Whether you travel to the Outer Banks, Hilton Head or Asheville, you’re likely to see spectacular wildlife, UVA ecologist David Carr says. (Illustration by Sako Yamaguchi, University Communications)
You go on vacation to enjoy a break from work, eat well and admire beautiful views. But travel also brings you to new environments, where vacationers can see various plants, animals and wildlife.
UVA Today talked to University of Virginia ecologist David Carr to learn what creatures travelers might see if they visit three vacation destinations within a day’s drive of Charlottesville.
Carr, an environmental sciences research professor, currently studies pollinators, but said his love for environmental science began with the salamanders he would find as a kid. (Contributed photo)
Although Asheville may seem similar to Charlottesville, Carr said, anyone seeking refuge from the summer heat in this mountain town may see animals they usually don’t find in Central Virginia.
“Even though Asheville is quite a bit further south than Charlottesville, with those high mountains, you get more of a northern flavor, especially the birds that live in the area,” Carr, a research professor in the environmental sciences department, said.
Birds more typical of northern states and even Canada can be spotted in Asheville, like the Canada warbler and the brightly colored blue-winged warbler. Carr recommended using the Merlin Bird ID app, available for free in Google Play and Apple App Store, to identify birds if you need help.
Like Charlottesville, the big mammals in the area include bears, bobcats and deer. Asheville also boasts one of the most diverse arrays of salamanders in the world, Carr said.
“If you look at the Outer Banks on a map, they stick way out into the Atlantic Ocean. You are as close as you can be on land to the Gulf Stream,” Carr said.
That means it’s possible to see whales, especially if you take a tour boat.
“One of the most memorable wildlife sightings I’ve ever had was a pod of sperm whales in the Outer Banks. That’s an animal I’d only ever dreamed of seeing,” Carr said.
You can also spot bottlenose dolphins in the Outer Banks, along with a host of shorebirds, including the black skimmer or the American oystercatcher, a black and white bird with a vivid red-orange beak.
Hilton Head is far enough south you can occasionally see manatees. In fact, Carr saw his first manatee on the South Carolina island.
Visitors should also watch out for alligators, which usually don’t venture as far north as North Carolina, Carr said.
Birdwatchers in Hilton Head are in for a rare treat, though. Painted buntings are “pretty routine” in the area, though they are one of the most rapidly declining songbirds in the eastern United States.
“Some people say it’s the prettiest bird in North America, and other people say it’s one of the most gaudy,” Carr said.
Wherever you travel this summer, Carr advised people to keep their hands off the animals they see. Robert Irwin makes it look easy on Instagram, but it can quickly become dangerous.
“It’s for your own safety, but also for wildlife safety,” Carr said.
He also recommended staying on the trail if you hike, and keeping an eye out for snakes, especially cottonmouths and copperheads. If you’re especially curious about the wildlife in your vacation destination, Carr suggested researching wildlife refuges in the area.
“All three of these areas are beautiful, beautiful places,” he said.
University News Associate Office of University Communications
aberry@virginia.edu 434-924-6861
July 13, 2025
