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Top 21 Animals Of Everglades National Park

Animals that call the everglades home.

The everglades is a unique ecosystem that is found in Florida. It boasts of a variety of wildlife ranging from big to small. Let’s take a look the animals that call the everglades home.

American Alligator

alligator
Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A symbol of the Everglades, these large reptiles are vital for maintaining the ecological balance of the wetlands.

Florida Panther

Florida Panther walking in the field in its environment and surrounding while exposing its body, head, ears, eyes, nose, paws. tail. Image via depositphotos.

An endangered subspecies of cougar, the Florida panther is one of the most iconic mammals of the park.

West Indian Manatee

manatee
Endangered Florida Manatee Underwater with Snorkelers in Background. Image via Depositphotos

These gentle giants, also known as sea cows, can be seen in the park’s rivers and bays.

American Crocodile

American Crocodile
American Crocodile. By Tomás Castelazo – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5385852

Less common than alligators, these reptiles are found in the saline and brackish waters of the park.

Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill. Image via depositphotos.

Recognizable by its bright pink color and spoonshaped bill, this bird is a striking sight in the Everglades.

Wood Stork

stork in florida wetland
Stork in florida wetland. Image by Karl Callwood on Unsplash.

A large, wading bird that is part of the stork family, known for its distinctive bald head.

Bald Eagle

bald eagle national animal of the U.S.
Image by Stephen Meyers via Pexels

America’s national bird, the bald eagle, can occasionally be spotted soaring above the park.

Great Egret

A great egret. Image via depositphotos.

A tall, white bird with a long neck and legs, often seen standing still in water waiting to spear fish.

Green Turtle

Green Sea Turtle
Green Sea Turtle grazing seagrass in Akumal bay. By P.Lindgren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27611674

These sea turtles can be found in the marine areas of the Everglades, particularly in the warmer months.

Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Sea Turtle. ukanda, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Loggerhead Sea Turtle. ukanda, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another species of sea turtle that frequents the park’s coastal areas.

American Python

American python. Image by Colorado State University Libraries, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An invasive species, these large snakes have significantly impacted local wildlife populations.

Snail Kite

The snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis, is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae with slender beak, red eyes and dark blue gray plumage. Image via depositphotos.

A bird of prey that feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, adapted to the wetland habitats of the Everglades.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon. Image via depositphotos.

Known as the fastest bird in the world, peregrine falcons can sometimes be seen hunting in the park.

Osprey

Osprey with a fish in its claws.
Osprey with a fish in its claws. By rob Stoeltje from loenen, netherlands – DSC03883, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83196742

A fisheating bird of prey with a worldwide distribution, including the Everglades.

River Otter

River otter. Image via depositphotos.

Playful and agile, river otters are a delight to witness, often seen in the freshwater areas of the park.

Anhinga

Anhinga. Image via depositphotos.

Sometimes called the “snakebird” for its long neck, the anhinga is a common sight, often seen drying its wings.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake photographed in Scranton, United States. Image by Anastasia Pirri via Unsplash

The largest venomous snake in North America can be found in the drier habitats of the Everglades.

Red-shouldered Hawk

A mediumsized hawk known for its distinctive red shoulders, common in the park.

Barred Owl

barred owl
Image by Collins93 via depositphotos.com

Recognizable by its distinctive hooting calls, barred owls are residents of the park’s forested areas.

Florida Softshell Turtle

Florida Softshell Turtle
Florida Softshell Turtle. Image by Wirepec via Depositphotos

A distinctive, pancakeflat turtle with a long neck, commonly seen in freshwater bodies.

Key Deer

Key Deer in natural habitat in Florida state park. Image via depositphotos.

A subspecies of the whitetailed deer, the Key deer is smaller and found only in the Florida Keys, at the periphery of the Everglades ecosystem.

Conclusion

These animals highlight to biodiversity found in this national park, each uniquely contributing to the variety of ecosystems found here. I hope you enjoyedreading about the animals that call the everglades home. To read more like this, check out the articles below:

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