Explore Everglades National Park

Plants that live in the Everglades

The area is home to rare and endangered species, such as the American crocodile, Florida Panther, and West Indian manatee. Over 1,000 species of plants live here.

It's flat but don't let that fool you into thinking there is no variety. A couple of inches of height brings a marked difference in flora and fauna. The highest ground is populated by Dade County Slash Pine forest, with underbrush that includes saw palmetto. Both plants encourage fire which keeps the hardwoods out. A little lower "altitude" brings cypress heads, and lower than that swampland (a river of grass). In the swampland, small hills (a couple of inches higher than water level) are covered with tropical hardwoods with dense foliage below. As you get to the south and southwest part of the 'glades, the tides bring in salt loving plants like Mangroves and their kin. There is a lot to see but it takes paying attention to it -- and it is well worth the time. Things that may seem small at first may be really big and bring fond memories.

The soil of the islands is very fertile and is subject to frequent inundation, but gradually the water area is being replaced by land. The vegetation is luxuriant, the live oak, wild lemon, wild orange, cucumber, pawpaw, custard-apple and wild rubber trees being among the indigenous species; there are, besides, many varieties of wild flowers, the orchids being especially noteworthy. There are two seasons, wet and dry, but the climate is equable.

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Wildlife of the Everglades

Specialties of the park include the Short-tailed Hawk and Smooth-billed Ani, and the Caribbean Flamingo at its only regular North American mainland site, usually near the town of Flamingo. Other wading birds such as great blue heron, great egret, cattle egret, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill and ibises are abundant. Limpkins can also be found in the Everglades.

The raptors include the rare Snail Kite and the very common Red-shouldered Hawk and Osprey.

From Flamingo, the water and mud flats of Florida Bay allow views of pelicans white and brown, shorebirds, terns and skimmers.

The waterways are inhabited by southern sea otter, manatee, American alligator and crocodiles. The park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist naturally. Also white-tailed deer and the severely endangered Florida Panther are found.

Reptiles and Amphibians of the Everglades

Florida softshell, Florida red-bellied, snapping turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, and diamondback terrapin. There are 22 species of nonpoisonous snakes corn, eastern garter, Florida green water, racer, ringneck among them. Do be aware that the Everglades has 4 poisonous varieties of snake to watch out for - eastern coral, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback, and dusky pygmy rattlesnake.

Mammals That Make the Everglades Home

Everglades National Park is home to such mammals as bobcat, gray and red foxes, mink, long-tailed weasel, muskrat, raccoon, striped skunk, opossum, marsh rabbit, armadillo, bottle-nosed dolphin and pilot whale.

Preserve This Great Place

Collecting plants and animals in Everglades National Park is prohibited. This includes such things as orchids, airplants, seahorses, starfish, conch, tropical fish, coral, sponges, and driftwood (except for fuel). One quart of non-occupied sea shells may be collected per person.

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