Wildlife of
Georgia

The state of Georgia in the United States has a varied landscape with rivers, mountains, coastal plains, marshes, and forests. So, it’s not surprising to learn that there are a variety of animals that make their home in this southern state. As an example, there are 90 plus species of mammals living in Georgia.

Some of the most notable members of the wildlife community in this southern state include black bears, fox squirrels, ticks, bottlenose dolphins, white-tailed deer, big brown bats, and Georgia native–the flying squirrel.

The Official Animals of Georgia

Over the years, Georgia has recognized many animals as state symbols and has 13 official state animals.

Official Bird of Georgia: Brown Thrasher

In 1970, Georgia’s legislature officially recognized the brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) as its state bird. This bird is a common sight around Georgia with its dark brown feathers, long tail, and slightly curved beak. This bird earned its name by the thrashing action it uses to forage through weeds, grass, and other ground debris in search of insects.

Official Game Bird of Georgia: Bobwhite Quail

Georgia was known as the quail-hunting capital of the world in the early 1900s. In 1970, the (northern) bobwhite quail (Toxostoma rufum), also called a partridge, became the state gamebird. A small, pudgy brown bird, it has markings unique to each gender: the mail has a white throat and a white stripe above the eyes; the female has a light brownish-yellow throat patch and eye stripes.

Official Fish of Georgia: Largemouth Bass

In 1970, the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) was made the official state fish of Georgia. This fish has olive gray scales and populates warm water lakes, streams, and rivers. The largest largemouth bass was caught in 1932 and weighed a little over 22 pounds!

Official Butterfly of Georgia: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

In 1988, the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was recognized as the official state butterfly of Georgia. This butterfly is a common sight in the state displaying bright yellow wings and black stripes. It symbolizes beauty and new beginnings.

Official Mammal of Georgia: White-Tailed Deer

In 2015, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) became the state mammal of Georgia due to the efforts of a group of local elementary school students. This deer, with its warm brown fur and bright white tail lives in forests and marshlands throughout the state. The IUCN Red List conservation status of the white-tailed deer is Least Concern with a stable population.

Official Amphibian of Georgia: Green Tree Frog

In 2005, the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) became the official state amphibian of Georgia. Georgia is home to 85 different species of amphibians. Green tree frogs are lime green with a bright white stripe on each side of their smooth body. This frog lives throughout the state and can be heard chirping and peeping throughout the spring and summer months. The male green tree frog is normally louder and chirps more often than the female frog.

Official Insect of Georgia: European honey bee

The official Georgia state insect is the European honey bee. Adult European honey bees are “thread-waisted” with a restricted connection between their thorax and abdomen. The “pollen sac,” situated on both hind legs, is another component which differentiates these honey bees.

Official Reptile of Georgia: Gopher Tortoise

A species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae, the gopher tortoise is native the the southeastern United States. Its scientific name is Gopherus Polyphemus. In fact, the only tortoises native to North America are in the genus Gopherus. While it is the state reptile of Georgia, it is the state tortoise of Florida!

Sadly, it is threated by predation and loss of habitat. This situation is particulary alarming because the gopher tortoise is a keystone species, meaning that other species in the ecosystem depend on it. In the case of the gopher tortoise, around 360 other species find shelter in the burrows it digs.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Georgia

The sort of wildlife a visitor sees in Georgia depends on the specific habitat. When someone visits a swampy area such as Okefenokee Swamp or Lake Blackshear, they may see American alligators, sandhill cranes, river otters, beavers, and sea turtles among many other animals.

The forests of Georgia are home to many mammals such as raccoons, foxes, white-tailed deer, weasels, black bears, coyotes, and big brown bats.

The coastal plains of Georgia are inhabited by snakes including the Florida Pine snake and the cottonmouth snake. Some brown snakes can also be found in Georgia, as well as some water snakes and black snakes. Fox squirrels, quail, wild turkeys, and rabbits can all be found on the coastal plains.

Someone visiting the mountains in Georgia may see salamanders, bobcats, gray foxes, woodchucks, and lizards to name a few.

Travel to the coast of Georgia on the Atlantic Ocean and a visitor is likely to observe sea turtles, seagulls, dolphins, and maybe even a West Indian manatee! These manatees are sometimes called sea cows because of the time they spend looking for food and eating. The best time to see manatees off the coast of Georgia is between the months of April and October.

Recommended locations for wildlife sighting include:

• Tribble Mill Park
• Phinizy Center and Nature Park
• Chattahoochee River National Park
• Cannon’s Point Preserve
• Dauset Trails
• Panola Mountain State Park

Where to Find Animals in Georgia Zoos

Another great way to learn about Georgia’s native wildlife, as well as animals from other places, is to visit a zoo. Some suggestions include:

• Chehaw Park and Zoo in Albany, Georgia, opened in 1937 as a state park but now has a zoo and splash park and other attractions on 800 acres. The zoo houses 234 specimens representing over 73 different species. The zoo was designed by naturalist Jim Fowler of television’s Wild Kingdom
• Zoo Atlanta began in 1899 with a traveling menagerie that stopped and stayed. It has grown enormously since then into a major conservation organization. For a long time, its most famous resident was Willie B, a gorilla. Now the collection is enhanced by a pair of pandas!
• Georgia Aquarium has not only multiple fish species, but also alligators, penguins, beluga whales, otters, and tortoises among others.
• Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary, which has a variety of forest animals and many others such as a Bison herd, peacocks, pigs, albino wallabies, Babydoll sheep, Fallow deer, ring-tailed lemurs, alpacas, and the animals in the petting zoo.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Georgia Today

Like most other states, Georgia has its share of dangerous animals. As a note, most animals can become dangerous if they feel their young are being threatened. Also, some animals become dangerous if a human wanders (either knowingly or unknowingly) into their territory. Remember, showing respect for all of the wildlife in an area is always a good idea. Check out some of the most dangerous animals in Georgia below.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous animals in Georgia. In fact, it’s the biggest venomous snake in America. While some snakes prefer to hide or escape a threat, this snake is quick to show aggression and bite. An adult eastern diamondback rattlesnake is at the top of the food chain with no natural predators.

The venom of this snake contains hemotoxin which kills tissue and red blood cells. Their venom allows them to quickly kill prey such as birds, rabbits, and rodents, including rats. People who’ve been bitten by this snake describe it as very painful due to its long fangs. However, death is the rarest result of an eastern diamondback rattlesnake bite. This is because the antivenom is readily available and effective. It’s important to get medical attention right away if bitten by this snake.

Another animal considered one of the most dangerous in Georgia is the black widow spider. These spiders are black with strange red markings on their abdomen. They make their homes in garages, sheds, and basements. It’s common for them to build webs in dark places where there’s very little human activity. People who are bitten by black widow spiders usually stumble upon their web by accident. The venom of this spider has a neurotoxin that causes sweating, stiff muscles, abdominal cramps, and pain. Though medical treatment is needed for this spider’s bite, it is rarely fatal.

Snapping turtles are also considered some of the most dangerous animals in Georgia. They live in freshwater ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water. These turtles can become aggressive when they are on land. This is because they feel more vulnerable to threats when they’re out of the water. These turtles can weigh up to 35 pounds and have a sharp, cutting edge on their mouth capable of biting a person’s finger off. The best thing to do if someone sees a snapping turtle on a trail or near a pond is to move away from it and leave it alone.

The copperhead snake is similar to the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The bite of this snake is very painful, but death from its venom is the rarest result because their venom is not very potent. It’s important to note that these snakes are aggressive and choose to defend their territory instead of moving away from an encounter. Other types of snakes hide the moment they see a human in the area. Copperhead snakes can grow to be three feet long and are usually out in the evening searching for rodents, toads, and other prey. A person who is bitten by a copperhead snake needs to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

The fire ant, genus Solenopsis, is dangerous because of its venomous bite, which causes stinging that feels like fire. It is not fatal, but it is very painful. The frightening news is that there are over 200 species of these insects! The head, thorax, and abdomen, along with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae, are the three main body parts of mature fire ants, just like the bodies of all other typical mature insects. The worker ants range in size from 2 to 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 in) and are blackish to reddish. They typically create nests or mounds roughly one foot high in grassy settings like pastures and lawns. Fire ant nests don’t have a single opening like most anthills, and the slope is covered in ants.

The kissing-bug is a member of the subfamily Triatominae of the family Reduviidae. It’s bite is painless, but it transmits a parasite that causes the Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. Symptoms include aches, fever, swelling around the bite (usually near the lips), and fever. But one of the most identifiable symptoms of this phase is puffy eyelids. There are two phases of the disease, and the second phase might be in remission for years. Chagas disease is also not well known, so it is not easily diagnosed correctly.

The Largest Animal in Georgia

The largest animal in Georgia is also the official marine animal: the North Atlantic Right Whale. This animal is approximately 42 to 53 feet long. It is dark grey to black with rough, white patches of skin on its head. The North Atlantic right whale is a docile, baleen whale that tends to keep close to the coast. Highly migratory, every winter many of these whales travel to their winter calving areas along the coasts of Georgia and Florida. It is actually the most endangered species of whale in the world; possibly fewer than 350 individuals are left today. One of the major threats to this whale is being struck by a vessel in busy shipping lanes.

Endangered Animals in Georgia

Georgia’s endangered animals include:

• Gray bat – These bats live in caves throughout the year and hibernate in the wintertime. They are on the endangered list because of loss of habitat due to flooding reservoirs. If a gray bat is pushed out of its cave during hibernation, it wastes a lot of its energy searching for a new cave and may die as a result.
• North Atlantic Right Whale – This whale has been on the endangered list since 1970. Scientists estimate the population of the North Atlantic right whale at less than 400. Threats to this whale include collisions with ships and other vessels as well as entanglement in commercial fishing nets.
• Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander – This salamander measures about five inches long and has a silver and black body featuring white spots. They are endangered due to habitat loss connected with the gradual drop in the water table. This decrease in water level can make it impossible for them to lay eggs.
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle – The large head of a loggerhead sea turtle gives it a strange appearance. These turtles nest on Georgia’s barrier islands. Their population is decreasing due to water pollution. Unfortunately, these sea turtles can die as a result of swallowing discarded plastic bags and fishing line.
• Red-cockaded woodpecker – This bird has shiny black feathers with a bright white pattern of spots. Males have a small stripe of red on their head. These birds live in pine trees in Georgia forests. They’re on the endangered list due to loss of their habitat.
• Shortnose Sturgeon – This fish lives in rivers in Georgia while spending some time in the Atlantic Ocean. They are dull gray in color and covered in five rows of scutes or bony plates. This fish can grow to be over 4 feet long. Their population is threatened by water pollution, dredging, and getting caught in commercial fishing nets meant for other fish. When a fish ends up in a net meant to capture another type of fish, it’s called bycatch.

The Rarest Animals in Georgia

The rarest animals in Georgia are all on the Endangered Species List like those described above. Unfortunately, we could make many additions, including the Indiana bat, Amber and Etowah Darters, Conasauga Logperch, West Indian Manatee, Hawksbill and Kempis Ridley Sea Turtles, Altamaha Spinymussel, and the Finback and Humpback whales. All are protected by federal law, and conservation plans are in place to try to not only save but also increase these species.

Snakes in Georgia

Georgia is home to 46 different kinds of snakes and is one of the most snake-heavy states in the country thanks to its large coastal plain that supports a large variety of snake species. Beyond the eastern diamondback rattlesnake discussed above, Georgia is home to six different venomous snakes, which include three rattlesnake species. It is illegal to kill nonvenomous snakes in Georgia. Deaths from snake bites are rare, but it does pay to be aware of different snakes that can pose increased risks. The following snakes in Georgia are venomous:

1. Cottonmouth
2. Timber Rattlesnake
3. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
4. Copperhead
5. Pigmy Rattlesnake
6. Eastern Coral Snake

Native Plants in Georgia

There are 12 different climate zones in Georgia, and each supports different varieties of plant and animal lifeforms. The state of Georgia is also well-known for its hospitality, and it seems this even transcends as well to the plants. From the southern sugar maple to the mountain silverbell, the state of Georgia is welcoming to every person or plant.

Discover the Coldest Place in Georgia

The coldest place in Georgia is Roswell with an average maximum temperature of just 63 degrees Fahrenheit. While summers get very hot, the winters in Roswell drop to 35 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

Flag of Georgia

The flag of Georgia has a red-white-red horizontal triband and features a blue canton containing a ring of 13 white stars that encircle the state’s gold-colored coat of arms.

Georgia State Seal

The Georgia State Seal features three pillars of the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government. It was designed in 1799.

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