Fauna
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is home to many species of animals, some in which are endangered.
- The Great Dismal Swamp is inhabited by 209 bird species, which includes the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Figure14). Ninety two of those birds nest in the swamp, while forty-nine species are permanent residents. Two southern species of Warblers are commonly found in the Great Dismal Swamp than in any other coastal location. The rest of the bird species use the swamp as migrating breeding grounds. A lot of bird species may land anywhere on the refuge, however the most common spots are the Washington Ditch and Jericho Ditch trials (FWS, 2006; FWS, 2013).
- Little data is recorded on the terrestrial invertebrates, however 182 species of aquatic/semi-aquatic insects can be found around the Great Dismal Swamp. The insects that have been recorded in the refuge includes 52 species of butterflies (Figure 15), 43 species of dragonflies, 41 species of skippers (Figure 16), and 22 species of damselflies (FWS, 2006). Several species of insects especially the butterflies are completely dependent upon disappearing habits that are found within the swamp. Six species of these butterflies consume switchcane, which happens to be their only source of food. Others look for nutrients from the Atlantic white cedar, a forest type that has been destroyed over the years (FWS, 2013).
- Lake Drummond and the ditches located around the Great Dismal Swamp is inhabited by 27 species of fish. Seventy-five percent of the fish community is made up of yellow bullhead ( Figure 17).
- Sixty-two species of reptiles and amphibians can be found within the swamp. Such species consist of 22 types of snakes (including poisonous types) (Figure 18), 19 types of toads/frogs (Figure 19 & 20) , 10 types of turtles (Figure 21), 9 types of salamanders (Figure 22), and 8 types of lizards (Figure 23).
- Mammals are the last type of animals that can be found in the Dismal Swamp. The swamp has at least 47 species of mammals. They're a variety of bats, shrews (Figure 24), mice, voles, southern bog lemmings, river otters, beavers, raccoons, minks, white tailed deer, black bears (Figure 25), and the bobcats (Figure 26) (FWS, 2006).