13 Interesting Animals in Vermont You may not Know

Vermont is a great place to go wildlife watching for your next holidays. One of the most interesting animals in Vermont is the moose. Here you will find amazing animals from the majestic moose to the elusive fisher.

Vermont is a land of abundant wildlife beauty, and its forests, mountains, and lakes, which are home to numerous interesting animals. Get ready to explore the places and facts about these 13 interesting animal in Vermont.

Where to Find interesting animals in Vermont

Green Mountain National Forest

Green Mountain National Forest, green mountains

This Great forest is home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, black bears, white-tailed deer, bobcats, and coyotes and known for its green mountains. The Green Mountain National Forest is located in the northeast corner of Connecticut.

Lake Champlain National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge is home to many bird species, including ducks, geese, and swans. You may also see bald eagles, ospreys, and herons.

Mount Mansfield State Forest

This forest is home to many interesting animals in Vermont, including moose, black bears, white-tailed deer, bobcats, and coyotes. You may also find out snowshoe hares, red foxes, and porcupines here

Let’s Discover 10 Interesting Animals in Vermont

Southern Bog Lemming

Name: Southern Bog Lemming

Scientific Name: Synaptomys cooperi

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Interesting Fact: They stay active throughout the year, and they don’t hibernate.

Found: In the southern bogs of Vermont, southeastern Canada, and the northeastern United States.

Southern bog lemmings are small rodents that are adapted to living in wet, cold habitats. They are about 10-14 cm long and weigh about 20-35 g.

They have grizzled brown fur on their backs and silver-gray fur on their bellies. Southern bog lemmings are herbivores and their diet consists of seeds, grasses, and other wetland plants.

They are active year-round, mainly at night. They make runways through the surface vegetation and also dig burrows. These interesting animal in Vermont are often found in small colonies. The Southern Bog Lemming is a relatively common species and is not considered to be threatened or endangered.

Rusty Blackbird

Name: Rusty Blackbird

Scientific name: Euphagus carolinus

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Interesting fact: They go through molting once a year.

Found in : In the boreal forest and muskeg across northern Canada, and these migratory birds are one of the most interesting animals in Vermont fly southeast to the United States during winter.

Rusty Blackbirds are medium-sized blackbirds with a slender bill and medium-length tail. They are named for their rusty-brown feather edges.

The male Rusty Blackbird is glossy black in plumage, while the female is gray-brown. Rusty Blackbirds are omnivorous and eat a variety of insects, seeds, and berries.

These birds are known for their loud, piercing calls. Rusty Blackbirds are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. Presently, conservation efforts are ongoing to secure this species from extinction.

Canada Lynx

Name: Canada Lynx

Scientific name: Lynx canadensis

Conservation status: Least Concern

Interesting fact: Canada Lynx have tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, which help them to hear their prey in the snow.

Found: In the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

The Canada Lynx are medium-sized cats with long legs and a short tail. They are typically gray or brown with black spots.

Canada Lynx are one of the most interesting animal in Vermont and solitary animals mostly active at night. They prey on snowshoe hares, rabbits, and rodents. These Canadian Lynx are an important part of the boreal forest ecosystem.

American Marten

Name: American Marten

Scientific name: Martes americana

Conservation status: Least Concern

Interesting fact: They have a distinctive “whistling” call that they use to communicate with each other.

Found: In the forests of North America, from Alaska to the eastern United States.

American Martens are small, weasel-like mammals with long, slender bodies and short legs. They are typically brown or black with a white throat patch.

They are solitary animals and are mostly active at night, so they can prey on small mammals, birds, and eat insects. American Martens are an important part of the forest ecosystem.

Bog turtle

Name: Bog Turtle

Scientific name: Glyptemys muhlenbergii

Conservation status: Threatened

Interesting fact: Bog turtles are the smallest turtle species in North America.

Found: In bogs and swamps in the eastern United States.

Bog turtles are small, brown turtles with a yellow or orange spot on each side of their head. They are omnivorous and eat a variety of plants, insects, and small animals.

Bog turtles are solitary animals and are mostly active during the day. They are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and the pet trade.

Bog turtles are an important part of the bog ecosystem. They help to control populations of insects and other small animals, and their burrows provide shelter for other animals.

Eastern woodrat

Name: Eastern woodrat

Scientific name: Neotoma floridana

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Eastern woodrats are known for building large, complex nests.

Found: In the eastern and central United States.

Eastern woodrats are medium-sized rodents with long, soft fur. They are nocturnal and eat a variety of plants, insects, and small animals.

Eastern woodrats are also known for their hoarding behavior. They collect a variety of objects, such as sticks, bones, and shiny objects, and store them in their nests. This behavior is thought to be a way of storing food for the winter or of attracting mates.

Eastern woodrats are solitary animals and are mostly active during the night. They are an important part of the ecosystem by helping to control populations of insects and other small animals.

Green frog

Name: Green frog

Scientific name: Lithobates clamitans

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Green frogs can change their color to match their surroundings.

Found: In North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Green frogs are medium-sized frogs, with adults typically reaching lengths of 2-4 inches. They are green in color, but can also be brown, gray, or even blue.

Green frogs are also known for their mating calls. Males produce a loud, raspy call that can be heard for long distances. This call is used to attract females and to defend their territory.

Green frogs are active at night and eat a variety of insects, spiders, and other small animals. They are an important part of the ecosystem by helping to control populations of insects.

Milk snake

Name: Milksnake

Scientific name: Lampropeltis triangulum

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Milksnakes are non-venomous snakes that mimic the coloration of venomous coral snakes.

Found: In Honduras, the Southwestern United States, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Milksnakes are medium-sized snakes, with adults typically reaching lengths of 2.5 feet. They are black, red, and yellow in color, with a checkerboard or zigzag pattern.

Milksnakes often coil up and vibrate their tail, making a sound that resembles a rattlesnake. This behavior is called “caudal luring,” and it is used to attract prey.

These snakes are nocturnal and eat a variety of small animals, including rodents, lizards, and frogs. They are an important part of the ecosystem by helping to control populations of small animals.

Northern flying squirrel

Name: Northern flying squirrel

Scientific name: Glaucomys sabrinus

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Northern flying squirrels can glide up to 160 feet!

Found: In North America, from Alaska to Nova Scotia and south to the mountains of North Carolina and west to Utah.

Northern flying squirrels are small, furry mammals with large eyes and a long, bushy tail. These squirrels are excellent gliders, using a special membrane of skin between their forelimbs and hindlimbs to help them travel through the air.

Northern flying squirrels are also known for their ability to hibernate. During the winter, they get into a state of dormancy in which their heart rate, breathing, and body temperature slow down significantly. This allows them to survive the cold winter months without food or water.

They are nocturnal and eat a variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and even bird eggs. Northern flying squirrels are an important part of the ecosystem by helping to disperse seeds and control populations of insects.

Spruce grouse

Name: Spruce grouse

Scientific name: Falcipennis canadensis

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Spruce grouse are known for their drumming displays, which they use to attract mates.

Found: In coniferous forests of North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to the Great Lakes region.

Spruce grouse are medium-sized grouse, with adults typically reaching lengths of 15-17 inches and weighing 400-600 grams. They are grayish-brown above with white spots, and blackish below. Males have a red patch of skin over the eye called the “eyebrow comb.”

Spruce grouse are also known for their tameness. They are often seen foraging in open areas, and they are not afraid of humans. This tameness has earned them the nickname “fool hens.”

Spruce grouse are omnivorous, eating a variety of things including buds, seeds, fruits, insects, and small animals. They help to disperse seeds, control populations of insects, and play an important role in ecosystem.

Vermont shrew

Name: Northern short-tailed shrew

Scientific name: Blarina brevicauda

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Northern short-tailed shrews are the smallest mammals in Vermont.

Found: In North America, from Alaska to Mexico.

Northern short-tailed shrews are small, dark-colored mammals with a long, pointed snout. They are the smallest mammals in Vermont, with adults typically reaching lengths of 3-4 inches and weighing 0.2-0.3 ounces.

Northern short-tailed shrews are also known for their high metabolic rate. They eat 80-90% of their body weight in food daily, which is the highest metabolic rate of any mammal.

Northern short-tailed shrews are insectivores, eating a variety of insects, spiders, and other small animals. They help to control populations of insects, and are an important part of the ecosystem by

Wood Frog

Name: Wood frog

Scientific name: Lithobates sylvaticus

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Wood frogs can freeze solid in the winter and thaw out without any damage.

Found: In North America, from Alaska to the southern Appalachians.

Wood frogs are small, brown frogs with a black “robber’s mask” on their face. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, swamps, and meadows.

Wood frogs are active during the spring and summer, and they hibernate during the winter. They eat a variety of insects, spiders, and worms.

Wood frogs are one of the most interesting animals in smoky mountains and important part of the ecosystem by helping to control populations of insects. They are also a popular study organism for scientists who are interested in how animals survive freezing temperatures.

Eastern chipmunk

Name: Eastern chipmunk

Scientific name: Tamias striatus

Conservation status: Least concern

Interesting fact: Eastern chipmunks have pouches in their cheeks that they use to carry food.

Found: Eastern United States and southern Canada

The eastern chipmunk is found in the deciduous forests of eastern North America. It weighs 70-142 grams, has a body length of 8 to 10 inches, and has a short tail of 8-11 cm.

The hair is reddish brown and cuts into five dark brown strands running down the length of the body, and these alternates have two grey-brown stripes and two white stripes. The smallest chipmunk weighs about half the eastern chipmunk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals is Vermont known for?

Moose, black bears, and white-tailed deer are one of the most interesting animals in Vermont.

What large animals are in Vermont?

Moose, black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcats, and fishers are one of the most large and interesting animals in Vermont

Does Vermont have wild animals?

Yes, one of the most interesting animals in Vermonts, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

What big cats live in Vermont?

There are no big cats native are one of the most interesting animals in Vermont, but there have been occasional sightings of escaped or released captive animals, such as tigers and lions.

https://youtu.be/V87JWxY3eSM
Olivia Kepner