Animals of North America

People who live in North America may incorrectly assume that the wildlife in this region is not very exotic. However, this is simply not true. There is a wide range of interesting creatures found across North American land. The continent is home to a plethora of unique native species.

Bears

North America has become the home of several different bear types. News sites such as the BBC infrequently report incidents of bear attacks on humans. This tends to occur when people stumble into their territory.

Black bear populations are very widely distributed. They have been seen as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico. Grizzly bears tend to live in the north. This includes Alaska and the Northern Rocky Mountains. It is even possible to see polar bears in colder parts of the continent.

Moose

The moose can be found in cold regions such as Washington and Maine. They are very tall and can run fast for their size. The moose is a vegetarian that survives on a diet of bark, twigs and leaves. However, this does not mean that they are docile in nature. In fact, the moose attacks human beings far more often than bears or wolves. When they feel threatened, they will charge at a person, inflicting potentially deadly injuries.

American Bison

The American bison is regularly mistaken for the buffalo. They once roamed the plains of North America in huge herds. They were the staple diet of numerous native human tribes. However, the bison population has diminished significantly in the last two centuries. People who want to see these creatures can find them in protected reserves and national parks. This includes Yellowstone.

Grey Wolf

The grey wolf is one of the largest examples of wild canine. In human minds, they have often been misunderstood as malevolent creatures. This has led to them being hunted in large numbers. In fact, they were wiped out in the United Kingdom. There have been attempts in North America to conserve the species. They have been found in Wisconsin, Michigan, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Bobcat

There are bobcat populations throughout much of North America. However, they are not often spotted. This is due to their shy and nocturnal nature. A bobcat is roughly double the size of a house cat. They are fierce hunters which can take down prey larger than themselves.

Florida Manatee

These animals are related to the elephant. They are aquatic in nature and like to live in shallow warm waters. This makes Florida the ideal place for them. The manatee is sometimes referred to as a “sea cow”. This is because they can spend up to 8 hours a day eating sea grass.

Animals of Africa

People will often visit the continent of Africa solely to see the amazing wildlife that inhabits it. In fact, a large tourist industry has grown around African safari trips. The untamed wilderness is home to some of the most intriguing species on Earth.

Lions

When people think of African animals, they will often imagine this “king of the jungle”. There are plenty of fascinating creatures to look out for whilst in Africa. However, few are more interesting than this predator. It roams the grasslands and savannah.

Cheetahs

The cheetah is known for its immense speed. It is the worlds fastest mammal, able to reach 60 miles per hour in around 3 seconds. These animals can be seen in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rhinoceros

In Africa, there are two rhino species: the black and the white. Black rhinos live in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Meanwhile, white rhinos can be found mainly in South Africa. However, there are also small numbers in Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Both types have become targets of poachers. This has led to them becoming endangered species.

Elephants

The African elephant is known as the largest of Earth’s land animals. They have been known to grow to 13 feet tall. Adults can weigh thousands of pounds. Both the males and females are able to grow tusks. These are used to dig for sources of food and water.

Leopards

These wild cats have distinctive spotty markings. They are known to be very elusive. Much of their time is spent sitting in trees. This is where they drag their prey back to eat. Leopards are native to over 35 countries within Africa.

Mountain Gorillas

Mountain gorillas are endangered with under 900 of them still in existence. They live in groups of 30 with one dominant male leading them. Groups such as this are known as “troops”. These creatures can only be found within the national parks of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC.

Cape Buffalo

If people are interested in seeing African animals of immense size, then they should seek out the cape buffalo. They are massive creatures that roam in large herds. Despite their seemingly docile nature, they are as dangerous as hippos and crocodiles. This is because they are known to trample humans when confronted.

Animals of Asia

There is a diverse amount of flora within Asia that is home to plenty of animal species. Jungles and mountains have an abundance of particularly unique creatures.

Giant Panda

These are one of the most well known types of bear in all of Asia. They live in mountains throughout central China. The online information site Wikipedia has articles discussing efforts to save this endangered species. There are currently only around 1000 giant pandas in existence. Many of them are kept in captivity for conservation purposes.

Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant is significantly smaller in size compared to its African counterparts. These creatures live in herds within tropical forests. They are most commonly found in Sri Lanka, India and southern regions of China. Within a herd, the largest and oldest of the females tend to be the leader. Once a male reaches maturity, they may leave the herd.

Orangutan

The orangutan is a highly intelligent species of primate. Some have been seen utilizing tools and constructing elaborate nests. They are also known for their huge arm spans. From fingertip to fingertip, a 5-ft male may have an arm span of 7 ft. These creatures can be found within Sumatra and Borneo. Deforestation currently threatens orangutan populations.

King Cobra

The king cobra is the longest venomous snake on earth. Adults have been known to reach lengths of over 13 ft. Within India, the king cobra has an important cultural significance. It also has a fearsome reputation as these snakes can deliver a deadly bite when provoked. Large amounts of antivenom may be needed to stop the painful symptoms. Luckily, king cobras are naturally shy and avoid confrontation.

Simple Eco Friendly Solutions

Everyone can do their part to help protect nature. There are plenty of simple ways that people can do their part. This will often involve making certain changes to routine. These small changes can make a big positive impact on nature.

People who own gardens may be tempted to cut the grass. The problem with lawn mowers is that they cut down bee friendly pollinating flowers such as dandelions and daisies. Therefore, letting the garden grow out will help to create a bee-friendly environment.

Being aware of how much water is wasted on a daily basis is also important. Dishwashing machines can use up much less water than with traditional hand methods. Therefore, it is often better for the environment to utilize water saving technology.

In recent years, the effects of plastic use have become more well known. Disposable plastic can be very bad for the natural world due to its polluting effects. People are better off utilizing less harmful materials.

Some people have added more vegetables to their diet in an effort to fight climate change. The meat and dairy industries create a significant amount of greenhouse gases. If individuals want to make a difference, they can start by avoiding these kinds of products.

What Not to Do to the Environment

It is common for people to make a negative impact on the natural environment without realizing it. This can be minimized by being aware of what not to do. When visiting woodland and river areas, there are several mistakes that should be avoided.

River crossings are designed for cars to pass through them. However, some people park in these areas in order to take a picture. Publications such as the Independent often report on water pollution. This may occur from cars leaking oil. Therefore, drivers should not stop at river crossings.

It may also be tempting to take rocks out of the water to build cairns. However, salamanders rely on rocks to protect their eggs. Taking something small out of a river may seem innocuous, but it can disrupt the local ecology.

Sometimes when in a rush, people can leave items behind at a campsite. This can be avoided by performing a long cleaning session before leaving. This should take at least ten minutes. Often, pollution and littering are caused more by carelessness than malice. Glass bottles are particularly dangerous. If shards are left, then they can injure local animals and other humans.