Fauna of Minuka

## Bears

Minuka supports only one bear and that is the brown bear (Ursus arctos) which is rare in most spots except for the upper Mainland Province where seeing a bear is quite common that they've gotten used to people and roam freely in townsites. Bears aren't present anywhere except for the upper Mainland Province and sections north of Sharino in Minuka and if seen, are likely a vagrant or escapee. Historically, polar bears once roamed the northernmost tips and sections of the Mainland Province but overhunting made their range limited to northern regions of Cheskachena, Parlinn, Apelchem, Elsenord and Vindborg today. There are an estimated 3,500 brown bears in Minuka.

## Deer

Red deer, roe deer, moose, introduced white-tailed deer and the endangered eastern black deer are all residents of Minuka with the most prevalent being roe deer which are present everywhere except southern halves and sections of the country, red deer are mostly found in northern sections of the country, and the introduced white-tailed deer are flourishing on Panstivo Island. Moose were once abundant in Minuka but as overhunting and diseases spiked, more moose died, with once more than 120,000 moose present in the country; it has since plummeted to just 17,000 and they are widespread throughout the country making them a quite rare sight, but most are said to reside in the upper Mainland Province as well as sometimes being spotted along the central Mainland Province coast between Sharino and Panstivo Island. Eastern black deer are heavily endangered on the mainland with less than 300 individuals being present in the Mainland Provinces but tons in high densities on Panstivo Island where they can almost be considered least concern on the island, up to 1,200 individuals are present on Panstivo Island.

## Canids

Darolles, culpeos, golden jackals, gray wolves, red foxes, and gray foxes all reside in the country. The most common is the culpeo which is in such large numbers, it can be hard to keep count, culpeos are found everywhere in the country except for Paradise and Taro Island as well as the upper Mainland Province; they are, however, most prevalent along southern portions of the country as well as Panstivo Island. Two species of darolles are found in the country, the more common darolle and the endangered and seldom seen Cheskachena darolle, the common darolle is found mainly in the southern and central portions of the Mainland Province and Panstivo Island, where it obtained the name *Panstivo Island Wild Dog* and the seldom seen Cheskachena darolle is seen only in the upper Mainland Province. Common darolle numbers are likely around 400,000 while Cheskachena darolles are below 230, most Cheskachena darolles are vagrant and are only seen in the northernmost points of the country. Golden jackals are found across the country but are entirely absent from the western and northern Mainland Province sections and are mainly seen on Panstivo Island and around the capital of Sharino, numbers are said to be around 510,000. Wolves are intensely rare in the country and are not native, just being spotted two decades ago likely spreading from Cheskachena, Sidrova and Podochovia, there are approximately five packs in the country all located in the western section of the country and it is possible the wolf population will grow throughout the years. Red foxes were once the most common predator in most of the country except the south and on Panstivo Island but are now seldom seen in most parts of the country due to darolles, jackals, culpeos and other carnivorans displacing them. Gray foxes are introduced for biodiversity on Panstivo Island and are quite rare to be seen.

## Carnivorans

Mustelids (polecats, minks, otters) are the most common carnivoran in the country other than bears and canids, most common species include common and marbled polecats, minks, otters, and stoats. Golden and common raccoons, as well as cats are spotted only around areas of the south near Kosna, Obnivir and Hartnett, though a raccoon was spotted in the upper Mainland Province, possibly an escaped pet.