Threatened & Endangered Species...

You're probably wondering why a hunting web site would concern itself with animals that are on the Federal Endangered Species List! It is our desire to inform and educate our hunters about the unique wildlife found on the installation so these species can live out their lives undisturbed and you, the hunter, can enjoy your outdoor experience without being disturbed. 

Fort Stewart is home to a number of wildlife species whose existence has been jeopardized for many reasons. These animals include the American bald eagle (threatened), red-cockaded woodpecker (endangered), eastern indigo snake (threatened), wood stork (endangered), flatwoods salamander (threatened), and shortnose sturgeon (endangered).

The only fish we have that is federally protected by law is the shortnose sturgeon. It's not likely that an angler would catch one of these fish because they are generally not caught on hook and line, and hunters need not concern themselves with this species. But, if for some reason, you find yourself fishing and happen to hook into one of these strange looking fish and you get it to the boat, be sure to let it go!!! It is illegal to possess, harm, harass, injure or kill these species, and the fine can be pretty stiff.  

If in your travels around post while on your hunting trip you should happen to see one of these other protected species or you venture into their habitat, please leave the area and do not disturb the site or the animal.

Bald Eagle - We have a couple eagle nests, one of which is located on the shores of Pineview Lake (Pond #1). If you fish this lake, you will notice a buoy line with "keep out" signs. This a protective area around the nest tree where admittance is prohibited by law. Our mission is to protect this site and prevent it from being disturbed as well as keeping disturbance by humans to a minimum during the eagle mating season (fall through early spring).

Eastern Indigo Snake - This snake is the largest snake in North America and can grow to lengths of 7' to 9'! These snakes are often found on the sand hills of south Georgia adjacent to gopher tortoise burrows during the winter and spring. The summer and fall will usually find them in the stream bottoms hunting food. These snakes are so dark blue in color that they appear black. They sport an orange-reddish chin. These snakes are NOT venomous and are generally docile in nature.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker - This woodpecker is unique because it lives in live pine trees. Installation biologists and foresters are helping to recover this species by installing artificial cavities in large old longleaf pines, conducting controlled or "prescribed" burning, and thinning the forest by increasing timber harvest. The resultant open forest is good for the bird as well as army training. Only the male bird has a very small patch of red on it's head that can only be seen close-up. The bird's roosting and nesting trees are marked with bands of white reflective tape.

Wood Stork - This is the only stork species found in North America. Although there are no know nesting or roosting sites on Fort Stewart, this bird does frequent the installation to feed in shallow ponds and swamps. This is a large white bird with black wing tips on the underside of the wings. 

Flatwoods Salamander - The flatwoods salamander is a small, dark colored salamander found in and adjacent to isolated temporal ponds located in the pine flats of the southeast. Because many salamanders are hard to distinguish, we ask anglers not to collect salamanders for bait while on Fort Stewart.

Return to top

Date of last update: 08/24/2007