Wildlife and Animals in Pennsylvania

Types of wildlife in PA

Pennsylvania is a region that is so diverse in wildlife. According to recent statistics, there are some 71 native mammal species found in the state, but 11 of these have become extinct.  Some of the most popular mammals here are; The mountain Lion, Wolverine, Gray wolf, Lynx, bison and Moose. By definition, wildlife should include wild mammals, and wild birds( including game and non-game species) According to the Pennsylvania  Game commission, there are some 480 species of wild mammals and birds in the state of PA, and out of these,  there are some 414 wild bird species alone, and 284 of these are regular habitants of the local habitat, while the remaining 129 are frequent visitors to the state.

Many of the wildlife mammals in PA are scarce or going into extinction, however , most of the bird species are thriving within their natural habitats. The Peregrine falcon is one of the most prominent bird species in PA, and it is often referred to as a “Raptor bird”, or bird of prey. The adult of this bird species do possess blue-gray wings with some darkish-brown back, while their faces are predominantly white. Falconry birds are quite popular in PA, and they are a group of raptors that mostly hunt for other animals for survival.

Peregrine falcon

Fish species of PA include; Chain pickerel, Crappie (black and white), blue gill, Pumpkin seed, walleye, Yellow perch, sun fish (red breasted), Muskellunge, American shad, rock bass, and trout. The availability of these species will depend on the weather conditions or season.

Great Horned owl

Flowers , plants and trees contribute immensely to the survival of wildlife in PA, and there are hundreds of these species either existing or going into extinction. Commonest tree plants include; Red maple, silver maple, River Birch, Bitternut Hickory, Eastern cottonwood, Oak(willow , pin or black), and Pawpaw. Commonest shrubs include ; Buttonbush, silky dogwood, Ninebark, and Rosebay. Commonest flower plants include; Sneeze weed, Turtlehead, Boneset, Closed Gentian, Summer Phlox, Cardinal flower, and Purple stem aster.

• Humming birds –they are among the smallest birds in the world, and they have iridescent feathers. They are named Hummingbirds because they flap their wings very fast that they create humming sounds.

• Bronze Frog (Lithobates clamitans) – They got their names from their skin colour. They are mostly found in swamps and stream sides.

• Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)-this is an amphibious frog belonging to the Ranidae family that are also referred to as “True frogs”. It is also referred to as African bull dog or pixie frog. They are quite large and aggressive in nature.

• Grey tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) – This is a small arboreal frog that is about 2 inches long. It has a predominantly grey or brown colour, with some blotches located on its back. They have granular skins and large toe pads.

• Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitus)- these are a group of frogs belonging to species of hylid frog that are native to the United States. Even though , they belong to the tree frog family but they are not arboreal.

• The Pickerel frog- This is a small frog with square designs that look like hand-drawn objects located on the frog’s dorsal surface. These are large frogs that measure between 2 and 4 inches in body length. They also have 2 rows of dark-squarish spots on their backs.

• Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) – this is a small chorus frog and it is so called by this name because of its chirping call that usually marks the beginning of the spring season. The frog grows to about 1.5 inches in length.

• Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)- this is a type of frog that can resist adverse weather conditions especially in winter season when it freezes and thaw literally when temperatures fluctuate. They do have shades of red or brown colours on their skin.

• Sphinx Moths aka Hawk Moths- these are a family of moths that are also referred to as “Hornworms”. They are mostly seen in the tropics. They have narrow wings and streamlined abdomens that help them adapt to rapid flight. They normally over in the air while feeing on nectars of flowers, and they can be sometimes mistaken for humming birds.

• Broad-headed Skink (Eumeces laticeps)- This is a broad-headed skink that belongs to a family of lizards and they are endemic to South Eastern parts of the United States. These are the largest skinks in the South Eastern part of the country and they usually have orange to red heads with greenish-brown bodies.

• Eastern Fence Lizard(Sceloporous undulatus)-these are medium size species of lizard that are mostly found along the forest edges , rock piles, stumps and rotting logs. They have spiny bodies, which mean their skin is rough, with some pointed scales located on their backs and often possess gray to brown colours.

• Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)- these species of lizard are also referred to as “Eumecs” and they can grow from 5 to 8.5 inches in length. They are characterized by shorter legs alongside a streamlined body. The exterior part is characterized by a mix of golden brown, black, orange and the tail has a shade of blue.

• Italian Wall Lizard(Podorcis sicula)- this lizard is also referred to as ruin lizard or Turkey lizard , it is referred to as a habitat generalist because it can be found in many habitats but mostly prefer a structural complex habitat. The lizard is characterized by shades of green and brown colours.

• Northern Coal Skink(Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus)-This lizard has been in existence since the 1890s and it is endemic to the Northern American region. It can grow to between 5-7 inches in body length, and consumes predominantly insects.

• Porcupines- This is a rodential animal characterized by a body coat filled with spines- these ensure that the animal is protected against predators. This is the prickliest of rodents in the world today, and there are about 2 dozens of porcupine species. Porcupines can weigh as much as 30kg, however they are considered to be slow animals.

Photo:	Date / Views:	Poster:	Description:	Total Comments Send Comments
	2012-06-06 Views: 1602	seto2112a	Peregrine Falcon June 4 2012	Send Private Email
	2012-06-06 Views: 1019	seto2112a	Peregrine Falcon June 4 2012	Send Private Email
	2012-06-06 Views: 1100	seto2112a	Great Horned Owl June 4 2012	Send Private Email

Gallery Title:	Gallery Description:	Sub-Categories.:	Total Photos:
Animal Tracks	Animal Tracks-Mammals, Birds etc.	0	11
Bird Nests	Bird Nests, eggs and young in the nest	0	18
Birds	Song birds, water fowls, herons, cranes, etc. There are plenty of photos! They are in sub-categories by Species to make then easier to view ^__^ (Why they aren’t counted in “Total photos” is beyond me)	52	45
Birds :Falconry	Falconry birds. NOTE: This may be graphic	2	1
Birds of Prey–Raptors	Owls, hawks, eagles, kestrals etc. There are plenty of photos! They are in sub-categories by Species to make then easier to view ^__^ (Why they aren’t counted in “Total photos” is beyond me)	19	34
Birds: At the feeders	Just some shots of visiting birds. (not always good shots)	0	3
Birds: Not Native to PA	Photos taken on vacations or of pets. You might see escaped birds such as Guinea Hens, Peacocks, Parrots etc.	0	9
Birds:Hummingbirds	Hummingbirds	0	26
Camouflage & Mimicry	Things that look like other things.	0	12
Critters YOU find 2010	Photos sent us for ID. These were all found in wild in PA. Normally I wouldn’t do this but I think you’ll find it interesting and useful.	0	11
Critters YOU find 2011	Photos send to us for identification. All rights to photos belong to the photographers.	0	37
Crocodilians-Not native to PA	NO Crocodilians are native to PA but are often released by irresponsible pets owners.	0	9
Fish	Fish Species of PA	0	19
Fishing	Since we never bring anything home-here’s some of our fishing photos.	0	7
Flowers & Plants	Flowers, Plants, Trees	0	723
Frog: Bronze Frog	Bronze Frog (Lithobates clamitans) (Formerly -Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans melanotus) formerly Northern Green Frog(Rana clamitans melanota	0	33
Frog: Bullfrog	(Lithobates catesbeianus) formerly(Rana catesbeiana)	1	14
Frog: Grey Treefrog Complex	Eastern Grey Treefrog(Hyla versicolor) & Cope’s Gray Treefrog(Hyla chrysoscelis)	0	13
Frog: Midland Chorus Frog	(Pseudacris triseriata) Formerly Western Chorus Frog*Protected Species	0	1
Frog: Mountain Chorus Frog	(Pseudacris brachyphona) *Protected Species	0	2
Frog: New Jersey Chorus Frog	(Pseudacris kalmi)Formerly (Pseudacris ferairum kalmi)*Endangered	0	1
Frog: Northern Cricket Frog	(Acris crepitans) formerly Eastern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans crepitans) *Endangered Species-2010	0	3
Frog: Northern Leopard Frog	(Lithobates pipiens) formerly(Rana pipiens)	0	3
Frog: Pickerel Frog	(Lithobates palustris)formerly (Rana palustris)	0	9
Frog: Southern Leopard Frog	(Lithobates sphenocephalus utricularius.)- formerly listed by the PA Fish and Boat commission under as Coastal Plains Leopard Frog (Rana utricularia and Rana sphenocephala) Changed 2010*Endangered	0	8
Frog: Spring Peeper	(Pseudacris crucifer) Formerly Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer)	0	21
Frog: Upland Chorus Frog	(Pseudacris feriarum) formerly(Pseudacris feriarum feriarum) *Protected Species	0	3
Frog: Wood Frog	(Lithobates sylvaticus) formerly(Rana sylvatica)	2	16
Frogs & Toads-Not Native to PA	Frogs and Toads not native to PA-Photos taken on vacations, or of pets, etc.	0	17
Insects: Beetles	Beetles	29	128
Insects: Butterflies	Butterflies	8	83
Insects: Caterpillar Look Alikes	Sawfly larvae, Syrphid Fly larvae, etc.	0	17
Insects: Caterpillars	Moth and Butterfly Larvae plus.. *Also includes eggs, pupa, cocoons, chrysalis, etc.	1	241
Insects: Caterpillars To Adults	Caterpillar and adult (moths and butterflies)	0	16
Insects: Ants	Ants	0	17
Insects: Bees, Wasps, Hornets	Bees, Wasps, Hornets, YellowJackets. Some species are divided into subcategory by species. So there are lots of photos.	19	20
Insects: Flies	Craneflies, Dragon flies, etc.	26	67
Insects: Grasshoppers, Katydids, Crickets	Grasshoppers, Katydids, Crickets	3	28
Insects: Hoppers & Cicadas	Leaf, Tree & Plant Hoppers & Cicadas—-Suborder Auchenorrhyncha – Free-living Hemipterans Divided into 6 sub-categories.	6	23
Insects: Misc. Insects	Aphids, Walking Sticks, True Bugs, Assassin Bugs, Wheel Bugs, Water Bugs, Cockroaches, etc.	16	12
Insects: Preying Mantis	Just lots of photos of Mantids	0	82
Insects: Found Outside of PA	Insects I find on vacations, etc., that are NOT native to PA but really cool!	0	8
Insects: Insect Eggs	Insect Eggs, Galls, etc.	0	9
Insects: Insect Killing Fungii	Such as Entomophthora fungus	0	1
Insects: Moth Art	Art Created With Live Moths- No moths were killed making this art work	0	4
Insects: Moths 2000, 2001, 2002	Moths 2000, 2001, 2002	0	43
Insects: Moths 2003	Moths 2003	0	18
Insects: Moths 2004	Moths 2004	0	6
Insects: Moths 2005	Moths 2005	0	33
Insects: Moths 2006	Moths 2006	1	288
Insects: Moths 2007	Moths 2007	1	186
Insects: Moths 2008	Moths 2008	1	330
Insects: Moths 2009	Moths 2009	1	806
Insects: Moths 2010	Moths 2010	1	344
Insects: Moths 2011	Moths 2011	1	93
Insects: Moths 2012	Moths 2012	1	402
Insects: Moths :Sphinx Moths	aka Hawk Moths, Hummingbird Moths, Clearwings, etc.	0	93
Insects: Parasites	Such as wasp larvae and cocoons on caterpillars etc.	0	4
Lizards: Broadhead Skink	revised common and scientific name for the Broad-headed Skink, Eumeces laticeps, is Broadhead Skink, Plestiodon laticeps 2010 *Protected Species	0	1
Lizards: Eastern Fence Lizard	(Sceloporous undulatus)formerly Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporous undulatus hyacinthinus)*Protected Species	0	1
Lizards: Five-lined Skink	(Plestiodon fasciatus) formerly(Eumeces fasciatus)	0	11
Lizards: Italian Wall Lizard	(Podorcis sicula) Introduced Species	0	1
Lizards: Northern Coal Skink	(Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus) formerly(Eumeces anthracinus anthracinus) *Protected Species	0	2
Lizards: Not native to PA	Lizards not native to PA. Photos taken on vacation, zoos, abandoned pets, etc.	0	2
Looking for Wildlife	Looking for Wildlife to take photos	0	32
Mammals-Not native to PA	Photos taken on vacations, zoos,etc. Occasionally you might see escaped or exhibit animals or pets.	0	7
Mammals: Bats	Bats	0	6
Mammals: Bears	Bears	0	33
Mammals: Beaver Family	Beaver	0	1
Mammals: Canines	Wolves, Coyote, Foxes	4	2
Mammals: Deer Family	Elk, White-Tail Deer	0	10
Mammals: Felines	Mt. Lion, BobCat, Lynx	0	6
Mammals: Groundhog	Marmota monax	0	3
Mammals: Jumping Mice	Jumping Mice	0	0
Mammals: Mole Family	Mole Family	0	0
Mammals: New World Mice and Rats	Deer Mice, Voles, Muskrats, etc.	0	14
Mammals: Old World Mice and Rats	Norway and Black Rat, and House Mouse	0	0
Mammals: Porcupine	Porcupines	0	6
Mammals: Rabbits and Hares	Rabbits and hares-Lagomorpha	0	20
Mammals: Raccoon	Raccoons	0	4
Mammals: Shrew Family	Shrew family-Soricidae	0	3
Mammals: Squirrel Family	Squirrels, Chipmunks	5	27
Mammals: Weasel Family	Fishers, Weasels, Mink, Badger, Skunk, Otter	0	14
Marsupialia	Pouched Animals-Opossum	0	12
Millipedes & Centipedes	Millipedes & Centipedes	0	26
Mixed Species photos	Photo containing more than one species in the same location such as different turtle and snake species etc.	0	8
Mushrooms & Fungi	Toadstools and fungi, etc. *Note-If anyone who comes here can ID any of these-I’ll be grateful for the help. Some IDed by Roger’s Mushrooms. Thanks! *A huge Thanks to “Coondog” already!! Awesome	0	150
Range Maps: Frogs	Species by species range maps.	0	13
Range Maps: Lizards	Species by species range maps.	0	5
Range Maps: Salamanders	Species by species range maps.	0	23
Range Maps: Snakes	Species by species Range Maps..where they are supposed to be. Compiled from various sources.	0	23
Range Maps: Toads	Species by species range maps.	0	3
Range Maps: Turtles	Species by species range maps.	0	15
Salamander: Allegheny Dusky Salamander	(Desmognathus ochrophaeus) Formerly Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander	0	6
Salamander: Blue Spotted	Ambystoma laterale	0	1
Salamander: Common Mudpuppy	(Necturus maculosus maculosus)	0	1
Salamander: Eastern Hellbender	(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) *Protected Species	0	2
Salamander: Eastern Mud Salamander	(Pseudotriton montanus montanus) *Endangered	0	2
Salamander: Eastern Tiger Salamander	(Ambystoma tigrinum)	0	1
Salamander: Four-toed Salamander	(Hemidactylium scutatum) *Protected Species	0	1
Salamander: Green Salamander	(Aneides aeneus) *Threatened Species	0	1
Salamander: Jefferson Salamander	(Ambystoma jeffersonianum) *Protected Species	0	1
Salamander: Longtail Salamander	(Eurycea longicauda longicauda)	0	15
Salamander: Marbled Salamander	(Ambystoma opacum) *Protected Species	0	2
Salamander: Mud Puppy	(Necturus maculosus) *Protected Species	0	1
Salamander: Northern Dusky Salamander	(Desmognathus fuscus)	0	20
Salamander: Northern Ravine Salamander	(Plethodon electromorphus) *Protected Species	0	1
Salamander: Northern Red Salamander	(Pseudotriton ruber ruber)	0	16
Salamander: Northern Red-backed Salamander	(Plethodon cinereus)	0	30
Salamander: Northern Slimy Salamander	(Plethodon glutinosus)	0	17
Salamander: Northern Spring Salamander	(Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus)	0	24
Salamander: Northern Two-lined Salamander	(Eurycea bislineata)	0	6
Salamander: Red-Spotted Newt/Red Eft	(Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens)	0	13
Salamander: Seal Salamander	(Desmognathus monticola)	0	1
Salamander: Spotted Salamander	(Ambystoma maculatum)	0	12
Salamander: Valley and Ridge Salamander	(Plethodon hoffmani)	0	1
Salamander: Wehrle’s Salamander	(Plethodon wehrlei)	0	1
Snails and Slugs	Snails and Slugs	0	17
Snake: Copperhead	(Agkistrodon contortix mokasen) (formerly Northern Copperhead) CNAH still lists Northern Copperhead/PA does not want toVENOMOUS!*Protected Species	0	32
Snake: Easily Confused Snakes	Others often confused	0	3
Snake: Easily Confused Snakes-Venomous VS Non-Veno	Easily Confused Snakes Camparisons Venomous VS Non-Venomous	0	10
Snake: Eastern Earthsnake (aka Smooth)	Virginia valeriae) formerly Eastern Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae valariae)HARMLESS*Protected Species	0	2
Snake: Eastern Gartersnake	Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis HARMLESS	10	54
Snake: Eastern Hognose Snake	(Heterodon platirhinos) formerly(Heterodon platyrhinos) HARMLESS *Protected Species	7	33
Snake: Eastern King Snake	(Lampropeltis getula getula) No longer listed as PA Species My listing here is based on Historic data. I’m leaving it here because one was found in Lehigh County several years ago.HARMLESS	0	7
Snake: Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake	(Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) VENOMOUS! *Endangered	0	4
Snake: Eastern Milksnake	(Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) HARMLESS	0	24
Snake: Eastern Ratsnake (formerly Black Ratsnake)	Elaphe alleghaniensis (name used by the PA Fish Commission as of 2007) or Pantherophis alleghaniensis or Scotophis alleghaniensis (CNAH)(formerly Elaphe obsolete obsolete)HARMLESS	2	28
Snake: Eastern Ribbon Snake	(Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) HARMLESS *Protected Species	0	13
Snake: Eastern Worm Snake	(Carphophis amoenus) formerly(Carphophis amoenus amoenus) HARMLESS *Protected Species	0	7
Snake: Kirtland’s Water Snake	(Clonophis kirtlandii) HARMLESS *Endangered	0	2
Snake: Midland Ratsnake	(Scotophis spiloides) Newly listed speciesHARMLESS	0	12
Snake: Mountain Earthsnake	(Virginia pulchra)formerly Mountain Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae pulchra) HARMLESS *Protected Species	0	1
Snake: Northern Black Racer	(Coluber constrictor constrictor) HARMLESS	2	9
Snake: Northern Brown Snake	(Storeria dekayi dekayi) HARMLESS	0	11
Snake: Northern Red-bellied Snake	(Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) HARMLESS	0	36
Snake: Northern Ringneck Snake	(Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) HARMLESS	0	42
Snake: Northern Water Snake	(Nerodia sipedon sipedon) HARMLESS	0	21
Snake: Queen Snake	(Regina septemvittata) HARMLESS *Protected Species	0	6
Snake: Rough Green Snake	(Opheodrys aestivus)formerly(Opheodrys aestivus aestivus) HARMLESS *Threatened Species	0	16
Snake: Shorthead Garter Snake	(Thamnophis brachystoma) HARMLESS *Protected Species	0	1
Snake: Smooth Greensnake	(Opheodrys vernalis) Formerly Eastern Smooth GreensnakeHARMLESS*Protected Species	0	20
Snake: Timber Rattlesnake	(Crotalus horridus) VENOMOUS! *Protected Species	5	22
Snakes: Not Native to PA	Snakes that are not native to PA. Some photo were taken while on vacations, pets, etc. and some were taken of snakes that were released here by irresponsible pet owners.	0	21
Sometimes I get bitten	The dangers for the perfect photograph-oops!	0	13
Spiders and their kin	Spiders and their kin	9	98
Spiders: Dangerous Spiders of the United States	The ones you really have to worry about being bitten by.	0	3
Toad: AmericanToad	(Anaxyrus americanus) Formerly(Bufo americanus)	6	40
Toad: Eastern Spadefoot Toad	(Scaphiopus holbrooki) *Protected Species*	0	3
Toad: Fowler’s Toad	(Anaxyrus fowleri) formerly (Bufo fowleri)	0	10
Turtle: Blanding’s Turtle	(Emys blandingii) formerly (Emydoidea blandingii) *Protected Species	0	3
Turtle: Bog Turtle	(Clyptemys muhlenbergerii) formerly (Clemmys muhlenbergii) *Endangered	0	4
Turtle: Common Map Turtle	(Graptemys geographica) formerly Northern Map Turtle	0	5
Turtle: Common Musk Turtle	(Sternotherus odoratus) aka Stinkpot	0	13
Turtle: Eastern (Common) Snapping Turtle	(Chelydra serpentina serpentina)	0	14
Turtle: Eastern Box Turtle	(Terrapene carolina) formerly (Terrapene carolina carolina) *Protected Species	1	16
Turtle: Eastern Mud Turtle	(Kinosternon subrubrum) formerly (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum)	0	14
Turtle: Eastern Red-Bellied Turtle	(Pseudemys rubriventris) Formerly Northern Red-Bellied Turtle or just Red-Bellied Turtle*Threatened Species	0	6
Turtle: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle	(Apalone spinifera spinifera)	0	3
Turtle: Midland Spiny Softshell Turtle	(Apalone mutrica mutrica)	0	1
Turtle: Musk VS Mud Turtle	Comparison shots	0	4
Turtle: Northern Painted Turtle	(Chrysemys picta) formerly Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)& (Chrysemys picta) formerly Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta)	0	25
Turtle: Red-eared Slider Turtle	(Trachemys scripta elegans) Introduced Species	0	13
Turtle: Spotted Turtle	(Clemmys guttata) *Protected Species	0	13
Turtle: Wood Turtle	(Glytemys insculpta) formerly (Clemmys insculpta) *Protected Species	0	16
Turtles: Just looking! 2009	Some photos I took while walking.	0	20
Turtles: Just Looking! 2010	Some photos I took while walking.	0	6
Turtles: Not Native to PA	Turtles that are not native to PA. So far this only includes escaped and released pets found in PA in the wild.	0	7
Undetermined Sub-species	Includes: Painted Turtles (Eastern & Midland), Toads (American & Fowlers), Dusky Salamanders, crossbreeds (yes it happens), etc.	0	2
Wild Places and Scenery	Photos of scenery I’d like to share.	0	63
Worms	Earthworms, Flatworms, etc.	0	5
Y Photo Usage: DCNR Photos	Photo Usage	0	1
Z Photo usage: PA Game Commission Photos	Photo Usage	0	1