What kind of wild animals are there in New Hampshire?

[Russell Kanning]

We saw 2 deer alongside route 9 yesterday in the rain coming back from Concord.

[aries]

Remember only deer ticks, the really tiny ones, carry lyme disease.

Wood ticks, the ones that you can see (they are tiny though) and puff up huge with sucked blood, only cause an ugly welt/bite.

[AlanM]

I read that there are no poisonous snakes in NH.

Not true, though some would like to believe it. There was a fellow in Kensington, when I was a kid, who caught rattlesnakes in NH all the time. They were poisonous.

[Pat McCotter]

There are no snakes in Ireland.

[KBCraig]

There are no snakes in Ireland.

Gerry Adams. 

[Dreepa]

That damn whistle pig was scratching at my window today when I was sitting there.  Brave one.

[Pat McCotter]

I was at the plant yesterday and a groundhog came nosing into the shop area. It saw me and took off running. Not so brave.

[Kat Kanning]

We saw a lot of mosquitos yesterday while we were out, but they didn't run away when they saw us.

[Pat K]

We also observed the NH  woods black tire, a rather round and rubbery animal.

[AlanM]

There have been sitings of the Family Room Sofa. It is long, has worn cushions, and generally has food stains visible. If you should chance to site one of these creatures, call PATK.

[citizen_142002]

Actually coyotes are not native to New England. The first confirmed sighting was in maine during the 1950's. Coyotes migrated slowly through Canada from western states. Genetic and anatomical studies have confirmed that Eastern coyotes are a hybrid of Ontario grey wolves and wester Coyotes. They are much larger than their western cousins, and will often hunt deer in packs. I've seen the kills myself, and it is impressive. They can be as large as a german shepard. There is no evidence that so called "coydogs" coyote-dog hybrids are an actual presence in NH.

Cougars have been spotted and filmed in the North Country, although Fish and Game has not acknowledged a breeding population. Until one was finally caught on tape, I was skeptical of most accounts of mountain lions in NH, but I guess they are here.
Bobcats occur in the state aswell. Canadian Lynx might be found in the north, but if that's true they are probably a rarity.

I have seen Bald Eagles on the lake here in Nelson. I commonly hear Loons too.  Beaver are increasing in number, and a few possums have moved up into southern New Hampshire. There are otters too.

Fisher cats (not felines) are rather viscious, but they are actualy blamed for killing a lot of cats which are actually killed by owls.

A wild boar was killed in Stoddard, believed to be part of a ferral population which escaped from a game park in Washington, NH. I have heard a few other boar sightings, one from a person I know quite well, and I personally believe that there is a small but breeding population in southwest NH.

[KBCraig]

Actually coyotes are not native to New England. The first confirmed sighting was in maine during the 1950's. Coyotes migrated slowly through Canada from western states. Genetic and anatomical studies have confirmed that Eastern coyotes are a hybrid of Ontario grey wolves and wester Coyotes. They are much larger than their western cousins, and will often hunt deer in packs. I've seen the kills myself, and it is impressive. They can be as large as a german shepard.

Wow. Coyotes are rather thick here at the junction of TX/AR/LA, where they're considered varmints that can be shot on sight. But our coyotes aren't big at all, typically 25-30 pounds. A large coyote is 35 pounds. They're scavengers, seeking easy meals at chicken farms, or at lambing season. They're no threat to cattle, and while they might harass deer, they are little threat to any but the weakest.

Any flat-shooting varmint caliber is considered sufficient for coyotes, and the lowly .22 WMR is a certain coyote killer with a well-placed shot. I personally wouldn't use .22 LR, although some do.

Not that I hunt them. I like canids. But, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any canid if it was threatening my livestock, whether it's a wild wolf, coyote, fox, the neighbor's mutt, or my own poodle.

Kevin

[citizen_142002]

Well the coyote here are definitely larger. They are treated as varmits by NH fish and game as well. There is no closed season, and night hunting is permited during certain months.

A well placed shot with a .22WMR will drop a deer, not that it's legal, but I know some people who are confident and compotent enough to do it. Personally I prefer something less marginal.

I know people who've baited coyote, but I've never done it myself. I've seen them from a distance with a spot light at night, but I only ever saw one coyote during the daytime.

[aries]

Wow. Coyotes are rather thick here at the junction of TX/AR/LA, where they're considered varmints that can be shot on sight.

In stark contrast to the window washer in Mass that is being charged with felony animal cruelty for beating a seagull to death with a washing implement that harassed him in the middle of his job.

[Kat Kanning]

The washing instrument harassed him?