Earth Day - Protecting Our Native Ecosystems

April 22nd is Earth Day, and so we wanted to share with you some information about Oatland Island’s Salt Marshes! There are over 100 acres of maritime forest at Oatland Island, but what exactly is a Maritime forest? 

A view of a small patch of the more than 100 acres of Salt marshes and Maritime forests at Oatland Island.

What Maritime Forests ARE:

Maritime forests are estuaries (where rivers meet the ocean) - a sort of transition zone between the ocean and land. They grow along barrier islands like Oatland and are home to an incredibly diverse group of plants and animals! While Oatland Island has existed as a lot of things (a plantation, retirement home, medical research laboratory, an educational center, and a filming location), most of the island remains wild and untouched. The island helps protect the inland areas from winds, periodic flooding, and erosion. These types of forests are also migration homes for thousands of birds every year! 

Take a walk on the wild side! When you visit Oatland Island Wildlife Center, you are walking over the untouched beauty of a maritime forest.

Maritime Forest Adaptations:

Many of the trees and shrubs you can spot on Oatland Island have waxy leaf coatings to protect them from salt spray and wind. They also grow close together and interlock their branches for stability. The animals who live in these forests are diverse. Reptiles like snakes, lizards, and alligators are commonly seen making their way through the wetlands. Birds of all shapes and sizes can be heard in the trees as you make your way through the island’s trails. You may notice nest sites and flocks of birds gathered together in a cacophonous racket that can sometimes be heard across the whole island. Mammals like squirrels, raccoons, opossums, and deer make their way quietly through the forest, creating wildlife trails that you can spot as you wander the grounds. 

From this observation deck at Oatland, you can often spot a wide variety of plants and animals!

Our Maritime Forests Need YOU:

Maritime forests have existed for thousands and thousands of years, but their beauty and their diverse set of plants and animals that call it home need your help! Keep our waterways clean, support organizations like Oatland Island Wildlife Center that keep these forests in their natural conditions, and take some time to visit these wild places and learn all of the wonderful things about them! We hope you have a happy Earth Day this week and consider a visit! You never know what you’re going to find. 

Our Forests need you! Visit Oatland to see all of the wonder and beauty of a Maritime Forest!