Forest Wildlife

Maryland is home to 27 species of snakes, most of which humans rarely see in day-to-day lives. Of these, only two, the Eastern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake, are pit vipers and thus dangerously venomous to humans. Read about the Timber Rattlesnake in this feature article.

The News and Notes roundup for this issue reports that an important tax resource is available for forest landowners; shares information about a new endangered species designation; notes the results of a study about wildfires and birds; and reports that a personal watercraft manufacturer is using wood in unexpected places.

The American beaver was almost hunted to extinction in Maryland and across the continent. Read about this nocturnal herbivore that scientists are helping to conserve, and that in return, are discovering the benefits of having beavers in a variety of ecosystems in need of help.

The downy woodpecker is the smallest of seven species found in Maryland, and can be found in a wide variety of natural and human-made environments.

Say the word “porcupine” and the image that immediately jumps to mind is its quills. However, the quills are only one feature of this rodent. In fact, it is the second largest rodent native to North America; only the beaver is larger. Its range includes most of the continent, stretching from Alaska in the northwest, through the Great Lakes area, to the Canadian maritime provinces in the east and south to Virginia.

This issue features Invasives in Your Woodlands, the Woodland Wildlife Spotlight, the Brain Tickler, and woodland stewardship news from around the region.

Read our features Woodland Wildlife Spotlight, Invasives in Your Woodland, and the Brain Tickler challenge. There's also news about the state Tree Farmer of the Year and much more.

Maryland is home to ten different species of bats, all of which are listed by the state as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. They are generally divided into two groups: ”cave bats” and “tree bats.” In this spotlight, we'll look at the tree bats in Maryland.

Woodlands provide essential habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Listed are some of the most common questions we receive about managing woodlands for wildlife.