Are you looking for an eco-tour that is exciting and different? Florida’s subtropical weather and easy access will provide you with all of that and more! Outdoor adventures are available to all types of people. There are many tour options that allow visitors to experience Florida wildlife in its natural habitat. Many species and habitats are at risk due to tourism and development pressure. These stories show how your vacation dollars can help preserve and protect these endangered species.
Manatee Encounters at Crystal River
Most people have heard of a manatee. The manatees are cute marine mammals who congregate at springs in winter and eat lots. If you want to know more about their diet, they are closely related to elephants. Our favorite wild animals are the gators and crocodiles in Florida. They’re also our favorite weekend getaways in Florida.
This level of awareness was not present forty years ago. Manatees were called funny-looking speed bumps. Boat strikes alone were threatening to wipe them out. The state and federal governments developed protection plans for these gentle giants. These plans focused on using tourism as a tool to spread the word.
The Florida Manatee Recovery Plan says – “Media attention to manatee rescues and treatments helps educate millions about the life-threatening issues that manatees face… Additionally, over eighteen-million visitors per year visit rehabilitation facilities and take part in manatee educational programs sponsored by various parks.” This program’s publicity and outreach are important in supporting efforts to restore the manatee… Manatee-viewing opportunities have been provided to the public… These efforts are crucial for getting the public to comply with conservation measures that protect manatees, and their habitat. “Many public awareness materials were developed focusing specifically on boater education.”
Manatees in Florida are no longer on the endangered species list thanks to millions of people getting involved. There’s still a long way to go, but you can still swim alongside manatees for many years.
Dive on Coral Reefs at the Florida Keys
Tour operators take boatloads of people every day to dive and snorkel in this underwater playground. Every day, tour operators bring boatloads to this underwater playground to dive and swim. (Link to ethical snorkeling). If you look closely, you will see that the Florida Keys coral reefs are on the northern edge their habitat. This makes the ecosystem vulnerable. Key West has recently passed a law that bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, which are believed to harm coral reefs. This progressive policy is set to take effect January 1, 2021.
Recent El Nino/La Nina weather patterns have exposed the vulnerability in the reef system. Coral reefs consist of a complex community of algae and polyps. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral reef becomes stressed. The coral can recover from bleaching alone, but stress can expose the ecosystem to diseases such as white-band or blank-band disease. These infections can quickly wipe out entire coral reefs. The Florida animals that live on the reefs will follow when the reefs disappear.
Scientists and volunteers are working tirelessly in order to combat these threats. They treat infected corals, and they propagate disease-resistant species. They are currently working to contain the infection and save the species. DeSantis’ recommendation of $277,650 to ” Monroe County Reef Preservation” is partly due to the economic value these reefs have for the Florida Keys.
Dolphin Tours at Panama City Beach
Dolphin tours are a popular attraction in Florida, and for good reason. We love that people can see these little guys in the wild instead of at dolphin shows. Panama City Beach, and the adjacent St Andrews Bay offers something unique: The world’s biggest population of Bottlenose Dolphins. With a draw that strong, it’s not surprising that many people are drawn to the dolphin tour industry.
St Andrew’s Bay has a vulnerable ecosystem due to its low tides and small freshwater influx. Advocacy groups like Friends of St Andrew’s Bay are fighting to protect this resource. They put it so eloquently – “We can lose a great number of species within our nationally-significant ecosystem if we don’t care for it properly. We can lose everything if the water turns turbid, or if the sediments are contaminated. Also at risk are property values, fishing, and recreation. “We don’t want our biological treasure to disappear and the social benefits that it provides.”
Sea Turtle Hatching at Fort Lauderdale
The Europeans who first arrived in Florida loved sea turtles, because they could survive for months upside-down in the hold of a ship until they were eaten. Canneries that produce green turtle soup have decimated this species in Florida. Between the 1973 Sea Turtle Protection Act, and Crush the dude-ing Turtle from Finding Nemo sentiments changed. The poetic struggle of the life is best captured by the baby sea turtles hatching, and their rush towards the ocean. It’s both mad and perfect. The spirit of hope is captured in us all when we see these little guys run down the beach and swim into the ocean.
The Sea Turtle Oversight Protection is a group of community members dedicated to the protection of baby sea turtles. We were able to see a turtle hatch for ourselves. Their volunteers spend the summer watching nests and helping the hatchlings if they are confused by the bright lights in Fort Lauderdale. They have so far saved more than 200,000 turtles (yes, five zeros!) Baby sea turtles that would have died otherwise on the beach or the road. (Hooray, endangered species in Florida!)
Fort Lauderdale, despite its growth as a tourist destination is now neck-and-neck with Oman for the title of largest turtle hatchery. In 1985, there were only 1216 nesting turtles in Broward County. Today, the number of turtles nesting in Broward County is around 4,000. Eco-tourists can witness this mid-summer wonder for themselves. Conservationists mark nests and assist the hatching.
Florida Panthers in the Everglades: The elusive Florida Panthers
Florida tourism helps animals that you may not see. According to the Florida Panther Recovery Plan, “Panthers need large, contiguous habitats that meet their social and reproductive needs. Panthers choose habitats based on the availability of prey, so they pick habitats where prey is more vulnerable to being stalked and captured. The dense understory vegetation is an important source of cover for panthers, both as a feeding and resting area, and also to denning. “
In the plan, it is explained that “the breeding range of Florida panther populations are currently restricted to habitats south of the Caloosahatchee River” in southern Florida. For lay people, this means Everglades National Park as well as the associated wildlife reserves. airboat rides in the Everglades are a great way to introduce people to this unique eco-system and dispel fears and myths about swamps. The public is learning that wetlands should be saved instead of being drained to build more condos. Does it work?
Florida panther populations have increased from 20 adults in early 1970s to nearly 300 adults today. North of the Caloosahatchee, breeding females were found. Individuals are regaining their historic ranges in Georgia. Scientists are continuing to fight this battle and introduce new genetic stock from related Pumas in Texas. But it is up to us whether we choose the wildlife of Everglades or the nightlife of Miami.
Big Pine Key Miniature Key Deer
You may not have heard of Key Deer. There are only 800 Key Deer in the entire world, and they live only in the Florida Keys. If you’ve seen the Rudolf Rednose Reindeer Cartoon, they are very similar (minus the nose). They are the size of large dogs and as cute as puppies.
Key Deer was just a few shots away from extinction not so long ago. In the 1950s, poaching reduced the Key Deer population to a handful of animals. The Key Deer Refuge was established in 1967, and this act along with the Key Deer Refuge allowed the species to recover dramatically. Nearly a thousand Key Deer now live in the Keys. They are mostly found around Big Pine Key and No Name Key.
Consider visiting the Keys Wildlife Refuge when you are planning a visit. This will remind you to drive at the speed limit, especially during the nighttime when Florida wildlife is more active.
Goliath Grouper Agregation on Florida Shipwrecks
The Goliath Grouper is our next “only Florida animal encounter”. The Goliath Grouper is the exact opposite of Key Deer, except that ecotourism helps to save this species. These huge fish are the top predators on the shallow coral reefs around Florida. Epinephelus itajara (aka Goliath Grouper) is the largest species of grouper in the Atlantic Ocean, weighing up 800 pounds.
In 1991, they were included in the list of endangered species. In Florida and the Caribbean, commercial fishing had been banned since 1993. Florida started adding artificial reefs to the coast between Miami and Palm Beach. About 300 ships have been sunk along the coast. The population of groupers responded well. In 2006, they were removed.
The Florida Reef Track is a dive destination because of its numerous shipwrecks, populated with 800 lb fish. The grouper aggregation at the M/V Castor, in Palm Beach, is perhaps the most famous dive. This deep wreck is one of the best pelagic viewing diving sites on earth. In late summer, it attracts hundreds of huge fish.
Florida’s Wild Monkeys
Eco-tourists will find wild monkeys on the Silver River near Silver Springs State Park. You can see monkeys in their natural habitat if you travel around the world. But for some blue-collar travelers, this may be the only opportunity they have.
These monkeys are not native Florida animals. Colonel Tooey imported the six monkeys in 1938 for his Wild Jungle Cruise. He brought six more monkeys a few years later. Over 200 monkeys now swing through the swamps of cypress. This means that this entire population is derived from a very small genetic stock. Scientists aren’t looking to introduce genetic variation, as they were with the Florida panther. This isolated population has a small gene pool, which is why you can see the crookedness of their tails. A trip down the Silver River, even if it is a non native species, will still be a fun and fascinating animal encounter. They are wild animals, so do not feed them, harass them, or approach them. Enjoy them from afar.
Hope for Florida Animals
Only in Florida can you have real animal encounters. The subtropics of America are full of stories of struggle, redemption and thousands of volunteers who work to protect species and habitat. Ecotourism-driven education and funding has helped to further this cause. Animals are regaining their strength and fighting for survival. We hope that you will be inspired to visit Florida and experience an incredible eco-adventure.