Coastal maritime forest · Also known as: coastal forest, loblolly pine woods, dune woodland
Wind-pruned pine and oak woods behind Assateague’s dunes. Shade, songbirds, and box turtles a short drive from Coastal Highway.
Habitat guide for Ocean City & Assateague, Maryland · 24 Nature Guide species linked
| Habitat type | Maritime forest |
|---|---|
| Accessibility nearby | ★★★☆☆ |
| Related zones | Maritime forest, Dunes, Salt marsh & flats |
| Seasons (this coast) | year-round, spring, summer, fall |
| Best for | Songbirds, sika deer, fox sign, box turtles, shade walks. |
| Species tags | Maritime forest |
| Access | Best on Assateague trails; limited intact forest left on Ocean City island proper. |
| Parking | Assateague State Park / National Seashore lots. |
| Fees | Park day-use or entrance fees. |
| Best local example | Assateague Island forests |
| Canopy | Loblolly pine, oaks, wax myrtle understory |
| Signature wildlife | Sika deer, songbirds, box turtles, fox |
| Ease | Easy trails; sandy footing |
| Hazards | Ticks, mosquitoes, heat |
| Pair with | Dunes, salt marsh, Assateague places |
Maritime forest is wind-shaped pine and oak woodland on stabilized dunes—Assateague’s shady counterpoint to open beach. Ocean City itself lost most of this habitat to development, so plan the short drive south.
Expect ticks in warm months, mosquitoes near swales, and excellent spring migration birding in the canopy edges. Stay on marked trails in horse country.
Migration transforms quiet pine woods; summer is shadier but buggier.
Nature Guide profiles tagged for this habitat around Ocean City and Assateague, Maryland. Likelihood stars reflect how often visitors can reasonably expect the species—not a guarantee for any single outing.
| Group | Species linked | Share of checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Birds | 3 | |
| Mammals | 8 | |
| Reptiles & amphibians | 4 | |
| Insects & arachnids | 9 | |
| Total | 24 | |
Full directory: Birds around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round, winter |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus | ★★ ☆☆☆ | winter |
Full directory: Mammals around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Assateague Horse Equus caballus | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Raccoon Procyon lotor | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Sika Deer Cervus nippon | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Red Fox Vulpes vulpes | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
Full directory: Reptiles & amphibians around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Ratsnake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Fowler's Toad Anaxyrus fowleri | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer |
| Eastern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus | ★★ ☆☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
Full directory: Insects & arachnids around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Common Green Darner Anax junius | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| Monarch Danaus plexippus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| American Dog Tick Dermacentor variabilis | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Black and Yellow Garden Spider Argiope aurantia | ★★★★ ☆ | summer, fall |
| Blacklegged Tick Ixodes scapularis | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Carolina Wolf Spider Hogna carolinensis | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, fall, winter |
Common questions for visitors exploring this habitat near Ocean City, Maryland.
Wildlife you may see nearby (copyright-free photos from Wikimedia Commons via our Nature Guide). The main page photo above stays separate.
Or drop several images onto this gallery
