Iconic North American wildlife

[jw5]

Iconic North American wildlife​

The vast continent of North America is home to over 455 species of mammals and more than 910 birds, 660 reptiles, 300 amphibians, and 4,000 known arachnids. Numbering among this impressive list of fauna are iconic wildlife like bison, mountain lions, and the bald eagle. So, is your favorite creature listed?

 

[jw5]

Bald eagle​

The emblem bird of the United States since 1782, the bald eagle is majestic in appearance. Its natural range covers most of North America, including much of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. The bird occurs in a variety of waterside settings where prey is abundant, anywhere from swamps in Florida to desert rivers in Arizona.

 

[glockman]

Red Indians considered wildlife or not? Apache, navajo, sioux, cherokee, commanche, etc

 

[mako65]

The disappearing tribes of N.America, all because of the white men!

 

[jw5]

American bison​

Commonly but erroneously known as buffalo, bison once roamed the United States in their millions. By 1889, there were fewer than 1,000 bison left alive in all of North America. Symbolic animals of the Great Plains, some 500,000 bison today live on protected reserves and ranches.

 

[jw5]

Grizzly bear​

The grizzly is a North American subspecies of the brown bear, and one of the most iconic beasts in the land. The species is found in Alaska, south through much of western Canada, and into portions of the northwestern United States.

 

[jw5]

Gray wolf​

The mournful howl of the gray wolf is one of North America's most poignant wildlife soundtracks. A large, powerful, and sociable canine, the gray wolf travels in packs of up to 10 animals, though larger pack numbers are not uncommon. Long an integral part of indigenous peoples culture, wolves still hold a great importance in Native American rites and heritage.

 

[ginfreely]

View attachment 148574

Bald eagle​

The emblem bird of the United States since 1782, the bald eagle is majestic in appearance. Its natural range covers most of North America, including much of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. The bird occurs in a variety of waterside settings where prey is abundant, anywhere from swamps in Florida to desert rivers in Arizona.

Majestic indeed. Angmoh the best even emblem bird also most outstanding.

 

[jw5]

Mountain lion​

The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas. A shy and reclusive animal, the mountain lion used to roam freely throughout the United States. Threats such as poaching and habitat loss, however, have reduced its range to just 15 western states.

 

[jw5]

American alligator​

A species of large alligator found only in the United States, this crocodilian reptile calls the southeastern portion of the country home. In fact, the species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

 

[jw5]

Polar bear​

Polar bears occur throughout the northern polar region, an area that includes Canada and Alaska. Sadly, polar bear numbers are plummeting in both these places, in fact by as much as 40% since the start of the new millennium, according to National Geographic. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

 

[jw5]

Manatee​

This large and gentle aquatic mammal inhabits the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa. The species is also present in Florida, widely dispersed in the state's myriad of waterways.

 

[jw5]

California condor​

The California condor is the largest North American land bird. Besides California, this huge vulture is also found in pockets of Arizona and Utah, and northern Baja California in Mexico. It's listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

 

[jw5]

Moose​

Recognized for their towering size and magnificent antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration, moose are mostly found in Canada, New England, and New York state.

 

[jw5]

Pronghorn​

Sometimes called American antelope, pronghorn are graceful and quick: they can attain a speed of 70 km/h (40 mph) and leap 6 m (20 ft) at a bound. Distinguished by horns that branch into two prongs, the animal enjoys an extensive range, from Alberta to Mexico.

 

[jw5]

Sandhill crane​

A large, lanky-legged bird shaped very much like a heron, the sandhill crane is found in several scattered areas of North America, and the extreme northeastern region of Siberia. The bird's cheeks are white and its forehead has a bright red patch, which is one of its most noticeable features.

 

[jw5]

Bighorn sheep​

Compact, muscular, and fast, bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America. Mature rams are possessed of large curved horns, impressive features that serve as a symbol of status and a weapon used in epic battles across the Rocky Mountains.

 

[jw5]

American beaver​

This large bucktoothed amphibious rodent is found throughout forested parts of North America to northern Mexico, including the southwestern United States and peninsular Florida. The species was trapped to near local extinction at the height of the fur trade during the late 17th to mid-19th centuries. Today, it's one of the official national wildlife of Canada, and the official state mammal of Oregon and New York.

 

[jw5]

North American monarch butterfly​

Among the most recognized, studied, and loved of all of North America's insects, this iconic pollinator species is nonetheless Near Threatened, according to the IUCN. It's found across the region, broken into two populations separated by the Rocky Mountains, called the eastern and the western populations.

 

[jw5]

Bobcat​

The bobcat, also known as the red lynx, ranges from southern Canada across the mountains and woodlands of the United States down to Oaxaca in Mexico. Named for their tail, which is short and bobbed, the bobcat's cute and cuddly appearance belies a fierce and predatory nature.