The most visible of all the
animals is probably the grey squirrel, but raccoon,
weasel, mink, skunk and even coyote are present
in the park. In 1993-4, in an effort to reintroduce
the southern flying squirrel to the area, conservationists
released 99 squirrels into the park and are
still carefully monitoring the population. These
tiny creatures which readily fall prey to the
common housecat, weigh up to 75 grams, and generally
rely on woodpeckers to carve holes in the dead
trees where they build their nests. An array
of insects, such as the dragonflies and damselflies,
thrive in the humid and varied habitat, providing
a central food resource for many other species.
Several species of bat, for example, take advantage
of the abundant insect life in the swamps and
marshes. The bullfrog, green frog, spring peeper,
western chorus frog, northern leopard frog,
six species of turtle, and non-poisonous snakes
inhabit the swampland and fields.
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