Wolf spider (Lycosidae), Catoctin Mountain Park, 2014.
Most wolf spiders don't spin webs. Instead, they live on the ground and hunt at night. Wolf spiders are also unique in the way they carry their eggs. A wolf spider's round, silken globe egg sac is attached by s... More
Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), George Washington Birthplace N...
Picryl description: Public domain image of a bird, eagle, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Leopard searobin, Biscayne National Park, 2014.
The spots all over the leopard searobin (Prionotus scitulus) give you a clue as to how this fish received its common name. Interestingly, the leopard searobin moves along the seafloor on its ventral fins in a w... More
Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Pinnacles National Park, 2014...
After you notice the large ears characteristic of mule deer, just look for the obviously-black tail.
Great horned owl fledgling, Yellowstone National Park, 2014.
The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) was originally called the 'winged tiger' or 'tiger of the air' by naturalists, which has gained it the modern nickname of tiger owl. This extremely adaptable bird has suc... More
Urban wildlife include many varieties of ground squirrels, Chamizal Na...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Brown bear, Katmai National Park & Preserve, 2014.
Bear profile: #89 Backpack. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are the largest terrestrial member of the order carnivoran, which includes 280 species of placental mammals. It is widely-distributed throughout northern E... More
American kestrel, Yellowstone National Park, 2014.
The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest falcon in North America and the smallest raptor in America (under traditional classifications.) Unlike other raptors, the sexes of the kestrel differ more... More
American marten, Crater Lake National Park, 2014.
This long, slender-bodied weasel can be called American marten or American pine marten or even simply, pine marten (Martes americana). This North American carnivorous mammal has large rounded ears, short limbs ... More
Bat (Chiroptera) roosting, Lava Beds National Monument, 2014.
Flight has enabled bats to become one of the most widely-distributed group of mammals. Found in almost every type of habitat on Earth, you could find bats in any season, anywhere from seasides to mountains to d... More
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Lincoln Boyhood National M...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus), Pinnacles National Park, 2014.
Look for the spotted towhee beneath the dense chaparral, noisily scratching at the leafy ground. This spunky bird will often be seen jumping backwards and scratching through the leaves, looking for seeds and in... More
Ornate snipe fly (Chrysolpolis ornatus), Catoctin Mountain Park, 2014.
Like other flies in the Rhagionidae family, orante snipe flies have tapered bodies and stilt-like legs. Though beautiful, adult flies have mouthparts adapted for piercing; some are predatory on other insects wh... More
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), National Capital Parks - East, 2014...
Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th... More
Eyeless cave fish, Mammoth Cave National Park, 2014.
Cavefish (Amblyopsidae) are only found in caves with streams running into them. Fish in this family are commonly called cavefish, swampfish or blindfish, for obvious reasons. Like other troglobites (i.e., anima... More
Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris), Capitol Reef National P...
Also known as the rock chuck, the yellow-bellied marmot is actually a ground squirrel. These chubby animals must take advantage of the short growing season available in their preferred mountainous habitats beca... More
Camouflaged western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), Pinnacle...
Habitat of the western diamondback varies widely from flat coastal plains, steep rocky canyons to hillsides. They are found in many different vegetation types, including desert, sandy creosote, grassland, deser... More
Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), Glacier Bay National Park and Pre...
Pictured: mountain goat with kid. The scientific name Oreamnos is derived from 'oros' meaning 'mountain' and 'amnos' meaning 'lamb'. Also called the 'Rocky Mountain goat', this large hoofed mammal is common to ... More
Eastern diamondback (Crotalus adamanteus), Big Cypress National Preser...
CAUTION. DO NOT APPROACH THIS SNAKE. Most deaths in the United States due to snakebites are because of the eastern (not western) diamondback. It has a very potent venom and injects the venom in large quantities... More
Great Basin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola), Hovenweep ...
This common snake is an excellent climber, swimmer and burrower. Though harmless, except the gopher snake to defend itself if threatened; it will elevate and inflate its body and even flatten its head into the ... More
Cactus wren, Saguaro National Park, 2014.
True to its name the cactus wren (campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) builds nests in cactus plants, sometimes in a hole in a saguaro or sometimes where its nest will be protected by prickly cactus spines of a cho... More
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) taking off, National Capital Parks -...
Breeding great blue herons gather in colonies or heronries to build stick nests high off the ground. Known for its dagger-like bill, slow walk while stalking prey and a conspicuous S-shaped curl in its neck, th... More
Southern cricket frog (Acris gryllus), Little River Canyon National Pr...
Characteristic of the coastal plain bogs, bottomland swamps, ponds and ditches. This frog prefers the sun and is rarely found in woodlands. The name Acris is from the Greek word for locust, and the species name... More
Golden-mantled ground squirrel, Bryce Canyon National Park, 2014.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) enjoying a bite. Winter is on its way, so golden-mantled ground squirrels are busy eating, eating, eating. This tactic of eating as much as possible ... More
Brandt's cormorant, Redwood National and State Parks, 2014.
Brandt's cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) is a strictly-marine cormorant, inhabiting the Pacific coast of North America. The specific name penicillatus is Latin for 'painter's brush', meaning pencil of ha... More
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Cape Lookout National Seashor...
The end of summer means lots of sea turtle hatchlings will be crawling out of their nests on Cape Lookout NS and making their way home to the ocean. This tiny loggerhead hatchling may grow to an amazing 250 pou... More
Tessellated blenny, Biscayne National Park, 2014.
Tessellated blenny (Hypsoblennius invemar) often makes a home inside empty barnacle shells.
Gray rat snake (Pantherophis spiloides), Little River Canyon National ...
An agile climber, gray ratsnakes are at home from the ground to the tree tops, even in close proximity to people. Within its range, any environment rich in small prey is suitable habitat for the gray ratsnake. ... More
Big free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops macrotis), Zion National Park, 2014.
Little is known about this species, including mortality, longevity, breeding or even diet. We do know that females form small nursery colonies and young do not leave the nursery until almost full grown! Zion is... More
American pika (Ochotona princeps), Devil's Postpile National Monument,...
This diurnal species of pika is found in the mountains of western North America, usually in a boulder field at or above the tree line.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel, Bryce Canyon National Park, 2014.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) preparing to hibernate. Winter is on its way, so golden-mantled ground squirrels are busy eating, eating, eating. This tactic of eating as much as po... More
Gambel's quail, Joshua Tree National Park, 2014.
Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) chicks seek cover under Mojave yucca. Not to be confused with California quail (Callipepla californica), look for a black patch on the lower breast of the male bird. This pa... More
Broad-headed skink (Plestidon laticeps), Charles Pinckney National His...
You can probably tell from the photo that the broad-headed skin's common name stems from its wide jaws, giving the head a triangular appearance. This bright orange head is exhibited by males during breeding sea... More
Waterfowl on the Kobuk River, Kobuk Valley National Park, 2015.
A flock of waterfowl, mostly mallards (Anas plathyrhynchos) and scaups (Aythya), rise up from the Kobuk River on a clear September day. Soon they will be gone and the land will seem a little quieter until next spring.
Sandhill cranes, Everglades National Park, 2014.
Sandhill cranes mate for life, choosing their partners based on dancing displays. They stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow and leap into the air during their mating displays. Juvenile sandhill cranes usu... More
A tern (Sternidae) in flight, Dry Tortugas National Park, 2014.
Picryl description: Public domain image of a bird in flight, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Rocky Mountain elk herd at sunrise, Great Sand Dunes National Park and...
Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), along with other large animals like pronghorn, sandhill cranes and golden eagles, are often seen by visitors in the fall to spring. Elk prefer open grasslands and... More
Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia), Mojave National Preserve, 20...
Fringe-toed lizards are adapted for life in sandy deserts. Prominent elongated scales on their hind toes form a fringe around the toes, allowing the lizards to obtain speed and traction as well as helping the l... More
American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) basking on the river'...
Historically, hunting caused the American alligator's population to decline so much that they were classified as 'endangered' by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Conservation efforts have allowed their numbe... More
Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), Fort Matanzas National Monumen...
One of only three pelican species found in the western hemisphere and one of only two that feed by diving into water. Although a large bird in general, it is the smallest of the pelicans. Easily distinguish thi... More
Barred owl fledgling, Acadia National Park, 2014.
The barred owl (Strix varia) is better known as the hoot owl because of its distinctive call. The only similar owl in an overlapping range is the spotted owl; however, the spotted owl, perhaps not surprisingly,... More
Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), Grand Teton National Park, ...
One Clark's nutcracker can cache up to 98,000 whitebark pine seeds in a single year. The gnarly whitebark pine survives in harsh environments with the help of birds like the nutcracker.
Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, 201...
Did you know that caribou are the only members of the deer family in which both male and females have antlers?
Brown bears, Denali National Park and Preserve, 2014.
Brown bears and grizzly bears may have striking visible differences between them but they are listed as the same species (Ursus arctos). Grizzly bears include any North American subspecies of brown bear, includ... More
Manitoban elk calf, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 2014.
Transplanted Manitoban elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis), who are naturally found in Manitoba to eastern Saskatchewan, were introduced to the Great Smoky Mountains to replace the now-eradicated eastern elk (Cer... More
Brown bear and cubs, Denali National Park and Preserve, 2015.
Brown bears and grizzly bears are classified as the same species (Ursus arctos) even though they may have notable differences between them. Kodiak bears are a distinct subspecies (on the Kodiak archipelago) fr... More
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), Blue Ridge Parkway, 2014.
Like all pit vipers, the copperhead is generally an ambush predator. Pit vipers prefer to find a promising position and wait for suitable prey to arrive. However, when hunting insects the adult copperhead activ... More
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) families, Lake Roosevelt National Re...
Adult turkey hens with their baby turkeys, also known as poults.
American pika, Denali National Park and Preserve, 2014.
The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous relative of rabbits and hares. This little mammal is recognizable by its small, round, ovate body but also, and perhaps mostly, because of its moder... More
Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), Point Reyes National...
One of only two species of elephant seal, this 'true seal' gets its common name from its large size and the male's large proboscis (i.e., elongated appendage on its head). 'True seals' are earless seals and one... More
Bat (Chiroptera) roosting, Lava Beds National Monument, 2014.
Flight has enabled bats to become one of the most widely-distributed group of mammals. Found in almost every type of habitat on Earth, you could find bats in any season, anywhere from seasides to mountains to d... More
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Pu'ukohola Heiau Na...
This heron can be found throughout most of the world, except the coldest regions and Australasia (where a related night heron is found instead). You probably know herons for their ambush predator behavior: a he... More
Hoary marmot, Denali National Park and Preserve, 2014.
As N. America's largest squirrel, the hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) can weigh over 20-lbs. This species inhabits the mountains of northwest North America, living near the tree line on slopes. These areas prov... More
Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica), Missouri National Recreation...
Two softshell turtles are found at this recreational river. The smooth softshell in the picture may be easily confused with the spiny softshell turtle because their differences can be quite subtle. The spiny so... More
Antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni), Saguaro National Park, 2014.
Although rare, the antelope jackrabbit can be distinguished from the more common black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) by their larger size, lack of black ear tips and a broad white patch on their flank... More
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), Buffalo National River, 2014.
Like all pit vipers, the copperhead is generally an ambush predator. Pit vipers prefer to find a promising position and wait for suitable prey to arrive. When hunting insects, however, the adult copperhead acti... More
Arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii), Denali National Park an...
This ground squirrel is native to the Arctic. People in Alaska refer to them as "Parka" (said: "park'kee") squirrels. It's believed to refer to the fact that the pelt has been used for making fur edges on the h... More
Eastern box turtle (Tarrapene carolina carolina), Catoctin Mountain Pa...
The eastern box turtle is one of six subspecies of the common box turtle (Terrapene carolina), though only two of these subspecies are found in the United States. These slow crawlers are extremely long lived, s... More
Caribou, Denali National Park and Preserve, 2014.
Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have large, concave hooves that help support them in the deep snows of winter and on the soft surface of tundra. They are also the only member of the deer family in which both the ma... More
California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), Yosemite Nation...
The common California ground squirrel lives in the same areas of Yosemite as the western gray squirrel but eats mostly grass seeds. By eating different foods the two squirrels reduce competition between them an... More
Juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Pu'ukohola...
This heron can be found throughout most of the world, except the coldest regions and Australasia (where a related night heron is found instead). You probably know herons for their ambush predator behavior: a he... More
Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), Lake Roosevelt National Recreatio...
This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals that are larger than itself. However, that doesn't mean it will pass on tiny dishes like scorpions, mice and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in Nor... More
Long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), Golden Gate National Recreat...
The long-billed curlew's diet includes many invertebrates and even some vertebrates; however, its bill is best adapted for capturing shrimp and crabs living deep below tidal mudflats or earthworms in flooded pa... More
Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus), Zion National Park, 2014.
Leave no trace & take only pictures. IMPORTANT: Wild animals become unhealthy from eating human food and will grow dependent on it as a food sources. You may think it's cute but the animal is the one that will ... More
Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Yellowstone National Park, 2014.
This migratory passerine breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Very social outside breeding season, tree swallows may form flocks of several thousand birds near roost sites.
American pika, Crater Lake National Park, 2014.
The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous relative of rabbits and hares. This little mammal is recognizable by its small, round, ovate body but also, and perhaps mostly, because of its moder... More
Great horned owl, Yellowstone National Park, 2014.
The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) was originally called the 'winged tiger' or 'tiger of the air' by naturalists, which has gained it the modern nickname of tiger owl. This extremely adaptable bird has suc... More
White-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), Mojave National Preserve, 2014.
The white-faced ibis is very similar in appearance to the glossy ibis in its non-breeding plumage (as pictured). However, the white-faced ibis is smaller with somewhat warmer-colored plumage. To tell them apart... More
Least tern (Sterula antillarum), Boston Harbor Islands National Recrea...
It is similar in plumage to the little tern except that the least tern's rump and tail are grey, not white.
Millipede, New River Gorge National River, 2014.
Millipedes differ from centipedes in that their legs are paired on each body segment (after the third segment) while centipedes have one pair of legs per segment. Mostly, these animals coil up when threatened t... More
North American beaver (Castor canadensis), Acadia National Park, 2014.
North American beavers are true ecosystem engineers that can substantially alter their environs by creating dams and ponds. However, pictured is a bank lodge which was built into an existing shoreline in the Si... More
Clark's nutcracker, Crater Lake National Park, 2015.
One Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) can cache up to 98,000 whitebark pine seeds in a single year. The gnarly whitebark pine survives in harsh environments with the help of birds like the nutcracker.
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Lava Beds National Monument, 2014.
These mule deer were spotted near Indian Well Cave. Indigenous to western North America, mule deer are easily recognized by their characteristically-large ears that similar in appearance to a mule. In areas whe... More
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Lincoln Boyhood National M...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), Lake Roosevelt National Recreatio...
This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals that are larger than itself. However, that doesn't mean it will pass on tiny dishes like scorpions, mice and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in Nor... More
Nēnē on nest (Branta sandvicensis), Haleakalā National Park, 2014.
Nene or nēnē (pronounced nay-nay), is the official state bird of Hawai'i. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) after arriving on the Hawai'ian islands about 500,000 year... More
Young barred owls, Everglades National Park, 2015.
The barred owl (Strix varia) is better known as the hoot owl because of its distinctive call. The only similar owl in an overlapping range is the spotted owl; however, the spotted owl, perhaps not surprisingly,... More
Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica), Missouri National Recreation...
Two softshell turtles are found at this recreational river. The smooth softshell in the picture may be easily confused with the spiny softshell turtle because their differences can be quite subtle. The spiny so... More
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), Blue Ridge Parkway, 2014.
Interestingly, this is the only snake in Maryland with a rattle. The timber rattlesnake is the second most northerly-distributed venomous snake in North America; the first is its cousin in the west, the prairie... More
Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris), Crater Lake National Pa...
Also known as the rock chuck, the yellow-bellied marmot is actually a ground squirrel. These chubby animals must take advantage of the short growing season available in their preferred mountainous habitats beca... More
Sea turtle, Dry Tortugas National Park, 2014.
The park has five species of sea turtles: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).
Turtles (Testudines) basking on a fallen tree, National Capital Parks ...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
American robin (Turdus migratorius), Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus), Hovenweep National Monument, 2014.
Though cottontails are very sexually-active creatures and mated pairs have several offspring several times in nearly all seasons, it is more likely than not that none will survive to adulthood. Those that do ma... More
White-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus), Arches National Park, 201...
This species lives at elevations between 5,000 - 10,000 feet, which is generally higher than most other prairie dog species. It can be found in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana as well as parts of Utah. Unfortunatel... More
White-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula), Lake Meredith National Recr...
This little rodent often builds its nests among prickly pear and cholla cactus for the protection and food/water it offers. These excellent climbers has many amazing abilities, including easily climbing up and ... More
Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Big Cypress National Preserve, 2014.
The raccoon is a mammal native to North America and the largest of the procyonid family, which is the New World family of the order carnivora. Interestingly, the word chosen for this species in different langue... More
Nēnē adults and goslings (Branta sandvicensis), Haleakalā National Par...
Nene or nēnē (pronounced nay-nay), is the official state bird of Hawai'i. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) after arriving on the Hawai'ian islands about 500,000 year... More
Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Great Smoky Mountains Na...
Picryl description: Public domain image of wildlife, wild animals, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions.
Red-throated loons (Gavia stellata), Bering Land Bridge National Prese...
The red-throated loon is the most widely distributed of the loons but it breeds primarily in the Arctic. It is also the smallest and lightest of the loons. Look for the distinctive reddish throat patch during b... More
Brown bear, Grand Teton National Park, 2014.
Brown bears (Ursus arctos) are the largest terrestrial member of the order carnivoran, which includes 280 species of placental mammals. It is widely-distributed throughout northern Eurasia and North America, th... More
Woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis), Blue Ridge Parkway, 201...
This little mouse has several interesting abilities. First, it has the surprising ability to jump up to 3 meters! Second, as seen in the picture this species also utilizes the freeze and camouflage technique fo... More
Wood stork (Mycteria americana), Fort Matanzas National Monument, 2014...
As of 2014, this large American wading bird is classified as a threatened species. It is the only stork presently breeding in North America, with small breeding populations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina a... More
Red fox, Katmai National Park & Preserve, 2014.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes as well as and most abundant & widespread member of the order Carnivora. Its range has increased alongside human expansion and has even been introduc... More
Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), Glacier National Park, 2014.
The scientific name Oreamnos is derived from 'oros' meaning 'mountain' and 'amnos' meaning 'lamb'. Also called the 'Rocky Mountain goat', this large hoofed mammal is common to subapine and alpine biotic zones. ... More
Common merganser (Mergus merganser), Glacier National Park, 2014.
This large, long-bodied duck has long, thin wings and a very straight, narrow bill - which is very unlike the typical flat duck bill. Females, as you can see, have shaggy crests on the back of their heads. Male... More
American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Cape Lookout Nati...
Though uncommon at Cape Lookout NS in late fall, these striking American white pelicans were seen at Old Drum Inlet in October 2014. With a wingspan of about 8-feet, they are considerably larger than our reside... More
Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Catoctin Mountain Park, 2014.
This tyrant flycatcher's common name comes from its song, which sounds like 'fee-bee'. The eastern phoebe has a white throat, dirty breast and buff underparts. Two other Sayornis (phoebe) species exist: the bla... More
Great southern white (Ascia monuste), Fort Matanzas National Monument,...
Lepidoptera migrate in one of two modes. Either (1) the lepidoptera move in one direction in their short lifespan or (2) migration happens toward a place of dormancy (hibernation or aestivation) and the same ge... More
Black-tailed prairie dog, Badlands National Park, 2014.
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was probably the most abundant prairie dog in central North America prior to habitat destruction by humans. Look for the black tip of its tail, from which its... More