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Florida Wildlife

There is still so much great nature retained in it's original state in Florida. What's best about it is that most of it can be seen without having to undertake a special expedition. One reason for this is the abundance of water which attracts birds as well as many other animals.

If we look a little harder we can spot a raptor or a flock of vultures in the sky, or a flycatcher hunting from a perch, a hummingbird, or any other from the hundreds of bird species living or travelling through the state.

But there is more than just birds to see. To most people Florida wildlife means alligators, manatees, maybe even the panther.  While the last one maybe rather hard to find, it should be quite easy to spot the other two, if you know where to look. 

Of course, the easiest way to see them all is to visit one of the many animal parks or zoos. We will give you a few tips how to find those animals in the wild, and you may not have to leave town to do that. There are other land animals calling Florida home, maybe less exotic but still wild and interesting.  There are about three thousand black bears, roaming through large forests in central and northern parts of the state.

There are hundreds of bobcats, illusive cats which are much more common than most people realize. It’s quite easy to get a glimpse of raccoons, exploring suburban neighborhoods in small family groups every night.

You may spot an armadillo almost anywhere, as it is doing its daily tour in search of small creatures living under rotting leaves. And then there are reptiles: turtles, snakes, ubiquitous lizards, frogs and toads, and the king of them all, the alligator.

There is also a distinct kingdom of water creatures. Fish living in Florida waters are a source of nourishment for many other animals.

Thanks to year-round warm temperatures and ample sunshine necessary to produce aquatic vegetation fish have plenty of food to eat and are more than abundant.

The variety of fish is so great that chances are you may not know what you just caught. Luckily, there will always be somebody to ask for guidance as fishing is extremely popular among Florida residents and visitors.