Ways to Keep Wildlife Wild on the NC Coast
If you’re seeking outdoor adventures in North Carolina, you probably don’t need us to tell you the coast is a natural conduit for fun. But what you may not realize is just how many different directions exploring coastal North Carolina can take you.
With 300+ miles of barrier-island beaches, the Tar Heel state’s coastline is the seventh-longest in the United States and is known to beckon visitors for more than just its sandy shores. All along the NC coast, you’ll encounter an incredible variety of ecosystems — from estuaries and salt marshes to maritime forests — that are teeming with just-as diverse wildlife. (There’s a reason nearly 40 coastal wildlife refuges and sanctuaries can be found here!)
Whether you’re hoping to see loggerhead sea turtles hatch or wild mustangs gallop, we’ll share our tips for taking in the real stars of our coast: North Carolina wildlife. And we’ll also share what makes the coastal plain and its habitats so key to North Carolina’s biodiversity, so that you can appreciate our coast’s incredible creatures while helping preserve the ecosystems they call home.
7 Incredible Species You’ll See On the NC Coast (and Where to Find Them)
Blue Crabs
Wildlife lovers will be happy to learn about North Carolina’s abundance of blue crabs. They’re found in estuarine systems like the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound (which, according to the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, is the second largest estuarine complex in the U.S.!). Juvenile blue crabs are fond of the area’s salt marshes and seagrass beds, which provide rich food resources and protection from predators.
Loggerhead sea turtles
On the Endangered Species list since 1978, North Carolinians’ commitment to conservation has helped loggerhead sea turtles thrive along our coast. Bald Head Island in particular is a major nesting site, and from late May to mid-August, the Bald Head Island Conservancy leads nighttime vigils to watch mothers’ nests and baby turtles hatch. A half hour’s drive from Emerald Isle’s tiny beach towns, you might spot loggerheads at Hammocks Beach State Park.
brown pelicans
Brown pelicans were once endangered due to the use of pesticides like DDT, which caused eggshell thinning. Thankfully, the species is flourishing across many parts of North Carolina’s coastal plain today. If you find yourself at the waters of the Cape Fear River islands, watch brown pelicans dive after a fishstick lunch from heights of up to 60 feet. While there, you’ll also see the state’s largest colony of wading birds, from herons and ibises to egrets. Want to keep your adventure in North Carolina going? Boat or kayak to nearby Shark Tooth Island next, aptly named for its number of fossilized shark teeth and other marine fossils.
wild horses
No list of North Carolina wildlife along the coast would be complete without a nod to its most famous residents: wild horses. Believed to be descended from Spanish mustangs brought to America by early explorers (although stories of long-ago shipwrecks have also swirled), the Corolla horses are one of the NC coast’s best-known populations. From a safe, respectful distance — remember, it’s essential to let wildlife stay wild! — watch them graze along barrier islands’ sandy beaches and dunes, like the ones found in the northern Outer Banks.
Black Bears
North Carolina’s coast is a remarkable place to encounter one of the state’s most iconic wild residents: the American black bear. The coastal plain’s dense forests, swamps, and vast wetlands create ideal habitat for these powerful and elusive animals, and the region is home to some of the largest black bears in the world. With patience and a bit of luck, you may spot a bear moving through thick vegetation or foraging along wetland edges. To to keep yourself and bears safe, observe them from a safe distance and bring binoculars or a spotting scope to enjoy a closer look without approaching these beautiful animals.
3 Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Tips for Keeping Coastal Wildlife Wild
The coastal animals (and plants!) above are just a handful of the species that call North Carolina’s coastal plain home. What makes this region able to support such a wide variety of wildlife, and why is the coastal plain important to NC biodiversity as a whole?
In North Carolina, the coastal plain acts as a link connecting different ecosystems across the state via forests, wetlands, and other waterways. This connectivity helps our ecosystems stay resilient while providing flood protection, erosion control, water filtration, and carbon elimination that the well-being of humans, fauna, and flora across the state.
Our world’s wild spaces continue to support and sustain us in ways we can’t always see. We can return the favor by helping the wilderness, and all the incredible creatures who live in it stay wild, including by observing the following Outdoor NC Leave No Trace tips for interacting with North Carolina wildlife.
Skip the snacks.
Feeding wildlife alters their behavior, putting both them and visitors like you at risk. Simply put: Keep your human food away from the NC coast’s non-human residents, including seagulls. If you’re taking a picnic to the beach or bringing snacks with you on a kayak tour through an estuary, pack out everything you packed in, scraps and all.
observe from a distance.
When seeing something as spectacular as wild horses trotting down a beach, the instinct to approach can be strong. But if an animal is wild, always appreciate it from a distance, including when taking photos. Giving wildlife plenty of space lets them thrive in their natural habitat and helps keep your outdoor adventures safe and memorable.
How close is too close? If you encounter a wild animal, utilize the thumb trick. Extend one arm with a thumb up, close one eye, and attempt to hide the animal behind your thumb. If you can’t: consider backing up.
If you come across injured or orphaned wildlife, leave it be.
As good as your intentions may be, trying to transport wildlife out of the wild can cause both you and it harm. Leave it to professionals: North Carolina’s licensed wildlife rehabilitators are the only people legally allowed to possess and care for wildlife, and they’re trained to do so in a way that maximizes injured or orphaned animals’ odds of survival upon release. You can look up wildlife rehabilitators according to the species they work with on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website.
Want to learn more ways to explore North Carolina’s natural world, from the High Country to the coast, while being a good steward of it?
Inside our Evergreen E-Newsletter you’ll find useful tips on how to responsibly enjoy all kinds of outdoor adventures, highlights from local guides, and recommendations on destinations to explore throughout North Carolina for adventurers of all abilities.
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