Mammals:
* Large Mammals: White-tailed deer, black bear, wild boar, coyote, gray fox, bobcat, red fox
* Small Mammals: Rabbits, squirrels (gray, fox, and flying), opossums, raccoons, bats (including the endangered Indiana bat)
* Rodents: Mice, rats, voles, chipmunks, beavers
* Other: Groundhogs, armadillos, skunks, weasels, mink, muskrats
Birds:
* Game Birds: Wild turkey, quail, dove
* Raptors: Red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, American kestrel, barred owl, great horned owl
* Songbirds: Cardinals, bluebirds, chickadees, woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, mockingbirds, sparrows
* Waterfowl: Ducks, geese, herons, egrets, wood ducks
Reptiles and Amphibians:
* Snakes: Copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, garter snakes, rat snakes
* Lizards: Skinks, anoles, fence lizards
* Turtles: Snapping turtles, box turtles, painted turtles
* Frogs and Toads: Green tree frogs, bullfrogs, American toads
Fish:
* Game Fish: Bass (largemouth and smallmouth), catfish, crappie, trout (in the higher elevations)
* Other Fish: Sunfish, bream, suckers, carp
Insects:
* Butterflies and Moths: Monarchs, swallowtails, luna moths, sphinx moths
* Bees and Wasps: Honeybees, bumblebees, yellow jackets, paper wasps
* Ants and Termites: Various species of ants and termites
* Beetles: Ladybugs, fireflies, longhorn beetles
This is not an exhaustive list, but it provides a good overview of the types of animals found in the Ridge and Valley region of Georgia.
Factors influencing animal diversity:
* Elevation: Higher elevations support different species than lower elevations.
* Habitat: Forests, grasslands, wetlands, and rivers all provide different environments for animals.
* Human Impact: Land use, pollution, and invasive species can all affect animal populations.
It is important to note that the specific species present in any given location will vary based on these factors.