Our Orlando airboat rides give you a unique and personal experience with the Everglades and its wildlife. While alligators have become the breakout stars, these reptiles are not the only wildlife living in the Everglades. Over 40 species of mammals can be found in the subtropical wetlands of South Florida.
Florida panthers are one of the Everglades most endangered animals. These large cats are carnivorous and their diets are typically feral hogs, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and armadillos. They occasionally even eat alligators. Florida panthers prefer upland forests over other habitats, because this habitat provides dry ground.
Raccoons are common to most habitats. They are omnivores and will eat almost anything. Their diets range from turtle eggs to plants, and they will even eat trash. These opportunistic creatures will also live wherever they can, including a hole in a tree or someone’s attic.
White-tailed deer can be found from southern Canada to South America. The white-tailed deer of the Everglades are the same as those found throughout the United States, however they are smaller, because they do not need an extra layer of fat for winter. White-tailed deer are omnivores and eat about 4 lbs of plants a day. These deer can be found feeding in open sawgrass and bedding in hardwood hammock habitats.
Everglades Mink are semi-aquatic mammals that are related to weasels and otters. They are carnivores and hunt aquatic and terrestrial prey. The Everglades mink is listed as a threatened species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Historically, the Everglades mink ranged into the northern Everglades, however, their range is currently limited to the shallow, freshwater marshes and swamps of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Fakahatchee Strand.
Come take one of our Orlando airboat rides at Wild Florida to to catch a glimpse of the native Florida animals that call our swamp home. Embrace the natural beauty and splendor of Florida’s wildlife with an airboat ride on our 4,200 acre nature preserve. Call 407-957-3135 to book your Orlando airboat ride!
