Mule tailed deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, salamanders, and many kinds of song birds and insects are found here. Taiga is another name of the northern coniferous forest biome. The Taiga biome is found in areas with long, cold winters and low precipitation. Conifers can collect sunlight to use for photosynthesis throughout the winter, an adaption that allows conifers to survive in the cold north. The nickname for a conifer is ever green.
Many large mammals live in the taiga, including elk, moose, deer, wolves, bear, and lynx.
Smaller animals include marmots, pocket gophers, and ground squirrels. It is characterized by low-growing plants such as moss, lichens, and short shrubs. Cold winds and blowing snow favor low-growing, protected plants. Musk-oxen, wolves, some bears, and lemmings live in this biome throughout the year. The majority of the ground cover stays frozen throughout the year, with only the top 2 to 3 feet thawing out during the short, four-month spring and summer period.