Wild Florida
Top: The tree-dwelling green anole, a native of the southeastern United States, is often spotted around South Florida. PHOTO:OIP
This 10-foot alligator killed an 85-year-old woman walking her dog by a community lake in Fort Pierce. It was later captured and taken away by officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. PHOTO: ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Gators on the prowl
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Alligators get around. Last mating season, a Florida alligator was removed from a New York area park lake and cooperatively taken to the Bronx Zoo.
However, not all alligator encounters turn out well.
In Fort Pierce, a woman walking her small dog near a retention pond at Spanish Lakes Fairways, a 55-plus community, was dragged by an alligator into the water and killed.
The 10-foot gator emerged from the water and knocked the woman over before dragging her into the water by her foot, said a spokesperson for the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A neighbor, who tried to help using a pool net, told a local news station the victim was pulled underwater and never resurfaced. Authorities later recovered the woman’s body and a contracted alligator trapper captured and euthanized the 600-700 pound reptile, it was later reported.
In another recent incident, neighbors in a Kendall neighborhood reported a gator strolling through a single-family neighborhood then wandering into an empty field where neighborhood children play and pets frequent.
Metro-Dade County police officers arrived and cornered the gator. The six-and-a-half foot, 200-pound gator was taken away by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In 2022, Florida reported 14 fatalities and 334 injuries related to alligator attacks.
To avoid alligator attacks the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends: • Staying within the posted swimming areas • Swim during the day; alligators are most active between dusk and dawn • Don’t let pets swim or drink out of possible alligator-infested waters • Don't feed or lure alligators
Anyone bitten by an alligator, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends, fighting back and then seeking immediate medical attention. For more information, visit myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/gators/pet-safety/
The North American opossum:
Florida 's most misunderstood animal
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One of the most misunderstood Florida animals is the opossum, the state’s only marsupial.
A marsupial is a mammal that has a pouch for carrying their young. Florida’s species is the Virginia opossum, also known as the North American opossum. It’s the only variety found north of Mexico. They have grayish-white fur and grow to the size of a house cat. People unfamiliar with opossums are intimidated by their long bare tails and ears, and pointed snout, comparing them to large rodents, but appearances can be deceiving. Opossums are nature’s unpaid gardeners; they eat most unwanted pests around the home and garden. They’ll be happy to do away with ticks, slugs, spiders, snails, cockroaches, mice, rats, even snakes.
If you see one on your property, the National Opossum Society advises leaving the opossum alone and let it do its work. If the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than seven inches from nose to rump) contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help.
Those who are concerned opossums will eat fruit off their tree, need not worry. Opossums prefer to eat rotting fruit that have already fallen off the tree. Homeowners can prevent them
from eating off the tree by cutting branches away from fences, the ground or roof. If climbing opossums become a problem, plastic sheeting and duct tape around the lower trunk of the tree will keep them from climbing.
Homeowners can also use a cut plastic trash can wrapped around the trunk. If the family dog barks at the opossum, the best thing is to keep the dog indoors in the evening to prevent the dog from hurting or killing it.
After being rescued, this young opossum gripped the hose of the pool cleaner. PHOTO:OIP
When confronted, opossums may hiss, drool, show their teeth and make their fur appear bigger, but their most common defense is to play dead, also known as playing possum. That usually results in the dog sniffing it and walking away. Training dogs not to attack smaller animals is always advised.
Not leaving pet food outdoors and properly closing screened patios will keep possums outdoors, where they’ll be glad to help clean up the yard.
For more information about opossums, visit opossum.org.
Florida Museum website helps identify snakes
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Few creatures stir up Floridians more than snakes. Many people overreact and even panic if they encounter one.
One neighbor tripped and sprained an ankle trying to avoid a harmless Indigo that snuck into her pool enclosure.
Many seek help from social media only to find their neighbors know as little about snakes as they do. While others kill the snake before even finding out what it is. That is unfortunate and unnecessary.
The Florida Museum on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville offers an online snake identification guide of the state’s many snakes.
On floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/ visitors can provide a description to find a particular snake and its classification. They can learn about the reptile’s habitat, behavior, diet and characteristics to help set their minds at ease.
The Eastern Diamondback, the deadliest snake in North America can be found in Florida. PHOTO: RF
Florida's native and invasive species
To say South Florida has an abundance of wildlife may be an understatement. From an array of joyful birds to native sea life it can all be found in our own backyard. The surprises never end. Yielding to alligators, ducks and turtles is not uncommon. South Florida's wildlife includes "invasive" species that have made themselves at home whether the natives like it or not. It's wild!
Gray Fox
Gray foxes are found in wooded areas throughout Florida. They are more common in Northern Florida as they prefer to live in more dense, inaccessible cover. Gray foxes are also referred to as tree foxes or cat foxes and have oval shape pupils. Their diet consists of insects, lizards, mice, rats, rabbits, carcasses, berries and many other foods.
Green Iguana
Green iguanas are an invasive species due to their impacts to native wildlife. Also referred to as Common Iguanas they are the largest lizards in the Americas and can grow up to six-feet long and weigh up to 11 pounds. They cause damage to the vegetation. They are drawn to plants with flowers, foliage, or any kind of vegetables, and they destroy them.
Florida Banana Spider
The Florida Banana Spider, or Golden Silk Orb Weaver Spider, shares the nickname with a few other species but is the only one found in America. Florida’s banana spider is one of the larger species of spider in the state and often found in gardens and yards. It’s venom is potent enough to hospitalize infants, adults with allergies and pets.
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