Whitman Mission National Historic Site - animals (U.S. National Park Service)

Young mule deer with antlers just beginning to appear.

NPS collection

Mammals
The most abundant species are deer mice and montane voles. Other common mammals include pocket gophers, whitetail deer, mule deer,and Columbian ground squirrels. Seen occasionally are beavers, mink, river otters, muskrats, raccoons, weasels, skunks, badgers, porcupines, and coyotes.

NPS collection

Introduced Mammals
Whitman Mission supports several introduced species of mammals. The Virginia opossum, eastern cottontail, and eastern gray squirrel all occur at the site.The eastern gray squirrel has only recently become established here. Staff first reported seeing it at the site in 2002. It apparently spread west from the city of Walla Walla, where it has been established for many years.

NPS collection

Birds
Whitman Mission is a place to raise a family for many bird species. It is also an important stop over for migrating birds. More than 200 species of birds have been observed at the site. Species most commonly seen include ring-necked pheasants, red-winged black birds, robins, swallows, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, mallards and Canada geese. more . . .

Turtles sunning themselves on a board floating in the Millpond.

NPS collection

Reptiles and Amphibians
Three species of amphibians and five species of reptiles were found during the 2002-2003 vertebrate census of Whitman Mission. Amphibians: Great Basin spadefoot toad, Pacific treefrog, and Bullfrog (introduced). Reptiles: painted turtle, slider (introduced), racer, gopher snake, and western terrestrial garter snake.

Painted turtles can often be seen sunning themselves on boards in the Millpond. Bullfrogs are known to occur around the Millpond, Mill Creek, and along the irrigation channel. Common garter snakes and gopher snakes (bull snakes) have been seen throughout the site.

Sources:

2002-2003 Vertebrate Inventory: Whitman Mission National Historic Site. University of Idaho and National Park Service Columbia Cascades Support Office.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site: General Management Plan, September 2000. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.