Critters of the Carolinas: Pocket Guide to Animals in Your State

by Alex Troutman

Overview

Get the perfect kids’ introduction to mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Put nature in the hands of children! Critters of the Carolinas is your wildlife pocket guide that’s informative, concise, and easy to use. Written by wildlife biologist Alex Troutman, this handy book presents 64 critters of North Carolina and South Carolina—if an animal is in this book, it’s found in the Carolinas.

Each species is showcased in a professional-quality photograph that’s paired with such neat-to-know details as habitat, range, and preferred food sources. Illustrations of the critter’s tracks complement the information, and a “Did You Know?” paragraph provides fascinating trivia worth sharing with family, friends, and teachers. Critters of the Carolinas includes important-to-know mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Book Features:

• 64 critters—only animals of the Carolinas
• Full-color photos of every species
• Concise descriptions and interesting “Did You Know?” facts
• Attractive layout with kid appeal
• A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits Wildlife Forever to support their conservation efforts

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647555559
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/04/2025
Series:	Wildlife Pocket Guides for Kids
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Age Range:	7 - 12 Years

About the Author

Alex Troutman is a wildlife biologist, birder, nature enthusiast, and science communicator from Austell, Georgia. He has a passion for sharing the wonders of nature and introducing the younger generation to the outdoors. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University (the Real GSU), with a focus in conservation. He knows what it feels like to not see individuals who look like you or come from a similar background, doing the things you enjoy or working in the career that you aspire to be in. So Alex makes a point not only to be that representation for the younger generation but also to make sure that kids have exposure to the careers they are interested in and the diverse scientists working in those careers.

Alex is the co-organizer of several Black in X weeks, including Black Birders Week, Black Mammalogists Week, and Black in Marine Science Week. This movement encourages diversity in nature, the celebration of Black individual scientists, awareness of Black nature enthusiasts, and diversity in STEAM fields.

Read an Excerpt

American Black Bear
Ursus americanus

Size: 5–6 feet in length (nose to tail); 200–600 pounds in weight; males are usually larger than females.

Habitat: Forests, mountains, and coastal areas. Prefer habitats with dense cover, food, and places to shelter.

Range: Only found on the continent of North America; can be found as far north as Alaska and as far south as northern Mexico.

Food: Black bears are omnivorous, meaning they eat both meat and plant material. Diet consists of berries, fish, seeded crops, small mammals, wild grapes, tree shoots, ants, bees, beavers, and even deer fawns.

Den: Denning usually starts in December, with bears emerging in late March or April. Dens can be either dug (out of a hillside, for example) or constructed with materials such as leaves, grass, and moss.

Young: Two cubs are usually born at one time (a litter) from August to November. Cubs are born furless and blind, with pink skin. They are often born in January and weigh between 8 and 16 ounces.

Predators: Black bears may become prey to wolves, coyotes, bobcats, grizzly bears, humans, or other black bears. Cubs are especially vulnerable to these animals. Human-wildlife conflict is a problem for black bears. This conflict sometimes takes place in the form of bear collisions with cars. One way to prevent these accidents is to avoid throwing food scraps or leaving trash near the road edge.

Tracks: Front print is usually 4–6 inches long and 3.5–5 inches wide with the hind foot being 6–7 inches long and 3.5–5 inches wide. Both feet have 5 toes.

Description: Black bears are usually black in color, but they can be many different variations of black and brown in color. Some even have a grayish, reddish, or blonde color.

Did You Know...? Black bears are born weighing less than a pound, and they can gain 30 pounds in the first few months of their lives. Black bears are the smallest bear species in North America. Females weigh between 90 and 180 pounds and many are smaller than average human males. But don’t let their small size fool you. These bears are powerful!

Table of Contents

About Wildlife Forever

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Introduction

Facts About the Carolinas

How to Use This Guide

Safety Note

Notes About Icons

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles and Amphibians

Glossary

Checklist

The Art of Conservation

Photo Credits

About the Author