Animals


Virginia’s Amphibians
You can see both aquatic and terrestrial frogs and salamanders at the Virginia Living Museum, including the largest treefrog in Virginia, the barking treefrog (state threatened); the largest salamander, the eastern hellbender (federal concern); the largest mole salamander, the eastern tiger salamander (state endangered); the aquatic mudpuppy and greater siren , and the wood frog , which is known for its ability to tolerate freezing.

Virginia’s Aquatic Life
The Virginia Living Museum is home to over 100 species of fish and aquatic invertebrates. Some of the most interesting aquatic life at the VLM includes the prehistoric paddlefish , shortnose sturgeon and longnose gar, the rare loggerhead sea turtle , the luminous moon jelly  and the sinuous eel . The VLM exhibits several endangered and threatened species including the shortnose sturgeon (federal endangered), blackbanded sunfish (state endangered), Roanoke logperch (federal endangered), paddlefish (state threatened) and the loggerhead sea turtle (federal threatened).

 

Virginia’s Mammals  

Beavers, otters, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and bobcats are all animals that live around us, but are seldom seen. Visitors can see them on the museum's outdoor trail, along with deer and red wolves , the most endangered mammal in North America. Six pups were born at the Museum on April 26, 2007. Two of the young wolves are on exhibit, three were transferred to the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.

Virginia’s Birds
Songbirds, owls, coastal birds, turkeys and raptors all make their home at the Virginia Living Museum. Our newest exhibit on the mountain section of the outdoor trail displays the two vultures found in Virginia: the turkey vulture and black vulture.

Virginia’s  Reptiles
There are 30 species of snakes, 24 species of turtles, and nine species of lizards that can be found in Virginia. At the Virginia Living Museum you can see all three venomous snakes found in Virginia (copperhead, cottonmouth and timber rattlesnake ). The VLM exhibits several threatened species including the American alligator (federal), eastern glass lizard and wood turtle (state). Also see one of the smallest turtles in the state, the spotted turtle .