When taking a break from the excitement of Florida's Parks, there is no other place to go than the Everglades. This vast swampland is home to a huge variety of native wildlife and seems like a land time forget as you skim through the waters on an airboat. The wetlands cover a massive area of 4,000km, surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, so it's no wonder that this habitat is home to so many creatures.
If you're planning a day trip out on the Everglades, then you might want to keep your eyes peeled for these unique creatures, only seen in the swamps of Florida.
American Alligator
One of the main reasons to experience the Everglades is to see the American Alligator, the most iconic animal of this area. However, they can be quite difficult to spot as they often keep their whole bodies under water, leaving only their snouts and eyes above the surface. The common Alligators in the Everglades a noticeable by their Olive/Brown scales and round bodies that can reach up to 14ft for adults. Being the top of the food chain, Alligators usually eat anything they can get their teeth around.
It's easier to find Alligators at night as they are nocturnal hunters and sun bathe during the day to keep their body temperatures up as they are cold blooded. When you're on the lookout for Alligators at night, keep watch for the reflection of light off their eyes.
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird reaching a height of around 140cm. You should be able to easily spot this bird in the day time due to its distinctive colours which stand out against the green backdrop of the swamps. Their plumage is a mixture of white and grey feathers and a bluish stripe across the top of their head. They can nest high up in trees, so if you look up, you may see one.
You can even keep an ear out for Great Blue Herons during their mating season when they are more vocal. Keep an ear out for a harsh croak.
Florida Panther
If you see one of these during your trip, count yourself very lucky as they are an endangered, shy species. They appear to have a tanned fur with black tips on their ears and tail.
As cubs, they look very different however. Florida Panther cubs have distinctly blue eyes and black stripes in their coat which they lose later on in adulthood.
Florida Panthers cannot roar and usually communicate through chirps, growls, hisses and purrs.
Osprey
This bird of prey is not necessarily native to Florida's Everglades, but can be observed as one of its inhabitants, usually migrating at certain times of the year. Reaching 60cm in height with a 2 metre wing span, you can usually see the Osprey circling high above deep waters in search of its next meal. Their diet relies on fish for the most part and the Osprey is a very efficient hunter grasping its prey and pulling it out of the water. However, the Osprey would become cumbersome carrying a huge fish in mid-flight, so with one talon it grabs the fish's head and in the other, the tail. This puts the fish in a headlong streamlined position, making it easier for flight.
So when taking a break from Orlando attractions for a visit to nature make sure to keep your eye out for these amazing creatures to see a part of the real Florida.
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