Woolly Bear Caterpillar (Isabella Tiger Moth)

Fields, gardens, meadows, and roadsides throughout North America

Broadleaf plants and grasses including dandelions, clover, plantain, and birch leaves

Known for wandering in autumn to find overwintering sites; survives freezing temperatures by producing a cryoprotectant (glycerol) in its tissues; pupates in the spring

Generally harmless to humans though the bristles can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals; beneficial to the ecosystem as a food source for birds and as a future pollinator in moth form