Wildlife Guide.

Discover the incredible flora and fauna that call Lake Martin home. Bring your camera and your sense of wonder.

The undisputed kings of the swamp. Spot them basking on logs or gliding silently through the duckweed.

Majestic and patient hunters. Lake Martin is a premier rookery for these incredible wading birds.

Towering giants draped in Spanish moss. These ancient trees form the beautiful, haunting backbone of the swamp.

Famous for their bright pink plumage and unique spoon-shaped bills. A true photographer's dream.

Elegant white birds that nest in the thousands at Lake Martin during the spring and summer months.

Listen for their famous 'Who cooks for you?' call echoing through the mossy cypress canopy.

Red-eared sliders and snapping turtles are frequently seen sunbathing together on fallen logs.

One of the most colorful and beautiful waterfowl species found navigating the winding bayous.

A large, semi-aquatic rodent known for its distinctive orange teeth, often seen swimming or resting along the banks.

Known for swimming with only their necks above water, they are frequently spotted perched with wings spread wide to dry.

Massive, beautiful water lilies that bloom in the swamp, creating stunning fields of green and pale yellow across the water.

These magnificent fish-eating birds of prey can often be seen diving into the lake or nesting high in the dead cypress trees.

Known as the 'swamp canary,' these bright yellow songbirds nest in the hollows of dead cypress trees over the water.

Listen for their chorus at dusk. These small, vibrant green amphibians are masters of camouflage among the palmetto leaves.

A staple of Cajun culture and the swamp ecosystem, often spotted near the muddy banks and shallow root systems.

Keep your eyes on the highest branches. These majestic raptors frequent the lake to hunt for fish in the shallow waters.