10 Fun Facts about the Critters of Massachusetts
Author and wildlife biologist Alex Troutman shares 10 fun facts about the Critters of Massachusetts. The Bay State is home to many animals, including 80-plus species of mammals, 512 species of birds, and more than 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, not to mention fish, countless insects and spiders, mushrooms, plants, and more. Here are 10 fun facts about critters who call Massachusetts home.
A mourning dove eats around 12% or more of its body weight each day. Mourning doves will store seeds and grain in their crop (pouch on their neck). Some people mistake the mourning dove call for an owl call.
Harbor seals are one of the most-common marine mammals seen on the coast! Due to their fused pelvic bones, they cannot move their hind (back) flippers to walk; instead, they use caterpillar-like movements to cross land.
Snowy owls are one of the few species of owls that are diurnal, which means they hunt during the daytime, while most of the other owls hunt at night. Snowy owls can hunt over 1,500 lemmings (small rodents related to voles) in a single year. Because of their thick feathers, snowy owls are the largest owls in North America by weight.
The moose belongs to the deer family, and it is the largest member of the deer family in the world! They can rotate their ears 180 degrees. Moose can swim over 5 miles per hour for over 8 miles, and they can also run over 35 miles per hour. Moose will dive beneath the water of ponds and lakes to reach the plants at the bottom.
The humpback whale gets its name from the large hump on its back. Humpback whales come in various color patterns, and the spots and scars on their tail fluke can help researchers identify individuals. Its front fins can be over 15 feet long, up to a third of its total length. North Atlantic right whales will travel over 1,000 miles from feeding grounds in the north to give birth. There are fewer than 370 individuals left in the wild.
Bobolinks are the only bird in North America with a white back and black underside. Bobolinks travel over 12,000 miles each year during migration season. They use the Earth’s magnetic field and the night sky to migrate.
Garter Snakes are highly social and will form groups with other snakes and often other species to overwinter together in a burrow or hole. When threatened by a predator or handled, they will sometimes musk or emit a foul-smelling, oily substance from their cloaca (butt).
Canada geese sometimes travel over 600 miles in a day. They fly in a V formation, which allows them to travel long distances without stopping because they can switch positions. As the lead bird gets tired, it drops to the back of the line, and a new bird leads. The V formation helps them communicate and helps prevent collisions.
Downy woodpeckers are the smallest woodpecker species in North America. Hairy woodpeckers can hear insects traveling under the tree bark. Downy woodpeckers have a built-in mask or special feathers near their nostrils that help them avoid breathing in wood chips while pecking.
The eastern newt starts its life in the water and then lives on land as a juvenile before returning to live out the rest of its life in the water as an adult. Some newts will skip the juvenile stage and change straight into an adult. Eastern newts have a toxin that they release through their skin that makes potential predators sick. The bright-orange color of an eastern newt acts as a warning system to would-be predators that they taste bad or are toxic.
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