Florida Keys Wildlife
Just about anywhere you look in the Florida Keys you will find animal and sea life on display for you to appreciate.
Just this past weekend I watched two manatees lounging in my canal- enjoying a lazy Saturday and probably thinking that it was way too hot to do anything else that afternoon (I don’t blame them- I stayed in the AC all day).
Lazy Manatee!
It’s quite common to see manatees in the canals and around the docks, but they are just one of the many fascinating species that you will encounter in the Florida Keys.
Iguanas are becoming quite a nuisance throughout the Keys.
Porpoises, sea turtles, birds (including flamingos and roseate spoonbills), endangered key deer, lizards, eagle rays, alligators, and borrowing owls (to name a few), are all easy to spot if you know where to look.
Below is a brief list of some of my favorite places to view wildlife in the Florida Keys.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to go to any of these places to see the animals and sea creatures of the Florida Keys-just go for a boat ride, a walk, or even pull over along US-1 and look into the water to spot tropical fish swimming by.
Please read my Florida Keys Guide: Journey through the Florida Keys, for more information about each place and more places to spot Florida Keys wildlife.
- Everglades National Park: Drive from the Keys to Flamingo (or go by boat) and camp, kayak, and explore the Everglades waters and islands that are home to tarpon, porpoises, alligators, birds and more.
- Robbie’s- MM 78.5, Islamorada: Feed the tarpon- a must on any Keys visit!
- Crane Point Nature Center- MM 50, Marathon: Walk the nature path to see birds, spiders, fish and more.
- Marathon Turtle Hospital- MM 48.5, Marathon: Check out the rescued sea turtles as they get nursed back to health.
- Seven-Mile Bridge- MM 47, Marathon: Walk along the 2.2 mile portion of the old bridge and look down into the water. You are likely to see passing eagle rays, sea turtles, tarpon, sharks, porpoises and other fish and sea life.
- National Key Deer Refuge- MM 30.2 Key Deer Blvd, Big Pine: See endangered Key Deer at the National Key Deer Refuge or just travel the back roads through Big Pine Key- deer are everywhere.
Head to Big Pine Key to see Key Deer. As you can see, some Key Deer are not that small.
- Blue Hole- MM 30.2 Key Deer Blvd, Big Pine: The only freshwater “lake” in the Florida Keys is home to alligators, iguanas and birds.
- Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden- College Street, Stock Island- Escape the noise and crowds of Key West and observe the beautiful butterflies and flowers as you walk through the gardens.
- Snorkeling/Scuba Diving- Dive or snorkel the only living coral reef system in the continental United States. My three favorites:John Pennekamp State Park- Key Largo , Sombrero Reef- Marathon, Looe Key- Lower Keys
