Everglades Flora & Fauna

The Everglades are a vast and fragile ecosystem that has been cut to less than half its original size by man can the last 100 years. The large expanses of swamp, marsh, grasslands are prime habitat to over 60 endangered species, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals.

There is no better way to have chance of seeing some of the wildlife than by taking a ride through it. While many of the animals are nocturnal or hidden in the forage and vegetation visitors will likely still see many birds, fish, alligators and more.

Every outing can be different and times of year and day will have an impact on wildlife exposure. Feel free to consult our staff on what creatures are commonly being sighted at time of booking.

9 species of snakes: Water banded snake, cottonmouth, copperhead, eastern diamondback rattler, yellow rat snake, timber rattler, coral snake, pygmy rattler and corn snake. Snakes are rare to see in our part of the Everglades due to the dense vegetation.

10 species of fresh water turtles are most common including: Florida snapping turtle, Florida chicken turtle, striped mud turtle, lowly stinkpot, Florida soft-shell, peninsula turtle, common musk turtle, Florida red belly turtle and diamondback terrapin. Many of these species are common to see when water levels are lower.

3 types of large lizards are found in or around the Everglades: American alligators, caiman and American crocodile. However, you are more than likely to see only American Alligators on a tour.

13 species of frog and toads: Florida cricket frog, oak toad, Southern toad, greenhouse frog, green tree frog, squirrel tree frog, Cuban tree frog, Eastern narrow-mouth toad, Florida chorus frog, little grass frog, pig frog, Southern leopard frog and Eastern spade foot toad.

360 different species of birds make their home in the Everglades: We are not going to list them all but some of the most common are: coots, common moorhens, egrets, ibis, terns, sandpipers, storks, herons and ducks, roseate spoonbills, cranes, limpkin, hawk, eagles, kites, anhinga and many more.

Over 40 species of native fish that include: Large-mouth bass, alligator gar, American Eel, American shad, black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill, bowfin, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, Okaloosa darter, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, shoal bass, shortness sturgeon, southern tessellated darter, spotted bass, stripped bass, sucker, sunshine bass, Suwannee bass, warmouth, white bass, white catfish, yellow bullhead.

40 species of mammals including: White tailed deer, Florida panther, black bear, striped skunk, raccoon, grey fox, bats, opossum, marsh rabbit, squirrel, mice, rats and shrews.

120 species of trees and 100 species of seed bearing plants make their home in the Everglades.
We are not going to list them but you may be surprised to see what types of vegetation can survive in the Everglades.