Wildlife

Barred Owl

- Our site is an ideal place for barred owls to make their home. These owls prefer large diameter trees bigger then 20 inches in diameter and sources of water such as creeks. The forest composition fits well into there ecological niche with ample foraging area to find food as well as with a dominantly coniferous forest for protecting their nests during the winter. The diet of Barred owls consists of small mammals, amphibians, rodents and fish.

Fisher

- The Fisher is a small mammal that inhabits mountainous regions of North America. Their ideal habitat is one with heavy tree cover and a decent amount of dead wood to make dens in. They prefer coniferous forests such as the one found in our plot. They are coniferous animals that consume small animals such as chipmunks, and snow hares. However, they are also known to eat fruits, berries and plants when prey is scarce.

Pileated Woodpecker
- Our site is an outstanding place to find the Pileated Woodpecker. These woodpeckers prefer to nest in large snags within mixed forests. Our plot has an enormous number of these spread out throughout the plot.

Red-backed Salamander
- Red-back Salamanders are terrestrial salamanders that inhabit mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. Commonly these salamanders can be found under logs stones, and other debris littered along the forest floor. Furthermore, they prefer to live in areas with a lot of moisture. Our site is ideal for these salamanders because there is plenty of downed debris for them to make their homes under as well as a stream that provides them with a place to forage for insects without having to move a lot of dry soil. They could most likely be found on our site down by the stream or by the downed trees next to the intermittent stream.

Emerald Ash Borer
- This plot is not ideal for Emerald Ash Borers because we only have one ash tree on our plot.

Brown Snake
- This site is relatively inhabitable for brown snakes due to the fact that they prefer to live in wetland forested areas. The middle of our plot is just that with plenty of downed trees for them to live under. As well our site offers a good diet for these snakes with a decent amount of worms and insects for them to eat.

Scarlet Tanager
- This site is well suited for scarlet tanagers. These birds like old growth forests with mostly deciduous trees for nesting. Furthermore, they are interior nesting birds that do not do well along the edges of forests. There main sources of food berries, insects, and spiders. All of these things have been found in our site leading us to believe that they would thrive around the area surrounding our plot.

Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Our plot is not a very suitable habitat for the chestnut- sided Warbler. This is because they prefer woodland edges, small trees, and open pastures.

Porcupine
- The porcupine lives in mixed coniferous and deciduous forests which is what are site is made of. They are herbivores that feed on leaves and twigs and are known to eat bark during the winter months.

Wild Turkey
- Our plot is not the best suited habitat for wild turkeys because it is located in the center of Niquette Bay State Park. However, they could possibly be found along the edges of the park where there is open pastures for them to forage in.

White-tailed deer
- Our plot is not the best well suited for white- tailed deer. This is because they prefer softwood forests that give them shelter during the winter months.

European Earthworm
- Our site is fairly inhabitable by earthworms. These worms prefer wet areas like the one found down by the stream.