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Wildlife in Cape Henlopen State Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Cape Henlopen right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

5,170
recent observations
30
species listed
13
birds
10
other
3
plants

Naturalists have logged 5,170 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Cape Henlopen. The most frequently seen is the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, with 508 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (13 of the species listed here), followed by other (10).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Cape Henlopen

Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
508 observations · iNaturalist
Atlantic Ghost Crab
Ocypode quadrata
337 observations · iNaturalist
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
303 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
269 observations
Knobbed Whelk
Busycon carica
243 observations · iNaturalist
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
227 observations
Sanderling
Calidris alba
223 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
215 observations
low pricklypear
Opuntia humifusa
213 observations
Ocellate Lady Crab
Ovalipes ocellatus
185 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
171 observations
Seaside Dragonlet
Erythrodiplax berenice
154 observations · iNaturalist
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
143 observations
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
140 observations
Atlantic Sand Crab
Emerita talpoida
139 observations · iNaturalist
sassafras
Sassafras albidum
135 observations
Common Atlantic Slippersnail
Crepidula fornicata
133 observations · iNaturalist
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops erebennus
133 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
129 observations
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
124 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
121 observations
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
117 observations
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
114 observations
Eastern Mudsnail
Ilyanassa obsoleta
110 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
101 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
101 observations
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
100 observations
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
99 observations
Atlantic Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
92 observations · iNaturalist
Stout Tagelus
Tagelus plebeius
91 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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