Daily wildlife sightings in the community are pheasants, deer, bobcats, rabbits, bear, plus wide and varied species of birds.

According to Magen Hudak, of Cow Bay, in "Cow Bay's Ocean Playground: The Shifting Landscape of Silver Sands Beach, 1860s - Present" (MA thesis, 2014),[5] "Silver Sands Beach [...] has been an integral landmark, for many generations, for locals and non-locals, alike.

A "long stretch of fine white sand," [6] it was flanked by a tree-lined picnic area, situated against a lake.

It boasted various sundry amenities - including an open concept pavilion, in the early decades of the twentieth century, and by midcentury, it was equipped with modern style beach canteens and a dancehall.

[7] In 1893, local history essayist, Mary Jane Katzmann, praised the small rural community of Cow Bay as "a spot where Nature with her fairest and sweetest attractions [was] always to be found," further illustrating its prestige as a favourite summer resort, "not only for picnic parties, but also for those who [enjoyed] a few days or weeks by the sea.

"[8] Lying approximately fifteen kilometers east of Dartmouth, many would make the journey there via horse and wagon – or even via steamboat in the late nineteenth century- before the days of the automobile, in order to escape the "dinginess of a garrisoned city" [Halifax].

In particular, early recreational activity at Cow Bay, features within, 'Hewitt History No.14 [15]: How the Mosers Came into Possession of the Beach – Story of a Wreck' (April 10, 1901).

Hewitt writes: 'The history of Cow Bay as a summer resort began about 35 or 40 years ago.

To make a long story short both Dawson and [Sinclair] left Dartmouth and Cow Bay about 35 years ago.'