Mammoth Cave Wildlife

Mammoth Cave National Park is home to over 70 threatened, endangered or state listed species. These species include birds, crustaceans, fish, gastropods, insects, mammals, mussels, plants and reptiles. (nps.gov) Some of the endangered animals are the Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Evening Bat, Grey Bat, and the Slender Madtom. About 130 forms of life can be found in Mammoth Cave. Most are quite small. Some use the cave only as haven, while others are such specialized cave dwellers that they can live nowhere else. All depend on energy from the surface. This is one of the world’s most diverse cave ecosystems. (National Park Service Brochure) There is also a Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum. Since 1969 the Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum has featured some of the greatest animals that can be found. The museum has nearly 14,000 square feet of exhibit area containing rare and exotic animals such as tigers, lions, bears, leopards (including the Snow Leopard - one of the rarest cats in the world), deer, sheep, ox, and many more. The museum doesn't stop at just animals they also have a vast selection of aquatic life, insects, birds, and more. (Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum)

PICTURE LINKS

http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2009/05/take-friday-to-think-about-endangered-species/
http://www.orlandorats.com/bats-of-florida.htm
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/bald-eagle/
http://www.greenposting.org/articles/green-focus/2009-03-13/Undercover-Agents-Arrest-Eagle-Poachers
http://tolweb.org/Noturus_exilis/69908