Native Virginian Wildlife

This story was inspired by the folks at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center who care for cat attack victims brought in by members of the public. The animals featured in Cat's Outdoor Dash are just a few of the incredible species native to 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)

White-footed mice are born bald and blind. But they grow quickly and are ready to live on their own within a few weeks. Though the reason isn't fully understood, they've been noted to drum their paws on leaves and hollow reeds. (Pipes too, for those living in houses!) In addition to seeds, they eat insects like the invasive spongy moth.

American Robin

(Turdus migratorius)

These songbirds are easily identifiable thanks to their brightly colored chest feathers. Once she has chosen a partner, a robin will build her nest using the inside curve of her wing to give it shape.

Eastern Hognose Snake

(Heterodon platirhinos)

The eastern hognose is a chunky snake with an upturned nose. When threatened, it will flip over and stick out its tongue to play dead.

Though venomous, it's not dangerous to humans. Its venom paralyzes 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 varied diet of insects, spiders, nectar, and seeds. They are both pollinators and pest control. While brooding, a male will bring food back to the nest for his mate. Titmice have also been noted to stay and help their 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 it yourself. If you're encountering a human-wildlife conflict, resources in this link can also help you find safe and humane solutions.

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Sources
1 White-footed mouse. (n.d.). Ohio Department of Natural Resources. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/mammals/white-footed-mouse

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

Native Virginian Wildlife

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 it yourself. If you're encountering a human-wildlife conflict, resources in this link can also help you find safe and humane solutions.

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 it yourself. If you're encountering a human-wildlife conflict, resources in this link can also help you find safe and humane solutions.