A Prairie Rattlesnake hiding behind some green plants
NPS Photo
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is home to hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and insects. This wildlife has adapted to changes in the environment throughout the years. There are almost 5,500 species of mammals living around the world. In Texas, there are about 150 mammal species and most of them are native to the state. Several Texas mammals live at Lake Meredith and have been documented by researchers.
Lake Meredith is a great place to watch wildlife. Several other mammals live at the lake such as deer, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, skunks, squirrels, and beavers. Lake Meredith is home to both the White-Tail Deer and Mule Deer. Some of these mammals can be also be located on The Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail. This trail runs through two areas of Lake Meredith, Blue West, and McBride Canyon. On these loops, there are scenic canyons, mesas, and river corridors to view. Coyote, Pronghorn Antelope, Sandhill Cranes, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, and Burrowing Owls have been seen along this trail. The Panhandle Plains Wildlife Trail is a state-designated system of wildlife trails and is one of the four major wildlife trail systems designated by the State of Texas.
21 species of dragonflies have been sited flying around Spring Canyon at Lake Meredith. Dragonflies help humans by eating hundreds of mosquitoes per day. These creatures live near water because it is the key building block for wildlife. The Monarch Butterfly usually arrives during the fall as it travels to Mexico on its long journey. Monarchs have been seen on Lake Meredith trails and at Spring Canyon where the habitats are excellent for their survival.
There are over 1100 species of birds in North America and Texas has around 500 different birds recorded. Lake Meredith has approximately 300 bird species living or migrating into the area. Birds are attracted to water and Lake Meredith provides a variety of habitats who use wetlands for food and shelter. The Great Blue Heron is a year-round resident and has be seen at Spring Canyon. Habitats such as wetlands, shoreline, mesas, marshes, grasslands, river bottomland, and lake areas attract wildlife. At Spring Canyon, there are deer, beavers, shoreline birds, dragonflies, and fish. Lake Meredith is also home to several types of fish and is famous for Walleye.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is home to hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and insects. These species have adapted to an ever-changing landscape and survived drought, wildfire, flooding, and human pressures for decades. Remember to always respect wildlife. Treat wildlife with proper caution and don’t get too close. The safety of these animals, as well as your safety, depends on everyone using good judgment. Learn more about watching wildlife: at:https://www.nps.gov/subjects/watchingwildlife/index.htm
