Most of the animals found on Padre Island will be those normally associated with grasslands and the seashore. There are many species of rodents to feed on the native grasses. To feed on the rodents are coyotes, snakes, and many species of birds. Deer are often seen, but these usually wade across from the mainland and are not native. The island's largest native mammal is the coyote. Other mammals include badger, raccoon, opossum, kangaroo rat, bats, and spotted ground squirrel. The island has three poisonous snakes: the western diamondback, the massasagua and the Texas coral snake. Copperheads and cottonmouths are not known to be on the island. There are many non-venomous snakes, but few snakes are encountered by the public. The island is located on a major avian migratory route known as the Central Flyway. As a result, many birds come here to winter, to breed, or to simply pass over in transit. Including native, non-migratory species the National Seashore has documented over 350 species of birds in its boundaries. The meeting of two longshore currents near the center of the island brings many nutrients to this area and consequently many fish. Marine mammals have stranded here in the past. Four species of sea turtle have been documented as nesting here.

Following is a list of state and federally protected animal species occurring or likely to occur at Padre Island National Seashore. (T â€" Threatened, E â€" Endangered, SOC â€" Species of Concern, and S/A â€" Similar in Appearance)

SPECIES

FEDERAL

STATE

Reptiles and Amphibians

American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis)

T (S/A)

Texas Horned Lizard ( Phrynosoma cornutum )

SOC

T

Texas Indigo Snake ( Drymarchon corais erebennus) *

T

Turtles

Kemp's ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

E

E

Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta)

T

T

Green Sea Turtle ( Chelonia mydas)

T

T

Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata )

E

E

Leatherback Sea Turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea )

E

E

Birds

Eastern Brown Pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis )

E

E

Reddish Egret ( Egretta rufescens )

SOC

T

White-faced Ibis ( Plegadis chihi )

SOC

T

Wood Stork ( Mycteria americana ) *

T

Interior Least Tern ( Sterna antillarum )

E

E

Sooty Tern ( Sterna fuscata )

T

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

SOC

Piping Plover ( Charadrius melodous )

T

T

Bald Eagle (lower 48 states) ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus )

T

T

Northern Aplomado Falcon ( Falco femoralis septentrionalis )

E

E

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

SOC

Swallow-tailed Kite ( Elanoides forficatus ) *

T

White-tailed Hawk ( Buteo albicaudatus ) *

T

Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus )

Delisted

E

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea)

SOC

Black-capped Vireo ( Vireo atricapillus )

E

E

Tropical Parula ( Parula pitiayumi )

SOC

T

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

SOC