Before theme parks, before glossy beach resorts, Florida lured visitors with something far wilder: alligators. By the early 1900s, alligators were the state’s first celebrity attractions, and nothing screamed “Florida vacation” like pulling off a sandy roadside to watch a man in khaki shorts wrestle a 10-foot reptile into submission. These shows weren’t just entertainment. … Read more
The Florida Skunk Ape isn’t just a backwoods campfire tale—it’s one of the state’s most enduring legends, woven into Seminole folklore, whispered through Spanish colonial journals, and kept alive today by roadside tourist attractions and swamp guides with lima beans in hand. Whether it’s real or not almost doesn’t matter. The Skunk Ape represents wild … Read more
Imagine paddling on the edge of a mangrove island, feeling the tide swirl around your kayak, knowing that more than a thousand years ago, this very shoreline buzzed with life. The Calusa, Florida’s “Shell People,” ruled these waters long before Spanish ships ever touched the Gulf. They were master engineers, building water courts to farm … Read more
Long before Florida became the “Fishing Capital of the World,” the Calusa—an Indigenous people who once ruled Southwest Florida—were mastering the art of aquaculture. These resourceful “Shell People” built intricate water courts, a sophisticated system of fish traps and holding ponds that functioned much like today’s fish farms. For the Calusa, the sea was their … Read more
Long before Spanish explorers arrived on Florida’s shores, the state’s rivers, estuaries, and coastlines were home to thriving Indigenous communities. For thousands of years, these first people—like the Calusa, Timucua, Tequesta, and Apalachee—lived almost entirely from what the water provided. Their fishing skills were so advanced that early European settlers marveled at their techniques. In … Read more
When most people picture a bear’s diet, they imagine sharp teeth tearing into meat or raiding picnic baskets, cartoon-style. But Florida’s black bears are far more likely to be caught nibbling berries than chasing prey. In fact, they’re some of the most plant-focused bears in North America—more like giant, shaggy vegetarians with a sweet tooth. … Read more
Here in Florida, the ground never really freezes. That means squirrels are busy nearly all year—darting across sidewalks, leaping from palm to oak, and pausing on fence posts with twitching tails and bright, watchful eyes. To some, they’re just garden bandits or bird feeder thieves. But these tiny acrobats play a surprisingly enormous role in … Read more
Step outside on a sunny Florida day, and chances are you’ll catch a flicker of movement across the sidewalk or a rustle in your garden bed. A flash of green. A dash of brown. A tail slipping beneath a hibiscus leaf. Florida is crawling (quite literally) with lizards—and while some are native, many are not. … Read more
Ever wondered how you can make a real impact on Florida’s wildlife—even without being a trained biologist? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers incredible opportunities for everyday people to contribute to real research. Early results show citizen contributions are filling critical data gaps and helping professionals protect the state’s natural treasures. What … Read more
After a Florida storm—especially one that blows through with the force of summer winds—it’s not uncommon to find fragile remnants of the wild scattered beneath trees: a small egg lying in the grass, a damp nest tilted sideways, or, heartbreakingly, a tiny bird with feathers still forming. What should you do if you come upon … Read more