🦩 Wildlife
Manatee sightings, gator news, conservation updates, and wildlife encounters from across Florida.
New Study Shows Wildlife Crossings Pay for Themselves in Florida
A Live Wildly report finds a $500,000 crossing could return $5 million in public benefits over its lifetime.
Fakahatchee Ghost Orchid Swamp Walk: How to Book & What to Know
Inside Florida's wildest state park, a guided wade through knee-deep cypress swamp is the only reliable way to spot the legendary ghost orchid.
How to ID Florida's Invasive and Nonnative Species
FWC and the University of Florida offer free tools to help you identify and report unknown animals.
Best Florida Springs for Snorkeling & Wildlife (2026 Guide)
Five iconic springs, ranked for underwater wildlife encounters — with current fees, gear rules, and the seasons that make each one shine.
Florida Wildlife Center's Lemurs Help Restore Madagascar Forests
A small Jefferson County center is turning lemur encounters into rainforest restoration half a world away.
North Florida Family Locks 816 Acres Into Permanent Conservation
A Putnam County farming family used a $2.665 million easement to keep 816 acres wild — and still working — forever.
Could the Flamingo Replace Florida's State Bird?
A Zoo Miami ambassador is pushing hard to swap the northern mockingbird for the American flamingo before the March legislative session.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Opens Massive New Bird Flight Complex
The 120-foot structure gives injured raptors room to rebuild strength before returning to the wild.
Florida Sea Turtle Walks 2026: How to Book & What to Expect
Permitted guided walks are the only legal way to watch a loggerhead nest at night — here's everything you need to know before you go.
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive: Hours, Rules & Birding Guide
Everything you need to know before driving Florida's best free wildlife route, 25 minutes from Orlando.
Florida Snowy Plover Nesting Season: Sites, Rules & Viewing Tips
These tiny Gulf Coast birds nest in plain sight — here's where to find them, how the protection system works, and how to watch without causing harm.
Ding Darling Tram Tour: Reservations, Cost & Wildlife Tips
Everything you need to know to book the narrated tram ride through Sanibel's famous refuge — and decide if self-driving fits you better.
FWC Launches Online Portal for Event Appearance Requests
A new centralized system lets organizers request FWC speakers, exhibits, and outreach activities all in one place.
Two Red Kangaroos Join North Florida Wildlife Center
Tillie and Bonnie are settling into their new home in Tallahassee, with an Australia Walkthrough exhibit planned soon.
Florida Roseate Spoonbills: Best Sites & When to Go
From the Everglades to St. Augustine, here's where — and when — to find Florida's most dazzling pink wading bird.
Meet Prospect, Animal Kingdom's Newest African Painted Dog
A young male named Prospect has joined the painted dog pack at Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Florida Piping Plover: Best Winter Viewing Sites & Tips
A federally threatened shorebird smaller than your fist winters on Florida's Gulf and Atlantic beaches from summer through spring — here's where to find one.
Florida Rancher Protects 660 Acres for Panthers and Clean Water
A Hardee County cattle rancher placed his hard-earned land under a permanent easement, closing a gap in the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Flamingo Habitat Coming to North Florida Wildlife Center
A single donor is funding the new pond exhibit, which will welcome 18 American flamingos by year's end.
Florida Bioluminescence Kayaking: Space Coast Tour Guide
How to plan a glowing-water kayak night on the Indian River Lagoon — season, moon timing, launch sites, and tour picks.
National Key Deer Refuge: Trails, Viewing Tips & Visitor Guide
Everything you need to explore Big Pine Key's beloved refuge — from the best sunrise spots to rules that keep the tiny deer wild.
Ted Turner's 25,000-Acre Florida Wildlife Estate Near Tallahassee
The CNN founder's former cotton plantation near Tallahassee grew into one of Florida's most significant private conservation landscapes.
Florida Wildlife Corridor: How to Visit & What You'll See
A guide to the public lands, best entry points, and iconic wildlife along Florida's great wild backbone.
Tiny 'Jumping Sticks' Mystify Space Coast Beachgoers
Translucent, wriggling inch-long creatures washing ashore near Indialantic turn out to be rare larval fish.