ANIMALS TO BE WARY OF

By Justin B.

New England is full of various types of wildlife. Many kinds of mammals, birds, and marine animals are found in the habitats of New England. Out of all of the wildlife of New England, there are some hazardous creatures that should be avoided. One dangerous reptile that lives in the forests of New England is the Timber Rattlesnake. They can be found all the way down to northern Florida. The Timber Rattlesnake is extremely dangerous: its venom can digest the walls of blood vessels, as well as keep blood from clotting. These snakes should be avoided and not provoked. They have 21-26 rows of scales and a dark band that runs diagonally behind the eye. Seventy to eighty percent of bites occur when the snakes are trying to be captured or killed.

The next creature to stay away from is an arachnid, the northern widow (Latrodectus variolus). It can be found all the way from extreme southeastern Canada to northern Florida. It prefers undisturbed wooded areas, stone walls, stumps, and similar habitats. All widows are distinguished by red hourglass markings on their thoraxes. The hourglass of the northern widow is divided into two separate markings, but it is still considered an hourglass. The term ³widow spider² originated from the idea that the females devour their mate after or during mating. The devouring of the mate is something of a myth but it could happen in captive situations where the male can not escape, though it is uncommon in the field. The bite of the widow is highly venomous. The males are smaller with longer legs and less aggressive than the female, but their bite is also venomous. The females are larger and more aggressive. They spin medium-sized webs that are built sloppily. The females usually hang upside down at the top of the web, waiting for an unfortunate insect to fly into her web and meet his demise. If a human is bitten, it is usually accidental unless the spider is provoked. Another potentially dangerous mammal that lives in New England is the black bear.

Black bears are found mostly in Maine, northern and central New Hampshire, and Vermont. They tend to stay near brushy undergrowth next to streams, lakes, and ponds. Black bears are mostly active at night. While awake the bears are alert and wary, and stay next to cover. The bears try to avoid humans, but if provoked, injured, or cornered, they will attack. They are also very protective of their cubs, and will attack if privacy is invaded. A full size black bear weighing six-hundred pounds could easily tear a man in half with its powerful limbs and deadly mandibles.