Alligators
Alligators are the number one fear that new hikers to Florida have. True, they’re at the top of our food chain. But I’ll take an alligator stretched across the trail over a grizzly any day. [...]
Florida Wildlife
Florida black bear
A subspecies of the Eastern black bear, the full-grown Florida black bear rarely tops 350 pounds, and will quickly move out of your way if it sees or hears you. That is, of course, unless [...]
Florida cooter
The most common turtle you’ll see basking on logs along rivers and lakes, the Florida cooter is one of Florida’s largest freshwater turtles, up to a foot long or more. Its dark, rounded shell often [...]
Florida panther
A subspecies of cougar, the Florida panther has been making a slow but steady comeback in their stronghold in Big Cypress and the Everglades, with sightings of individual cats reported by hikers throughout the state [...]
Golden orb spider
Especially in fall, you’ll encounter these massive spiders stringing sticky yellow webs everywhere – including right across the hiking trails. That’s why I carry a hiking stick for much of the fall, to keep the [...]
Venomous snakes
Florida has four types (six species) of venomous snakes: Cottonmouth (also called water moccasin), an aggressive snake that prefers swampy areas. Rattlesnake (diamondback, timber, and pygmy), which can be found in upland or swampy areas. [...]
