Mammals

raccoon

NPS Files

In his journal, Voyage to Georgia, Frederica colonist Francis Moore describes mammals at Fort Frederica. Mammals are animals that have a backbone or spine, have fur or hair, and their offspring drink milk produced by their mother's body.

" The island abounds with deer and rabbits; there are no buffaloes in it, though there are large herds upon the main. There are also a good many raccoons,a creature something like a badger,but somewhat less,with a bushy tail like a squirrel,tabbied with rings of brown and black. They are very destructive to poultry."

 

Doe with fawn

NPS Files

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a common site at Fort Frederica especially during the early morning and evening hours. If alarmed, the deer raises its whitetail,thus communicating danger to other deer. This also helps a fawn follow its mother in flight.

 

armadillo

NPS Files

The Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the only mammal armored with heavy,bony plates. It is native to the Southeastern United States. Armadillo means " little man in armor" in Spanish. Armadillos can carry the disease leprosy which is transmittable to humans so handling them is not recommended.