discover North Carolina Nature
Your online field guide to the most commonly encountered animals in north carolina
- Learn how to identify North Carolina wildlife
- Explore fun animal facts
- Have more fun in the great outdoors
About The Animals
The animals presented on Now I Wonder are only those that I have personally encountered in the wild over many years of dedicated nature study.
See the Animals For Yourself
While many more species call North Carolina home, these are the animals you’re most likely to see yourself when outside in the state.
More Animals Added Regularly
I update this site regularly with new and different animal species. Please keep checking in, especially if you do not yet see the particular animal in which you’re interested.
North Carolina Animals
Discover the many and varied animal species that fly, scuttle, hop, run, jump, swim, slither, hide, and wait in ambush in North Carolina.
Birds

Butterflies And Moths

Reptiles

Amphibians

North Carolina State Symbols
Additional North Carolina State Symbols
- State Insect: Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
- State Salt Water Fish: Channel Bass (Red Drum) (Sciaenops ocellatus)
- State Shell: Scotch Bonnet (pronounced “bone-AY”) (Phalium granulatum)
- State Horse: Colonial Spanish Mustang
A tree growing out of the ground is as wonderful today as it ever was. It does not need to adopt new and startling methods.
Robert Henri (1865-1929)