Farther out, in the open-water areas, a variety of aquatic plants flourish. We're still learning about the great number of animals that reside in or frequent the marshes. Of course, fishes and shellfishes are the main inhabitants of and visitors to the subtidal and intertidal salt and brackish marshes. Many species of waterfowl, sea birds, shorebirds, and wading birds also depend on these marshes for food and cover. Mice and shrews live in the higher marshes, as do many kinds of insects.
Abundant food attracts many songbirds, which in turn entice owls and the smaller hawks.
Deer visit the salt and brackish marshes to feed, as do other mammals, such as skunks, raccoons, mink, and river otters. These same species also forage in and around the freshwater wetlands, where beaver and muskrats are often year-round residents. All of these wetlands are complex and highly productive. They provide food and shelter for countless organisms and are vital components of the estuary and coastal zone.