Animals of Fall: Fall’s favorite critters

Fall in New England is an incredible season, full of beauty and wonder. Even the most mundane highways become scenic routes due to the gorgeous foliage patterns each tree presents. The weather is cool enough for a hoodie, but there is no need to layer up the clothing. It’s also an incredible time for sports, with football a few weeks in, basketball and hockey starting, and college sports captivating audiences. Animals are major forces during every season, but a few take center stage (or at least get a few more memes or clickbait stories). While most are born in the spring, here is a list of some that coincide with fall, some because they’re spooky and others because they just seem to vibe with the season. While the ten animals chosen have a high degree of spookiness, they may not be the most dangerous in the land. One thing they all have in common is that they consider Rhode Island their habitat.

Bat: These winged creatures can be both heroes and villains and have had a major influence on many aspects of pop culture. Batman is my favorite comic book character, but vampire bats are what dominate the fall season. Many companies distort their products into a bat shape to sell at an inflated price in the name of fall. Though RI is no Transylvania, there are eight different species of insectivorous flying rodents currently calling our great state home. The bats fall into two categories: tree bats (eastern red bat, hoary bat, and silver-haired bat) and hibernators (little brown bat, big brown bat, tricolored bat, northern long-eared bat, and eastern small-footed bat).

Black Cat: These felines are pretty common and are overlooked pets by a certain population (ed note: Two of the best pets I’ve ever had were black cats: Meow and Shadow). Though they have an unfavorable reputation to some, black cats are just cool. There is nothing “bad luck” about finding an animal that gives unconditional love.

Coyote: I’m not sure if they’re currently considered a nuisance, but these canines have been popping up all over the biggest little. I’ve seen them everywhere from crossing Route 146 to my backyard (they walk through every morning around 3:30, except one day when they were chased away by my dog at 5:15 am.) They live in every area of RI except for Block Island. DEM suggests removing any food sources from your yard and securing trash, kept in containers, to keep these animals from entering your property. Coyotes also don’t like water, so keep a Super Soaker handy in case one ever crosses your path.

Crows: These small, all-black birds can be found all over the state. Though they may help themselves to some fruit or vegetables every now and then, crows will eat insects, grubs, and other waste from yards, which makes them a valuable asset to have around. A murder of crows, along with their high-pitched caw, can look intimidating (it’s good to always have a scarecrow on hand for just this occasion). It is theorized that seeing a single black crow indicates a prophecy, impending transformation or upcoming life change.

Deer Ticks: The thought of Lyme Disease alone is pretty scary. These flat, eight-legged buggers are a major threat to this state, as they also cause babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Remove the tick immediately if you find one on you, and see your doctor immediately if you develop a fever rash on the bite area. It is said that removing the tick within 24 hours greatly decreases the chances of getting one of these diseases.

Mosquitos: I’m sure these blood-sucking bastards have some use to the ecosystem, but I’d enjoy seeing them go extinct. The good news is that these EEE and WNV carrying pests will disappear at the first sign of frost. The bad news is that it will be peak season until then and New England weather is unpredictable.

Opossum: Not everyone loves these marsupials, but they are harmless and adorable. If you see them in your yard, take a picture, but don’t worry because they’ll be moving on soon. Rats: Mice may wait until winter to burrow their way into your home while rats are a clear species of the fall season. This invasive, disease-carrying species has constantly growing teeth, so they’ll chew anything if they get in the house. They are social animals, so seeing one rat means more aren’t far behind. Make sure to seal up your home to keep the rats outside (if you can see light, a rat can get in).

Spiders: There are 16 species of spiders in RI, but only the Black Widow and Black-Footed Yellow Sac Spider are poisonous. The others are harmless, though terrifying to some people. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the poisonous ones and leave the others be, if you see them outside! They do a lot of good for the environment.

Children: While wonderful in countless ways, children tend to hit every chilling category under the sun, depending on their mood and surrounding circumstances. Parents, educators, and anyone who has ever been or encountered a child knows that they can be the spookiest creatures out there! •