Although the U.S. is a big country with a lot of wildlife diversity, from Maine to California, some states stand out as great places to see many species in one spot.
Alaska
Alaskan cruises are a great way to experience sea and sky wildlife and the local biology on land once you arrive.
While on the water, you can expect to see bald eagles above you and puffins on the nearby rocks. Orcas and humpback whales will also be present. Once on land, expect to be amazed by the sheer number of wildlife you’ll encounter.
Alaska’s land mammals include moose, the state animal, bears, and wolves. Herds of reindeer, caribou, and Dall sheep should also appear.
If you plan your cruise for spring or summer, you will also be able to study plants that thrive in Alaska’s brief warm season and nowhere else. They include delicious berries like Salmonberry and Nagoonberry as well as beautiful little flowers like northern grass-of-Parnassus.
California
California is a large state and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. That means that it has more biodiversity than the other states and more plant and animal species than most of the world.
The reason for all of this variety is the number of California’s habitats. It has everything from deserts to temperate rainforests, and each habitat is home to a wide variety of species, including 23 different species of bats and 42 types of salamanders.
Texas
Texas boasts over 800 habitat types and hundreds of species that live in them are native only to Texas. This is your chance to study everything from armadillos to American badgers.
In addition to the abundance of native wildlife, if you plan your trip for late March, the Texas bluebonnets, also known as Texas lupines, should be in bloom. The state flower is also beneficial to local butterflies and bees.
Arizona
Among the world’s deserts, Arizona’s Sonoran is the most biodiverse. For example, this area alone is home to 1,000 bee species and over 3,000 plant species.
Some of Arizona’s notable plants are the treelike Saguaro cactus and the prickly pear cactus, which are both edible if you run out of supplies during your biology studies.
Arizona’s official mammal is the ringtail cat, which is actually in the raccoon family. The most famous bird from this area is the roadrunner. It doesn’t look much like its cartoon counterpart, but if you’re lucky, you will see one running past you.
Alabama
Alabama is the most biologically diverse state east of the Mississippi River. Its habitats include forests, wetlands, and prairies. Notably, it ranks first in the nation for several types of animals, including freshwater mussels, fish, snails, crayfish, and turtles.
Interestingly enough, it is also first in the nation for its carnivorous plant biodiversity. Rather than absorbing essential nutrients from the soil, carnivorous plants rely on digested insects for most of their nutrition.
Alabama’s canebreaker pitcher plant is unique to Alabama and only grows in two of its counties. Its an attractive yellow-green color and forms “pitchers” with lids to keep out the rain. Insects that fall into the pitchers can’t climb out again and are digested by the plant. Although carnivorous plants get their energy from photosynthesis like other plants, they cannot survive without their insect meals.
Alabama is definitely the place to be if your study area is freshwater creatures or carnivorous plants.
The United States can satisfy the study needs of any future wildlife biologist, whether you’re interested in large animals like moose or the tiniest wildflower. There’s no need for the expense and complicated travel arrangements to visit another country when the U.S. offers so much biodiversity.
