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21 Animals To Look Out For As Spring Approaches

snowshoe hare
Image by BlenderTime via Pixabay

Spring in America brings out a lot of little critters from hibernation and others that may have migrated to warmer places. Here’s a list of the top 21 animals to look out for near springtime.

American Robin

American robin,Turdus migratorius is a migratory songbird of the true thrush genus and Turdidae. Image via depositphotos.

Often considered a harbinger of spring, these birds can be seen on lawns, tugging earthworms out of the ground. They can be found across the whole of America during spring.

Red Fox

red fox
A Red Fox’s tail is over half its body length. Image by Alejandro Contreras via Unsplash

With the onset of warmer weather, red foxes are more visibly active, especially during dawn and dusk. They can be found in continental states from Alaska to Florida.  

Black Bear

Black Bear in dense folliage. Image by Pete Nuij via Unsplash.

Emerging from hibernation, black bears can be spotted in forests and mountainous areas in various National Parks, such as Yellow Stone and the Great Smoky Mountians

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly Image by elenathewise via depositphotos.

These migratory butterflies make their way north again, a sign of spring’s arrival. Fun fact: these butterflies use aposematism, which means that they use warning colours to warn possible predators of being toxic.

Bald Eagle

Bald eagle
Bald eagle soaring through the air. Image by Stephen Meyers via Pexels.

Spring is a critical nesting and hatching period for bald eagles, particularly near lakes and rivers, in Canada, Alaska and Northern Mexico.

Great Blue Heron

great blue heron
A great blue heron takes flight. Image by Joshua J. Cotten via Unsplash

These majestic birds return to wetlands to breed, making them more visible as they fish in the shallows. They can be seen at almost any body of water in North America.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer. Image via depositphotos.

Spring brings increased sightings of white-tailed deer as they forage for new growth. They can be spotted Canada and all over the United States.

Moose

moose baby
A baby moose. Image by Anchor Lee via Unsplash

In spring, moose can be seen grazing in wetlands and near rivers and streams. Thye can be found in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Raccoon

raccoon
Curious Raccoon looking up at camera. Image by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash.

With the warmer weather, raccoons become more active at night, often seen foraging for food. They are found all over America except in states such as Arizona, Nevadah and Utah.

Hummingbirds

Cuban Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
Cuban Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) Image by SURZet via Depositphotos

Migrating back to North America, hummingbirds are a delightful sight in gardens and near feeders. They are especially popular in Western Texas and Southern Arizona.

Song Sparrow

Song sparrow. Image via depositphotos

Their melodious tunes fill the air as they seek mates and build nests. They can be found from Alaska to Southern California and from Maine to Goergia.

Painted Turtle

A painted turtle. Image via depositphotos.

As temperatures warm, painted turtles can be seen basking on logs and rocks near water bodies. They are found in Oregon to Washington, British Colombia and Midwest States.

Canada Goose

A canada goose. Image via depositphotos

Spring marks the return of Canada geese to breeding grounds, with their familiar V-formation flights. They breed in all of North America expecpt California and Arizona.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit cutest animal
The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit cutest animal. Image by Ray Hennessy on unsplash.

More active at dawn and dusk, these rabbits are busy foraging and can be spotted in meadows and lawns. They can be found in most of the east of the United Staes and sometimes in Arizona and New Mexico.

Mallard Duck

Cracked corn is a favourite when it comes to feeding ducks. Image by Elena G via Unsplash.

Common in urban and wild waterways, mallards are more visible as they prepare for the breeding season. The migrate from Alaska to the Northern United States for breeding.

Spring Peeper

A spring peeper. Image via depositphotos

These tiny frogs are known for their loud peeping chorus that heralds the start of spring. They canbe found in Canada, Florida, Minnesota and Texas.

Osprey

osprey animals in new jersey
Osprey. Image by Mathew Schwartz via Unsplash

Spring is nesting season for ospreys, often seen near lakes and rivers, diving for fish. They can be seen in Alaska Florida and Newfoundland.

Skunk

Western spotted skunk Yosemite National Park
Western spotted skunk By This file was contributed to Wikimedia Commons by Colorado State University Libraries as part of a cooperation project. The donation was facilitated by the Digital Public Library of America, via its partner Plains to Peaks Collective.Record in source catalogDPLA identifier: 61507d6d7c851b601f5f6d74ca406678, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116303677

As skunks emerge from winter dormancy, sightings become more common in suburban and rural areas. They can be found in the lower 48 states except in the Southwest.

Fox Squirrel

A fox squirrel. Image via depositphotos

Active during the day, fox squirrels are busy gathering food and can be seen in parks and woodlands. They can be found in central and eastern states.

Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinal. Image via depositphotos

With their bright red plumage, male cardinals are particularly visible and vocal in spring as they court mates. They can be found in most states east of the Rocky Mountains.

Gray Wolf

Gray wolf suddenly stopped.
Gray wolf suddenly stopped. Image by bazil via Depositphotos

In regions where they are present, spring can be a good time to spot gray wolves as they venture out with their growing pups. They can be found in Alaska, northern Michigan, northern Wisconsin, western Montana, northern Idaho, northeast Oregon, and the Yellowstone area of Wyoming.

Conclusion

Baby Black Bear.
Baby Black Bear. Image by jill@ghostbear.org via Depositphotos

Spring is a fantastic opportunity to sit outside and behold nature. As these animals start coming back make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any interesting sightings.

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