Native Animals
This white-tailed mammal is often seen darting through backyards and forest edges
White-tailed Deer
I have exceptional eyesight and can dive at speeds up to 120 miles per hour. My long claws help me catch prey easily.
Red-tailed Hawk
I help control rodent populations by eating mice, rats, and other small mammals. My meals are swallowed whole
Black Rat Snake
I hop through open grassy fields and meadows, munching on clover and hiding from predators in the tall grass
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
You’ll hear me hoot, especially near rivers and woods. I’m a nighttime hunter with big round eyes
Barred Owl
This gray-furred rodent is often seen scurrying through trees and burying acorns in local yards
Eastern Gray Squirrel
I have webbed feet that help me swim, and waterproof feathers that keep me dry in the pond
Mallard (duck)
I’m an amphibian with a sticky tongue. I eat crickets, flies, and beetles—but only if they move
American Bullfrog
I swim in clean, flowing rivers and streams, where I catch insects and small fish with my long, slender body
Largemouth Bass
I dig tunnels, eat plants, and whistle when I’m alarmed. Some folks call me a woodchuck, too
Groundhog
This small mammal hops through fields and is known for its long ears and cottony tail
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
I have large eyes and excellent night vision to help me hunt in the dark. I also have feathers that let me fly almost silently
Barred Owl
I eat mostly acorns, nuts, and seeds, but I won’t say no to bird eggs or insects. I have a fluffy tail and sharp teeth
Eastern Gray Squirrel
I make my home in burrows underground in open fields, popping up quickly to nibble on grasses
Groundhog
I can swim, fly, and honk loudly. I migrate in big V-shapes and sometimes take over local ponds and parks
Canada goose
This striped reptile is actually North Carolina’s official state reptile
Eastern Box Turtle
I can mimic the sound of other birds and even alarms. This helps me protect my territory
Northern Mockingbird
I drink nectar and eat tiny insects while hovering like a helicopter at flowers
Hummingbird
I bask on sunny rocks near ponds and streams, with a hard shell to protect me from predators
Eastern Box Turtle
I slither silently, eat rodents, and help people by keeping pests away. I’m not venomous, but people still fear me
Black Rat Snake
You may not see this elusive wild cat often, but it’s a native predator of the Piedmont forests
Bobcat
My striped pattern helps me blend into leafy ground cover, and my venom lets me subdue prey without a struggle
Copperhead
I love garbage, roadkill, pet food, and pretty much anything else I can scavenge at night
Raccoon
I’m a small amphibian that lives in leaf litter near streams, using my moist skin to breathe
Salamander
You rarely see me during the day. I have orange fur, a bushy tail, and I can be heard screaming in the night
Red Fox