Welcome to the world of Animals and Wildlife in Alabama!
Alabama is a land of diversity, where steep hills meet fertile surfaces, and rivers crisscross through the landscape. It’s a natural paradise for animal enthusiasts. With over 600 miles of bayou shoreline and tidal bays hugging the Gulf of Mexico, the opportunities for wildlife encounters are boundless.
In this picturesque state, you’ll discover around 60 distinct habitats, ranging from lush forests to expansive meadows, serene woodlands, and captivating wetlands. Alabama’s climate adds to its charm, with consistently warm and humid weather throughout the year, occasionally graced by a gentle dusting of snow.
This diversity in landscapes and climates has earned Alabama a well-deserved reputation as one of the most environmentally diverse and welcoming states in the U.S and for biodiversity, comes number one from the state of Mississippi and fifth in the country. There are around 62 native animals, with about 22 rodent species, bat species are 16 in number, four species of rabbit, and 433 species of birds, including some species of birds, found very uncommon in the world.
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Key points
| Animal | Description | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| American Black Bear | – Found in North America, including Alabama. | – Slow-flowing rivers, marshes, and lakes. |
| – Medium-sized bears with strong claws. | – Seen near lakes in summer, mating seasons, and during January and February. | |
| – Diet: 75-85% plant material, small insects, and carrion. | ||
| Eastern Indigo Snake | – Habitat: Pine and oak forests. | – Located near coastal areas during the breeding season. |
| – Known for rearing its neck, hissing, and rattling its tail. | ||
| Rainbow Snake | – Rare and non-poisonous. | – Mainly found in the Coastal Plain of the southern United States. |
| – 66-168 cm long with glossy black backs and red stripes. | ||
| Gray Bat | – Endangered bat species in limestone caves. | – Found primarily in North Alabama, near Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Morgan County, Lake Guntersville, Tennessee River Valley, and Madison County. |
| – About the size of a blackbird. | ||
| Pine Snake | – Diurnal and temperamental snakes. | – Found in local mountain areas and coastal plains. |
| – Reach 120 to 180 cm. | ||
| Rough Green Snake | – Long and sleek with bright green color. | – Mainly found near the edges of ponds or streams. |
| – Habitat: Edges of ponds or streams. | – Found in the eastern and southeastern United States. |
Alligator
Alligators include the Mississippi alligator, the China alligator, and the caimans.
They have between 74-80 teeth. Over time, the teeth wear down and are replaced by new ones. It is not uncommon for an alligator to have between 2,000 and 3,000 teeth in its lifetime.
Alligators paddle with their feet when they swim slowly and with their tails when they want to swim fast. On land, they use their feet to get around. Did you know? Alligators can’t walk backward.
Animals in Alabama: Where one can find American black bear in the Alabama region
Slow-flowing freshwater rivers, marshes, marshlands, and lakes are inhabited.
American black bear
The American black bear lives in North America – where it populates the forests and river courses from Alaska via Canada to Florida and Mexico—medium-sized bears with strong claws used to be hunted heavily.
Black bears feed 75-85% on fruits, berries, nuts, grasses, and roots. They also eat small insects such as ants, bees, termites, and carrion.
Animals in Alabama: Where one can find American black bear in the Alabama region
Alabama is one of the most prominent places where American black bears are found. They were located near Little River Canyon in Cherokee Country in the northeastern part of the state.
They are primarily seen in the summer near the lakes and can be found in mating seasons, like months to mid to July. It can even be seen in January and February when a new bay bear was born.
Eastern Indigo Snake
Pine and oak forests and sandy hills covered with palm trees are their natural habitat. The name gopher snake comes from the fact that it is often found in the burrows of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).
It defends itself by rearing its neck, hissing, and rattling its tail. However, he rarely bites when caught, and it is diurnal.
Where one can find Eastern Indigo Snake in the Alabama region
During the breeding season, they can be located near the coastal areas.
Rainbow Snake
The Rainbow Mud Snake (Francia erytrogramma), sometimes called the Rainbow Snake, is a non-poisonous species of snake in the viper family.
These animals in Alabama consist of two subspecies of rainbow snake, of which one is declared as extinct species. Furthermore they are 66-168 cm long and are seen as very rare because of their secretive habitat. They are beautiful snakes that are found in the Alabama region. Adult snakes have glossy black color back with three red stripes.
Where one can find Rainbow Snake in the Alabama region
They are mainly found in the Coastal Plain of the southern United States, which covers south Virginia and eastern Louisiana.
Gray Bat
Gray bats, also known as Gray Myotis, are marked as endangered species of Bat found in the Alabama region. They mostly live in limestone caves located in the southeastern United States.
The greater mouse-eared Bat is one of the largest native bat species. It is about the size of a blackbird weighing 28-40 grams. The dorsal fur is light gray-brown, and the ventral skin is white-gray. The wings are gray-brown, and the ears are long and broad (mouse-like).
Did you know that bats are the only flying mammals?
Where one can find Gray Bat in the Alabama region
They are primarily found in caves in the north Alabama region near Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Morgan country, lake Guntersville, Tennessee River Valley, and Madison County.
Pine snake
The diurnal and temperamental pine snake reaches 120 to 180 cm. Their basic coloration ranges from light green tones to gray; the head is brownish. Over the entire back and on the flanks, hexagonal black spots are drawn in a row.
They also mate in the spring season with clutches of 3-24 eggs, and generally, the mating season comes from June to August. They keep their eggs in sand caves, under large rocks or logs of trees, and can hatch after 64-79 days.
Eggs are large in shape and are 66 m long and 44mm wide. They mostly prefer xeric or pine-oak woodland habitats with sandy soil. Pine snakes eat small and large animals, nesting birds, and bird eggs. They hibernate in April or May, and eggs are carried in the summer season and collected by females in nests.
Where one can find Pine Snakes in the Alabama region
They are found in local mountain areas of Alabama, like the northern portion toward the southward to the coastal plain of the central Alabama valley of the Alabama River.
Rough Green Snake
A rough Green snake is also known as a green snake, tree snake, or summer tree snake. They are very long, very sleek, having a long tapering tail. Adults are 20-32 inches long but can be as extended as 40 inches long. They are skinny, 1 inch in diameter, or can be less. They are bright green with an off-white color on the belly and pale white paint on the throat.
The rough grass snake is found in southern parts of the USA as far south as Mexico. Here it lives mainly in grassy areas on densely vegetated banks, and very often, it also lives in the water.
Where one can find Rough Green Snake in the Alabama region
They are mainly found near the edges of ponds or streams, hanging on the tree or shrubs to hunt their prey. They are found in different areas like the eastern and southeastern United States. The tiny population is located in New Mexico. They are mainly found in the summer season.
Summary of Animals in Alabama
Additionally, Alabama is also affectionately called “Heart of Dixie” or “Sweet Home Alabama” by its inhabitants.
Follow us to this charismatic southern state, which welcomes you with great nature, exciting cities, and cultural highlights. One can find a wide variety of animals in Alabama.
Thank you for reading about Animals in Alabama.
If you plan to travel to North America, look at blogs featuring Wyoming and Arizona’s wildlife.
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, Italy, China and Germany gave me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver, went to Everest Base Camp and Trekked Gorillas in Uganda. I hold a Master of Science in Economics and Finance.
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