Florida Wildlife

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Florida is home to several fuzzy caterpillar species, including the white-marked tussock moth and the puss caterpillar. The puss caterpillar is often considered the most dangero...

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Yes, snakes can occasionally enter toilets in Florida. They may crawl through pipes, vent stacks, or gaps in plumbing to reach bathroom fixtures. This is more common in older ho...

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Alligators are native to Florida and often enter residential swimming pools, especially in suburban areas near lakes, canals, or wetlands. They are attracted to water sources an...

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Yes, saltwater crocodiles are present in Florida, primarily in coastal and brackish areas of southern Florida. They are native to the region and have been documented in estuarie...

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Biologists and wildlife officials recently documented the capture of a large python in Florida. The snake measured several meters in length and was identified as a Burmese pytho...

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In August 2024, hunters in Florida caught an American alligator measuring 15 feet 9 inches long and weighing 1,043 pounds. The animal is recognized as one of the largest alligat...

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Florida is home to several established monitor lizard species, including the Nile monitor and the Asian water monitor. These large reptiles are often found in central and southe...

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Burmese pythons are concentrated in southern Florida, especially in Miami-Dade, Collier, Hendry, and Monroe counties. Most sightings come from the Everglades ecosystem, where wa...

Finance

Florida is home to the American black bear, the only bear species found in the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates the statewide population is...

wildlife

Big lizards in Florida are most often Nile monitors and tegus, alongside large native and introduced species that appear in yards, parks, and wetlands. This guide pairs photos a...

wildlife_safety

A 14-foot alligator in Florida represents a large, mature predator that commands caution and respect. American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) thrive in freshwater wetla...

wildlife

Wild monkeys in Florida represent established, nonnative populations deriving from historic releases or escapes, primarily near Miami and in parts of the central interior. These...

wildlife

Rock pythons are large, Old-World constrictors native to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. In Florida, they are not established but are of concern due to past intr...

Wildlife & Habitat

Water monitors are large lizards in the genus Varanus that occur across Africa, Asia, and Australia. In Florida, the term usually refers to the invasive Nile monitor (Varanus ni...

wildlife

Florida is famous for its alligators, but which city actually has the most alligators in Florida? The best available evidence points to the region around Lake Okeechobee and the...

animal-behaviors

Monkeys jumping in water Florida is an uncommon but notable behavior primarily linked to introduced or feral populations near canals, rivers, and coastal areas in South Florida....

Safety

An alligator accident in Florida typically refers to an unwanted interaction between a person and an alligator that results in injury, death, or a close encounter with clear ris...

wildlife-coexistence

In Florida, python season refers to periods when conditions make pythons more visible and active, typically spring through summer. Understanding this season helps residents and...

wildlife

Orange iguanas in Florida are non-native reptiles established primarily in South Florida due to pet releases and storm-driven spread. These herbivorous lizards alter coastal veg...

coastal-safety

Shark bite incidents in Florida draw sustained public interest because of the state's large coastal population, year-round recreational swimming and surfing, and high-profile ev...

wildlife-and-conservation

Yes, nonnative pythons are present and established in parts of Florida. They are not native to the state, but multiple species, most notably the Burmese python, now reproduce in...

Zoology and Animal Care

“Florida elephants” commonly refers to non-native Asian elephants living in or associated with Florida, not native wild populations. The state has no native wild elephants;...