Mount Ilgaz National Park ("Vulpes vulpes"), wildcat ("Felis silvestris"), lynx, European pine marten ("Martes martes"), beech marten ("Martes foina"), weasel, rabbit, squirrel, hedgehog, mole, bat, European badger ("Meles meles") and European otter ("Lutra lutra"). Studies showed the existence of 617 taxa in and around the national park. Mount Ilgaz National Park offers opportunities for diverse outdoor sports including hiking, camping and caravaning as well as daily activities. Angling at fishponds situated on Karasu stream in Baldıran Valley is possible between June 15 and September 15. Visitors can also buy trout throughout the year from fish hatcheries in the same area. Another important feature of
River Meles be subject to contradictory views among scholars and other concerned parties. Homer is connected with the valley of Smyrna and the banks of the Meles. His figure was one of the stock types on coins of Smyrna, one class of which showed the poet sitting, holding a volumen on his knees, and supporting his chin on his right hand was called "Homerian" by numismatists. The epithet "Melesigenes" (which means, "son of Meles" was applied to him. The cave where he was to compose his poems was described as being near the source of the river, his temple, the Homereion, stood