Home Care In New River, AZ

Carved deep into the rugged heart of southern West Virginia is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. It is a land of dramatic cliffs, ancient forests, and the roaring currents of the New River itself as it carves its way through the central Appalachians. Over 1.6 million people visited the park in 2023 to experience breathtaking scenery, climb sandstone walls, raft rapids, and wander through a remarkable diversity of ecosystems.

New River Gorge is a stronghold for wildlife, serving as a sanctuary where southern species reach their northernmost limits and northern creatures venture further south than usual. Wildlife encounters are both common and full of surprises. And these are some of the animals you might observe.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Perhaps the most beloved reptile in the park, the eastern box turtle is often found crossing woodland trails, basking by forest edges, or foraging for berries along creek banks. These gentle, domed turtles are masters of camouflage. Sometimes you’ll completely miss them until they begin moving in the leaf litter. Most sightings occur on moist mornings from spring through early fall, especially after rain. Slow, curious, and long-lived, box turtles can live over 50 years. They play an important role in seed dispersal throughout the gorge’s oak-hickory and tulip poplar forests.

White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

By far the most commonly observed large mammal in New River Gorge, the white-tailed deer thrives in the park’s forest openings, stream banks, and grassy meadows. Visitors encounter them year-round, but they are most active around dawn and dusk. In late spring, watch for spotted fawns hiding in tall vegetation. Keep in mind that if you see one, though, it likely doesn’t need your help. The mother hides it in the grass while she grazes. Fall brings thrilling rutting displays with males clashing antlers in a competition for mating rights. It’s the most active time of year for these normally shy creatures.

No wildlife sighting stirs the imagination like glimpsing a bald eagle soaring over the river or perched on a tall sycamore. These magnificent birds of prey were once rare but now nest successfully along the New River’s corridor. Watch for their dark bodies, white heads and tails, and large wings, especially near the river and tributaries. Winter and early spring bring flotillas of migrating eagles. In summer, you might see nesting adults and, with luck, fledgling young practicing their fishing skills.

Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)

One of the park’s most threatened mammals, the Virginia big-eared bat is a symbol of cave and cliff conservation. With its oversized ears and delicately furred body, this bat spends winter in cool, protected mines and summer nights flitting along forested slopes, foraging for moths. The park contains some of the region’s most important roosting sites. Night walks in late spring and summer near creeks or after thunderstorms may yield glimpses of bats hunting insects in the twilight.

Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)

One of North America’s largest salamanders, the hellbender is a true icon of the park’s rivers and clean mountain streams. Nicknamed “snot otter” or “old lasagna sides” for its wrinkled appearance, this secretive amphibian spends its days hiding under rocks and emerges only to hunt crayfish or fish at dusk or night. Spotting a hellbender requires exceptional luck and patience, but their presence is a testament to clean water in New River tributaries.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Elusive, orange, and clever, the red fox is at home on the gorge’s forested ridgelines, woodland fields, and thick rhododendron thickets. Foxes are most active around sunrise and sunset. Look for them trotting confidently along old paths or pausing to listen for voles and mice in the undergrowth. In spring, lucky visitors might catch a glimpse of playful kits outside their den.

Perhaps the most notorious snake in the park, the northern copperhead is widespread in rocky slopes, wooded valleys, and sun-warmed roadsides. Easily identified by hourglass-shaped markings and a coppery head, copperheads are generally docile but should be observed with respectful distance. They are most active from April through October, especially when basking in the evening sun or hunting rodents and frogs near streams. Fortunately, very few people die from copperhead bites. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the venom.

With its bold red crest and thunderous pecking, the pileated woodpecker is impossible to miss in the old-growth hardwoods of New River Gorge. These crow-sized birds are frequently heard before they’re seen. Watch for deep rectangular holes in decaying logs or listen for their wild, laughing call from the canopy. Active year-round, these birds excavate new homes each year, providing shelter for many other forest creatures.

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Roaming silently through mixed forests, swamps, and berry thickets, black bears are the park’s top predator and one of Appalachia’s most iconic mammals. They’re omnivorous, eating everything from berries to insects to fish, and can sometimes be seen feeding on fruit trees near the river or wandering the more remote backcountry. Most active from late spring through fall, sightings require patience and a bit of luck. Look for tracks, scarred trees, or overturned logs revealing a bear’s passage.

A flash of scarlet and black in the treetops signals this summer songbird’s presence. Male scarlet tanagers are among the most vibrantly colored birds in the eastern U.S., while females are a subtler yellow-green. Listen for their husky, robin-like song from May through August, especially in mature deciduous forests. The tanager’s bright color is the highlight of many spring birdwatching outings.

With its dark, glossy body and bright yellow spots, the spotted salamander is a hidden jewel of the park’s moist woodlands and vernal pools. In early spring, after warm rains, these amphibians migrate en masse to breed in temporary ponds. At other times of the year, they remain deeply burrowed, emerging at night to hunt insects. Seek them on wet nights in March or April, or near quiet streams under leaf litter.

The brook trout is the only native trout species in many of New River Gorge’s headwater streams. They gleam with an iridescent blue-green back, red flanks, and white-tipped fins. Brook trout prefer cold, clear water and are most visible in spring and autumn during spawning. Anglers and hikers may spot them without much difficulty, darting among rocks in tributaries such as Glade Creek and Dunloup Creek.

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Renowned for their haunting “who-cooks-for-you” calls echoing through dusk and darkness, barred owls make their homes in mature, moist forests near water. Nighttime is the best for listening, but observant daytime hikers may spot these round-headed, dark-eyed owls roosting quietly in thickets, especially near Sandstone Falls and Thurmond.

Quick, alert, and perfectly camouflaged, the eastern fence lizard can be seen sunning on rocks, fallen trees, or fence posts along the gorge’s open trails and glades. Males show bright blue patches on their bellies during breeding season, leaping dramatically to compete for mates. Fence lizards are most active in the warm months from May to September.

Wild Diversity Along the Ancient River

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a living crossroads, where the North meets the South, and mountains give way to deep river country. Every animal—from the night-hunting owl to the sunlight-loving lizard and the solitary, swimming hellbender—is part of a larger story. Whether you’re scanning for black bears or admiring a tiny chorus frog beside a mountain stream, this wild place remains endlessly fascinating, a true American wildlife refuge.

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