Coniferous Habitat

The Porcupine is one of the most feared animals of the coniferous forest. This large, thick bodied animal is one of the most common animals in Virginia. Its short and stubby legs keep it from moving quickly. The only place it has quills is on its rump and tail. As for the back and his head, they are covered with long-guard hairs. The porcupine's home evolves around dry, scubby areas and forests. This animal is primarily nocturnal and feeds at night. It may rest in a hollow log during the day to get rest for the night ahead. If the porcupine is cornered by another animal, it will let out a warning by keeping its backside toward the enemy. Next, it will let out a tooth chatter for about a half minute. If the problem persists, it will let a stinky odor out, almost like the skunk. The Fisher will sometimes hunt the Porcupine by turning it over on its backside and kill it from its stomach. A cool fact about the porcupine is that it has about 30,000 quills on its body including the guard hairs. Even though this animal is slow, it can defend itself with ease.

The Woodland jumping mouse is brightly colored. The mouse has a brown back and orange sides. It has scattered black hairs and a white stomach. The Jumping mouse lives in the hardwood and coniferous forests. It lives in moist enviroments too. The mouse doesn't eat anything but green vegetables. An interesting fact about the jumping mouse is it can jump six to eight feet.

The Great horned owl is a bulky-looking shaped bird. It has a white throat and brown body with black stripes on its breast. Its tail feathers are black and dark brown. Its tail feathers and breast are a golden brown color. It has big yellow and black eyes, so it can see in the night. Its habitat ranges from the forest to city. It nests in trees. It swoops down to capture its prey with its claws. It eats animals as large as skunks and grouse. It also eats mice, skunks, rabbits, smaller birds, and rats.

Like the weasel, the mink is a small mammal that lives within the heart of the coniferous forests. Even though this animal isn't a cougar, it can be as aggresive as one. Its long, bushy tail and white patch on its throat gives it away to its predators. As it mates from January through April, it can bear from one to ten young at a time. It builds its den from dead trees in the forest. It finds a dead tree along the river or pond, so it can be close to its prey. When hunting muskrats, rabbits, and chipmunks, it uses its semi- retractable claws to tear its prey open.
If the mink is alarmed or in danger, it will let out a loud hiss or snarl. It also produces a purr-like sound when content. If its put into danger, it fights viciously with predators such as foxes, and lynx. This nocturnal animal hunts for food at night time in small ponds. If it needed to, the mink can plunge over 16 feet in deep water. This beautiful animal is alert when surrounded and can be dangerous if it feels uncomfortable.