the range consists of a number of Viburnum species, among others. Bottomlands The bottomlands and margin areas in the northern hardwood communities are primarily dominated by: red maple (Acer rubrum), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), black ash (Fraxinus nigra), eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and the silver maple (Acer saccharinum). The bottomlands and margin areas of the coniferous forests consist of: red maple, silver maple, white cedar, and balsam poplar. In wet areas throughout the region many sub-canopy species of willow (Salix spp.) occur, as does speckled alder (Alnus rugosa), which is very common. Fauna The region is home to a variety of wildlife, including American black bears (Ursus americanus), eastern moose (Alces alces), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), eastern coyotes (Canis latrans ssp.), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum), North American river otters (Lontra canadensis), fishers (Pekania pennanti), North American beavers (Castor canadensis), American martens (Martes americana), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and endemic New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis). The forests are habitat for wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), wood duck (Aix sponsa), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), and a great number of passerine birds. The area is particularly important as a feeding ground for birds migrating on the Atlantic Flyway. The region is home to reptiles such as bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), common box turtles (Terrapene carolina), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). Animal species or subspecies that once roamed the region are the eastern wolf (Canis lycaon), eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar), Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), sea mink (Neogale macrodon), wolverine (Gulo gulo), passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido), boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), and the eastern elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis), all of which were wiped out from the region after the arrival of European settlers. Threats and preservation This forest has been radically altered over centuries by clearance for agriculture, mining and urban development including Halifax, Nova Scotia and summer homes in Quebec. Today only about 5% of the forest remains in its natural state. Logging is still a major industry in some parts, especially Maine and Quebec and agriculture is still extensive in western New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Vermont. Important areas of forest remaining include the Mahoosuc Range, Big