On the boards, you can see many animals but we will focus on three main ones. We will focus on the Eastern Newt, Rainbow Trout, and the Owl. You can press the links to learn more about each one.
The Eastern Newt
The Eastern Newt is a red-orange colored salamander that is common in the Eastern United States. It has
black spiral dots that help with camouflage and is also known as the red-spotted salamander. These
salamanders like to dig into the cool mud along the banks of rivers, creeks, and brooks all along the Eastern seaboard. When it is wet, these newts will climb further away from the banks. The newt has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in the wild.
For protection, the newt gives off a toxin in their skin for their predators. They are not poisonous to humans when touched but the human touch can disturb their skin surfaces.
Under UV light, the Eastern Newt will glow a florescent green color.
The Rainbow Trout
The Rainbow Trout get their name from their multi-colored bodies. Their bodies are green or yellowish on the top, and silvery white on the underside. They also have a horizontal pink-red stripe running from the gills to the tail. The strip is called the lateral line. Most fish have this as it is a sensory system that helps the fish feel the water current so they can find their bearings. They have black dots all over their body to help keep the shimmering down. The rainbow trout lives in about 70 degrees Fahrenheit water.
The Rainbow trout have a protective layer of slime that keeps them safe from bacteria and fungi. This also helps them slide through the water more easily.
You can catch many of these in the rivers and streams around Haywood County. All streams, creeks, and rivers in Haywood County have their source in Haywood County so the water is clear and cool which is a good environment for the Rainbow Trout and other wildlife.
The Owl
We decided to focus on the owl as the little library is based on an owl. It does not have the colors of a typical owl but it is pretty cool.
There are more than 200 different types of owls in the world. In western NC, we have 5 main species as year-round residents. More migrate during the winter months. The main 5 are the Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and the Barn Owl. Some of the ones that come during the winter are the Long-eared and Short-eared Owls and rarely, the magnificent Snowy Owl
Links to Learn More
The Newt links to learn more
https://www.brnnetwork.org/2020/06/28/salamanders-and-mountains/
https://www.science.org/content/article/newts-and-frogs-light-glow-sticks-under-right-light
The Trout links to learn more
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/images/Species/Fish/Rainbow-Trout-Duane-Raver.jpg
The Owl links to learn more
https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2011/02/28/owls-in-western-north-carolina/
In order to learn about these and other animals – and we encourage you to do so – please visit
https://www.ncwildlife.org/