Highly-prized and 4,400 feet above sea level lies the southern Appalachian Mountains, which for countless generations have provided thriving Eco-systems for all sorts of living organisms in Tennessee. As for wildlife, one might wonder which species of animal can survive at such a high elevation. Well, the answer is many.
Continue reading to learn some facts about the animals that live in the Smoky Mountains, and what to do if you are experiencing nuisance wildlife tampering in or around your Tennessee property.
Common Species of Smoky Mountain Wildlife
Some of the most common species of wildlife native to the Smoky Mountain range, including the Cataloochee and Cades Cove areas, are spotted skunks, red squirrels, eastern chipmunks, jumping mice, gray foxes, and even bobcats. But that’s not all! From the bare grassy meadows and big River to the ridge tops, high meadows, high forests, and everywhere in between, there are countless species of wildlife thriving all year round.
Birds and Bats
In the high meadow and high forest areas, it is common to see several species of birds and bats flying around at different parts of the day. During the daytime hours, you can spot magnificent birds, such as the American peregrine falcon, red crossbills, ravens, warblers, red-breasted nut hatches, and even snow buntings.
Of all the birds that are native to the Smoky Mountain areas, warblers are among the most widespread. Common species of warblers include the spotted warbler, black-throated blue warbler, magnolia warbler, Canada warbler, and black-throated green warbler.
At dusk and nightfall, you can spot Big Brown Bats flying around and darting for prey such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats, moths, and more. Gray bats and Indiana bats are additional species native to the Tennessee and southern Appalachian Mountain ranges.
In the Smoky Mountain Cataloochee and Cades Cove regions, you can also find wild turkeys. You might even catch a rare glimpse at the Saw-whet owl in the high forest areas!
Animals on Foot
If you are in the open areas of Cataloochee and Cades Cove, you can spot white-tailed deer, groundhogs, and raccoons. You might also see elk and black bears during certain times of the year. In fact, around 1,500 black bears call Smoky Mountain National Park home.
Although the Red Wolf used to also call the Smoky Mountain areas home, they are now extinct. We hunted them to extinction in the southeast part of the United States, and although there was an attempt to bring the species back to the Cades Cove, efforts were ineffectual. There are now no wolves in Tennessee.
Are you dealing with nuisance wildlife in or around your Tennessee property? If so, contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for TWRA licensed critter control services in Nashville, Tennessee, and its surrounding areas. We serve both residential and commercial clients with the most competitive prices around.
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