Quiz: Which North Carolina Mammal Are You?

The Eastern gray squirrel can be found in all North Carolina counties and was named the state’s mammal in 1969. They are very vocal and use many sounds to communicate with each other. The squirrels mostly live in hardwood forests, where they make nests in tree cavities.

The bobcat is common throughout the state, especially in wooded areas in the mountains and Coastal Plains. These solitary carnivores often dwell in hollow trees and rock and brush piles. Bobcats are active day and night, but often show crepuscular activity, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.

The marsh rabbit is one of North Carolina’s three native rabbit species and is found in the bottomlands and swamps in the eastern part of the state. They are secretive and mostly active at night. Unlike other rabbits, marsh rabbits are strong swimmers and live semi-aquatic lives.

The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel inhabits nine mountain ranges in North Carolina’s highest elevations. Their cape of skin, called the patagium, allows them to glide between trees. These squirrels prefer boreal and deciduous forests, yet deforestation and insects have limited their habitat range. They are currently endangered.

The Red Wolf is an endangered species that was reintroduced to the Albemarle Peninsula of eastern North Carolina in 1987. Their importance to maintaining the balance of prey populations was unknown to early settlers and they were killed extensively to protect livestock. These secretive, mainly nocturnal mammals live in densely vegetated coastal forests and swamps.