Background People often think of wildlife only as large animals like those they see in pictures of Africa with lions and elephants. They might think of creatures of the North American forests that they have seen like deer and elk. But wildlife includes all animals that have not been domesticated by people. Domesticated animals are those which have been tamed, made captive and bred for special purposes. Farm animals and pets are considered domesticated animals.
Wild animals are all the rest.
What may be surprising is that wildlife includes the smallest animal organisms - even those that can be seen only through a microscope. Spiders, insects, reptiles, amphibians and most species of fish, birds and mammals may be considered wildlife. Wildlife occurs in a tremendous variety of forms and colors. And wildlife can be found all around us. In fact, each of us would die if all the organisms that inhabit our bodies were to disappear.