The Chesapeake is home to more than 3,000 species of plants and animals, including 348 species of finfish, 173 species of shellfish, and roughly 30 species of waterfowl. Discover some of the rich, extraordinary wildlife that make this place so special.
Some of the most iconic Bay species—and perhaps the most important to the region's recreation, economy, and way of life—include the blue crab, Eastern oyster, striped bass (also known as rockfish or striper), and Atlantic menhaden.
Discover more of the diverse and extraordinary wildlife that make this a place so special by browsing through our blog posts below, listening to our seasonal naturalist podcast, Chesapeake Almanac, or checking in on our Osprey Cam from late spring through early fall.
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Many Questions Remain for Blue Crab Outlook
March 22, 2023
The season for catching Chesapeake Bay blue crabs is already underway in Virginia, and recreational crabbing will officially kick off in Maryland on April 1. Several boats have been plying the waters the past several months, however, to pursue the crustaceans not for steaming but for science.
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A Trout’s Journey: Behind the Scenes of Pennsylvania’s Fish Hatcheries
March 16, 2023
Getting 3.2 million hatchery-raised trout into waterways, as well as sustaining wild trout populations, is a critical part of the worldclass fishing for which Pennsylvania’s mountain streams are renowned. Both require good water, and lots of it.
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Fisheries Win in Virginia’s Legislative Session
March 9, 2023
Last month, Virginia wrapped up its legislative session and with it came big wins for the Chesapeake Bay’s fisheries. Read more about the strides made to control blue catfish and protect oysters, blue crabs, and menhaden.
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A Symbol for Pennsylvania
May 16, 2022
The largest salamanders in North America were plentiful in the Bay watershed decades ago. Today, with their populations teetering and habitat facing multiple threats, the Eastern hellbender is still as charismatic and ugly a critter as ever.
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Five Facts You Didn’t Know About Beavers
April 7, 2022
These toothy, big-tailed creatures are some of the Chesapeake’s best Bay savers.
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Forest Fish
March 9, 2022
CBF's Brian Gish has a plan to restore habitat for brook trout in Pennsylvania.
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Resilient Return
March 2, 2022
Resurgence of Atlantic sturgeon in the Chesapeake Bay is reason to continue pollution-reduction efforts.
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Charismatic Creatures
January 26, 2022
A Pennsylvania farm owner steps up to protect bog turtles on his land.
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Miniature Marvels
January 12, 2022
Lined seahorses rely on the Bay's underwater grass beds for food, shelter, and a place to breed.
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Winter Leviathan
January 6, 2022
Known for their acrobatics, humpback whales sometimes venture into the Chesapeake to feed.
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Unexpected Visitor Spotted in C&O Canal in Montgomery County
September 22, 2021
The tropical Wood Stork is rarely seen in Maryland, but could have been blown north by Hurricane Ida.
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Five Facts You Otter Know
September 20, 2021
While we love to see them, otter sightings can be rare depending on your location in the watershed. But when you do see them, here are five interesting facts you should know about the North American river otter.
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Four Surprising Facts About Chesapeake Jellyfish
August 17, 2021
Admit it—it wouldn’t be a Chesapeake summer without sea nettles. From where to watch for nettles to treating their irritating stings, here are four things to know about jellyfish.
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Freshwater Mussels: Wild, Wonderful, and Waning
August 16, 2021
Carolina Slabshells, Tidewater Muckets, Green Floaters—an amazing diversity of freshwater mussels call the rivers and streams of the Bay watershed home. But we’re losing species faster than we can understand them.
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Sharks: From Miocene to Modern Day
July 14, 2021
We’ve all heard about sharks in the Bay, but did you know that these apex predators have actually been living here long before us humans ever showed up?
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Herons in Harrisburg
July 2, 2021
Endangered Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are finding unexpected refuge in urban neighborhoods.
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Are There Sharks in the Chesapeake Bay?
August 11, 2020
Swimming and boating are two of the best activities to beat the summer heat, but could sharks be lurking just below the surface?
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Oysters: How Are They Doing?
August 5, 2020
Oysters are one of the watershed's favorite bivalves. But how are they doing?
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Blue Crabs: How Are They Doing?
August 3, 2020
Blue crabs are known far and wide as a symbol of the Chesapeake Bay region. But how are they doing?
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Sharks in the Bay?!
August 14, 2018
A shark catch in southern Maryland waters has launched a flurry of questions across the region. CBF's Doug Myers tells us what we need to know.
