds and twigs in winter. Eastern cottontail rabbits have superb hearing, vision and sense of smell, which is their first defense against predators. They can run at speeds of up to 15 mph and leap distances between 10 and 15 feet. When chased, an eastern cottontail rabbit runs in a zigzag to confuse the predator both visually and physically. Baby cottontail rabbits are called kits.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a tree rodent native to the eastern and midwestern United States. This animal is known for its high rate of breeding and adaptability.
The eastern gray squirrel is a scatter-hoarder; it stores foods in small hiding places and digs them up again later. This specific species build a nest in the forks of trees with dry leaves and twigs. The eastern gray squirrel is around all year and will dig through snow in intense cold to retrieve buried nuts. This animal has a very versatile tail. An eastern gray squirrel uses its tail for balance, shade, an umbrella, a blanket and as a rudder while swimming.
Gray Fox
The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a mammal of the order Carnivora. It ranges throughout the southern half of North America, from southern Canada to northern Venezuela.
The gray fox's ability to climb trees is shared only with the Asian raccoon dog among canids. Its strong, hooked claws allow it to scramble up trees to escape predators. It is active at night and during the twilight hours and dens in hollow trees, stumps or appropriated burrows during the day. Gray foxes are monogamous. They are solitary hunters and largely omnivorous. They frequently prey on eastern cottontails, but will settle for voles, shrews and birds.
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is a seal found in coastal waters. It is found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Baltic and North Seas.
Harbor seals have brown, tan or gray fur and distinctive V-shaped nostrils. They are able to dive for up to ten minutes and can reach depths up to 1,500 feet. Before a deep dive, a harbor seal exhales to reduce the amount of air in its lungs. Oxygen is stored in its blood and muscle tissues, rather than in its lungs. Harbor seals also have a thick layer of blubber to insulate their bodies in the frigid waters. Glands in the harbor seal's skin secrete an oil that helps waterproof their fur. Harbor Seal pups are able to swim and dive within hours of being born.
House Mouse
The house mouse (Mus musculus) is one of the most numerous types of its species. These animals live in close proximity to humans.
The house mouse is probably the second most populous species on earth after humans. They are also known as important model organisms in biology and medicine; they are by far the most commonly used laboratory mammal. The house mouse is a good jumper, climber and swimmer. It lives in a wide variety of hidden places near food sources. House mice will drink water but require very little of it and rely instead on the moisture present in their food.
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a baleen whale. It is found in oceans and seas around the world.
The humpback whale can grow to be 40 to 50 feet in length and weigh up to 79,000 pounds. Due to its size, the humpback typically migrates up to 15,000 miles a year. It can be identified by the varying patterns on its tail flukes, the whale version of a human fingerprint. This species feeds only in the summer and lives off fat reserves during winter. When feeding, a humpback can consume between 2,000 and 9,000 pounds of fish and krill a day. The humpback whale is famous for its complex whale song.
Little Brown Bat
The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the most common bats of North America. It is a species of the genus Myotis or mouse-eared bats.
The little brown bat is between three and five inches long with hairy toes and pointed ears. Little brown bats are nocturnal insectivores, eating moths, wasps, beetles, gnats, mosquitoes, midges and mayflies, among others. They use echolocation to find their prey in the dark. Often, a little brown bat will catch larger prey with a wingtip, transfer it to a cup formed by their tail, then eat it. Smaller prey are usually just caught in the mouth. Little brown bats prefer to roost near water.
Muskrat
The muskrat or musquash (Ondatra zibethicus) is the only species in the genus Ondatra. The muskrat is native to North America and can be found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats.
The muskrat's name comes from the two scent glands found near the base of its tail. These glands produce a strong musky odor used to mark the muskrat's territory. A muskrat is a semi-aquatic animal. Its tail is covered with scales and is flattened vertically to aid in swimming. A muskrat's hind feet are somewhat webbed but it is their tail that is theit main means of propulsion.
Orca
The orca (Orcinus orca) is the largest species of the ocean dolphin family. It is found in all the world's oceans, from the Arctic to the Tropics.
Although only scientifically identified as a species in 1758, the Orca has been known to humans since prehistoric times. This large animal can range from 16 to 26 feet and weigh up to 16,000 pounds! On average, an Orca eats 500 pounds of food each day. In order to move its big body quickly, an Orca will porpoise or leap out of the water when swimming. Orca are commonly seen at aquatic theme parks because of their social, intelligent and playful behavior. They are also known as Killer Whales, or Sea Wolves.
Raccoon
The raccoon (Procyon lotor), also known as the washing bear or coon, is a native mammal to North America. It originates in mixed or deciduous forests but is also found in urban areas.
The raccoon gets its nickname, the "washing bear," from its habit of washing food before it eats. Racoons are nocturnal animals and have excellent night vision. A raccoon's normal walk is more of a shuffle, however, they are able to reach speeds of 15 mphs on the ground when they want to move more quickly. Raccoons are impressive climbers and are not worried by a drop of 35 to 40 feet. Their slender paws resemble human hands and are quite dextrous.
Red Fox
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a mammal of the order Carnivora. Its range spans most of North America, Eurasia, southern Australia and North Africa.
Red foxes are named for their predominantly reddish-brown coat. Their eyes are yellow and have distinctive vertical-split pupils, similar to domestic cats. Their eyesight is as sharp as a cats eyesight is, and combined with their extreme agility, the red fox is referred to as “the catlike canid.” The red fox's long bushy tail provides balance for large jumps and complex movements. It can run up to 30 mph. Red foxes are largely carnivorous.
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is a species of tree squirrel. They are found in coniferous forests.
Red Squirrels are also referred to as Pine Squirrels, North American Red Squirrels and Chickarees. They are primarily granivores although squirrels have also been observed eating the following: spruce buds and needles, mushrooms, willow leaves, poplar buds and catkins, bearberry flowers and berries, and animal material such as bird eggs. Red Squirrels usually live for two to three years. Their coats enter two other phases, a black phase and a white phase.
River Otter
The river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. It is a common animal in North American waterways.
The carnivorious river otter is a higly active predator, like its relative, the weasel. It predominately eats fish, but will also dine on insects, frogs, and crustaceans. Unlike the sea otter, which will eat while floating on its back, the river otter will bring their prey ashore to eat. The North American River Otter has nostrils that close underwater and its fur is soft and dense. These adaptations help it during extended underwater excursions.
Skunk
The skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is best known for its foul-smelling scent. There are 11 different species of skunk.
Skunks are omnivorous and will change their diet as the seasons change. They tend to be gluttonous feeders and generally attack nests of colonial insects such as bees or ants. Skunks, due to their diet, usually eliminate insect and rodent pests that cause the destruction of crops. Their only true predator is the great horned owl, which like most birds, has a poor to non-existent sense of smell. Skunks will warn predators by stomping their feet and raising their tails.
Virginia Opossum
The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginana) is the only marsupial found in North America. It is the largest member of its genus, family and order.
The Virginia opossum is noted for its unique defense response—it feigns death whenever danger is near. Virginia opossums are nocturnal animals and have very poor social development. They have hairless ears, 50 teeth and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs. Their tail is prehensile so they can grasp objects with it, but they cannot hang from trees by their tail alone. As scavengers, opposums play an important role in the ecosystem by eating foods other animals may not.
White-footed Mouse
The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is a rodent native to North America. It ranges from the northeast U.S. to the southwest and Mexico.
White-footed mice live in a wide variety of habitats but are most abundant in warm, dry forests and brushlands at middle elevations. They only live for about a year. This means that there is an almost complete replacement of all mice in the population from one year to the next. White-footed mice mothers carry their young to safety by their necks with her teeth if the brood is threatened. The white-footed mouse is known to drum on a hollow reed or a dry leaf with its forepaws.
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a medium-sized deer found throughout most of the continental United States. It is sometimes referred to as the Virginia deer or simply, the whitetail.
White-tailed deer are generalists and can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. They thrive equally well in forest habitats, the open savanna and sage communities. The male deer, or the buck, usually weighs from 130 to 220 pounds while the female, the doe, is generally smaller and will weigh anywhere between 90 to 200 pounds. Bucks re-grow their antlers every year. Bucks with very small antlers are often called “button bucks” or “spiked bucks.”
