Great Bay Reserve, New Hampshire

Great Bay Reserve, New Hampshire

Fauna (Animal Life)

The small bivalve, Gemma gemma, is the most abundant mollusk in the Great Bay estuarine system. Large oyster beds occur within the estuary, which are harvested recreationally. A commercial fishery for the American lobster is also very active. Thirty-two species of finfish have been identified in reserve waters, with the Atlantic silverside most abundant. Other common fish include common killfish; mummichog; four, three and nine-spined stickleback; smelt; winter and smooth flounder; Atlantic tomcod; alewife and grubby. Commercial fisheries in the Great Bay estuary include herring, American eel and smelt. Striped bass, smelt, Coho salmon and winter flounder are the most important recreational fisheries.

Harbor seals are observed frequently throughout the Great Bay Estuary. Terrestrial mammals which utilize Great Bay include whitetail deer, red fox, woodchuck, muskrats, chipmunks, gray squirrels, cottontail rabbits, mink, otter and beaver. Invertebrates making homes in the estuary include a variety of worms, soft-shelled clams, green crabs, mud snails and shrimp.

Two successful osprey nests are within the reserve boundaries. Common loons and pied-billed grebes forage in the bay during migration. Common terns have nested on Nannie Island and the Footman Islands, as well as on several islands in Little Bay. Migrating Northern harriers use the salt marshes and agricultural land for foraging. Sedge wrens and Henslow's sparrows occasionally occur in short grass habitats around the Bay.

Adams Point is home to robust knotweed, hairy brome grass and lined bulrush, all rare in the state. Crommet Creek has prolific knotweed, salt marsh gerardia, dwarf glasswort, four-toed salamanders and hog-nosed snakes; all rare species in the state. The Lubberland Creek/Moody Point Component has marsh elder and large salt marsh aster, both rare to the state as well.

The Squamscott River Wetlands component boasts four rare plants: the marsh elder, the stout bulrush, the small spike-rush and the exserted knotweed. Finally, the Wilcox Point shoreline is critical to the wintering of the American bald eagle. The estuary supports the largest winter population of bald eagles in New England and is one of the best documented wintering sites for these birds in the region. Up to 19 bald eagles spend their winter months feeding on waterfowl and roosting within the reserve.