Florida Beaches & Wildlife

Florida has some of the nicest beaches in the world. Several of these beaches routinely receive awards by various rating organizations. In fact, three Florida beaches rated among the top ten in Dr. Beaches America's Best Beaches list for 2005. The waters are generally warm compared to the the rest of the US. Surf tends to be higher on the Atlantic coast with relatively little surf on the Gulf coast. Sand consistency in the northwest along Pensacola, and Panama City Beaches is fine and very white. Clearwater Beach also shares this same fine and very white texture. Beaches along the Atlantic tend to shade towards light beige with a somewhat coarser texture. Daytona Beach is unique with its hard packed sand suitable for driving motor vehicles.

In 1987 the Florida legislature designated the American alligator as the official state reptile. Long an unofficial symbol of the state, the alligator originally symbolized Florida's extensive untamed wilderness and swamps. Alligators are found throughout Florida and in parts of other southeastern states. They prefer lakes, swamps, canals, and other wetland habitats. Alligators eat fish, turtles, and a variety of other animals. In late June and early July, female alligators usually lay thirty to fifty eggs in mound-shaped nests made of reeds and other vegetation. Baby alligators hatch after an incubation period of about two months. When hatched, alligators are already fully developed and about eight inches long. Mature alligators usually range from six to twelve feet in length, with females rarely exceeding nine feet.

Because alligators are cold-blooded, we often see them sunning on logs or on banks near water. Gators can move surprisingly fast over short distances, and their powerful jaws and swinging tails make them dangerous to approach. Female alligators are particularly aggressive when guarding their nests. Alligators should not be fed, since this causes them to lose their fear of humans, and feeding is against Florida statutes.

The State Animal: Florida Panther
The most endangered of all Florida's symbols is its state animal, the panther.
The Florida Panther is a large, long-tailed, pale brown cat that grows to six feet or longer. Its habitat is usually the same as that of the white-tailed deer, which is the mainstay of its diet.

The State Marine Mammal: The manatee, also called a sea cow, is a gray, waterplant-eating, gentle giant that reaches eight to fourteen feet in length and can weigh more than a ton.
Manatees are on the endangered species list, but chances for their survival are good if humans' activities can be controlled. Of all the known causes of manatee fatalities, humans are responsible for about half of the deaths. The most-common cause of death for manatees is being struck by boats and barges. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978 and later regulations have limited the speed of boats in waters populated by manatees during winter months, when more than 1,500 of the creatures swim to warm bays and rivers.

The State Tree: The Sabal Palm is the most widely distributed palm in Florida. It grows in almost any soil and has many uses, including food, medicine, and landscaping.