While the Everglades are home to hundreds, if not thousands, of unique species of birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, and insects, not every creature that inhabits the area today can say that they’ve always called this area “home.” Some have found there way here accidentally, while others were brought here due to human intervention, and while […]
Dos and Don’ts of Alligator Safety

If you live in Florida or have spent time here, then you have probably already seen an alligator or two, though mostly likely in a zoo or park and from the safety of a fence. While you are far less likely to encounter an alligator in the wild, it’s always good to be prepared, just […]
Wild Turkey

Most people have probably heard of both domestic turkeys and wild turkeys, though you may be surprised to find out that these are actually one and the same species. However, far fewer people are likely to have encountered turkeys in the wild than they are to have encountered them each year on their Thanksgiving table, […]
Can an Animal’s Diet Affect Its Coloring?

Between all of the birds, fish, and reptiles that can be found within the Florida Everglades, it is certainly a very colorful place. But have you ever wondered why some species are more colorful than others, or why there is so much variation within species sometimes? For instance, have you ever wondered why some flamingoes […]
The King and Queen of the Everglades

The Florida Everglades remained unexplored for quite some time, and was even considered impenetrable by some of the original natives to the surrounding land. Because of the elusive and hidden nature of the Everglades, it should come as no surprise then that it provided sanctuary to some of America’s most notorious criminals during the early […]
What is Restoration Ecology?

Restoration ecology is a special field of science, having been first classified in the 1980′s, which has become an integral part of the conservation and restoration efforts in such places as the Florida Everglades. But what is restoration ecology? The official definition of restoration ecology as defined by the Society for Ecological Restoration is the […]
The Florida Panther is the Everglades’ Single Most Endangered Animal

While the Florida Everglades are home to thirty-six federally protected species, none is in more danger of extinction than the Florida panther. A species once prevalent throughout Southern Florida, the Florida panther was once hunted to near extinction, and, during a particularly low point in the 1970′s, there were estimated to be less than twenty […]
Mallards

The term “mallard” has often been used to describe any duck that is found in the wild, but is actually an official term used to describe a specific species of duck, the Anas platyrhynchos. While mallards are a type of wild duck, this does not go to say that every duck that is found in […]
Everglades National Park: An Overview

Among the 59 national parks located in the United States, the Florida Everglades is perhaps one of the most well known. Everglades National Park was established to protect the southern 20% of what was considered the original Everglades, and today is the largest tropical wilderness located in the United States. Incredibly popular among tourists to […]
Great Horned Owl

While the burrowing owl might be the most well known owl in southern Florida, it is certainly not alone in the area. The great horned owl is prevalent here as well, a species which grows much larger than the burrowing owl, and is in fact the second largest species of owl found in North America, […]