Blue Ridge mountains, Eastern USA

The Blue Ridge mountains stretch across extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. While still a wilderness, the areas surrounding this refuge are becoming increasingly urbanized.

As with many mountain ranges in the developed world this mountain range has provided a refuge for many animals eradicated elsewhere.  Beavers, elk, peregrine falcons, and river otters, not long ago gone from the Southern Appalachians can now be found along this refuge. Others that were reduced to near extinction, such as wild turkeys and black bears, are making a strong comeback. Northern flying squirrels also live in this refuge.

Human habitation also goes back about 10,000 years.