Wildlife

Every region has its particular brand of wildlife. In Alaska you’ll want to steer clear of grizzly bears, in Maine you could run into a moose, and in New Mexico you might see a roadrunner run across the road. While engaging in outdoor activities here in Vero Beach, you’re likely to encounter plenty of wildlife — some wilder than others. We wouldn’t like to see anyone miss out on enjoying the outdoors due to misconceptions about Florida’s wildlife. So enjoy the information below, always maintain a healthy respect for all wildlife, and remember that most wild animals don’t want to interact with us any more than we want to tangle with them.

Bobcats

About twice the size of domestic cats, bobcats pose little threat to humans. They are plentiful but reclusive, spotted occasionally in wooded areas and even backyards. They hunt rabbits, rodents and other small animals, usually at dawn, dusk and nighttime. As with all wildlife, observe and admire the bobcat, but keep your distance, and it will most likely blend back into the wild.

Alligators

Alligators are plentiful in the Sunshine State, but living side-by-side with these scaly neighbors is not nearly as terrifying as you may think. Unprovoked gator attacks on humans are exceedingly rare. Nevertheless, alligators need to be taken seriously. As with most wildlife, if you leave them alone, they will generally leave you alone. Use good gator sense: Don’t swim in lakes or other inland bodies of water. Don’t let small children or pets wander at the edges of lakes or waterways, especially during the hours from dusk to dawn.

While alligators prefer fresh water, it is also possible to see them in the brackish waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Their bodies are not good at eliminating salt, but they are capable of spending several hours in salt water. If you want to observe alligators in their natural habitat, Blue Cypress Lake is a good place to do so. If you are canoeing or kayaking and see the trademark triangle of an alligator’s eyes and snout peeking above the waterline, watch carefully and you will probably see it duck under and resurface farther away from you. If you are walking near a lake and encounter a gator sunning itself at the water’s edge, keep your distance, and it will most likely slip into the water, where it feels most at home. And this probably goes without saying: It is illegal to feed or interfere with alligators in any way.

Snakes

While Florida is home to some 46 species of native snakes, only six are venomous, and of those only four live in the southern part of the state. Snakes are a valuable part of our ecosystem, so if you see one in your yard, it is more likely a friend than a foe. Snakes will usually flee if not cornered. Most of us are more than happy to accord all snakes, venomous or not, a wide berth. But it can’t hurt to at least be aware of the venomous ones potentially found in our area:

The Eastern coral snake, though potentially dangerous, is actually shy and rarely seen. But a couple of non-venomous species mimic its red, black and yellow bands, though in different patterns. Several variations of a rhyming mnemonic help make the distinction: “Red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, venom lack.”

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, is a thick-bodied snake that measures 30–48 inches. Eight non-venomous water snakes resemble this venomous species.

Two types of rattlesnakes are native to our area, though not frequently seen: The heavy-bodied Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which measures 33–72 inches, can shake its tail to create a buzzing sound. The dusky pygmy rattlesnake is likewise thickbodied but much shorter at just 12–24 inches.

However, the snakes you are most likely to encounter are quite harmless. Most will bite only if they feel threatened, but otherwise are not aggressive.

The corn snake, also called the red rat snake, measures 30–48 inches and is colored in shades of red, orange and brown.

The North American racer, commonly called the black racer, is very common in our area. Its length is approximately 20–56 inches.

The common garter snake sports a blotched pattern with three yellowish stripes. It is usually less than 2 feet long but can grow larger.

Feral Pigs/Wild Hogs/Wild Boars

Known by several names, feral pigs are not native but have been in Florida for centuries. They are ubiquitous throughout the state and considered invasive due to the property damage they are capable of causing by their rooting and eating habits. Like most other animals, feral pigs prefer to avoid danger, but they can behave aggressively and can carry diseases, so keep your distance, especially if you see a sow with her adorable piglets.