Staff Answer
Jun 24, 2026 - 11:49 AM
While dolphins are the wildlife most visitors hope to see, they're far from the only animals found around Shell Island. Brown pelicans are commonly seen diving for fish, while gulls, terns, ospreys, and great blue herons are frequently spotted along the shoreline. In clear, shallow water, you may also see stingrays, schools of baitfish, and other marine life moving across the sandy bottom. Sea turtles are occasionally seen in the surrounding waters, although sightings are much less common than birds or dolphins. Every trip is different, but Shell Island's undeveloped shoreline makes it one of the better places in the Panama City Beach area to observe coastal wildlife.
