Watch out for these wild animals in the Montreal outdoors
According to outdoor enthusiast Rick Frank Andreoli of Montreal, his hometown is a special place because of its well-preserved natural landscape, which has allowed for a diversity of animal species to thrive. He shares some of them here.
Star-nosed mole
Because Montreal is made up of a vastness of moist, low areas, it is a home to a peculiar mammal named the star-nosed mole. What stands out about this creature is that it has a touch organ that is so sensitive, that it contains more than 25,000 small sensory receptors, known as Eimer’s organs, which this mole uses to feel its way around. That being said, it is a master of the underground darkness, notes Rick Frank Andreoli of Montreal.
Northern flying squirrel
You might be amused to notice a small streak of fluff gliding about. That just might be the northern flying squirrel, which can be spotted in this part of the city all year round. Measuring about ten inches long from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail, it uses its belly skin and its tail to fly over a cushion of air, which makes it easier for the animal to jump from one tree to the next.
Eastern chipmunk
The eastern chipmunk is quite a fascinating creature to observe in its element, because it behaves and looks almost exactly like how it is portrayed in popular cartoons. Rick Frank Andreoli of Montreal explains that this says a lot about how straightforward the behavior of the animal is, with its penchant for spending most of its time burrowing through underground systems to store seeds and nuts that they get from the forest floor to sustain themselves through winter. These furballs are very cute!
