Florida animal encounters must be on your next adventure!
Florida is not only famous for its beaches and beautiful coastlines but also for its nature and wide collection of wildlife. This is due to Florida’s geographic location, geology, and its humid, subtropical climate. If Florida is on your travel bucket list, make the most out of your trip and see everything that Florida has to offer, including the animals.
Must-See Animals
Because of Florida’s numerous wetlands, it is home to a lot of different animals. Different species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and even land animals are all found here. They also have a number of native animals, which you can only find in Florida and nowhere else in the world. Below is a list of must-see animals on your Florida trip.
Dolphinfish or Mahi Mahi
Don’t be confused. These animals are not related at all to dolphins. And you wouldn’t want to go swimming with them either. Both locals and tourists wait for the high season to catch this fish. Although there’s no closed catching season, April to September is the high season when the water temperatures start rising. Cooked mahi mahi is famous for its lean and sweet flesh, mild flavor, large flakes and firm texture.
Manatees
Did you know that manatees are the official state marine mammal of Florida? Around 400 manatees escape the winter months in the Gulf of Mexico every year and migrate here to enjoy Kings Bay’s consistent 72 degrees water temperature. Manatees are known to be gentle aquatic giants weighing around 450 kilograms and growing up to about three meters.
The slow-moving, curious manatees often initiate interaction with swimmers. They have no known natural predators because of their size. The biggest threats to their survival are loss of habitat and watercraft interactions. If you want to get close and personal with the manatees, go to Crystal River. It is a coastal city in the west coast of Florida where you can find Kings Bay, one of the only places where you can legally go swimming with the manatees. Swim tours are available with strict implementation of dos and don’ts to ensure the swimmers’ and manatees’ safety.
Panthers and Bobcats
Are you a feline lover? Then you shouldn’t miss the only two feline species native in Florida, the Florida panther and the bobcat. You can tell them apart by their physical differences. Florida panthers are bigger, growing at about 5 feet long and weighing over 150 pounds.
Bobcats are smaller, growing at about twice that of a house cat’s size. Bobcat’s tail is shorter than that of a Florida panther. It is actually where they got their name, for their “bobbed” tail. They are both carnivores, having sharp claws and teeth and prey on smaller animals like rodents, rabbits, etc. They are both solitary and only meet during the breeding season.
American Alligator and Crocodiles
In 1987, the American alligator was declared as Florida’s official state reptile. They were once endangered due to overhunting. Today, there is a good and stable population of about 1.3 million alligators in total all over Florida. Female alligators are naturally smaller than their male counterparts, rarely growing more than 10 feet long. They can lay up to 30 eggs in a nest and are very aggressive in protecting them. The biggest killed alligator recorded in Everglades was 17 feet long.
How do you tell alligators and crocodiles apart? Gators have more rounded, U-shaped snouts, while crocs have more pointed, V-shaped snouts. Crocodiles are also usually larger than alligators and are more aggressive.
Florida Black Bears
Black bears are the biggest land mammals and the only bear species you might see in the Florida wilderness. Though they don’t belong to the list of endangered species, their 3,000 to 4,000 population are secured and confined to eight isolated habitats.
Florida black bears need a large and intact landscape to thrive. Adult males are known to wander at over 76,000 acres in search of food or a mate, so continuous urbanization is a threat to them. They are omnivores, with a diet consisting mainly of plants like grasses, berries and acorns, and some insects.
Roseate Spoonbill
Florida can also offer you something pink and whimsical in its widely diverse ecosystem. Roseate spoonbill is a bird with a long, flat bill, fuchsia pink body and a red shoulder or wing patch.
The elegant birds are listed as threatened in Florida due to habitat loss. Roseate spoonbills are the only pink birds you can see breeding in Florida. Although they look similar to flamingos, the two birds are not related. Flamingos were once Florida natives but were found not to breed in the state for more than a century.
Florida Eagles
There are four species of eagles in Florida, namely bald eagles, golden eagles, white-tailed eagles and the steller’s sea eagles. The bald eagles are the most common, and steller’s sea eagles are the rarest among the four species.
Bald eagles are frequently found in Florida’s coastal areas but their nesting places are concentrated along inland lakes and rivers. Eagles are known to harass other birds while on flight to have them drop their catch and scavenge on them after. The best time to watch the majestic birds is during winter.
Where to Find Them
Trying your luck finding the animals in the wild on your own might be more adventurous and memorable. But you also want to be safe during the Florida animal encounters. To make sure of this, your best and safest option is through booked and guided tours. Learn more about the fascinating Florida wildlife and see the animals in their natural habitats.
Whether you want an outdoor adventure or an exciting safari, your options for the best Florida animal encounters are almost endless. They have gator parks, organized watching tours or swim programs, swamp tours, airboat adventures, all over Florida. You can also choose to visit national parks and zoos if you have small kids or seniors with you. They offer other activities and attractions like rope and obstacle courses, zip lines, botanical gardens, etc.
Learn More About Animals That Live in Swamps With Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures
If you want to know more about the animals that live in swamps, join our tours at Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures. We have professional and passionate tour guides that will take you to the best and most fascinating areas!
Reach out to us and let’s book your tour right away.
