Wildlife & nature

During the colder months, flocks of American White Pelicans gather on the reservoir’s open waters, floating in formation like synchronized swimmers. With bright orange bills, stark white bodies, and impressive wingspans, their movements together create a striking sight.

Experience the silent glide of a Bald Eagle skimming over the reservoir or perched high above shoreline as it scans for its next meal.

The most industrious of residents, the beavers around Sallisaw's waterways are busy building lodges and dams, shaping the landscape and creating lush wetland habitats.

While not a resident you'll see around the campground, Sequoyah county is home to a growing population of Black Bears.

Known by its tufted ears and hefty size, the bobcat is one of the most elusive residents of Sequoyah County. This quietly confident prowler knows you are in the area long before you have a chance to spot it.

Most often spotted at dawn and dusk, coyotes use the cover of our forests and stream beds to move lithely through the area as they hunt small prey like mice and rabbits.

With a coat of burnt orange and brown, the fox squirrel is the largest in the area. This cute resident is also responsible for forest health as it can stash over a thousand acorns and hickory nuts every year, leading to countless new saplings.

You can often spy Great Blue Herons standing motionless in the shallows, almost pre-historic in appearance, with dagger-like bills ready to strike at fish with lightning precision, then gliding off in stealth silence across the water's surface. 

Certainly one of the most unique-looking residents of the park, the Armadillo is a tireless scavenger who will often be spotted rooting along roadsides or in leafy areas. It's often seen when lights glint off its armored back.

These clever little masked bandits are cute and often unintimidated by people, regardless, please remember that they are wild and you should keep your distance and do not feed them.

Easily identified by the bright red stripes behind their ears, Red-eared Slider turtles can be found sunning themselves on logs and rocks along the shoreline. These slow moving friends can live to be 25 years old, please help them safely cross if you spot them on the roadways.

River otters are an apex predator and a signifier of a healthy ecosystem. We are proud to have these sleek, playful, powerful swimmers helping to maintain our watershed. 

The songbirds and waterfowl aren't the only ones you'll see flying beneath our canopies. At dusk, the elusive Southern Flying Squirrel can be seen gliding branch to branch using its "wing sheet".

Favoring the areas where forest meets field, these peaceful animals can be found grazing and bedding down throughout the park. As they bound away, you'll see their namesake white tail flagging their departure.

Bee balm grows in sunny clearings and meadow edges throughout the park. Its soft purple blooms appear in summer and attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This bright native flower adds color along trails and near the lakeshore.

Blue vervain thrives in moist soil near the water’s edge. Tall spikes of blue-purple flowers bloom through summer and draw steady pollinator activity. It’s commonly found in wetlands and low meadows across the park.

Buttonbush grows along creeks and reservoir edges with round white blooms in early summer. Its flowers attract butterflies and bees while thick branches provide shelter for birds. Deep roots help hold shoreline soil in place.

These small purple flowers appear in early spring beneath trees and along shaded paths. Blue violets provide early nectar for pollinators and often form clusters across woodland edges.

Eastern redbuds bloom in bright pink each spring before their leaves appear. Found along forest edges, they are one of the first trees to signal the change of seasons at Cherokee Nation Sallisaw Creek Park.

Flowering dogwoods brighten wooded areas with white or pale pink blooms in spring. In fall, red berries feed birds and small wildlife throughout the park.

This native vine winds through shaded forests with glossy leaves and thorned stems. Its berries provide food for wildlife while dense growth offers cover for small animals.

Sumac grows along sunny slopes and open trails, known for its upright clusters of red fruit. In autumn, its leaves turn deep shades of red and orange.

White wild indigo grows in open clearings with tall stems of creamy white blooms in late spring. Its strong roots help improve soil health and support meadow habitats.