As the voice for North Carolina’s birds, our efforts to protect birds are part of a broader effort, which allows us to protect and manage ecosystems that protect a wide array of wildlife. 

The Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Sanctuary is home to a range of mammals, amphibians and reptiles that enjoy the coastal marshes as much as we do. The complex harbors more than 170 bird species, as well as 7 amphibian species, 17 reptile species, 19 mammal species and more than 350 plant species. There are many species of aquatic organism and invertebrates we have still not surveyed, but we continue to inventory the property and making new discoveries of the wildlife using the Sanctuary. 

When you're at the Sanctuary walking or kayaking, see if you can catch a glimpse of a few of these species:

Mammals:

• Cottontail Rabbit
• Eastern Harvest Mouse
• Eastern Mole
• Gray Fox
• Gray Squirrel
• Marsh Rabbit
• Marsh Rice Rat
• Mink
• Muskrat
• Nutria
• Otter
• Raccoon
• Virginia Opossum
• White-footed Mouse
• White-tailed Deer
• Bobcat

Amphibians:

• Bull Frog
• Eastern Narrowmouth Toad
• Fowler's Toad
• Green Tree Frog
• Southern Leopard Frog
• Squirrel Tree Frog

Turtles:

• Chicken Turtle
• Diamond-back Terrapin
• Eastern Box Turtle
• Mud Turtle
• Snapping Turtle

Lizards & Skinks:

• Glass Lizard
• Six-lined Race Runner
• Southeast Five-Lined Skink

Snakes:

• Black Racer
• Black Rat Snake
• Corn Snake
• Cottonmouth
• Eastern King Snake
• Eastern Ribbon Snake
• Rainbow Snake
• Rough Green Snake