These Creatures Are Kentucky Natives, But Good Luck Spotting One in the Wild

Birds, squirrels, cats, hawks (well, that one), and raccoons. These are creatures I see every day. Foxes, possums, deer, and rabbits make irregular but frequent appearances, as well. And many of you readers probably see coyotes and bobcats more than you'd like to. However, these are the common and commonly seen members of Kentucky's animal kingdom. You can also throw in bears and elk, but mainly if you're in eastern Kentucky.

Rarely-Seen Kentucky Creatures

For our purposes, though, I'm more intrigued by animals that are native to Kentucky but are rarely spotted, for whatever reason. More species fit this category than you may realize.

Long-Tailed Weasel

I'd rather not see one of these. It's not like I'm afraid of them; I have no point of reference for that, since I've never encountered any type of weasel. But there's a reason their reputation precedes them. This particular species is nocturnal and likes to hang out in wooded areas and old, abandoned homesites. It's likely why we don't see them very much. Also, as evidenced by this image, they are located all over the country.

Flying Squirrels

You'd think it wouldn't be difficult to see a creature that flies, but you'd be wrong. When that creature is the southern flying squirrel, good luck. They're small, they keep to the woodlands, and they're nocturnal. Unless you rent the branch beneath them, you'll likely go wanting. Here are a few orphans that were nursed back to health and released back into the wild.

Badgers

According to Kentucky Living, badgers have been seen near Owensboro, but I don't remember any social media posts about it. (It was before June of 2021.) However, Madisonville's Bill Yandall was quick enough with his camera to capture these images.

Eastern Spotted Skunks

I forgot to include skunks in that first paragraph; I see them practically every day. Not these, though. And if I did, I might not immediately think it was a skunk. They have a beautiful coat, but to see it, you'll need to head deep into the dense undergrowth of southeastern Kentucky. Keep your distance, too, because, well, they're still skunks.

For a complete list of the wildlife native to Kentucky, visit fw.ky.gov.