Sapelo Island Reserve, Georgia

Fauna (Animal Life)

The most conspicuous animals of the salt marsh are the graceful egrets and herons along the tidal creeks and marshes at high tide. Fiddler crabs, raccoon, mink and otter are other easily recognizable reserve inhabitants. However, many other less visible creatures live within the reserve, including mollusks (clams, mussels, whelks, etc.), marsh periwinkles, oysters, shrimp, fishes (menhaden, shad, red drum), worms and insects. Mice, moles and marsh rabbits live in the dunes. Hawks and snakes, their predators, live in the back dunes. Here, in the back dunes, large rattlesnakes are often found.

Endangered Species

Endangered and threatened species of Sapelo Island include the Southern bald eagle, peregrine falcons, ospreys, brown pelicans, woodstorks, Wilson's plovers, American Alligators, loggerhead sea turtles, the northern right whale and manatees.