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Bald eagle -

The emblem bird of the United States since 1782, the bald eagle is majestic in appearance. Its natural range covers most of North America, including much of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. The bird occurs in a variety of waterside settings where prey is abundant, anywhere from swamps in Florida to desert rivers in Arizona.

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American bison -

Commonly but erroneously known as buffalo, bison once roamed the United States in their millions. By 1889, there were fewer than 1,000 bison left alive in all of North America. Symbolic animals of the Great Plains, some 500,000 bison today live on protected reserves and ranches.

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Grizzly bear -

The grizzly is a North American subspecies of the brown bear, and one of the most iconic beasts in the land. The species is found in Alaska, south through much of western Canada, and into portions of the northwestern United States.

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Gray wolf -

The mournful howl of the gray wolf is one of North America's most poignant wildlife soundtracks. A large, powerful, and sociable canine, the gray wolf travels in packs of up to 10 animals, though larger pack numbers are not uncommon. Long an integral part of indigenous peoples culture, wolves still hold a great importance in Native American rites and heritage.

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Mountain lion -

The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas. A shy and reclusive animal, the mountain lion used to roam freely throughout the United States. Threats such as poaching and habitat loss, however, have reduced its range to just 15 western states.

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American alligator -

A species of large alligator found only in the United States, this crocodilian reptile calls the southeastern portion of the country home. In fact, the species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

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Polar bear -

Polar bears occur throughout the northern polar region, an area that includes Canada and Alaska. Sadly, polar bear numbers are plummeting in both these places, in fact by as much as 40% since the start of the new millennium, according to National Geographic. The species is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

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Manatee -

This large and gentle aquatic mammal inhabits the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa. The species is also present in Florida, widely dispersed in the state's myriad of waterways.

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California condor -

The California condor is the largest North American land bird. Besides California, this huge vulture is also found in pockets of Arizona and Utah, and northern Baja California in Mexico. It's listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

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Moose -

Recognized for their towering size and magnificent antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration, moose are mostly found in Canada, New England, and New York state.

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Pronghorn -

Sometimes called American antelope, pronghorn are graceful and quick: they can attain a speed of 70 km/h (40 mph) and leap 6 m (20 ft) at a bound. Distinguished by horns that branch into two prongs, the animal enjoys an extensive range, from Alberta to Mexico.

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Sandhill crane -

A large, lanky-legged bird shaped very much like a heron, the sandhill crane is found in several scattered areas of North America, and the extreme northeastern region of Siberia. The bird's cheeks are white and its forehead has a bright red patch, which is one of its most noticeable features.

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Bighorn sheep -

Compact, muscular, and fast, bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America. Mature rams are possessed of large curved horns, impressive features that serve as a symbol of status and a weapon used in epic battles across the Rocky Mountains.

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American beaver -

This large bucktoothed amphibious rodent is found throughout forested parts of North America to northern Mexico, including the southwestern United States and peninsular Florida. The species was trapped to near local extinction at the height of the fur trade during the late 17th to mid-19th centuries. Today, it's one of the official national wildlife of Canada, and the official state mammal of Oregon and New York.

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North American monarch butterfly -

Among the most recognized, studied, and loved of all of North America's insects, this iconic pollinator species is nonetheless Near Threatened, according to the IUCN. It's found across the region, broken into two populations separated by the Rocky Mountains, called the eastern and the western populations.

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Bobcat -

The bobcat, also known as the red lynx, ranges from southern Canada across the mountains and woodlands of the United States down to Oaxaca in Mexico. Named for their tail, which is short and bobbed, the bobcat's cute and cuddly appearance belies a fierce and predatory nature.

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Nine-banded armadillo -

A solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, the nine-banded armadillo was originally native to South America. Today, this armored insectivore ranges as far north as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana.

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Tufted titmouse -

This charming and wonderfully vocal songbird is native to North America, occupying large amounts of territory across the United States and stretching into Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Its whistling call can vary in approximately 20 notable ways.

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Arctic wolf -

A subspecies of the gray wolf, the arctic wolf is sometimes called the white wolf, or polar wolf. Native to the High Arctic tundra of Canada's Queen Elizabeth Islands, from Melville Island to Ellesmere Island, and also found in Greenland, the species has thrived thanks to its isolation.

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Gila monster -

The venomous Gila monster is the largest lizard native to the United States. Its range encompasses the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico.

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Caribou -

Caribou is the name given in North America to reindeer. Here, the range of caribou extends from Alaska through the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut into the boreal forest and south through the Canadian Rockies. These animals are especially recognized for their spectacular antlers.

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Ruby-throated hummingbird -

The ruby-throated hummingbird is eastern North America's sole breeding hummingbird. Only the male of the species has a striking red throat, usually seen as a vibrant flash in the air, as these precision-flying creatures can beat their wings 53 times a second and maneuver in an acrobatic style matched by few other birds.

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Groundhog -

The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is one of North America's most celebrated rodents. Found through much of the Eastern United States, across Canada and into Alaska, the groundhog is the mammal that according to popular folklore can predict weather patterns on Groundhog Day, a centuries-old North American tradition observed annually in the United States and Canada on February 2.

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Brown pelican -

The brown pelican is widely distributed along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts in the Americas. But it is along the coast of California and the US Gulf Coast—Alabama, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana —where this diving waterbird has become the live-in species at numerous piers, mariners, and breakwaters.

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Eastern diamondback rattlesnake -

Rattlesnakes are some of the most unique and diverse American reptiles. While these pit vipers are the leading contributor to snakebite injuries in North America, they rarely bite unless provoked or threatened; if treated promptly, the bites are seldom fatal. That said, try and avoid coming into contact with the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. This is the largest venomous snake in North America, and if goaded can deliver an extremely and potentially fatal bite.

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Arizona black scorpion -

Another species to avoid, the nocturnal Arizona black scorpion (seen here photographed under night vision conditions) is the most venomous species of scorpion in the United States. Be very careful where you tread after dark if out exploring the Sonoran Desert region in the southwestern portion of the country, or northwestern Mexico.

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Painted bunting -

Indeed appearing as if created by the hand of a skilled artist, the painted bunting is one of North America's most colorful native bird species. Males only are blessed with this vibrant veneer, and rank among the most beautiful birds on the continent.

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Alligator snapping turtle -

This extraordinary-looking reptile is one of the heaviest turtles in the world. Characterized by a large head and a long, thick, and ridged shell, the alligator snapping turtle is native to freshwater habitats primarily in the southeastern United States. It's listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

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Coyote -

The coyote is a species of canine native to North America. Smaller than its close relative, the wolf, these animals are also closely associated with Native American culture, appearing often in the tales and traditions of indigenous peoples—usually as a very savvy and clever beast.

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Greater roadrunner -

If you're a fan of popular American cartoon culture, you'll know that no matter how wily a coyote is, it just can't get a paw down on the roadrunner. Found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, this speedy member of the cuckoo family walks around rapidly running down prey.

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California sea lion -

San Francisco's Pier 39 is synonymous with the California sea lion. In fact, the sea lions camped out on the city's West Marina have become an endearing visitor attraction. Otherwise found in abundance from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, these smooth sleek beasts actually spend most of their time at sea.

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Canada lynx -

Characterized by its long, dense fur, triangular ears with black tufts at the tips, and broad, snowshoe-like paws, the Canada lynx includes Alaska and some northern states of America in its hunting grounds. Like all lynx species, it is elusive and evades human contact.

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Kodiak bear -

Alaska's very own grizzly, the powerful Kodiak bear is matched only by the polar bear for size and strength. It inhabits the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska.

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North American racoon -

The North American racoon ranges from northern Canada and most of the United States southward into South America. Conspicuous for its black "mask," racoons are clever, adaptable, and highly dexterous, and will eat almost anything.

Sources: (World Atlas) (IUCN) (National Geographic) (National Wildlife Federation) (Center for Biological Diversity)

See also: How to have an ethical wildlife experience

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