Looking for your next wildlife spot in America? Here are some East Coast favorites!
When it comes to nature tourism, there are more than enough options in the United States to choose from, but it’s a different story for wildlife spots. If you are an animal lover, there are a number of beautiful places to spot your favorite undomesticated species.
From the wildlife reserves near Atlantic City to the Acadia National Park in Maine, the east coast offers the best animal-seeing destinations in the country. Whether you prefer birdwatching or mammal habit-watching, here are some of the USA’s best wildlife spots on the east coast.
The East Coast’s Hidden Gems
1. The Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is one of the most well-preserved and lasting national parks on the East Coast. With over 300 square miles of pure nature, wildlife is not a scarce resource in this timeless place, with mountains, waterfalls, wetlands, and rocky peaks.
The Shenandoah National Park is the habitat of many animals, including deer, squirrels, different bird species, raccoons, foxes, and the famous black bear.
Shenandoah National Park’s 196 species of birds also make it a desirable wildlife spot to visit. The big brown bat is also an impressive mammal that can be witnessed in the park, with its wingspan being as wide as 13 to 16 inches.
This level of abundant natural beauty, an old stand of trees, wildlife, and cliffs will make a trip to the Shenandoah National Park an unforgettable experience in Virginia.
2. The Everglades National Park in Florida
Florida’s Everglades National Park is a classic popular wildlife spot on the east coast of the United States. Although most people know that it is full of crocodiles and alligators, most people forget that it is home to many more fascinating creatures.
Indeed, the Everglades is also full of wood storks, great blue herons, anhinga, and many more bird species. Besides birds, it is also inhabited by Florida panthers, sea cows, and the occasional river otter.
Many species of snakes and turtles can also be found in the Everglades, including the Florida snapping turtle, the Florida softshell turtle, and the banded water snake.
3. The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey
New Jersey’s Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is situated near Atlantic City in the southern part of New Jersey.
The rich and vast wildlife in the National Wildlife Refuge is incomparable with animals such as thousands of black ducks, plenty of bald eagles, buffleheads, and red-breasted mergansers in the winter.
The spring and summer are just as impressive, with more species coming out, like ospreys, diamondback terrapins, purple martins, turtles, great egrets, and many more species.
The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is also worth a visit in the fall with its welcoming of a variety of birds, colorful plant displays, and butterflies.
4. The Acadia National Park in Maine
The Acadia National Park’s 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area is one of the best wildlife spots on the East Coast because of its nature and varied wildlife. With minks, porcupines, foxes, beavers, bats, raccoons, bobcats, small rodents, coyotes, and snowshoe hares, there are hundreds of different birds, fish, and mammals to go and see in Maine’s most impressive wildlife park.
Whether you intend to visit in the brisk winter cold or the hot summer days, there are also many things to see and do in the Acadia National Park apart from just the wildlife. You can also enjoy the cold ocean breezes and Maine’s specialty, their lobster roll shacks.
5. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina
This nature and animal-filled national park are one of the most special in the United States for two reasons. Firstly, it covers 522,419 acres and is home to hundreds of creatures, including black bears. Secondly, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is interestingly located between two states, Tennessee and North Carolina.
This national park is one of the largest areas under protection on the East Coast of the United States because of its large population of bears that live freely in the wild. The park is also the habitat of many rare bird species, including the eastern bluebird, the northern flicker, and the indigo bunting.
It is also known for its many variants of amphibians, such as the southern gray-cheeked salamander and the red-cheeked salamander.
