Native Virginian Wildlife

This story was inspired by the folks at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, who often care for cat attack victims brought in by members of the public. The wildlife featured in this book are just a few of the incredible native species found in Virginia, where the hospital is located. Meet some of them below!

Paw prints in a line starting left and moving right: Squirrel, opposum, robin, cat, fox, rabbit, and mouse.

White-footed Mouse

(Peromyscus leucopus)

Living only about a year in the wild, white-footed mice are born bald and blind. They grow fast and are ready to live on their own within a few weeks. Though the reason isn't understood yet, they've been seen drumming their paws on leaves and hollow reeds (and pipes, for those living in people's homes!) In addition to seeds, they also eat insects, including the invasive spongy moth.

American Robin

(Turdus migratorius)

These songbirds are easily identifiable thanks to their brightly colored chest feathers, which are brighter in the males. In birds, flamboyant feathers are often attractive to females. Once she has chosen a partner and is building her nest, a robin will use the inside curve of her wing to give it shape.

Eastern Hognose Snake

(Heterodon platirhinos)

A chunky snake with an upturned nose, the hognose is a beautiful snake. It will flatten itself and pretend to lash out if it feels threatened. If that fails, it will flip over and stick out its tongue to play dead. Though venomous, they're not dangerous to humans. This snake's venom works on toads, its main food source, and other amphibians.

Tufted Titmouse

(Baeolophus bicolor)

Titmice, whose name comes from the Old English words for “small bird,” eat a variety of things including insects, spiders, nectar, and seeds. They help pollinate plants and control inspect populations. When nesting, males bring females food, and sometimes a titmouse from the previous clutch of eggs will stay to help its parents raise the next brood.

Eastern Meadow Vole

Aka: Field Mouse

(Microtus pennsylvanicus)

In addition to cycling nutrients into the ground with its stool, the eastern meadow vole aerates the dirt with its tunnels. This helps the exchange of oxygen between air and soil.

coneflower with mouse handing on stem near the top.

Find your local wildlife rehabber and save their number!
If you believe you’ve found wildlife in distress, call the number before attempting to handle the animal. Trying to handle wildlife without the guidance of a professional can put both you and the animal at risk of further harm.
If you're experiencing a human-wildlife conflict, resources through this link can also help you find safe and humane solutions.

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Sources
1 Development, Y. W. (2024, July 8). White-footed wonders. Ohio Wildlife Center. https://ohiowildlifecenter.org/white-footed-wonders/

2 Elkington, J. & Healy, William & Buonaccorsi, John & Boettner, George & Hazzard, Anne & Smith, Harvey & Liebhold, Andrew. (1996). Interactions Among Gypsy Moths, White-footed Mice, and Acorns. Ecology. 77. 2332-2342. 10.2307/2265735.

3 Watch out for Robins! (2024, April 3). Wildlife Center of Virginia. https://wildlifecenter.org/news-events/news/2022/watch-out-robins

4 Eastern Hognose snake. (n.d.). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/easternhognosesnake.html

5 Meadow Vole - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio. (n.d.). Animalia.bio. https://animalia.bio/meadow-vole

6 Sullivan, T.P., Lautenschlager, R.A. and Wagner, R.G. (1999), Clearcutting and burning of northern spruce-fir forests: implications for small mammal communities. Journal of Applied Ecology, 36: 327-344. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.00408.x

7 Hernbroth, A., & Hernbroth, A. (2023, November 24). Why are they called titmouse? Birdful. https://www.birdful.org/why-are-they-called-titmouse/

8 Tufted titmouse. (n.d.). Audubon. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/tufted-titmouse