Chattanooga is home to plenty of flora and fauna that has wildlife watchers coming from afar. Activities such as birdwatching and hiking with a view for wildlife photography is an increasingly popular hobby with many looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Here are some of the best places to visit in the area for wildlife enthusiasts.
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
This non-profit organization is situated at the foothills of Lookout Mountain and you can find over 100 bird species, 20 mammals, 400 insects as well as almost 30 reptiles and amphibians across its five acres.
The nature center is also a key player in the conservation of red wolves and they are available to view at the center. Visitors can enjoy an educational talk on these endangered species and observe a feeding session every Saturday afternoon. Many other animals can be found in the exhibits including the snakes that are housed and looked after in Snake Tale Alley.
This is a family and pet-friendly place with kids and adults alike able to interact with the resident horses. Youngsters can also explore and have fun at the discovery treehouse. As the name suggests, this place conserves a multitude of plants and trees among its meadows, glades and forests while its botanical gardens are well worth checking out while you are there. Look out for the majestic herds of deer in the meadows!
Chattanooga Audubon Society
As Chattanooga’s oldest wildlife sanctuary, Chattanooga Audubon Society is a great place to discover wildlife viewing opportunities in the area. You can expect to see mammals such as raccoons, opossum, muskrats, beavers, groundhogs, rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels while occasionally you may spot a fox, coyotes, and bobcats too.
The society hosts a number of educational activities especially in regard to the bird population of the area. Year-round you can spot great blue herons, belted kingfishers and wood ducks along the banks of South Chickamauga Creek while thrushes, vireos, warblers, tanagers and flycatchers are often spotted along with different species of owl. This location offers great hiking opportunities too but be warned that pets are not allowed in.
Chattanooga Zoo
The classic way to see wildlife safely is in a zoo setting of course and Chattanooga is no different with a 13-acre site located in Warner Park. This zoo acts as a wildlife refuge with a rehabilitation facility where people are free to bring in animals that are injured, orphaned, or displaced with the view the facility will look to release them back into the wild. Check the page on the website for more details.
The zoo itself houses almost 150 different species and over 800 animals. It boasts the largest exhibit of red pandas in the world and also has a habitat for snow leopards and langurs. The Corcovado Jungle is the area where you can find Latin American animals such as macaws, capybaras and spider monkeys. The jaguars are a highlight for many with the zoo maintaining close ties with the Argentine Jaguar Conservation Project.
Birdwatching
Throughout Chattanooga, it proves to be a birdwatching paradise with plenty of stunning locations to partake in this activity. The Chattanooga Chapter Of The Tennessee Ornithological Society has picked out the 13 best spots in the area. Birding in the 21st century is easier than ever with countless apps and increasingly affordable equipment available to help spot, identify and capture birds on film.
The aforementioned Audubon Society is always mentioned in the birding conversation, but there are many other great locations too. The Park at the Shallowford Road parking area offers great opportunities to gaze upon marsh birds such as Canadian geese, herons, hawks and the beautiful belted kingfisher.
Shoreline birds such as gulls, loons and ducks can be spotted aplenty at the vast Harrison Bay State Park that surrounds Chickamauga Lake. Meanwhile, the Standifer Gap Marsh located just northeast of the city is home to plenty of rare birds and is therefore really popular with experienced birders.
As you can see, Chattanooga is a great place to spot and appreciate wildlife and we hope you have found this guide useful. Lastly, please always remember to be respectful to any wildlife that you encounter and make sure you leave no trace.