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Although
conditions on the barrier islands and on the mainland can be harsh, animals
have adapted to the relentless summer heat and sun, and unpredictable
weather extremes including hurricanes. Featured wildlife include birds,
small mammals including beach mice, aquatic mammals such as otters, marine
mammals such as dolphins, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, and fish.
Because of the abundance and protected status of animals at Gulf Islands
National Seashore, this National Park Area is designated as a National
Watchable Wildlife Area.
According
to the National Watchable Wildlife's viewing etiquette visitors should
keep their distance, keep a low profile since loud noises and sudden motions
startle animals, and refrain from feeding animals. Remember to keep your
pets on a 6-foot leash while in the park.
Wildlife watching is one of the most popular activities in National Park
areas. Keep-in- mind that removing feathers, eggs or nests for natural
mementos can disturb wildlife habitats. By protecting the water, air,
and habitat from non-native species, it is possible to safeguard wildlife
for generations to come.
Birds
Over
280 species of birds including songbirds, waterfowl, wading birds, birds
of prey, marine birds, and shorebirds use the islands for resting, feeding,
wintering or migratory rest-stops. Sanderlings, for example, stop to feed
during an 8000-mile trip between the Artic and South America.
Some
of the best viewing areas for birds are found on the trails, at the fishing
piers, and on the shoreline. Fall and spring are excellent times to view
migratory birds. Park rangers and volunteers often lead birding programs
during migration season. Field guides and checklists are available at
the visitor centers.
Ospreys,
pelicans and southern bald eagles fly at Gulf Islands again. Decades ago,
populations of these fish-eating birds plummeted due to egg shell thinning
caused by the pesticide DDT. Banning that pesticide and other related
ones, plus reintroduction measures, and habitat preservation aided in
the return of these birds.
Mammals
Land mammals
Common native species include raccoons, opossums, skunks, eastern cottontails,
marsh rabbits, and gray squirrels. Nonnative or introduced species include
nine-banded armadillos, Norway rats, black rats, hisbid cotton rats, coyotes
and red foxes. Beavers and river otters are occasionally observed in the
canals near Fort Pickens plus Santa Rosa beach mice are seen at Santa
Rosa Island and endangered Perdido
Key beach mice inhabit sand dunes at Perdido Key. Other small rodents
include eastern wood rats, eastern moles, southeastern pocket gophers,
and short-tailed shrews. Gray foxes are one of the few carnivorous animals
at the Seashore. Wildlife viewing is best at dawn and dusk. However, the
different species of bats, including brown bats are active at night.
Marine
mammals
Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins are a common sight in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rare marine mammals include manatees and small whales. There are
29 marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fish
The crystal clear waters provide habitat for numerous species of fish
including mullet, southern flounders, Florida pompano, whiting, red drum
and sea trout.
Reptiles
Reptiles
are common here. Alligators bask alongside ponds and lagoons. Lizards,
snakes, turtles and frogs crawl or slither among dunes, grass and forest
floor. Huge, rare sea turtles crawl ashore to lay eggs in nest cavities
they dig in the sand. Near exhaustion, they crawl seaward to return, maybe,
another year.
Four species of sea turtles, loggerheads, green, Kemps's Ridley and leatherbacks
have been sighted at Gulf Islands National Seashore, and all are classified
as threatened or endangered species. In addition to the sea turtles, documented
land turtles include snapping, Florida cooter, box, yellow-bellied sliders
and the endangered gopher-tortoise. There are 18 species of snakes recorded.
Of this number 4 are poisonous: coral snake, diamondback rattle snake,
cottonmouth snake, and pigmy rattlesnake. Nonpoisonous snakes documented
at the Naval Live Oaks Area are black racer, corn snake, hognose snake,
coachwhip snake, yellow-bellied water snake, banded water snake, Florida
green water snake, brown water snake, rough green snake, red-bellied snake,
crowned snake and garter snake. The only snakes recorded at the Fort Pickens
Area are cottonmouth snake, scarlet snake, black racers, diamondback rattlesnake,
coachwhip snake, banded water snake, and ribbon snake. Lizards and skinks
are easily spotted and most are seen at the Naval Live Oaks Area. Green
anoles can change colors to blend in with their surroundings. Others include
fence lizards, race runners, board-headed skins, ground skinks, mole skinks,
and the unusual eastern glass lizard that looks like a snake.
Amphibians
Compared to the other areas in the Florida District, Naval Live
Oaks Area has the highest number (14) of amphibian species. The most recognized
amphibians are frogs and toads which include cricket frog, oak toad, southern
toad, narrow-mouth frog, green tree frog. pine wood treefrog, barking
treefrog, squirrel treefrog, ornate chorus frog, pig frog, and leopard
frog . However, there other amphibians together with red newt, two-toed
amphiuma, and slimy salamander as well.
Invertebrates
The blue crab, fiddler crab, lined hermit crab are often see on the beaches
and in the marshes. The bays are home to shrimp, eastern oysters, octopus
and clams.
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