Professor Bruce Means says that "barrier islands, peninsulas, and spits are unique coastal environments created by wave and wind action, and affected by saltwater and intense sunlight. Islands are unique ecological and evolutionary laboratories containing plants and animals that are especially adapted for the harsh physical conditions on islands." Shell Island has a freshwater swamp; sand dunes, including interdune flats, foredune fields and back dunes; cattail marshes; freshwater potholes; coastal grassland; slash pine flatwoods; and beaches.
With the world's largest concentration of bottle-nosed dolphins, sitings of these mammals are very common. Shell Island has several tour companies that provide opportunities to look for, and even swim with, dolphins. While swimming with dolphins is often an exciting adventure, the programs also teach tourists about dolphin's habitats, rituals, food and mating habits -- providing an enhanced learning opportunity.
The brown pelican nests and winters in warmer waters but travels the Atlantic coast the rest of the year. Nesting occurs on Shell Island, both on the ground and in trees. Pollution, chemical spills and the effects of fishing have greatly impacted brown pelicans. The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted many brown pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico, in the summer of 2010. The use of DDT was shown in the 1970s to have been particularly harmful to the eggs of pelicans. As a result, the brown pelican was put on the endangered species list in 1972, but removed from the list in 2009.
Shells are plentiful on Shell Island. You can find conchs, starfish, sand dollars and many types of crabs. Snorkeling allows you to see fish, coral and other marine life in the water and shoals of the island. On the beaches, you are likely to find many different types of shells. It is important to make sure that you only pick up only dead or empty shells to maintain the ecological food chain of the island. Sand dollars, for example, are dark when alive and white when dead.
