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If you’re the type who loves long walks on the beach and making friends with the locals (the four-legged, flippered, or feathered kind), then Alabama’s Gulf Coast is your paradise! This World Wildlife Day, we’re celebrating the incredible creatures that call our beaches, bays, and backwaters home, and the amazing ways you can meet them during your stay on our shores. So grab your binoculars, your sense of adventure, and let’s get wild!

No trip to Alabama’s beaches is complete without a dolphin sighting! Hop aboard one of our signature dolphin cruises for a front-row seat to these playful marine mammals in their natural habitat. Watch as pods of bottlenose dolphins surf the boat’s wake, leap through the waves, and show off their signature flips! It’s like a private wildlife show—no admission ticket required.

Pro Tip: Morning cruises make for the most magical experience with peaceful lighting and extra dolphin activity!

If you’re looking for an up-close-and-personal experience with wildlife from around the world, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is the place to be! Known as the “Little Zoo That Could,” this award-winning sanctuary lets visitors interact with sloths, lemurs, kangaroos, and even giraffes. Take a walk on the wild side and see how this conservation-focused zoo is making a difference for animals near and far.

Wild Fact: The zoo is home to more than 118 species and offers VIP animal encounters. Ever wanted to hug a sloth? This is your chance!

For the ultimate nature escape, visit Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, a hidden gem that protects some of Alabama’s most diverse ecosystems. Lace up your hiking shoes and explore miles of scenic trails where you might spot sea turtles, alligators, bald eagles, and the elusive Alabama beach mouse. (Yes, it’s an actual species, and yes, it’s adorable.)

Best Trail: The Jeff Friend Trail offers an easy, family-friendly boardwalk loop with stunning views of the lagoon and plenty of birdwatching opportunities. Bring your camera!

With 6,500 acres of pristine coastal beauty, Gulf State Park is a wildlife lover’s dream. Rent a bike and cruise through scenic wetlands on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, where you might spot deer, osprey, and even alligators sunbathing on the banks. Prefer a paddle? Kayak through Lake Shelby and keep an eye out for turtles, fish, and migratory birds.

Bonus Adventure: The Nature Center at Gulf State Park is a great stop for families, featuring live animal exhibits and educational programs about Alabama’s coastal ecosystem.

If you’re visiting between May and October, you might just witness one of nature’s most incredible sights—baby sea turtles hatching and making their journey to the Gulf! Volunteers with the Share the Beach program work hard to protect nesting sea turtles, and you can learn all about their conservation efforts. Just remember—if you see a sea turtle nest, give it space and keep the beach dark at night to help hatchlings find their way home!

Bird lovers, rejoice! The Audubon Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island is a must-visit destination for spotting migratory and resident birds along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Covering 164 acres of maritime forests, marshes, and dunes, this protected area is a resting stop for thousands of birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway. Walk the scenic trails and you might catch a glimpse of warblers, egrets, and even the strikingly pink roseate spoonbill.

Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall migrations offer the best birdwatching opportunities!

For a deeper dive into Alabama’s marine life, check out the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. This hands-on facility brings the Gulf to life with touch tanks, interactive exhibits, and up-close encounters with stingrays, sea turtles, and native fish species. Learn about local ecosystems, marine conservation, and the fascinating underwater world just beyond our shores!

Don’t Miss: The Living Marsh Boardwalk for an up-close look at estuarine habitats and their incredible inhabitants.

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is packed with incredible wildlife experiences, from meeting the local dolphins to exploring protected wildlife sanctuaries. This World Wildlife Day, let’s celebrate the creatures that make our beaches so special and do our part to protect their habitats.

Ready to plan your next wild adventure? Book your dolphin cruise today and experience the magic of our marine life firsthand!