What wild animals live in the Florida Keys?

What wild animals live in the Florida Keys?

Many of these animals are found nowhere else and include the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Key Largo cotton mouse, silver rice rat, Key deer, Key ringneck snake, Florida Keys mole skink, Lower Keys striped mud turtle, Stock Island tree snail, Bartram’s hairstreak and Schaus swallowtail butterfly.

What Are Key deer predators?

A: The primary predators of Key deer fawns are American alligators and American crocodiles. On occasion, residents will report an alligator or crocodile having eaten an adult deer, but it is thought to be a rare occurrence. Adult Key deer do not have other natural predators, with the exception of the human-driven car.

What unusual animal is in Key West Florida?

A simple stroll down the sidewalk in the Keys can lead to some unique wildlife encounters. The Lower Keys are home to Key Deer, a specific breed with unusually short legs. You’ll also spot neon green iguanas in abundance. While they seem to fit into the scenery nicely, they’re actually an invasive species.

Are there bears in the Florida Keys?

Prior to the late 1800s, Florida Black Bears inhabited most of Florida, including many of the Florida Keys. They are now found in a much more sporadic range, mainly in protected areas of Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Georgia and Southern Mississippi.

Are there sharks in Key West?

Yes, of course there are sharks in Key West. We’re situated on a small island surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico–shark’s natural habitat. What kind of sharks can I see at the reef? The most common shark to see at the Key West reef is the docile nurse shark.

Are there monkeys in Key West?

Key, more than 1,000 rhesus monkeys frolic in the sun of the Florida Keys. They play “King of the Hill” in the mangrove trees, live on Monkey Chow brought in by boat each day and are known only by their tattoo num-bers.

Can you touch key deer?

Key Deer – This miniature white-tailed deer is found only in the middle Florida Keys (mainly Big Pine Key & No Name Key), and they are a highly-endangered species, with less than 800 in the wild. Do not feed, harass, touch, capture, or kill key deer.

Are there alligators in Key West?

American Alligators are very rare in the Keys since they do not like high salinity water. They are generally limited to the few islands here with permanent freshwater lakes such as Big Pine Key where the fresh/brackish water blue hole is, but our canals and beaches are too salty for them.

Are there skunks in Key West?

Key West Skunk Removal is a common service that Xceptional Wildlife Removal handles throughout Key West and surrounding areas. Whatever the skunk problem may be our experts offer complete solutions to get rid of skunks and their odor. Call us today to discuss your Key West skunk problem.

Are there crocodiles in Key West?

“There have been crocodiles in the Keys for a long time. They’re more common in the Upper Keys, but they have been spotted as far south as Big Pine Key and the Dry Tortugas,” said Lindsey Hord, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s crocodile response coordinator.

Are there Bobcats in the Florida Keys?

Bobcats are present in all contiguous US states except Delaware, where they are believed to have been extirpated. In Florida, bobcats can be found in all 67 counties, although they have not been spotted on the islands of the Florida Keys in several decades.

Why do the Florida Keys stink?

That ubiquitous smell is decaying sargassum, islands of floating, brown sea algae that is piling up along the beaches of Key West, the Florida peninsula, Mexico and other Caribbean islands. Happens every summer when the winds and currents come from the south.

What do birds do in the Florida Keys?

As carnivores, they nest in densely packed colonies and scavenge for live food, which typically consists of small crabs and fish. While they’re coastal birds, they rarely venture far out to sea and have long lives.

What kind of animals live in mangroves in Florida?

American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis) and American crocodiles ( Crocodylus acutus) are both residents of mangrove habitats. The American alligator ranges throughout the southeastern U.S., and is found only in low salinity areas of Florida mangroves.

Are there any flamingos in the Florida Keys?

While flamingos aren’t exactly a common sighting in the Florida Keys, you still have a chance to spot them and they are quite a vision to behold. These rare pink wading birds often balance on one leg and sometimes use their webbed feet to kick up prey in the mud.

Are there chickens in Key West, FL?

When in Key West, you can’t forget about the local population of chickens that roam the island freely. Dating back to Cuban immigration to the island, chickens have been a part of Key West’s landscape for decades. While some consider them a nuisance, there’s no denying that they’re part of Key West’s quirky charms.