Airboat tours Pompano Beach – Meet the Everglades Wildlife
The Everglades is Florida’s most unique feature, with beautiful scenery and incredible wildlife. It is, in fact, very well known for its astonishing biodiversity, and most of all, the extraordinary animals that inhabit it. When we think of the Everglades, it often evokes images of crocodiles and alligators, and for a good reason. Those creatures are some of the many you can encounter during an Everglades airboat ride. Airboat tours Pompano beach offers the opportunity to discover Florida’s wildlife in all its glory. Prepare yourself for some unique animal sightings as we take you on the best tours of the Everglades.
The Everglades reptile population
Did you know that the Everglades is one of the rare places where you can encounter alligators and crocodiles in the wild? The American Alligator is one of those prominent features. It is very much a symbol of what to expect during your Everglades tour. Imagine coming face-to-face with such an incredible creature. You will feel closer to nature than you’ve ever felt before. Trust us when we say this: This kind of animal encounter will have your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping. You can also witness the American crocodile. Those two species are often confused due to their similar look, but they are two distinct animals. The Alligator has a u-shape snout, which differs from a crocodile’s V-shaped and pointed nose. Crocodiles are also more brown and grey, compared to the Alligator’s darker colors.
Beyond those more giant reptiles, Airboat Tours Pompano Beach is also a great way to discover some impressive snakes and pythons. The Burmese python is a very famous reptile that is non-native to the Everglades. It originated from Southeast Asia and came to Florida during the 1980s. It is referred to as an invasive species, feeding on the local animal population and contributing to the decimation of certain native animals. While the state makes regular attempts to curb its population, the Burmese python is one of the many snakes you might encounter during your airboat tour. Our captains always have an eye for those nasty reptiles. We will make sure to point them out to you so that you can admire them with your own eyes!
Airboat tours Pompano Beach – Meet the mammals
The Everglades count much more than reptiles. There are, in fact, a lot of mammals that inhabit this beautiful nature reserve. The Florida manatee is an excellent example of unique animals living along the coasts of Florida. The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (also referred to as the North American manatee). Even though they look like aquatic creatures, those mammals breathe air. Fun fact, they also produce milk! It is why we also call them ‘sea cows’. The Florida manatee primarily inhabits shallow coastal areas. They live in estuaries and rivers.
Here is another impressive mammal: the Florida panther. This North American cougar has yellowish/blue eyes. Their coat is mainly a tan color. The Florida panther sports a creamy white underbelly, with black tips present on its tail and ears. Florida panthers are infrequent sightings. We can’t guarantee you will come across one, but we will point them out if we see one!
Everglades bird species
Did you know that the Everglade counts 16 wading bird species? Their long legs distinguish wading birds. They use those long legs for wading into the water to catch their prey. The most common wading bird of the Everglades is the green-backed heron. It stalks its prey in shallow water or hangs from low tree branches. It picks at fish like a dart with great precision and accuracy.
The wood stork is another large wading bird that feeds uniquely and unusually. It shuffles its feet while holding its beak in the water. Wood storks are great fun to watch. Their hunting ritual is incredibly entertaining to watch! Another well-known Everglades bird is the pink-looking Roseate Spoonbill. It is the only species of spoonbill with pink plumage. Furthermore, it is also the only species found in the Americas and Florida. The increased presence of the Roseate Spoonbill measures the success of native-animals restoration programs. We will always do our best so you can encounter those birds, as they look great and are a lot of fun to watch!
Meet other animals during Airboat tours Pompano Beach
The animals described in this article are just some of the many creatures you are likely to encounter during airboat tours Pompano Beach. Our captains know the Everglades very well, and we will always take you to the best spots so you can encounter those animals. If you have any questions or are interested in seeing specific creatures, make sure to tell us during your booking. We will do everything we can to make it happen!
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