The Everglades National Park in Florida is an area of subtropical marsh lands that are under the protection of the United States government either as a national park or a wild life refuge. The wildlife in the area is all protected. In the Everglades with an experienced guide you can see many different species of animals, reptiles and birds. www.travelrows.com
The Everglades National Park on the map:
For those who love the earth and the creatures that walk or slither over it, fly above it or swim in the waters, the Everglades is a paradise. It is important to remember when touring the Everglades that you are a guest in the home of the creatures who live there.
Some of the animals that you might be privileged to see (hopefully from a safe distance) while you are visiting the Everglades are:
The Black Bear: Sometimes people confuse the Black Bear with the Grizzly Bear but they are two different animals. The Black Bear is from 4-7 feet long from nose to tail and from 2 to 3 feet tall at the withers. A Black Bear has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, a short tail, and shaggy hair. Adult male Black Bears weigh between 125 and 500 pounds. The weight depends upon the age of the bear (older bears weight more), the season of the year (Black bears hibernate), and the abundance of available food. Adult female Black Bears weigh between 90 and 300 pounds. Their weight depends upon the same factors as a male Black Bear. There are most often 3 cubs in litters in the Florida Everglades. (There are usually only 2 in other parts of the country.) The Black Bear almost became extinct but through conservation efforts it has made a comeback and in no longer on the endangered species list.
The Florida Panther: It is very, very unlikely that you will lay eyes on a Florida Panther. Even the researchers who track them very rarely actually see them. The Florida Panther is the only Puma representative in the eastern United States. The Florida Panther (also called a Cougar or a Puma) are large cats. The Florida Panther is on the endangered species list. At this time there are only 87 of them known to be in existence.
The Gray Fox: You will have to look fast but you may well be able to see a Gray Fox while you are on your vacation to the Everglades. As compared to other animals that live in the Everglades, the Gray Fox is small. He stands about 12-16 inches at the shoulders, weighs up to 16 pounds and has an overall body length of up to 47 inches. The Gray Fox is not actually gray in color but the blend of the colors gives him an appearance of being gray. He has a brown back, a tawny color sides, neck and legs, a white belly. He has a black stripe along his back and tail. There is another black stripe that crosses his face from the nose to the eye and continuing to the side of the head.