🦩 Wildlife
Manatee sightings, gator news, conservation updates, and wildlife encounters from across Florida.
Where to See Whooping Cranes in Florida: Sites & Season Guide
From Kissimmee Prairie's resident flock to rare winter visitors at St. Marks NWR — how to find, ID, and report Florida's rarest large birds.
Free Webinar Eyes New Funding Tools for Florida Wildlife Corridor
A free two-hour online session on September 2 explores how landowners and conservationists can get paid for protecting Florida's natural lands.
The Agency That Guards Florida's Wild Side
A look at the agencies that have shaped wildlife protection in Florida for nearly a century.
Free Webinar Explores Paying Landowners to Protect Florida's Wild Lands
A free two-hour online session on September 2 brings together ranchers, conservationists, and finance experts to discuss ecosystem service payments.
Asian Swamp Eels Are Reshaping the Everglades Food Web
A new study finds invasive Asian swamp eels are the top predictor of declining frog and salamander populations across the Everglades.
Free Webinar Eyes Payment for Florida's Working Lands
A free two-hour online session explores how landowners could be paid for the clean water, flood protection, and habitat their properties already provide.
Creek Ranch Is Now a Wild, Fishable Slice of Central Florida
A $36.1 million state purchase turned a former cattle ranch into 1,342 acres of connected habitat and year-round fishing.
Giant Hammerhead Shark Hunts Ray at Panama City Beach
Video from July 30 shows a great hammerhead corralling a spotted eagle ray just yards from shore.
This Former Ranch Between Orlando and Fort Myers Is Now Public Wilderness
Creek Ranch WMA near Lake Hatchineha offers fishing, hiking, and wildlife spotting on 1,300+ acres of protected Central Florida land.
Florida Black Skimmer Colonies: Best Beaches & Viewing Guide
Where to find Florida's dramatic black skimmer nesting colonies, when to go, and the rules that keep these threatened birds thriving.
Trail Cameras Guard Panthers as I-4 Wildlife Overpass Nears
ZooTampa and the fStop Foundation are monitoring Florida's first wildlife overpass with cameras in Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.
New Smyrna Beach Firefighters Rescue Two Stranded Manatees
A late-night call at Smyrna Dunes Park brought firefighters to the shore to haul two massive sea cows back to freedom.
One Hunter Caught 96 Pythons — and Broke Every Record
Tom Rahill's haul at this year's Florida Python Challenge topped the next competitor by 60 snakes.
A Florida Couple's Swamp Purchase Became a Wildlife Sanctuary
Jim Stevenson and Tara Tanaka bought 45 acres of Tallahassee wetland in 2007 — and watched it become one of the region's most remarkable bird rookeries.
Deputies Rescue 75 Baby Sea Turtles Headed the Wrong Way
About 75 disoriented hatchlings were gathered near a beach access point and returned safely to the ocean.
See Manatees From Shore: Florida's Best Free Viewing Sites
No boat required — these boardwalks, observation decks, and state parks put you right above Florida's favorite gentle giants.
ESA Changes Put Florida Manatees and Sea Turtles at Risk
The Trump administration is rewriting the Endangered Species Act in ways scientists say could devastate South Florida's most vulnerable marine life.
Florida Sandhill Cranes: Best Spots, Season & Viewing Rules
Where to find Florida's ancient resident cranes, when nesting peaks, and the FWC rules every visitor must know before getting too close.
Birding Florida's WMAs: Access, Closed Dates & Best Sites
Florida's 6-million-acre WMA system is open to birders — if you know the rules, the closed hunt periods, and where to go.
Sea Hares on Florida Beaches Pose Real Risk to Dogs
The purple ink these sea slugs release as a defense can cause seizures and even death in dogs that lick or eat one.
Where to See Wild Alligators in Florida: Best Sites & Safety Tips
From the Everglades to North Florida prairies, here's exactly where to find gators — and how to do it safely.
Where to See Florida Scrub-Jays: Best Sites & Viewing Tips
Florida's only endemic bird is bold, curious, and easier to find than you'd think — if you know exactly where to look.
Two Orphan River Otters Released After Months of Rehab
The Space Coast nonprofit taught the pair to swim and hunt before setting them free on August 5.
6 Invasive Predators Threatening Florida's Wildlife in 2026
From tegus to lionfish, Florida's native wildlife faces pressure from a growing roster of invasive animals.