Today I'm going to take a look a couple unique animals you may have had no idea resided in the Sunshine State, and trust me, some of these will blow your mind. So let's begin my countdown of The Top 15 Animals You Didn't Know Lived Here:
15. Burmese Pythons
Presence: Introduced, Invasive
Status: Increasingly Common
Ok, if you live in Florida, you probably do actually know about the python endemic that's currently plaguing the natural fauna of South Florida and the Everglades. The story has made national headlines with pictures and tales of missing pets, alligators swallowed whole, and now the recent state sponsored safari-like hunt which is offering rewards for dead pythons. So far this year, 27 pythons have been killed, but estimations of the population range from the thousands to hundreds of thousands, so I'm not sure that would be considered a success... As for how the invasive, non-native slithering snake got established in the Florida wild, you can largely blame Hurricane Andrew for that one (with some help from exotic pet owners). The storm damaged several reptile enclosures which let the nasty things loose and they've been on the run (or the slide I should say) ever since. The state's doing a good thing by attempting to wipe out the vermin which can grow to be 13 feet or longer and threaten our native animal species, but honestly, I'm not sure who's going to win this one: man or snake.
14. Green Iguanas
Florida Range: The Keys and South Florida, both coasts
Presence: Introduced, Invasive
Status: Increasingly Common
If you're from South Florida, you're probably already aware of these giant reptiles as well. Unlike their python relatives, however, Iguanas have quite a long and extensive history in the Sunshine State, originally stowing away aboard ships carrying fruit from South America bound for Key West. However, just like pythons they pose a threat to the native fauna, most critically an endangered species of butterfly and the Florida Burrowing Owl (gosh darn you Hoot!!!!).
13. North American Beavers
Florida Range: North Florida and the Panhandle
Presence: Native
Status: Common, by I've yet to see a live one here
Many people are surprised to learn that North Florida has an extensive, native, beaver population probably because beavers are so often associated with cooler climates. They're here though, and they build their characteristic dams amongst the small streams and pine forests.
12. American Crocodiles
Florida Range: South Florida
Presence: Native
Status: Uncommon to Rare
When many people think of Florida, they think of the state's most notable reptilian inhabitant: the American Alligator. What most don't realize though is that Florida is also within the natural range of the only crocodile species present in the Americas. The American Crocodile is native to Central and South America and the Caribbean and is able to swim great lengths across the sea. What's even more surprising is that they can grow to be up to 20 feet in length, with average male in Florida being around 14 feet. Currently in Florida, there are an estimated 2,000 crocodiles, almost exclusively living from the Everglades, south.
11. Black-tailed Jackrabbits
Florida Range: South Florida
Presence: Introduced
Status: Locally Common
While they may be a common site in the Western States, the presence of jackrabbits in Florida isn't exactly widespread knowledge. They and their long, furry ears are here though, mostly around the Homestead area south of Miami where they live amongst the grasslands.
10. Sambar Deer
Florida Range: St. Vincent Island
Presence: Introduced
Status: Common amongst limited range
Sambar Deer are among the largest deer in the world, oftentimes weighing more than 1,000 lbs. Native to Southeast Asia, they were introduced on St. Vincent in 1908 by the owner at the time who enjoyed exotic game hunting. Today St. Vincent Island is a National Wildlife Refuge, but 3 days a year hunting permits are still issued to help thin the population, which stands at 70-100 individuals.
9. Caiman
Florida Range: South Florida and the St. John's river basin
Presence: Introduced, Invasive
Status: Uncommon
The Caiman is a smaller member of the crocodile family native to Central and South American and the Caribbean which typically measures about 5 feet. Unlike its counterpart, the American Crocodile, which is native to Florida, however, the Caiman is a non-native species which established a foothold in the state when brilliant pet owners released them into the wild over the years.
8. Southern Flying Squirrels
Florida Range: Statewide, minus the Keys
Presence: Native
Status: Common (I've never seen one)
Who knew that there were flying squirrels in Florida? Besides being extremely cute, these critters are skilled gliders and highly sociable, living in families which often exceed 30 individuals.
7. Texas Horned Lizards
Florida Range: Statewide, sporadic and largely along the coasts
Presence: Introduced
Status: Uncommon
Another example of pet owners messing around with nature when they release animals into the wild. These harmless, albeit odd looking, reptiles occupy sandy spots across the state and provide a thrill for any vacationing TCU grad who happens to stumble upon one.
6. Capybaras
Florida Range: North Central Florida
Presence: Prehistorically Native, Introduced, Invasive
Status: Uncommon
These South American rodents escaped from a research facility in the Gainesville area (I have my suspicions from where) and currently reside amongst the forests and swamps of the sparsely populated counties west of I-75. They grow to be the size of a sheep and resemble a giant guinea pig (to me anyways), which leads me to wonder if this could be the next great American pet.
5. Common Seals
Florida Range: Atlantic Coast as far south as Central Florida
Presence: Native
Status: Rare
This probably comes as a surprise, but Florida was once a haven for a flourishing seal population before Europeans arrived and nearly (or in some cases) hunted them to extinction. As the species lost territory, they retreated further and further north into the arctic regions where refuge was easier to find. Fortunately, due to greater regulation in modern times, the seal population is once again thriving and slowly creeping further and further south. Seal sightings along the Florida coast were once an unheard of event, but now are becoming increasingly common, although they're still a pretty rare occurrence.
4. Rhesus Monkeys
Florida Range: Central Florida centering around Ocala
Presence: Introduced
Status: Common
If you've never been to Silver Springs, then this almost certainly is a surprise to you: Florida has wild monkeys. Of course they're not native in any respect, but they have been here since the 1930's. The true story of their origins may never be fully revealed but a commonly accepted story is that a tour boat operator at the park, Colonel Tooey, released the monkeys on an island in the middle of the river to enhance his Jungle Cruise ride. It's obvious that Mr. Tooey didn't realize that rhesus monkeys are excellent swimmers because no sooner did he release them, than they swim across and escaped out into the surrounding forests. To this day, there are still wild monkeys on the island, but they're also along the surrounding shore, in the surrounding national forest, and now all across Central Florida. In fact, there are so many rhesus monkeys that they've actually formed their own little tribes over the years and stage battles for territory from time to time. So if you're itching to see our primate friends out in the natural environment, there's no need to fly to Africa or Asia anymore, just hop in a car and drive a couple hours down the road!
3. Jaguarundi
Florida Range: Unknown
Presence: Introduced
Status: Extremely Rare
I have to admit, when I began this topic the presence of a third large cat in Florida came as a complete shock to me. Ironically, it helped explain a big mystery which had been plaguing me the past couple of weeks. Over the course of our many conversations, Miranda mentioned to me that her brother Dakota had once seen a panther near their home in North Central Florida. Naturally, I wanted to believe this but my knowledge of the Florida Panther species told me otherwise. After research I confirmed what I believed to be true: the panther population is far too small and monitored too well to have ever ventured that far north. The Florida Panther, which resides almost exclusively amongst the Everglades has never been reported north of Tampa. I told this to Miranda and commented that it must have been a bobcat, but she insisted otherwise, so I just left it at that. A couple weeks later we went to the Seacrest Wolf Preserve and the managers there told of a panther that had been sited recurrently on their property. I was at lost. I mean, here are more people who I would considered qualified to differentiate a panther from a bobcat, and yet, they made the same assertions. I didn't know what to think, but I knew it couldn't have been a Florida Panther. Fast forward to today. While researching for this post, I come across the Jaguarundi: a close relative to the panther, which as it turns out, was introduced at some point to Florida. No one is exactly sure where they came from or when they were released, but they've been here (and are very well documented) since at least the early 1900's. It's said that a writer released them near his home in Chiefland... which is coincidentally very close to Miranda's hometown. Jaguarundi are about 3-4 feet long and nocturnal, making them extremely allusive. In fact, to date, there has never been one photographed or captured in Florida, although the frequency of their sightings and documentation make it nearly a certainty that they're out there. So if you ever see a strange looking cat that you think might be a panther... take a picture!
2. Plains Bison
The bison grazing on Payne's Prairie.
Florida Range: Payne's Prairie near Gainesville
Presence: Originally Native, Reintroduced
Status: Common amongst limited range
That's right. Bison. In Florida. Just let that sink in for a second while I explain their history. A largely unknown fact is that at that prior to the arrival of Europeans, bison roamed wild amongst the peninsular prairies which were at that time much more extensive than they are today. Of course they were wiped out and for several hundred years were absent from the Florida fauna, that is, until they were reintroduced in 1970 in Payne's Prairie. By 2011, the population had ballooned from the original male and eight females to over 70 individuals. To my disappointment however, last year the state culled the vast majority of the herd to be sold off to farms around the state. Their target is to have just 8-10 bison roaming the prairie wild, which I think is a shame. Nevertheless, they're still there and what a sight to see!
1. Red Wolves
This picture was actually taken on St. Vincent Island.
Florida Range: St. Vincent Island
Presence: Originally Native, Reintroduced
Status: Rare even amongst limited range
Wolves are in Florida. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I, a wolf-lover, would list this as the biggest surprise Florida species, but think about it. WOLVES ARE IN FLORIDA. Isn't that just crazy? Nowadays, outside Yellowstone National Park and the Canadian border, wolves of any species are virtually nonexistent in the United States. We did too good a job of wiping them from existence. The Red Wolf, which is slightly smaller than the Grey Wolf and appears similar in some respects to a Coyote, once roamed all across the Eastern and Southeastern United States. As I alluded to, with the arrival of the Europeans, they were all but wiped out of existence. So few remained, only a handful in the Louisiana bayou, that in order to save the species, they were all taken into captivity and for several decades were declared extinct in the wild. About 25 years ago, the federal government began a breeding program to reintroduce the species back into the wild. Through this program, Red Wolves are bred at various zoos and museum sites (including our very own Tallahassee Museum) and then shipped up to eastern coastal North Carolina where a small population of about 100 wolves has been established. But it's not the captive Tallahassee wolves this post is about, after all, the topic is surprising wild species in Florida. So where can they be found out in nature then? Well, it just happens that that same St. Vincent Island which houses the Sambar Deer also participates in the breeding program. The National Wildlife Refuge maintains a breeding pair, wild and free, on the island to produce offspring which are then rotated off to the North Carolina population. So next time you find yourself along the Forgotten Coast, don't howl too loudly or else you might just get a reply!
I hope you enjoyed today's topic and let me know if you found it to be interesting. As always, if you have any comments or questions, leave them in the comment section below (if you're registered) or on Facebook! Happy Tuesday!
-JT
Excellent post. I actually have a few comments. First, some of my friends up here at Auburn are actually researching those invasive pythons. It's pretty interesting stuff. Second, 8 of your animals are non-native. Let this be a message to your readers that introducing pets into the wild is never good. This could just be the conservation biologist in me. Third, beavers are crazy, and scary to work around. I was once slapped by one in WY. Perhaps the reason people are surprised to see them is because they have recently done really well in FL and are becoming more common. Also, I have observed many beavers in N Florida on larger rivers that don't bother to build damns on larger rivers. If there is already enough food, and stable banks I have seen them utilize burrows instead. Finally, I have to respectfully disagree on your statement that "the frequency of their (jaguarundi) sightings and documentation make it nearly a certainty that they're out there." Although it would be really interesting if they were out there, I find it unlikely. Perhaps there are some escaped captives, but I think a breeding population would have been found by now.
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