Identify Wildlife

Some native wildlife lives in forests, some makes its home on grassy prairies and others find the water’s edge their perfect playground. All prefer to be observed from afar, so stick to the boardwalks, trails and waterways to catch a glimpse of native fauna in its natural habitat. Early morning and late-in-the-day finds animals foraging for food and seeking shelter.

Florida whitetail deer
Tops out at three-and-a-half feet in height and can be seen east of Interstate 75.

American alligator
Despite their depiction in cartoons and as mascots, alligators are black, not shades of green.

Bottlenose dolphin
Bay waters, Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor almost guarantee a sighting of these mammals.

Zebra longwing butterfly
Elegant and graceful, as well as striking, and can be seen throughout the area.

Horseshoe crab
Horseshoe crabs live in mud flats and young find protection in mangrove “nurseries."

Mangrove tree crab
Coexisting with the mangroves they scurry on, these crustaceans help break down nutrients.

American crocodile
A 12-foot female croc lives on Sanibel Island, and it’s said there are a handful of smaller ones in Estero Bay.

Florida black bear
It’s hard to spot this elusive native (which can be brown, even), but look for signs such as tracks in swamps or forests.

Green anole
Ranging in color from green to brown, this lizard is often mistaken for a chameleon. See them at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Bobcat
Sanibel Island has a good population of this feral cat. Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium has one in captivity.

Cracker cattle
Spanish explorers brought this small-horned bovine to Lee County. See it at the Babcock Ranch.

Florida panther
Only about 32 endangered Florida panther kittens were born in the wild in 2008 and 2009 combined.

West Indian manatee
Daily they eat 10 to 15 percent of their weight in plant material and bear young one at a time.

Raccoon
Around human populations, it’s common to see raccoons feeding during the day.

River otter
These playful creatures like near-water sites and are active dawn to mid-morning and at sunset.

Armadillo
Armadillos root around for grubs on high, dry ground and “freeze" when startled.