Animals of the Everglades

The Everglades region of Florida is also called the "River of Grass" because of its shallow waters trickling down from Lake Okeechobee and its waving fields of saw grass. Many animals call the River of Grass their home, from insects to alligators. Until recently, land developers failed to understand the delicate relationship between the animals of the region and their water source, which led to the near extinction of several species.

Biodiversity

The Everglades is a rare and biologically diverse region, at one time extending from Lake Okeechobee southward to Florida Bay. With yearlong subtropic temperatures and fresh water, the Everglades is the perfect habitat for a wide array of animals. There are more than 50 types of reptiles in the Everglades, including the American alligator. Thousands of insects and marine animals teem in the lowland mangroves and marshes, making this habitat a haven for migratory birds, as well. There are nearly 45 mammalian species in the Everglades, some of which are rare and endangered.

Conservation Efforts

The Everglades is one of the world's most unique habitats, and the animals that live there have often faced extinction. Yet over the years, there have been several initiatives that have improved the conditions of these fragile habitats. Plume hunting was finally banned in 1910, but not after hundreds of species were hunted to near extinction. This was one of the main factors influencing the state to create Everglades National Park in 1947. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service later approved a recovery plan in 1999 that provided a detailed program for protecting endangered animals. This also led to the Everglades Forever Act, which mandates water management agencies to conduct research on the importance of water levels to animals such as the Cape Sable seaside sparrow before future water projects can be considered.

Alligator Alley

Everglades Parkway, which is a section of Interstate 75, has been nicknamed Alligator Alley by the American Automobile Association. This stretch of highway passes through the Everglades and has frequent alligator crossings, both on the road itself and the nearby canal waterways. The American alligator plays a vital role in the Everglades' ecosystem. These predators not only balance out the population but build "alligator holes" that sustain other small animals in times of drought. Although alligators thrive in the Everglades, the heat and humidity have caused a lower weight-to-length ratio and delayed sexual maturity. This is a natural adaption of the species over generations to conserve energy and preserve a consistent metabolic rate.

Florida Panthers

Florida panthers are one of the last subspecies of Puma still living in the southern parts of the United States. Their territory once extended from Texas to Tennessee, but now they reside only in remote parts of the Everglades--a 95 percent reduction in territory. Only 30 to 50 Florida panthers still remain in the wild, making them the most endangered species in the Everglades. This animal truly represents the vast diversity of the Everglades. They are naturally reclusive animals that prey on deer, wild hogs and other mammals. Progressive efforts are being made by Everglades National Park and other organizations to protect the Florida panthers' dwindling habitat and track the few remaining panthers left in the wild.

Birds of the Everglades

The Everglades has always played home to countless flocks of migratory and wading birds like the spoonbill and the great white heron. There are more than 350 species of birds at Everglades National Park alone. In the late 1900s, the numbers of these birds dropped dramatically, due primarily to plume hunters and the destruction of natural habitats. The wood stork is an important symbol for the Florida Everglades because it is an indicator species. These long-legged birds were once more abundant in Florida than any other state in the Southeast. However, their numbers have dropped from 6,000 to only 500 since the mid 1900s.

References

• Everglades National Park
• Plants and Animals of the Everglades
• The Living Everglades

Resources

• Sawgrass Recreation Park