
Per the“great font of human wisdom Wikipedia, “Wildlife viewing is the observation of animals in their native habitats as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for animal sounds.” When you’re paddling the Peace especially in the areas with less houses you’ll have countless opportunities to see the many forms of wild life listed below. Make sure you keep your eyes open!
Alligators
Alligators
(shine a flashlight held near your face around the river at night to see their eyes shine!)
Armadillos
Armadillos
(these are almost the rustling around your tent you hear!)
Bats
Alligators
(doing their small part to keep the mosquitos down! You’ll see them in the sky at dusk flying crazily!)
Bears
Bears
(we’ve never seen one but they are native and around in all parts of Florida!)
Beetles
Beetles
Bobcats
Bobcats
Butterflies
Buttlerflies
Coyotes
Coyotees
(listen to hear them yipping and yapping at night to the north)
Cranes
Cranes
(wading birds found near the water)
Crickets
Crickets
Crayfish
Crayfish
(they live in the little ponds and other areas where water collects year round and will move into seasonally flooded areas. Tasty!)
Deer
Deer
(dusk and dawn and away from the campsites are the best places and times to see these shy beauties.)
Ducks
Ducks
Eagles
Eagles
Fish
Fish
( we have tons of fish! Both fresh and a few saltwater species like snook and tarpon!)
Foxes
Foxes
Frogs and Toads
Frogs and Toads
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers
Herons
Herons
(wading birds found near the water)
Wild Hogs
Wild Hogs
(tilled up soil is a sign that hogs are nearby rooting)
Insects
Insects
(like lightning bugs AKA fireflies!, don’t catch them, they seem rare these days!)
Lizards
Lizards
( lots of them in the bushes!)
Moles
Moles
(raised tracks of dirt in grassy areas will show you mole trails)
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes
(deet keeps them off, anything else you can use at your own risk!)
Owls
Owls
Panthers
Panthers
(very rare, we haven’t actually seen one but it is possible!)
Raccoons
Raccoons
(make sure you secure all your food and garbage at night! They’re smart and will get into it!)
Snails and Slugs
Snails and Slugs
Snakes
Snakes
most of what we see are black racers and water snakes but always be cautious around any snake and leave them alone. Please don’t hurt our wildlife, you’re in their home now.
Spiders
Spiders
Squirrels
Squirrels
(watch the trees of course!)
Gopher Tortoises
Gopher Tortoises
Softshell Turtles
Softshell Turtles
Turtles
Turtles
(Red Eared Slider and Yellow-bellied Slider Turtles)
Vultures
Vultures
(circling in the sky of course!)