NC Wildlife

Native Animals

100

This white-tailed mammal is often seen darting through backyards and forest edges

White-tailed Deer

200

This gray-furred rodent is often seen scurrying through trees and burying acorns in local yards

Eastern Gray Squirrel

300

This small mammal hops through fields and is known for its long ears and cottony tail

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

400

This striped reptile is actually North Carolina’s official state reptile

Eastern Box Turtle

500

You may not see this elusive wild cat often, but it’s a native predator of the Piedmont forests

Bobcat

Adaptation

100

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

200

I have webbed feet that help me swim, and waterproof feathers that keep me dry in the pond

Mallard (duck)

300

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

400

I can mimic the sound of other birds and even alarms. This helps me protect my territory

Northern Mockingbird

500

My striped pattern helps me blend into leafy ground cover, and my venom lets me subdue prey without a struggle

Copperhead

Food Sources

100

I help control rodent populations by eating mice, rats, and other small mammals. My meals are swallowed whole

Black Rat Snake

200

I’m an amphibian with a sticky tongue. I eat crickets, flies, and beetles—but only if they move

American Bullfrog

300

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

400

I drink nectar and eat tiny insects while hovering like a helicopter at flowers

Hummingbird

500

I love garbage, roadkill, pet food, and pretty much anything else I can scavenge at night

Raccoon

Habitat

100

I hop through open grassy fields and meadows, munching on clover and hiding from predators in the tall grass

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

200

I swim in clean, flowing rivers and streams, where I catch insects and small fish with my long, slender body

Largemouth Bass

300

I make my home in burrows underground in open fields, popping up quickly to nibble on grasses

Groundhog

400

I bask on sunny rocks near ponds and streams, with a hard shell to protect me from predators

Eastern Box Turtle

500

I’m a small amphibian that lives in leaf litter near streams, using my moist skin to breathe

Salamander

What am I?

100

You’ll hear me hoot, especially near rivers and woods. I’m a nighttime hunter with big round eyes

Barred Owl

200

I dig tunnels, eat plants, and whistle when I’m alarmed. Some folks call me a woodchuck, too

Groundhog

300

I can swim, fly, and honk loudly. I migrate in big V-shapes and sometimes take over local ponds and parks

Canada goose

400

I slither silently, eat rodents, and help people by keeping pests away. I’m not venomous, but people still fear me

Black Rat Snake

500

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