• The black bear is one of Delaware Water Gap's largest mammals.black bear image by isatori from Fotolia.com
  
  The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area covers 67,000 acres on both sides of the Delaware River, where the river cuts through the mighty Appalachian Mountains. The area includes a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands and floodplains, rivers and lakes, coniferous and hardwood forests as well as mountain ridges and ravines, extending into both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The diverse habitats provide homes for countless species of plants and animals.
  
  

Birds

• More than 260 bird species have been identified within the recreation area. Bald eagles, one of the more impressive and most sought-after species by birdwatchers, inhabit river and stream corridors. Several warbler species inhabit forest plains and hemlock ravines. Deciduous forests host such species as the ruffed grouse and the scarlet tanager. In grasslands and agricultural areas, birds of prey hunt small game, while wild turkeys and other land birds roam through the brush. The wetlands are home to several species of waterfowl, such as ducks and herons.
  
  

Mammals and Reptiles

• Mammals thrive throughout the forests, grasslands and mountains of the recreation area. Smaller mammals include weasels, groundhogs, rabbits, mice and shrews. Red-tailed foxes, white-tailed deer and coyotes are among some of the larger mammals. Watch out for black bears—it's quite possible to see one while hiking along recreation trails. In and around waterways, there are beavers, raccoons, muskrats as well as the occasional otter. The 26 reptile species present include 14 species of snake, 8 species of turtles and 2 lizard species.
  
  

Aquatic Animals

• The recreation area´s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams are home to an extremely diverse array of freshwater fish, mollusks, and amphibians. Several species of both amphibious and land reptiles may be found, as well. Trout, perch, shiners, bass, sunfish and crappies are among the 61 known fish species within the area. Mollusk species include a variety of native freshwater mussels, such as the relatively rare yellow lampmussel, as well as alien species such as the zebra mussel and the Asiatic clam. The 25 species of frogs, toads, lizards and other amphibians in the area include the spotted salamander and the bullfrog.
  
  

Plants

• The Delaware Gap National Recreation area has a number of microclimates that sustain an incredible diversity of plant species within a relatively small area, ranging from aquatic plants to massive deciduous trees to ferns and cacti. White oak, red maple and shagbark hickory are among the deciduous trees found in the hardwood forests, and birch communities line rivers and streams. Coniferous forests are dominated by towering hemlocks in dark ravines. Numerous wildflowers bloom throughout spring and summer and can be found in all areas of the recreation area. These include such species as wild bergamot, purple coneflower, brown-eyed susan and yellow pond lily. Several fern species sprout around springs and waterfalls; others line the banks of rivers and streams. There are some cactus barrens as well, where species such as pear cacti sparsely populate the land.