As temperatures drop across the country, people flock to Florida to escape the cold and enjoy the beautiful weather. Just like humans, many animals migrate to and within the Sunshine State to better survive the colder months of winter. That makes January a great time to spot wildlife that would otherwise be out of state or out of sight, so here are a few animals to keep watch for while exploring our state parks!

Honeybees may be some of the most well-known pollinators, but you may be surprised to learn they are not native to America – they were introduced here from Europe.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is a landmark piece of conservation legislation that led the way for international efforts to protect animal and plant species from extinction. The initial list of the nation’s most endangered species included many familiar Florida wildlife, including the West Indian manatee, American alligator and Florida panther. Today, 114 Florida species are included. 

May brings an opportunity to celebrate human mothers and their wildlife counterparts. In honor of this annual holiday, here are five animal moms worth celebrating!

With an abundance of animals both big and small, wildlife watching is one of the most exciting activities available at Florida State Parks. Whether hiking the trails or paddling down river, here are some tips to help you see more of Florida's amazing animals.

Park visitors sometimes ask where they might see the endangered Florida panther, which prefers remote, undeveloped areas. Read more to learn about your best chances for seeing one of the world’s most elusive animals.

At Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Florida Park Service biologist Rebecca Collins joined butterfly technicians from the University of Florida’s McGui​re Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity to release dozens of Schaus’ swallowtail caterpillars.

In 2019, we were thrilled to announce the addition of a new wildlife ambassador resident at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: Maximus the Florida black bear. We have an update on his story.

There are over 100 miles of beaches protected by Florida State Parks, and they’re also important refuges for nesting wildlife. If you plan on heading to the beach, check out these practical tips for making the beach safer for wildlife and their nests.

July 16 is World Snake Day, and Florida is a great place to celebrate. Why would anyone celebrate snakes? Often thought to be ominous, snakes have an important role in the ecosystem and are usually not dangerous to people. We talked to two Florida Park Service snake experts to learn more.

Many of the 100 miles of beaches protected by Florida State Parks provide nesting habitat for sea turtles. As nesting season begins, park staff and biologists are preparing to monitor nests and keep them safe. The majority of nesting takes place between March and October.

If you build it, they will come. That’s what Biologist Laurie Dolan found with a population of Florida scrub-jays along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. With Florida Park Service management of a 446-acre parcel of land, the population has grown from 25 birds in 2008 to more than 100 birds in 2019.

For 2019, most of the sea turtle nests have hatched and the adult turtles are migrating back to their feeding grounds. Here in Florida, park rangers, biologists and volunteers are still telling stories and planning for 2020.

Just as the landscape is recovering from Hurricane Michael, so is the wildlife. At Three Rivers State Park, you can see the fox squirrel bouncing around the landscape once again.

In Florida, experts have verified 170 native butterfly species with an additional 30 considered to be either non-native or vagrant strays. Learn where to see them in North Florida from biologist Rick Owen.

In 2022, 70 Florida State Parks staff joined Department of Environmental Protection water quality experts to find new ways to tell the story of Florida's springs.