Salisbury's Wild Side

Urban Wildlife

Did you know that you do not need to drive to the mountains or NC State Parks to see wildlife? We are surrounded by exotic wildlife right here in the city of Salisbury! Salisbury naturally offers great habitat for a wide variety of life. From white-tailed deer, to coyotes, turkey, otters, water fowl, and foxes. What draws them to our region is their natural habitats that surround us.

Salisbury has a wetland off of Jake Alexander Blvd where much of this wildlife thrives. Another hotspot for these critters is the Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological Preserve. Even if this wildlife is wandering in your yard or crossing the street, it is nothing to be concerned about. Raccoons, groundhogs, and squirrels are common to the urban setting. What you will find in our creeks in streams is a diverse aquatic ecosystem. This includes largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill. Fun fact: We have the Carolina Fantail Darter that only appears in the Yadkin Pee-Dee watershed!

When encountering wildlife, here are some tips:

• When coming across a wild animal, do not treat it like a pet.
• As long as you respect the boundaries of a wild animal, they should respect your’s.
• Make your property wildlife-friendly! Plant native flowers and trees and monitor what you put out into the environment.
• Become familiar with local animals and plants by going outside and even visiting our city parks and greenways.

Please check out some of these photos that I captured here in Salisbury and go explore!

Photos below captured by Michael Hanna, Public Works Admin Services Manager