Florida Wildlife

wildlife-safety

In Florida, the primary poisonous lizard is the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), with the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) as a close relative. Both are venomous, b...

wildlife-safety

Snakes in toilets in Florida is a scenario many residents and visitors want to understand rather than fear. In this verified explainer, we focus on how and why snakes might ente...

wildlife-and-conservation

Invasive lizards in Florida are nonnative reptile species that have established reproducing populations outside their native ranges, often disrupting local ecosystems. These ani...

wildlife-safety

The most recent confirmed fatal alligator attack in Florida occurred in August 2023, when a 93-year-old woman was killed at a private canal in Orange County. This summary draws...

Wildlife & Outdoors

Alligators are large, cold-blooded reptiles that inhabit freshwater wetlands across Florida. They are most active at dawn and dusk, feeding mainly on fish, turtles, birds, and s...

companion-animals

In Florida, the two primary toad species linked to poisoning concerns for dogs are the invasive Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) and the native Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris). C...

Wildlife

In Florida, the most commonly encountered marsupial is the opossum (Didelphis virginiana), a nocturnal, adaptable mammal often seen near human development. Understanding its bas...