Mountain Habitat in Georgia

Terms to Know: Ecosystem- includes all of the living things (plants, animals and organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments (weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere).  Environment- the conditions that surround someone or something Organism- is a living thing that can function by itself Mountain- a large landform that usually forms a peak Elevation- the height of land above or below sea level

Mountain Region: Location- The mountains cover the northern part of Georgia. The Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains combine to form the mountain habitat in north Georgia. Here there are mountains, valleys and ravines along with many waterfalls. The elevation gets much higher than the rest of Georgia which causes changes in the plants. 

Climate Coldest region of Georgia with mild summers. Yearly average temperatures are in the 50s with average summer temperatures in the mid-80s. However, days in the 90s are not unusual in summer and days with temperatures well below freezing occur regularly during the winter. This is the region of the state which receives the most snow, and it also receives the most rain. 

Animals that live here…… Bats are a valuable and fascinating part of Georgia’s natural heritage.  The caves in the mountain region are perfect for bats to live in. The caves provide roosting habitat for many bat species, including the gray bat, which is found nowhere else in the state. The Black Bear is the smallest of the American bears but it is the largest carnivore in eastern North America. The Black Bear is nocturnal(sleeps during the day, active at night) in the summer. It is an omnivore.  The white-tailed deer is the smallest kind of deer in North America. It is reddish brown in summer and grayish brown in winter. The white-tailed deer lives in mixed forests, old fields, and crop lands. It eats leaves, buds, twigs, acorns, fruits, corn, and alfalfa. The cardinal (bird) lives in wooded areas. Cardinals like to eat seeds, fruits, and insects. It does not migrate in the winter.

Plants that live here….. The Georgia mountains provide a lush and thick area for a variety of plant life to grow.  It has  rich forest soils and has the most wide variety of plant life in the State. The types of plants growing depend on the elevation. Some of the plants in this region include; the mountain maple, oaks, tulip poplar, ash, magnolia, and white pine. Two of the state flowers are also found in the mountain area. The Azalea (state wildflower)  is the state wildflower. Azaleas can be found covering much of our state and come in a variety of colors.  An interesting thing about these lovely flowers is that they are actually mildly poisonous!!!  When these flowers are eaten by animals, they can cause stomach and heart problems. The Cherokee Rose (state flower) is also found in this area. Native American folklore says the flowers are a result of the tears shed during the “Trail of Tears”. Trees and bushes bearing fruit are also located in the mountains. Here you will find apple trees and blueberry bushes.

What is the soil like…. Poor soil for farming. At low elevations-better loamy soil.

Rivers in mountain areas are…. Oostanaula Etowah Chattooga Conasauga Coosawattee

Black Bears survive in mountain regions because…… Food is provided in this region for the black bear such as the largemouth bass, berries, and small mammals. A lot of trees and thickets that they can escape to for security. Thick fur to survive cold winters.

Animals near or in rivers/streams….. Largemouth bass are freshwater fish and generally live in clear ponds and swamps.  Largemouth bass eat crayfish and frogs, insects and small fishes. The largemouth bass is the state fish.