North Carolina, the southeastern US state, has a diverse geography divided into three main biomes — the coastal region on the east, Piedmont extending across the state’s central region, and the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Mountain range in the west.
The coastal region is inhabited by all the semiaquatic and aquatic animals like alligators, river otters, beavers, whales, fishes, and birds. The Piedmont region is home to white-tailed deer, lizards, turtles, and many birds. Mountain animals like black bears, bobcats, elks, and small mammals inhabit the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, and the Nantahala National Forest are noteworthy places to watch for wildlife.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in North Carolina
Red wolves and the state animal, North American beavers, have been reintroduced to the state with established populations. Other animals, like fishers, cougars, bison, and snowshoe hares, have been extirpated.
One noteworthy animal introduced to the state is the Rocky Mountain elk.
North Carolina is home to several large predators, including the black bear, American alligator, and red wolf. There are also several deadly poisonous snakes and spiders, including copperheads, cottonmouths, eastern diamondbacks, Carolina pygmy, timber rattlesnakes, and black widows.
Over 100 threatened or endangered animals in North Carolina are protected by state laws. These include the leatherback and green sea turtles, North Atlantic right whale, northern flying squirrel, gray bat, and giant manta ray. Since their populations are under threat, these animals are pretty rare to see.
What are some common invasive animals in North Carolina?
Some native animals in this state include the red imported fire ant, emerald ash borer, zebra mussels, wild boar, and nutria.
What nocturnal animals are you likely to encounter in North Carolina?
Some animals you will likely encounter at night are bats, owls, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, wolves, badgers, opossums, and foxes.
