NPS | Nicole Phillips Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)Identifiers: These squirrel relatives are tiny and reddish-brown with contrasting dark and light stripes down their body. Habitat: Chipmunks typically inhabit deciduous forests with rocky ground and an abundance of logs and tree stumps. Behavior: They are solitary animals that spend most of their day foraging on the ground. They are also territorial and will defend their burrows, which contain multiple chambers that they have dug themselves. Regions: Eastern chipmunks can be found in regions along the trail but are most active during the springtime when they have emerged from hibernation. 
NPS | Nicole Phillips Big Brown Bat (Eptescius fuscus)Identifiers: These large bats have reddish-brown fur on their back and lighter brown fur on their underside. The wing membranes, snout, and ears of big brown bats are black in color. Habitat: During the day, they roost in caves, tunnels, woodpiles, and tree cavities. They are most abundant in deciduous forested areas. Behavior: Big brown bats capture a variety of night flying insects, contributing greatly to pest control in their ecosystems. Reproductive females can consume their body weight in insects in one night. Regions: They are distributed along all regions of the trail, but are particiuarly active during spring and summer months. 
NPS | Steve Dean Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)Identifiers: Muskrats are a medium sized rodent appearing as a fluffy ball of fur. Unlike beavers, they are smaller and have rat-like tails. Habitat: They are able to inhabit wetlands in a variety of habitats and climates. Behavior: Muskrats build homes called lodges out of vegetation and mud. They help keep their waters clean by consuming aquatic plants and small animals. Regions: Muskrats inhabit the entirety of the trail corridor. 
NPS | Steve Dean White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)Identifiers: A medium-sized deer with long white hair on the underside of tail, their coat is reddish-brown to tan, changing to light gray in winter. Habitat: White-tailed deer inhabit a variery of habitats along the trail, from coniferous and deciduous forests to mountains or wetlands. Behavior: They are a generalist species able to adapt to different environments, feeding on immature grasses, leaves, mushrooms, nuts, and fruits. Tail movements indicate mood and intentions, from relaxed to a signal of danger. Regions: White-tailed deer inhabit all regions along the trail year-round. 
NPS | Steve Dean Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)Identifiers: Gray foxes are characterized by ashy gray fur with lighter gray and red fur around neck and sides and a fluffy tail. Habitat: They inhabit dense hardwood or mixed hardwood/softwood forests, commonly along the banks of streams and rivers. Behavior: Gray foxes require den sites, which could be a hollow tree, rock crevice, or wood pile. They line the den with shredded bark and leaves, often returning to the same one every year. The gray fox also has a trait unique to canids with its ability to climb trees to escape predators. Regions: The gray fox inhabits all regions of the trail year-round. 
Kim Chase Brown via Chesapeake DolphinWatch Bottlenose DolphinIdentifiers: This species of dolphin is gray in color, ranging from light-gray to almost black on the top near the dorsal fin. They are known for having a short, thick snout.Habitat: These dolphins prefer offshore and coastal waters, including bays, gulfs, and estuaries. Behavior: Dolphins feed on a variety of prey, such as fish, quid, and crustacians. They may search for food individually or in a group. Instead of using teeth to chew, bottlenose dolphins will grip fish with their teeth, then swallow it whole to avoid the fish spines getting caught in their throat. Regions: Bottlenose dolphins visit the Southern Maryland and Northern Neck of Virginia sections of the trai during the spring and summer months. |
Last updated: August 14, 2025