Brown Pelican

April 10, 2015 by
brown pelican

A brown pelican in the water.

If you’ve ever been to the beach or out on a boat in Florida, than you have probably seen your fair share of brown pelicans. Most commonly found around coastlines of the Southern United States, this interesting bird is also quite common in the Everglades. While perhaps best known for annoying fishermen and boatmen, the brown pelican has become generally well tolerated and is now an American seaside staple.

Of the eight species of pelicans found throughout the world, the brown pelican is the smallest, and one of only two pelican species that gets its food by diving into the water. Although it is the smallest species of pelican, the brown pelican is by no means a small bird – they can reach over 5 feet in length, with wingspans of over 8 feet, large bills, and deep throat pouches for draining water after catching prey. While their heads are mostly white, the bodies of brown pelicans come in many shades of brown, black, tan, or gray, often mistakenly giving the impression that these birds are dirty or unclean, when in fact these are just their natural colors.

Brown pelicans can thrive in both saltwater and freshwater environments, and though you may spot a lone pelican hunting from time to time, they prefer to live in large flocks. Although they are usually seen around and associated with water, brown pelicans are excellent fliers, though they tend to be somewhat awkward on land. When feeding, an adult brown pelican will dive bill-first into the water, oftentimes submerging themselves completely before returning to the surface with their catch. After draining the water from their throat pouches, brown pelicans will then swallow their prey whole, eating up to 4 pounds of fish, amphibians, and crustaceans each day.

Because pelicans are often fed scraps from fishermen and boatmen, they have been conditioned to associate humans with their food. Today, they can be found all around fishing ports, piers, and marinas, though many can still be found in more secluded and wild areas, such as the mangrove forests of the Everglades. Protected under the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, brown pelicans are classified as a Species of Least Concern, with an estimated population of around 650,000 birds.

To see brown pelicans in their natural habitat, take an airboat ride with Captain Mitch through the Everglades. Not only will you see plenty of birds on your Everglades tour, but you’ll see plenty of lizards, fish, and amphibians too!

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The Poisonwood Tree is One Everglades Plant You Will Want to Avoid

April 10, 2015 by
poisonwood tree

Leaves of a poisonwood tree.

The Florida Everglades provide a lush and hospitable environment for a variety of plants and animals. While the majority of species found in the Everglades are harmless to humans, there are a few that should be watched out for. Among these are the American alligator, the Burmese python, and the poisonwood tree.

While you might not initially expect a tree to be able to hurt you, the more familiar plant species of poison ivy has certainly proved otherwise. And while poisonwoods are much less common than poison ivy, and typically limited to certain locations, they do need to be avoided. Poisonwoods are prevalent throughout Southern Florida, most notably in the Florida Keys and in Everglades National Park, though their range does extend to The Bahamas and much of the Caribbean islands.

Poisonwoods are a flowering tree from the cashew or sumac family, which from a distance, are not especially unique or easily identifiable. Up close, they can be identified by their teardrop-shaped leaves, which tend to droop from their branches and are outlined in yellow. Poisonwoods can grow to heights of more than 60 feet, occasionally producing flowers that are small and yellow.

Like with poison ivy, a too-close encounter with a poisonwood can leave you with an extremely unpleasant and itchy rash, though unfortunately, poisonwoods are actually ten times more toxic than poison ivy. The poisonwood’s toxins are in its black sap, which can be found oozing from its peeling bark and should be avoided at all costs, though people can be infected by touching the tree anywhere, not just on its exposed sap. People should always avoid walking under poisonwood trees, especially during or shortly after rainfall, when the sap can fall down onto unsuspecting heads through water run-off.

The sap of poisonwoods cannot be washed off with water, and must be treated with oil-dissolving soaps or hand sanitizers. Once a rash forms, it can result in blisters, inflammation, itching, and reddish bumps. If untreated, these rashes can last for days and will quickly spread to other parts of the body past the point of initial contact. Fortunately, rashes detected at the very first signs of discomfort are easily treatable, though more severe cases may require medical attention.

Poisonwoods are abundant in the Florida Everglades, and can easily be viewed while skimming across the water on an airboat ride. Since getting up close and personal with poisonwoods is to be strongly avoided, Everglades airboat tours are the perfect way to enjoy these plants from a safe distance away.

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Understanding the Differences Between Frogs and Toads

April 10, 2015 by
cane toad

A cane toad.

It’s certainly easy to confuse frogs and toads – after all, they are both small amphibians with similar appearances that can often be found sharing the same environments. However, there are a few important differences to note that will have you easily identifying each with no trouble at all.

Physical Characteristics

  • Frogs are strong jumpers with long, powerful hind legs, while toads have short, muscular legs that are used for walking and hopping.
  • The skin of frogs is typically smooth, moist, and loose around their bodies, while the skin of toads is typically bumpy, warty, and dry.
  • Frogs have teeth on their upper jaws, used for grabbing and catching prey, while toads have no teeth at all.
  • Frogs’ eyes bulge out, while toads’ eyes do not.
  • Both frogs and toads have a lot of variation in size amongst sub-species, but toads do tend to be larger.
  • Some types of frogs have webbed feet, while toads do not.

Behavioral Characteristics

  • Frogs lay eggs while some toads lay eggs and others give birth to live young.
  • Frogs prefer moist environments and mostly live in water, while toads prefer dry environments and live mostly on land, although some toads have adapted to moist environments.

It’s also important to note the similarities that exist between toads and frogs, other than the similarities in just their appearances. Both frogs and toads live an average of 7-14 years, though some have been reported to live as long as 40. They also have very similar diets, feeding on insects, worms, algae, small fish, and invertebrates, which is why they can often be seen sharing habitats around marshes and swamps. Both toads and frogs can also be extremely poisonous, with the golden poison frog being the single most poisonous animal in the entire world. Fortunately, there are no known poisonous frogs in Florida, although people should keep an eye out for cane toads, which produce a toxin that can be lethal to both pets and humans.

To observe frogs and toads for yourself and practice telling them apart, take an airboat tour in the Everglades with Captain Mitch and his friendly crew. Everglades tours are a fantastic way to experience all the beautiful wildlife that Florida has to offer, providing thrills the whole family can enjoy and will remember for years to come.

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Venomous Snakes of the Everglades

April 10, 2015 by
coral snake

A coral snake.

While there are twenty-seven known species of snake that live in the Everglades, fortunately, only four of them are actually venomous:

Cottonmouth
Also known as the water moccasin, cottonmouths are a type of pit viper found mostly in the Southeastern United States. They are the only semiaquatic viper species in the entire world, and they can typically be found in or around shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. Though cottonmouths do prefer freshwater environments, they have been spotted in the ocean and are considered to be extremely strong swimmers. Cottonmouths are relatively plain in appearance, usually almost entirely black or in varying shades of brown, tan, or olive, and are thick-bodied snakes that can reach lengths of up to six feet. Notoriously aggressive, adult cottonmouths are capable of inflicting bites that are extremely painful and potentially fatal.

Diamondback Rattlesnake
Diamondbacks are another type of venomous pit viper commonly found in the Southeastern United States. They are the largest type of rattlesnake in North America and the biggest of all venomous snakes, though only in mass, not in length, though they can reach over eight feet long. Diamondback rattlesnakes can be found near water at times and are excellent swimmers, but prefer forests, woodlands, and areas of wet prairie during dry periods. They have also been known to live underground at times, utilizing former burrows of gophers and gopher tortoises. Although diamondbacks can deliver fatal bites, they are not typically aggressive and will usually warn anyone who comes too close to them by rattling their anteriors.

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Also commonly known as the Florida ground rattlesnake, dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are much smaller than diamondbacks, and often do not exceed two or three feet in length. This species can, however, be quite beautiful in appearance, with a series of black or brown round dorsal spots across their backs, and with whitish, flecked bellies. These small snakes can be feisty and quick to bite, and unlike their diamondback cousins, rarely give out any warnings by shaking their rattles. Fortunately, their fangs are small and deliver relatively low doses of venom with each bite, so while their bites are said to be severely painful, they very rarely are fatal, though small children and pets are at a greater risk.

Coral Snake
Don’t let their good looks fool you, because these beautiful and colorful snakes certainly pack a mean punch. Noted for their red, yellow, and black banded coloring, coral snakes can be particularly dangerous because they so closely resemble other non-venomous species of snake with banded patterns, such as the milk snake and the scarlet snake. Coral snakes are quite elusive and prefer to spend the majority of their time below ground or hiding beneath foliage. They are very shy and will always prefer flight over fight, and although they have one of the most potent venoms of all North American snakes, they account for less than 1% of all snake bites that occur each year. Unlike other venomous snakes, the bite of a coral snake is reportedly not very painful, but can cause death within a few short hours.

To observe these fascinating creatures in their natural environment and from a safe distance, head out into the Everglades on an airboat ride with Captain Mitch. Everglades tours are not only exciting for the whole family, but give you the perfect opportunity to safely view dangerous animals that you might not want to encounter otherwise.

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