Coot
One of the most common birds you'll see in Florida's marshes, coots are among the noisiest. When they take off, they look like they're running on water before they launch into the sky.
Cormorant
Cormorants can be easily confused with the anhinga, but are a more social bird. You’ll see them hanging out in groups.
Deer Moss
Large puffy lichens, such as pale greenish-gray Cladina evansii and yellowish Cladina subtenuis are lumped under the colloquial name of deer moss.
Dog Fennel
Eupatorium capillifolium
Florida Black Bear
Learn about the Florida black bear and how to handle yourself in bear habitat, whether you're hiking, camping, or a homeowner in an area where bears are common
Florida cooter
The most common turtle you’ll see basking on logs along rivers and lakes, the Florida cooter is one of Florida’s largest freshwater turtles, up to a foot long or more.
Florida Panther
A subspecies of cougar, the Florida panther has been making a slow but steady comeback in their stronghold in Big Cypress and the Everglades, with sightings of individual cats reported by hikers throughout the state
Florida Rosemary
Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) is not related to the edible herb rosemary, which is in the mint family. It is one of the showier shrubs in scrub habitat due to its rounded shape and sometimes enormous size.
Florida scrub-jay
Seen in very specific scrub habitats with smaller trees, the Florida scrub-jay is only found in Florida, its population in decline and severely limited by lack of habitat.
Florida’s Venomous Snakes
Florida has six species of venomous snakes. Here is what they look like, and how to identify them when you are outdoors and encounter them in the woods.
Golden orb spider
Especially in fall, you'll encounter these massive spiders stringing sticky yellow webs everywhere - including right across the hiking trails.
Gray Nickerbean
Flowering mounds of gray nickerbean are found along the tropical coastal habitats of Florida. The beans float away with the tide and are polished by the waves, appearing as "sea beans" on other shores.