I live on SE perimeter of the Allegheny Plateau in central Pennsylvania. The elevation is 2600ft, the ecotype an Eastern Temperate Forest, dominated by Cherry, Oak, and Maple. The ground cover is predominantly fern in undisturbed areas.
Major environmental threats to this environment are Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Stiltgrass, Garlic Mustard, Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy moth, Cytospora (mostly in Spruce and Fir up here), hemlock wooly adelgid, development, ATV use, and logging. Amid these factors that reduce diversity, I am working on improving habitat on my acre. Hopefully, I can foster a bit of a sanctuary for the wildlife in my neighborhood.
Each season, I keep a running list of species that I’ve seen right around my property and made a few notes. The inventory does not include rehabbed animals unless they truly stick around (and are noted parenthetically).
The area is recovering from a significant decline in Eastern chipmunk population, I suspect they drowned as their networks of tunnels were inundated with meltwater under a thick and rapidly thawing snowpack a few years ago. This year (2021), we have a similar snow pack. I hope the thaw is gradual.