tree species became less common in the resulting forest. Early successional tree species such as aspen and birch became much more prevalent and replaced much of the mixed conifer and deciduous forests that originally existed prior to the logging era. Major animal species inhabiting the forest include white-tailed deer, moose, porcupine, beaver, the American red squirrel, the eastern gray squirrel, chipmunk, opossum, raccoon, bobcat, Canada lynx, fisher, American marten, long-tailed weasel, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, osprey, common loon, Duck, Canada goose, wild turkey, sandhill crane, snowshoe hare, the American black bear, coyote, and red fox. After being nearly extirpated from the conterminous United States, Gray wolf survived in the remote northeastern corner of Minnesota and Ontario. The repopulation of wolves in this region has occurred naturally as they have expanded their territory. Lone cougar have been documented moving through the region, but these appear to consist of solitary young males dispersing from the Great Plains, and little evidence of breeding populations is currently known to exist in the region. Elk have been reintroduced in northern Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario after having been extirpated prior to the 20th century by overhunting and habitat loss. The boreal woodland caribou used to inhabit the American portions of the region, but with the destruction of the original forest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the resulting expansion of the white-tailed deer population (which carry the deadly Parelaphostrongylus tenuis brain worm parasite), the species is now confined to Canada. See also Carolinian forest North Country Trail Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests References Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the United States Ecoregions of Canada Ecoregions of the United States