Wildlife of Florida Everglades
The Everglades is the only place on Earth where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist, and one of the last strongholds for the Florida panther. Wading birds — roseate spoonbills, wood storks, great egrets — nest in vast colonies through the dry season. Manatees drift into the mangrove estuaries in winter.
Best timeDecember – April dry season concentrates wildlife around remaining water.
- 1The Everglades is the only place where alligators and crocodiles coexist.
- 2Florida panthers occasionally cross Alligator Alley at night.
- 3Roseate spoonbills nest in the mangrove keys of Florida Bay.
Signature species
Curated for Florida Everglades, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- EN
Florida panther
Puma concolor coryi
- VU
American crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
- LC
Snail kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
- VU
West Indian manatee
Trichechus manatus
- LC
Wood stork
Mycteria americana
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Camp at Flamingo for panther-tracking rangers' talks.
- Report python sightings to FWC IveGot1 app.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't wade in freshwater sloughs — alligators are territorial.
- Don't feed anything — the whole park bans it.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 60km, last 30 days.
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