A pre-Revolutionary War fort, known as Burnt Fort, is located where the GA 252 bridge crosses the Satilla. Burnt Fort Station was built in 1793 by Capt. James Randolph, who the next year commanded a squad of dragoons to defend Camden County from Creek Indian attacks. Wildlife common along the banks of the river includes raccoons, opossums, armadillos, deer, squirrels, ducks, and wild turkeys. A study of the river's insect fauna revealed a great abundance and diversity of stoneflies, mayflies, dragonflies, dobsonflies, caddisflies and beetles, which are supported by submerged decaying vegetation such as snags and roots.
Fishermen seek the river's largemouth bass, crappie, redbreast, and bluegill.
Warmouth, channel catfish, bowfin, chain pickerel, and American eels share the river with softshell and hardshell turtles, cottonmouths, and alligators. Flora surrounding the river is determined by the degree and duration of submergence. In wetter areas, the river flows through cypress and gum swamps. Drier areas support water oak, laurel oak, sweetbay, red maple, and pine. Swamp blackgum are common.