What Animals Live in Coastal Sand Dunes?
Lots of different kinds of animals make coastal sand dunes their homes, from birds to lizards to snakes. Many of these species have adapted to sand dunes and learned to live there by burrowing into the sand. Others feed on the plants that grow in these habitats. American Goldfinch American goldfinches are bright yellow with black wings and a black cap. This songbird is often found in coastal sand dunes and nests in July or August. American goldfinches often feed on the thistles that grow on sand dunes. In the wintertime, goldfinches eat seeds from weeds. Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes These snakes have thick bodies that are usually yellow, orange or brown, with dark brown or black patches. They move slowly and grow between 20 and 40 inches. This snake prefers open areas of sand dunes and burrows into the sand to prey on toads. Eastern hog-nosed snakes aren’t harmful to people. When threatened, they flatten their necks and bodies, puff with air and hiss. Fringe-Toed Lizard The fringe-toed liz
