Biodiversity

NATIVE PLANTS & ANIMALS OF DELAWARE

Welcome to Delaware Naturally! Explore our state’s unique wildlife, learn what makes a species “native,” and discover why protecting our local ecosystem matters.

What is a Native Species?

A native species is an organism that occurs naturally in a specific region without human help.

In Delaware, native plants and animals have evolved in place over thousands of years. Because of this long history, they are specially adapted to Delaware’s local climate, weather patterns, and soil types. They have also “co-evolved” with each other—meaning native plants, insects, birds, and mammals depend on one another to survive, eat, and reproduce. 

Native vs. Non-Native vs. Invasive

• Native Species: Evolved naturally in Delaware over millennia (e.g., White Oak, Eastern Box Turtle, Monarch Butterfly, American Goldfinch). They support local food webs and need less watering and care in gardens.
• Non-Native Species: Brought to Delaware by humans, either on purpose or by accident, from other parts of the world. Many are harmless (like certain garden flowers), but they didn’t evolve with local wildlife.
• Invasive Species: A dangerous type of non-native species that spreads fast, takes over resources, and harms native plants and animals (e.g., Japanese honeysuckle, English ivy, nutria).

Why Native Species Are Important to Delaware

Delaware is a small state packed with diverse habitats—from coastal beaches and salt marshes to southern cypress swamps and northern rolling hills. Native species are the foundation of these ecosystems for several reasons:

1. They Feed Our Wildlife: Insects that evolved eating native plants (like caterpillars on oak trees) provide the essential protein that baby birds need to grow. Without native plants, birds and other wildlife would starve.
2. They Power Migrations: Delaware is a crucial stopover on the Atlantic Flyway for millions of migratory shorebirds. For example, red knots time their arrival on our beaches to feast on protein-rich horseshoe crab eggs so they can finish their thousands-of-mile journey.
3. They Support Pollinators: Spring wildflowers provide vital food for bees, butterflies, and other early pollinators when they wake up from winter.
4. They Protect Our Environment: Native plants have deep roots that hold Delaware’s soil in place, filter rainwater naturally, reduce flooding, and clean our local watersheds and bays.

Delaware Biodiversity: By the Numbers

Curious about how much life calls Delaware home? Here are the numbers from our species tracking and scientific databases:Plants: 1,640 known native plant species in Delaware (1,419 still currently occur here), compared to 764 non-native plant species.

• Birds: 427 different bird species observed in the state.
• Fish: Around 91 species of freshwater and brackish water fish.
• Insects: 66+ butterfly species and 118 species of damselflies and dragonflies observed.
• Reptiles: 33 known reptile species.
• Amphibians: 29 known amphibian species.
• Mammals: Around 49 land mammal species (excluding marine mammals like whales and dolphins).