Fauna of the Great Smoky Mountains

Red salamander

From Sarah:

When hiking the AT, bears are a popular topic, but smaller fauna are much more likely to be seen.  Snails and centipedes are worth stopping for.  One misty morning we saw a brown tree frog hiding among the dead leaves, almost perfectly camouflaged.   We heard turkeys while at Mollie’s Ridge Shelter, and Jay spied one strutting down the trail the next day.  Small birds filled the air with song.  The thrumming of grouse was a near-daily occurrence.  And of course, insects in their thousands were beginning to hatch out. 

Centipede

It was too early to see lightning bugs (fire flies), but each night a soothing lullaby was sung by crickets, katydids, and who-knows-what-else.