Wildlife in Florida: Check Out the Florida Sea Life and Other Wildlife!

Florida has some very diverse habitats, which means many forms of incredible wildlife can be found throughout the state and its swamps, waters and forests.

Interested in learning more about some of the state’s wildlife and where you can go to find them? Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular animals you might come across here, including Florida’s sea life!

• Alligators: The American alligator is the official reptile of the state of Florida. These big predators can be anywhere from six to 12 feet long, and are much faster than one might expect—they’re capable of sprinting at a high rate of speed. You’ll find them in parks and wildlife refuges, but might even see them in roadside swamps, ponds and lakes.
• Armadillos: Armadillos are very unique animals that look sort of like miniature dinosaurs. Because they do not have a fur coat, they tend to try to avoid extreme heat or cold, which means you’ll not be as likely to see them in the southern part of the state.
• Key deer: The Key deer is a tiny species of deer found only in the Florida Keys, measuring just two and a half feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds. There are only several hundred remaining in the wild, but you can see them at dawn or dusk when they are most active throughout the Big Pine and No Name Keys, including at the National Key Deer Refuge.
• Pelican: The brown pelican can be found in Florida all year round, and American white pelicans come to visit seasonally during the winter. They’re a favorite sight around the beaches, waterways and docks in Florida, and you can see them in very large quantities at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
• Sea turtle: The sea turtle is another favorite animal that can be found in Florida. You’ll often see tiny tracks on the shorelines indicating the presence of young sea turtles. The mothers come from very far away to return to their nesting sites on both of Florida’s coasts, with the largest numbers of nesting sites found in a stretch from Titusville to the Sebastian Inlet. Various wildlife refuges throughout the state offer unique opportunities to see nesting loggerhead sea turtles between May and October. Public turtle walks often occur in the summer throughout the state.
• Manatee: The manatee is a massive specimen, growing up to 10 feet long and weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Famously, the manatee’s closest mammalian relative is the elephant. They seek out warm water in spring, and you’ll often find this Florida sea life in rivers, springs and inlets close to power plants. The favorite site in the state for viewing manatees is at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

These are just a few examples of some Floridian favorites, but there are plenty more, including dolphins, bald eagles, bobcats, many different species of butterflies, the extremely rare Florida panther and many more.

For more information about viewing Florida sea life and other animal life during your visit, contact Cool Breeze Boats and Jet Ski Rentals today.

Categorised in: Wildlife

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