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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.

5,242
recent observations
30
species listed
13
birds
9
other
4
plants

Naturalists have logged 5,242 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Cape Henlopen. The most frequently seen is the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, with 513 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (13 of the species listed here), followed by other (9).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Cape Henlopen

Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
513 observations · iNaturalist
Atlantic Ghost Crab
Ocypode quadrata
341 observations · iNaturalist
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
311 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
274 observations
Knobbed Whelk
Busycon carica
246 observations · iNaturalist
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
227 observations
Sanderling
Calidris alba
225 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
218 observations
Low Pricklypear
Opuntia humifusa
213 observations
Ocellate Lady Crab
Ovalipes ocellatus
188 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
174 observations
Seaside Dragonlet
Erythrodiplax berenice
158 observations · iNaturalist
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
147 observations
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
145 observations
Atlantic Sand Crab
Emerita talpoida
139 observations · iNaturalist
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
137 observations
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops erebennus
137 observations
Common Atlantic Slippersnail
Crepidula fornicata
133 observations · iNaturalist
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
131 observations
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
124 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
121 observations
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
118 observations
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
116 observations
Eastern Mudsnail
Ilyanassa obsoleta
111 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
103 observations
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
103 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
103 observations
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
102 observations
Atlantic Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
93 observations · iNaturalist
American Holly
Ilex opaca
91 observations

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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