Information
Landmark: Oatland Island Wildlife CenterCity: Savannah
Country: USA Georgia
Continent: North America
Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Savannah, USA Georgia, North America
Overview
Oatland Island Wildlife Center sits on 100 acres of preserved land, offering both a haven for native animals and a place to learn about the environment, just east of Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia, where salt marshes stretch toward the horizon.Founded in 1974, the center set out to inspire conservation and teach people about the environment, bringing them face-to-face with native wildlife and the quiet beauty of preserved habitats.Run by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Oatland Island is both a living classroom and a quiet nature sanctuary, where visitors can spot marsh grasses swaying beside trails and watch native coastal Georgia wildlife up close.It’s key to bringing people-especially students and families-face to face with Georgia’s forests, rivers, and rich wildlife heritage.The island is home to a maritime forest, where tidal marshes glint under the sun, freshwater ponds ripple with the wind, and wooded trails wind through the shade-creating a rare setting that enriches learning and nurtures wildlife.At Oatland Island Wildlife Center, you’ll find more than 150 animals representing over 50 native species, from the rustle of a fox through pine needles to the quiet watch of a great horned owl.Visitors stroll along tidy trails, passing through spacious, lifelike habitats where animals roam as they might in the wild-an eagle’s cry echoing faintly overhead.At the center, visitors learn about native species-how they fit into the local ecosystem, the hurdles of conservation, and the quirks of animal behavior, like the way a fox flicks its tail before pouncing.One of the highlights is Wolf Wilderness, where a pack of gray wolves roams among pine trees, and visitors can also spot armadillos, flying squirrels, screech owls, and a variety of reptiles.The habitat recreates the feel of a wild woodland, where visitors can watch these shy creatures from just a few steps away, leaves rustling underfoot.Cougar Crossing is devoted to the mountain lion, offering a habitat that mirrors the thick, shadowy forests where these cats prowl in the wild.Visitors can discover how the species behaves, where it stakes its territory, and why its protection matters-like watching a heron guard its nesting spot by the reeds.Georgia Barnyard: Step inside to meet gentle farm animals-cows swishing their tails, woolly sheep, playful goats, and soft-eared rabbits.It teaches visitors about the region’s traditional farming life, showing how people once worked alongside oxen in the fields.Birds of Prey features raptors like the Eastern Screech Owl and the mighty Bald Eagle, along with other fierce hunters.Visitors learn how these predators keep ecosystems in balance, and the exhibit spotlights ongoing work to protect them.Pollination Station is a garden built to draw in native pollinators-bees buzzing between blossoms, butterflies drifting through the air, and hummingbirds darting for nectar.It shows just how vital pollinators are to keeping ecosystems alive, and drives home why we need to protect native plants and the places they grow-like meadows buzzing with bees in summer.At Heritage Home Sites, you’ll find a cluster of 19th‑century cabins, including the Delk Cabin, which was moved to the island in 1979 and still smells faintly of pine.These structures tell the story of early settlers and the pace of rural life, linking the rustle of prairie grass to the threads of cultural history.At Marsh Boardwalk and Dock House, you can wander across wooden paths that wind through tidal marshes, spotting herons lifting off the water, frogs hidden in the reeds, and tall grasses swaying in the breeze.From the Dock House, you can explore an interpretive space with wide windows that frame the marsh’s silver-green grasses.Ledbetter Pond is six acres of still, fresh water, home to bullfrogs, yellow-bellied sliders sunning on logs, graceful egrets, and towering wood storks.The pond is a vital refuge for frogs, herons, and other creatures, and people often gather along its banks to watch the ripples and wings.At Oatland Island Wildlife Center, education sits at the heart of everything they do, from guiding school groups past the deer enclosure to leading hands‑on nature workshops.The center offers a variety of programs for learners of every age, including school field trips where kids press their palms to cool stream water while naturalists and educators bring wildlife biology, conservation, and habitat preservation to life.Toddler Tuesday offers weekly programs for little ones ages 1–4, with hands-on crafts, lively storytelling, and gentle animal meet-and-greets-perfect for sparking a first glimpse of the natural world.Summer camps offer week-long adventures where kids get hands-on with wildlife, explore ecology, and try real conservation work-like planting trees or tracking animal footprints.All year long, the center throws themed celebrations-like the sparkly Fairy & Gnome Festival, a lantern-lit Halloween Hike, and the hearty Harvest Festival with cane grinding.They blend learning with lively gatherings, marking the shift in seasons and honoring local traditions, like sharing hot cider on a crisp autumn afternoon.Every so often, naturalists, conservationists, and guest speakers host workshops or give talks that dive into subjects like native plant gardening, bird watching, or wildlife rehabilitation-sometimes pointing out the call of a nearby warbler to bring the lesson to life.At Oatland Island Wildlife Center, visitors can expect a welcoming, easy-to-navigate experience with plenty to learn and enjoy.More than a mile and a half of rustic nature trails curve through shady maritime forest and quiet marsh, linking every animal exhibit along the way.Clear signs guide you along the trails, where you can pause at overlooks to spot a deer in the brush or a hawk circling overhead.The Tony Cope Education and Visitors Center, named for its founder, is home to snakes that coil lazily under warm lamps, hands-on exhibits you can explore, and lively programs that spark curiosity.You’ll find visitor perks here, from clean restrooms to a gift shop stocked with pine-scented candles and other nature-themed treasures.Trails and exhibits welcome visitors of all mobility levels, though a few stretches of uneven ground might call for moderate walking ability.The center welcomes visitors every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you can linger on the grounds until 4:45, maybe catching the last warm light on the garden path.It shuts down on big holidays-Thanksgiving’s quiet streets, Christmas’s bright lights.It’s an easy place to enjoy without spending much-adults (17–64) pay $5, kids (4–17) $3, seniors (65+) and military with ID $3, little ones three and under are free-and you’ll find plenty of on-site parking, with clear signs guiding you in from Savannah.You’ll find the center about five miles east of downtown Savannah, out on President Street, where the hum of traffic rolls along the Islands Expressway.Beyond teaching and welcoming visitors, Oatland Island Wildlife Center helps protect the local environment by giving injured or long-captive native animals a safe place to live-quiet enclosures where they can rest beneath the shade of tall pines.We’re working to raise public awareness about why Georgia’s coastal ecosystems matter-think salt marshes at sunrise, teeming with birds and life worth protecting.We’re promoting sustainable habits, from planting native flowers that sway in the breeze to designing yards that welcome birds and butterflies.We work with conservation groups to back vital research and help restore habitats, from tracking sea turtles to replanting mangroves.Oatland Island Wildlife Center plays a key role in the community’s culture, where the sound of owls at dusk reminds visitors why it matters.
