Animals on the AT

[Idealist]

I would like to share the species lists I compiled for the mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians one may encounter during an AT thru-hike.

Creating the list helped me review my critters, gave me a channel to focus my excitement about my upcoming SOBO thru, and hopefully will fill a void, as I could not find species lists here on WB or on the net with Google searches. But if you know of any official/previous ones, please let me know! I’d love to do a double check.

Nomenclature for the amphibians, birds, and mammals follows that used in amphibiaweb.org, Peterson’s Field Guides, and The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals, respectively. Nomenclature for the reptiles is a bit sloppier, as I could not find one single comprehensive on-line source with distribution maps, and alas, my herp field guide is in storage with the rest of my belongings back in Chicago. The references are included in the Excel document.

Happy hiking.

[MamaCat]

Pretty cool list. I'm sure this took a lot of time! I found a couple of ones that might be missing -- or it might just be my eyesight.

I was looking over your reptiles, there are actually a couple of rattlers in N Ga. The Timber and the Pygmy Rattlesnake ( Sistrurus miliarius). I think the Pygmy might be missing from the list. More info at http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/index.htm

Also, I was reading in the AT guidebook from ATC that Wild Boar are in the smokies. I'm not sure if it was on it.

Anyway, good list!

[Idealist]

Thanks very much for reminding me about the wild boar. I meant to mention in my initial post that the mammal’s list does not include the non-native AT mammals. The wild boar, feral ponies, dogs, cats, etc. were not included.

The Timber is on the list (Crotalus horridus), but the Pygmy was indeed left off because, from what I observed, its range did not extend into the mountains (is this correct?). Too bad. I’ve always wanted to see a Pygmy Rattlesnake.

[Roland]

Congratulations, Idealist, for creating this list and providing it to others who might be interested.

That's a far better use of time, and much more worthwhile to the hiking community, than arguing about smilies on WB. I hope a few others follow your lead.

Thanks,

[emerald]

Thanks for contributing your list.

A quick once through revealed some inclusions I believe are not A.T. natives. I'll go over it more carefully when I have more time and post any corrections for your consideration.

I tried to determine whether pygmy rattlesnake might be found on the A.T. some time ago. I couldn't find anything online or elsewhere to indicate it should be expected.

Some of the American pipets you will be looking for early next summer may be in The Green Diamond now. I hope to look for them sometime soon.

[emerald]

The badgers nearest the A.T. appear to be in either Ohio or Ontario.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web states:

Badgers are found primarily in the Great Plains region of North America. Badgers occur north through the central western Canadian provinces, in appropriate habitat throughout the western United States, and south throughout the mountainous areas of Mexico. They have expanded their range since the turn of the 20th century and are now found as far east as Ontario, Canada. (Kurta, 1995; Long, 1999)

See also Kootenay National Park of Canada for a range map and badger conservation information provided by Parks Canada.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History records indicate there have been 4 badgers recorded in Pennsylvania since 1946. Students of U.S. geography will note an odd statement upon reading the linked information.

[emerald]

Located in Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Natural History is the foremost repository for mammals collected in Pennsylvania.

Its Mammals of Pennsylvania On-line Resource was created to answer questions most frequently asked of the Section of Mammals staff by educators, students and their parents, and members of the general public.

For a complete list of Pennsylvania mammals including those now extirpated and their ranges, see this page from the above-mentioned resource.

[emerald]

To learn more about Pennsylvania's IMA program and how it may help protect and improve more wildlife habitat when the program expands to other areas, go here.

Residents of southeastern Pennsylvania and Berks County in particular may want to click on the Hopewell Big Woods link at the bottom right.

[excuses]

Great list, of course the rock dove is a non native though. I haven't seen a worm snake in 30years or so, brings back old memories. Hope the hike is great and you get to see most of the wildlife.

[emerald]

Links to a wealth of information about Pennsylvania's biota can be found on PABS's home page.

[woodsy]

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[HIKER7s]

Great List

I know every game warden in the state will say no but if you put any weight in the reports the last several years........how about the Mountain Lion.

Also, I was thinking about the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Pa. only to remember its range in Pa is limited to the Northwestern part o the state

[Ron Haven]

Il s'agit d'une question intresting. This is an intresting question

[Cannibal]

Nice list; thanks for providing it! I wish I would have thought to do that. All that money spent on a Wildlife Biology degree only to be wasted on my life as a banker. This would have been a great project. At least now I have a checklist. Thanks again.

[Idealist]

........how about the Mountain Lion.

I wondered if the absence of a Mountain Lion would be noticed! I compiled the mammals list using the Smithsonian website (www.mnh.si.edu/mna/) and, for standardizing purposes, included the animals they reported. This led to the inclusion of a few mammals that are probably a bit suspect for the trail, like the badger as SOG pointed out. It also meant the omission of mammals not officially recognized, such as the good ol’ Cougar.

I was thinking about the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Pa. only to remember its range in Pa is limited to the Northwestern part o the state

Thanks for the confirmation about omission of the venomous Massasauga. I could never find a US range map for that rascal, so I did the best I could using written descriptions.

of course the rock dove is a non native

You are absolutely right! Only the mammal list omits the non-natives. Where are pigeons from I wonder?

[HIKER7s]

Where are pigeons from I wonder?

I heard Mary Poppins brought em

[emerald]

It also meant the omission of mammals not officially recognized, such as the good ol’ Cougar.

Nittany lions are common in Pennsylvania, where the highest density occurs in Centre County, especially State College.

[HIKER7s]

Where are pigeons from I wonder?

Alot of info here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon

[emerald]

To learn more about this project, what you may be able to do to help or to obtain information about Pennsylvania's breeding birds, visit 2nd Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas homepage hosted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History.