A native species is one that originated and developed within its surrounding habitat, adapting to the environment without human intervention. Due to its position, Maryland has a high level of biodiversity, encompassing habitats from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast. The state’s geography creates a convergence point for a wide variety of flora and fauna, supporting species at the northern and southern edges of their North American ranges. Native animal life varies significantly across the state’s distinct ecological regions.
Understanding Maryland’s Diverse Habitats
Maryland’s landscape shifts dramatically across a small area, defining where its native animals reside. The state’s physiography is broadly divided into three zones, each with unique geological and climatic features.
Western Maryland comprises the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge and Valley provinces. This region is characterized by mountainous terrain, higher elevations, and a humid continental climate with colder winters. It is heavily forested with oak and oak-hickory communities.
Central Maryland is dominated by the Piedmont region, a zone of gently rolling hills and valleys that transition between the mountains and the coast. This area features a humid continental climate and supports diverse hardwood forests, despite extensive agricultural use.
The eastern half of the state is the Coastal Plain, which includes the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. This low-lying region has flat topography, sandy soils, and a humid subtropical climate, creating extensive wetlands and estuarine ecosystems.
Terrestrial Life of the Western and Central Regions
The forests and highlands of Western and Central Maryland are home to a range of native mammals. The White-tailed Deer is ubiquitous, thriving in dense forests and agricultural edges. Black Bears, the state’s largest terrestrial animal, are primarily concentrated in the western counties, though their population is expanding eastward. These omnivores forage extensively in the oak-hickory forests for food.
Smaller native mammals include the Eastern Gray Squirrel. The Striped Skunk can be found across the entire state, preferring woodlands and open fields near water. The Red Fox is also widely distributed, having expanded its range into the mid-Atlantic region.
The woodlands are breeding grounds for many native bird species, including Neotropical migrants. The Baltimore Oriole, Maryland’s official state bird, visits during the summer to breed in open deciduous forests. The male’s brilliant black and golden-orange plumage reflects the colors of the Calvert family crest. Oriole females construct intricate, hanging pouch nests at the ends of high tree branches.
Other native forest birds include the Wood Thrush and the Ovenbird, which prefer moist upland forests for nesting. Raptors such as the Red-shouldered Hawk are permanent residents, favoring wooded areas near water where they hunt small mammals and amphibians. The Red-tailed Hawk is also a common resident, frequently seen hunting over open areas adjacent to the forests.
Aquatic and Coastal Species of the Eastern Shore
The Coastal Plain, dominated by the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, supports a unique suite of native aquatic and coastal animals. The Striped Bass, known locally as Rockfish, is the state’s official fish. The Bay serves as a vital spawning and nursery habitat for this anadromous species, which spends most of its life in the ocean but returns to freshwater rivers to reproduce.
The Maryland Blue Crab is the most iconic native invertebrate, supporting a major commercial fishery and playing a role in the Bay’s food web. These crustaceans thrive in the estuary’s mix of saltwater and freshwater. The Diamondback Terrapin is another native Bay resident, a brackish-water turtle found in the tidal marshes and backwaters of the Chesapeake.
Native fish populations include the American and Hickory Shad, which migrate upriver to spawn in the spring. White Perch, a smaller relative of the Striped Bass, spend their entire lives within the Chesapeake Bay system.
The extensive tidal wetlands and marshes provide habitat for migratory and resident waterfowl. Species like the Tundra Swan and various native ducks use the Bay’s waters and marshes as wintering grounds or as a rest stop along the Atlantic Flyway.