Okefenokee Swamp Education and Information Center

River Otter
(Lutra canadensis)

Because the otter wears one of the most valuable coats known in the animal world, she can be a rare sight in North America. The Okefenokee Swamp is one area where the playful otter has found refuge. Her webbed feet allow her to swim nearly 1/4 mile (.4 km) without surfacing for air and though water travel is always her first choice, the otter can outrun a human on land. Otters eat fish and other aquatic animals with occasional small mammals rounding out the diet. They have been known to hunt in teams to feed their litters of 1 to 5 "pups". The intelligent and friendly otter is often seen playing on mud slides, repeatedly running back to the top for another ride. Even as adults, they never seem to lose their love of play time, unlike most other mammals.

Florida Black Bear
(Ursus americanus floridianus)

A nomadic creature, the Florida black bear can come in several colors from dark black to a blonde-cinnamon color. The black color is most often seen in the Okefenokee area. Black bears are known to eat both meat and plants. They migrate to areas where food is plentiful ranging as far as 30 miles in a day. Once all food in the area is consumed, the bears will move on to other food supplies. The bears in the Okefenokee seem to prefer the various berries available as well as acorns, but are frequently known to invade the many bee hive operations around the swamp's perimeter. A hungry group of bears can destroy an entire "bee-yard" in a single day. Black bears can reach weights of over 500 pounds and females raise 1 or 2 cubs every other year.

White-tailed Deer or Virginia Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)

One of Okefenokee's most graceful residents, the white-tailed deer is another environmental success story. Unrestrained hunting in the early twentieth century nearly drove this valuable game animal to extinction. With the strict regulation of hunting and a well organized restocking program, the white-tailed deer population has returned to great numbers all across the United States. Deer are now a common sight around the Okefenokee. They are frequently seen grazing on the side of the road or running and bounding gracefully across new cut fields.

North American Raccoon
(Procyon lotor)

One of Okefenokee's more curious residents, the raccoon is known for being an opportunist when it comes to food. Raccoons eat a variety of fish, frogs, and berries but are not above sneaking into campsites and grabbing any food left available. Able to open ice coolers and chew into tents, raccoons can be a nuisance to the careless camper. The raccoon is a very intelligent and curious animal, earning his way into much folklore dating back to times of North American Indian tribes. Rarely seen during the day, the raccoon tends to spend daylight hours sleeping in a hollow tree, venturing out at night to search for an easy meal.

Bobcat
(Felis rufa)

Tufted ears and a short, stubby tail distinguish the bobcat from other members of the cat family. Reaching weights of over 30 pounds (15 kg), the bobcat feeds on small rodents, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Generally, the bobcat is a shy and nocturnal animal. For this reason, sightings are not common in the Okefenokee area and most sightings are but a fleeting glimpse.

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