White Memorial has a long history with the schools in our area. We saw the Region 20 Mascot Madness entries, and were so excited to see how many native animals made the list! We wanted to offer some information on some of these super star native animals that we can all see right in our backyards.
There are 17 native animals on the list, but here are some cool facts about just a handful of them.
Ravens are among the most intelligent birds, known to play keep away with wolves where their populations overlap. Ravens live in groups as teenagers, making them a great representative of Region 20's sports teams!
Bobcats were once in trouble here in CT, but have made a comeback and can be seen throughout the state. They are stealthy, secretive hunters that can run up to 30 MPH!
Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, and Raptors would all be a great vote, as these birds rule the skies through all 4 towns in Region 20. Without the diverse habitats our towns provide - farmland, lakes, forest - we would not have such a large number of birds of prey.
Bats make the world go round! Bats have been in steep decline due to White Nose Syndrome, and could use a popularity boost! These undervalued animals fertilize our food and keep insect-born illnesses at bay. All of our native bats are insectivorous, consuming their body weight in insects every night! Thank you, bats!We are excited to see what the community picks, native or not, but we of course have a soft spot for our local native animals. Any of them would make a great pick!
Native animals from the list that can be found in our towns are Ravens, Coyotes, Beavers, Hawks, Falcons, Blue Herons, Eagles, Foxes, Bears, Bobcats, Raptors, Flying Squirrels, Bats, Kingfishers, Fishers, and Owls, and Porcupines.
Be sure to vote for your favorites!