Central Pennsylvania is blessed with abundant wildlife, and the Juniata watershed is no exception. The abundance of forestland interspersed with plentiful farmland and water sources creates a diversity of habitat types that favors many species.

Fauna Species Overview

Large numbers of birds live in the Juniata watershed, including songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. One hundred seventy-two species of birds live and breed in the watershed, out of 211 breeding species in Pennsylvania. Non-game birds include 29 species of warblers, 18 species of sparrows, finches, and grosbeaks, nine species of hawks and eagles, eight species of flycatchers, seven species of woodpeckers, six species of swallows, five species of owls, and assorted wrens, vireos, thrushes, nuthatches, chickadees and more

Approximately 50 species of mammals also live in the watershed, including non-game species such as the bobcat, porcupine and small mammals such as bats (nine spp.), mice, rats, voles (12 spp.), and shrews (eight spp.). Of the species considered “game”, white-tailed deer and wild turkey are the most significant in the region, but other important game species include black bear, gray squirrel, Eastern cottontail rabbit, and woodchuck. Fur-bearing species that can be trapped and/or hunted include beaver, muskrat, red fox, gray fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, various species of weasel, and coyote.

Approximately 10 species of snakes live in the watershed, including two poisonous species: the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Eight species of turtles and lizards and 20 species of amphibians fill out the cold-blooded contingent, including bullfrogs, wood frogs, and the American toad.

Sixty-three species of fish (not counting Threatened and Endangered species) have been identified in the Juniata watershed through sampling undertaken from 1975 to 1995 by the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PAFBC)(Argent, 1998). This includes 22 species of carps and minnows, eight species of sunfishes and bass, six species of perches, four species of catfishes, and four species of trout.
Approximately 119 different macroinvertebrate taxa live in the watershed, including larva of mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, dobsonflies, damselflies, horseflies, black flies, and mosquitoes, as well as water beetles, crayfish, and worms.
There are also a number of endangered/threatened species found in the watershed. The Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Indiana Bat are a few of these protected species. Currently, a total of 10 endangered/threatened species reside in the watershed, and are protected either on the state and/or federal level.

Watershed Vegitation Overview

Approximately two-thirds of the Juniata watershed is forested. The predominant natural forest zone in the watershed is Appalachian Oak Forest, with small areas of Northern Hardwoods interspersed throughout the dominant zone of oaks. Major forest associations in the watershed include oak-hickory, maple-beech-birch, and elm-ash-red maple. Deciduous trees are predominant, although stands of hemlock and pine are scattered throughout the landscape. Other common trees and shrubs include flowering dogwood, tulip poplar, wild cherries, shadbush, witch hazel, and mountain laurel.

Agriculture makes a significant mark on the Juniata watershed landscape. Row crops such as corn, soybeans, and some small grains (wheat, oats, and barley) fill the fields. Pastures of alfalfa and grass provide good cover for meadow birds, such as quail. Fencerows are increasingly rare, but where they remain they provide good shrubby habitat for sparrows and other birds.
Invasive plant species are also present in the Juniata watershed. Multiple flora that are not native to the area have been introduced over the course of settlement of the region. Most invasives in the area are the result of humans bringing in species from other parts of the country or world.