Warblers

All sorts of warblers make pit stops in the Everglades on their migrating routes up and down South and North America. They see the hammock islands sticking out from the sawgrass river, and touch down in oak branches.

Types of Warblers stopping in the Florida Everglades

• myrtle warblers
• pine warblers
• palm warblers
• redstart warblers
• black-throated warblers
• black-and-white warblers

Pelicans

These crafty loping giant birds are of course prevalent near the water in Florida Bay, and also the ocean. You’ll also find them in the inland bays, waiting for fish, scooping them up into their large lips. Their wingspans are up to ten feet wide, and swarm around in groups, landing like gangsters on the banks of water areas, ready for the fish-hunt.

Mammals

Panther

Panthers hardly exist anymore in the Florida Everglades, their habitat having dwindled with the drainage of the region, the development of the land, and the reduction of their prey. There are just a few left, and they are now protected.

Panthers dig for turtle eggs and hunt for brown deer. The Florida Panter is light brown colored, not black. In addition to their destruction via loss of habitat, lots of them were killed by cars at night, when the road through the Everglades was finally built, in the twentieth century. Settlers who tried to develop farms hated the panther, who came around at night to eat their animals, such as hogs. The farmer-settlers shot them with rifles and hunted the panther with dogs. Fighting back, the panther earned a reputation as a fierce killer animal.

Deer

The deer in the Everglades feed on vegetation throughout the everglades hammocks, and are brown colored, with white tails.

Raccoons and Otters

Otters live in cypress swamps, or rather cypress pools, as well as everywhere else in the Everglades, since they love water habitats. They are everywhere in the Everglades, and there are lots of them. They are one of the oldest inhabitants of the Everglades, and they are perfectly adapted for the conditions of this area. Their fur is extra oily and he loves being wet. His paws are heavily webbed, and very adept at navigating the watery ways of the Everglades. Otters are quick and alert, so alligators dont’ usually pose a problem for them, since they can dart away if something feels dangerous. He thrives in the sun and plays in the water. You’ll see them in the canals, too, swimming up the murky waters on their way to new spots to explore.

Raccoons are nocturnal, and are also found everywhere in the Everglades. They are opportunistic animals, which means they are curious, ready for any opportunity for food. There are thousands and thousands of them, eating fish, oysters, crawfish, sea grapes, anything they can find.

Bears

Bears in Florida are black, and they dig for turtle eggs, among other things. They also forage for crabs and they’ll eat birds’ eggs if they happen to stumble upon them. Like bears everywhere, they burrow in the undergrowth of forested areas, overturning logs in search of grubs and mice nests. And of course they eat berries when they find them!

Alligators and Crocodiles

Alligators

Unlike crocodiles, Alligators have round noses, and live in fresh water. They need wet conditions for their eggs, which is also totally different from the crocs. They lay their eggs in piles of weeds and grass they’ve collected, and which steams in the sun, creating ideal alligator egg conditions.

Crocodiles

Crocodiles are more brownish colored, unlike the darker, almost black alligators. Croc jaws are narrower than those of alligators. They’re also faster than alligators. Crocodiles need dry, sandy conditions in which to lay their eggs, so you’ll find that they lay their eggs on beaches.

Snakes and Insects

Here are some of the snakes and insects you’ll find in the Everglades:

• Coral Snake
• Scorpion
• Tree Snails
• Butterflies
• Grasshoppers
• Dragonflies
• Palmetto Bugs
• Walking Sticks

Life in the Water

Manatees

Endangaered, manatees have mostly to watch out for modern development. They like man-made canals, swimming into them in the colder winter months for their warmer water. They forage for vegetables along the edges, eating mangrove leaves, and sometimes find themselves near boat propellors which cause injury and death. An agressive campaign of warning and reminder signs posted in boating areas, harbors, canals, etc, has helped raise public awareness of this problem.

The latin name is Trichechus manatus, and the grey manatee is also called the West Indian Manatee. And of course it’s also been called the Sea Cow. They are indeed enormous, getting to be over a thousand pounds and up to thirteen feet long. They have very thick skin and adorable large eyes. With their sweet demeanor and sociable habits, they are tug at the heart strings of most people who come to know them. Learning about their endangered status and the threat that boat propellors cause to manatees, causes people to want to support their cause. The manatees who find man-made canals with residents and boats on them, find that people on docks will give them food or fresh water from a hose, and lose any natural fear they may have, of people or of boats, or anything bigger than themselves. They aren’t naturally fearful of much, since there aren’t many predators who can handle these large vegetarian beings.