assateague island national seashore chincoteague va

Later, the juvenile fish provide an abundant food source for birds, marine mammals, and larger fish.

Each spring a variety of fish, including spot ( Leiostomus xanthrurus), Atlantic menhaden ( Brevoortia tyrannus) and summer flounder ( Paralichthys dentatus) migrate into the estuary to breed. The sheltered, nutrient rich waters of the estuary formed by the island provide ideal breeding and spawning habitat for many aquatic species, some of which, like the blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus), are commercially important to the local area. Each fall, large flocks of waterfowl such as snow geese ( Chen caerulescens) begin arriving at Assateague where they will spend the winter traveling between the sheltered bay and salt marshes and fallow farm fields on the mainland.įinally, the coastal waters that surround Assateague Island teem with animal life. Shorebirds by the tens of thousands depend upon the island’s protected foraging and resting areas during their twice-yearly transcontinental migrations. Many bird species make their home on Assateague on a seasonal basis. Even the seemingly barren beaches provide habitat for nocturnal ghost crabs ( Ocypode quadrata), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes), and raccoons ( Procyon lotor), who scavenge the crustaceans, fish, and other organic matter washed in by the tides. Numerous invertebrates such as fiddler crabs ( Uca ssp.) and mud snails ( Nassarius ssp.) play key roles in maintaining the health of the island’s salt marshes. Seven species of frogs and toads depend on fresh water ponds in the center of the island for breeding, and a variety of snakes, such as the black rat snake ( Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta), can be found across the forests, dunes, and marshes preying on rodents, small birds, or toads. Other inhabitants are less conspicuous than the large mammals. While Assateague’s wild horses are perhaps the island’s best-known inhabitants, other large mammals also roam the park, including the native white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) and the non-native sika deer ( Cervus japonica), a diminutive species of Asian elk introduced to Assateague during the 1920’s. Over time, these conditions have produced a community of plants and animals uniquely suited to the extremes found at the edge of the sea.Ī sunset on the bayside wetlands looks beautiful, but bring bug repellant!

Exposure to salt spray, lack of fresh water, and isolation from the mainland are subtle, but powerful influences on the Island’s species composition. Other forces sculpt the landscape in less obvious ways.

Powerful storms can dramatically alter the shoreline in a matter of hours, as waves wash over the beach and reshape the island from ocean to bay. The geography of the island itself is in a state of constant flux, continuously being reshaped by the elemental forces of wind and water. More than half of Assateague Island National Seashore’s 48,000 acres is comprised of near-shore and estuarine waters, and the interplay between these waters and the barrier island affects nearly every aspect of life in this dynamic coastal environment. Others say that someone put the ponies over on the island so that they could avoid fencing laws. There are many different theories to how the ponies got to the island some say they are survivors of a shipwreck, but there is no evidence to support this. This habitat is home to migratory birds, plants, and of course wild ponies. The island has 14,000 acres of beach, a forest, as well as saltwater marsh and freshwater marsh habitats. Note: Alcohol is prohibited in the Virginia District of the island.Assateague Island National Park was established in 1943. Bateman Educational Center bottled water may also be available at this location. Another public water fountain is available inside the Herbert H. A public water fountain is seasonally available at the Toms Cove Visitor Center, located a short distance from the ocean along Beach Road.

Plan ahead and bring your own food, beverages and water. Food and beverages are available on neighboring Chincoteague Island. There is no access to food and limited options to access drinking water in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Bottled water, beverages and snacks are seasonally available at the Beach Hut at North Beach and at the Assateague Outfitters location on Bayside Drive. Public water fountains are located at the Barrier Island Visitor Center and at the North Beach Pavilion. Store food in your car or locked tight in a sealed container. Wild horses, gulls and other wildlife will invade food left unattended. There are limited options to obtain them on the island.

Please bring any necessary food, beverages and water with you.

Assateague island national seashore chincoteague va