Scientific Name: Sus scrofa
Classification: Nongame
Abundance: Disjunct populations statewide
Topics Related to Mammals
Scientific Name: Cervus elaphus
Classification: Nongame
Abundance: Small population in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties
Scientific Name: Canis latrans
Classification: Nongame
Abundance: Common throughout state
Photo Credits: Melissa McGaw
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus
Classification: Game Species and Furbearer
Abundance: Common throughout state
The bobcat gets its name from its short tail (about 5 inches long) that is dark above and white below, coloring that may serve a signaling function. The bobcat’s fur is short, dense and soft and is light brown to reddish brown on the back. The underside and insides of the legs are white with dark spots or bars.
Scientific Name: Tamias striatus striatus
Classification: Nongame
Abundance: Common northwest of Raleigh
Photo Credits: Allen Boynton
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus
Photo Credit: Mike Carraway
Adult Size: Length 5-6 feet; height (on all fours) 2-3 feet; weight 100-300 pounds (female), 200-700 pounds (male)
Diet: Acorns, berries, carrion, corn, fish, frogs, fruits, grasses, grubs, honey, insects, larvae, nuts, peanuts, reptiles, roots, seeds, small mammals, soybeans and wheat
Life Expectancy: 4-5 years
Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus
Abundance: Common throughout state
No wild animal in North Carolina is as recognizable as the white-tailed deer. Whether a mature buck with splendid antlers, a graceful doe or a spotted fawn running with its mother, the white-tailed deer is one of the most popular of animals.