Meet Our Animals

Generally shy and reclusive animals, black bears avoid human contact and are not normally aggressive. Two black bears, Uno and Ursa, live at the Nature Center.

Red wolves are highly endangered species that has been eliminated from almost all of its natural range. Our breeding pair of red wolves, Karma and Garnet, are part of the AZA Species Survival Plan.

River otters are masterful in the water. Obi and Olive, the two otters at the Nature Center, love to show their playful side in their habitat!

Angoras are primarily browsing animals and thrive best where there is a good cover of brush, weeds, and grass.    Disliking the rain, Angoras are well adapted to a dry, mild climate.

The common Barn Owl is a species known by many other names; names like the Golden Owl, Ghost Owl and Monkey Owl are just a few. They have a very unique flight style and they can hover in the air for as long as a minute.

Black rat snakes are excellent for pest control, preying mostly on rodents. They are most active during the day, but still prefer to stay nearby protective cover

Rarely spotted by the human eye, the elusive bobcat roams Western North Carolina. Look for Missy on her habitat at the Nature Center!

The name “corn snake” can be attributed to the scale pattern on their belly, which resembles Native American corn, and their tendency to frequent corn cribs to eat visiting mice. Like other rat snakes, corn snakes are non-venomous and can subdue their prey by constriction.

Called “Gentle Giants,” Cotswold sheep are one of the largest breeds that come from the hills of Cotswold in England.  Noted for their long, coarse fleece with naturally wavy curls, the Cotswold is a dual-use breed, providing both meat and wool.

Cougars are swift runners, agile climbers, and great swimmers with agile bodies, cougars are a top predator.  They are solitary night  hunters that have excellent eyesight and superb hearing.

Clever, mischievous, and often misunderstood, coyotes are highly adaptable creatures found all over North America. Bea and Barney are our resident coyotes at the Nature Center.

The Eastern box turtle is the designated state reptile of North Carolina and is found throughout the state. They have high-domed carapaces (top shell), and hinged plastrons (bottom shell) which allows them to pull their legs and head into their shell, like closing a box.

Eastern screech owls are one of the smallest owls.  Besides their size, they are noted for their large yellow eyes and ear tufts, which do not aid in hearing.

Gray foxes are the forest fox of the eastern United States. When you visit their habitats at the Nature Center, be sure to look up to see Rocket, Remi, and Hunter!

Gray wolves are highly social animals and they develop strong bonds within their pack.  Members of the pack communicate with each  other using a variety of sounds, body postures, facial expressions, and sent marking.

Barred owls are masters of vocalizations and the standard call is often translated as sounding like “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?”. They are widely distributed in North America, southern Canada, the mountains of Mexico, and Central America.

Growing up to 2 feet long and weighing up to 2 pounds, the eastern hellbender is the world’s third largest salamander. Hellbenders take residence under rocks and if their homes are disturbed, it is very difficult for them to establish a new territory.

The smallest carnivore at only six inches long, the least weasel is a brave hunter often taking down animals five to 10 times its weight. The Nature Center is home to one least weasel, named Mostly.

The Nigerian dwarf goat is a miniature dairy breed of West African ancestry. These goats are popular as hobby goats due to their easy maintenance and small stature.

The Oberhasli goat is a medium sized goat and they can weigh up to 150 pounds. They are known for their gentle disposition.  The females, called does, are an excel-lent milk producers with the record of 4665 lbs.

Raccoons enjoy searching shallow waters for small aquatic animals like crayfish and freshwater mussels. They also eat a variety of fruits, berries, and seeds.

Western North Carolina’s climate and ecosystem is almost identical to the lower mountain forests of Central Asia where red pandas currently live.

Red-tailed hawks are diurnal hunters who swoop down upon their prey in a steep dive.  Hawks, along with other birds of prey, are pest control specialists, regulating numbers of destructive rodents and other small animals.

Sicilian donkeys have distinctive cross-shaped markings along their backs and are known for their sweet affectionate disposition. They are used to protect livestock from predators and are often used in rehabilitation work with people with disabilities.  

Striped skunks are about the size of a domestic cat, weighing from 2.5 to 10 pounds. Typically, striped skunks have a dark black body with a bright white stripe which begins on the head and splits into two parallel stripes down the back and onto the tail.

Despite their reputation, however, rattlesnakes prefer not to bite. Their initial defense mechanisms are to either lay motionless, camouflage with their surroundings, flee or warn off predators by “rattling.”

Turkey vultures are commonly found throughout North America in a variety of habitats. They locate their food through sight and scent, an unusual adaptation since most birds have a poorly developed sense of smell.

White-tailed deer are found in all habitats from high mountain forests to coastal marshes.  They are crepuscular browsers, feeding on leaves, buds, and twigs of a variety of plants, mostly around dawn and dusk.