1. small animals, especially those found in rural or natural settings
Usage: informal; plural of critter

Examples

• The barn was full of critters like mice and barn cats.
• We saw all kinds of woodland critters during our hike.
• The farmer had to protect his crops from hungry critters.
• Small critters scurried across the forest floor.
• The children loved watching the critters at the petting zoo.
• Night sounds revealed many unseen critters in the woods.