Wildlife You Could See on a Boggy Creek Airboat Tour

Fly through the Florida wetlands at 45 mph on a Boggy Creek Airboat Tour, one of the most exciting ways to explore the Florida Everglades and the best way to get a close-up view of the wildlife and plant life native to this unique environment.

Wild Life You Might See

The Everglades are home to lots of diverse wildlife that thrive in the marshy, freshwater wetlands of Central Florida. Animals you might see include alligators, birds, turtles, deer, fish, snakes, frogs, and more.

Alligators

One of the biggest draws to the Everglades is the chance to see alligators in their natural habitat. During the cooler month, you’ll often see them surfacing to bask in the sunlight or hiding just beneath the surface of the water waiting for prey. People often confuse alligators with crocodiles, or think that they’re the same species, and although they both live in the Everglades, you won’t see any crocodiles. Alligators tend to keep to the freshwater wetlands of the Everglades that you’ll be exploring while crocodiles prefer the brackish and saltwater coastal mangroves and Florida bay.

Birds

Airboat tours are popular among bird watchers because of the variety of birds that dwell in the Everglades. Be on the lookout for lots of wading bird species, such as herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, white ibises, wood storks, and more in addition to birds of flight species such as snail kites, woodpeckers, warblers, and cardinals. You might even catch a rare sighting of a Bald Eagle.

Snakes

Keep your eyes peeled for creatures slithering through the tall grasses, there are over 25 species of snakes, including a few venomous species that live in the Central Florida Everglades. Snakes you might see are the cottonmouth, the diamondback rattlesnake, the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, the coral snake, the indigo snake, and unfortunately, even an invasive non-native Burmese python.

Manatees

Though a manatee spotting is rare, these large mammals can be found seeking freshwater resources, such as the Everglades, for drinking water and refuge during colder weather.

The Best Times to See the Most Wildlife

The winter dry season, from December to April, is the best time to spot lots of alligators as they tend to surface to bask in the sun during the colder months. The best time of day to increase your chances of seeing the most wildlife is before 10:00 am when the animals tend to be more active.

Plant Life You’ll See

In addition to the diverse wildlife in the Central Florida Everglades, you’ll also get a first-hand look at the plant life that thrive in the Everglade swamp waters and wetlands, such as the notable cypress trees, over 100 species of grasses, orchids, and more. Bromeliads, also known as air plants which absorb water and nutrients through their leaves, not the soil, are in the pineapple family and many species, such as Spanish moss, Tillandsia, Catopsis, and more flourish in the unique environment that the Everglades provide. Although many people often only associate cacti and succulents with dry deserts, but they there are several species that are native to the sandy, alkaline soils of the Everglades. One of the most notable cacti is the Simpson’s applecactus, known as “Queen of the Night” because it’s white, fragrant flowers bloom only at night—look for its telltale pinkish buds during the day. Insider tip: bring a pair of binoculars for better viewing of the animals and plant life and don’t forget to pack a camera!

Save on Admission to Top Attractions

Planning a trip to Florida and want to visit some of the top Orlando attractions? Save up to 55% on combined admission compared to purchasing individual tickets to the Boggy Creek Airboat Tour and more with a Go Orlando Card.