Did you know there are about 300 different species of fish in the Everglades’ waters? For this article, we wanted to share information with you about the Gulf Toadfish, which is a fish that looks like it’s straight from pre-historic times. 

Gulf toadfish are anything but quiet. Wait, fish make sounds? Well, the Gulf toadfish is one of the few fish that can make a sound that humans can actually hear. Cool, right? 

Here are some more fun and interesting facts on this Gulf toadfish: 

• The fish gets its name because the sounds it makes are toad-like grunts. 

• This fish makes noises to attract a mate. 
• These fish are in abundant quantities in the Gulf of Mexico and the Everglades because it is not considered a game fish and known to be poor quality when it comes to eating. It has a slimy outside that can be toxic, so people avoid eating it. 
• They are brown fish and they spend a lot of their time hiding in sand and seaweed.  
• They prefer shallow waters. 
• They are known to be a sluggish fish. They can live as deep as 820 feet in the water. 

• They dart out from seaweed to attack prey. 
• They can stay alive out of water for a decent amount of time. 
• They lack scales. 
• They can grow up to 12.8 inches in length and weigh up to one to three pounds. 
• They are a bottom feeder fish feeding on crustaceans, annelids, mollusks, and gobies. 

• Their slimy coating on their body can cause physical irritation to humans. 
• This fish also goes by the names dogfish, mudfish, and oysterdog. 

Fishing is popular in the Everglades, but you must acquire the proper license and follow the fishing regulations in order to fish legally as not all fish can be caught.  

Take a ride through the Everglades on an airboat and see if you can spot any fish in the water. An airboat ride gives visitors an up-close look at the Everglades; visitors have the chance to spot many different animals, replies, fish, amphibians, flowers, and more. B 

Book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours today by calling 800-368-0065 or clicking our Everglades Airboat Tours page.  

Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private  Airboat Tours are the best Everglades airboat tours and are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax). Check out our Facebook page or website for coupons, discounts, and promotions on airboat tours. 

Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours are fun-filled airboat tour rides for adults and children. Since these rides are through the Everglades, it’s important to come prepared, so you have an enjoyable, comfortable trip and ride with us.  

Our airboat tours are year-round, which means we ride through different types of weather and environments. It can be hot, buggy, rainy, etc. Airboat tours are a lot of fun, no matter what time of year you decide to go.  

If you plan on taking an airboat tour in the spring, it can get pretty hot with temperatures in the 80s. It’s a good idea to wear shorts, tank tops, and sleeveless clothing. You may want to bring a light jacket or cardigan if the wind makes you cold.  

The summer is very hot and humid down here, so it’s a good idea to wear light clothing during the summer months. It can rain a lot in the summer, so you may want to bring a rain jacket and sneakers with you to keep dry.  

The fall is cooler than summer but there are still plenty of warm days. You may decide to wear longer sleeves or pants depending on the day but try to choose clothing that won’t make you too hot or too cold.  

Winter isn’t cold in the Everglades, but it is a lot more comfortable. You may want to bring heavier clothing to keep warm from the wind on the ride.  

Other things to bring on an airboat tour: 

• Sunglasses 
• Hat 

• Sunscreen 
• Water 
• Bug spray  
• Poncho 
• Umbrella 

• Snacks (for before or after the airboat ride).  

It’s important to pay attention to the weather on the day of your trip so you can come better prepared. If you have more questions on what to wear or what to bring on one our our airboat tours, give us a call at 800-368-0065. 

To book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours, call 800-368-0065 or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private  Airboat Tours are the best Everglades airboat tours and are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax). Check out our Facebook page or website for coupons, discounts, and promotions on airboat tours. 

The Everglades is home to more than 360 species of birds. The area draws birdwatchers from all over as it attracts many different types of birds for thousands of years.  

A smooth-billed ani is a tropical bird only found in south Florida in America, as well as South America and the West Indies. It becomes to the same bird family as roadrunners and cuckoos due to its slender body and long tail.  

The ani can make a skrill “weu-ik” sound. In other areas, this bird is called “black witch,” “black bird,” and “tick bird.” It is nicknamed a “tick bird” because it is known to eat ticks that infest cattle.  

This bird eats mostly insects, including the Great Southern White Butterfly, but it also eats snails, lizards, berries, and seeds. They have been known to follow cattle and eat up any insects the cattle stir up.  

You can spot an ani in an open field, pastureland, and near water. They are usually in groups/flocks of six to 20 birds. For the past several years, anis have nested near Eco Pond.  

Smooth-billed anis have a black plumage, long body, long tail, short wings, and a parrot-like, high bill.  

They have been known to work together to build a nest. Female anis can lay four to five eggs at a time. Many anis will take turns incubating and protecting the eggs during the two-week development period. They tend to share nests as well, and females have been known to toss a few eggs (not their own) from the nest. 

Love birds? Get yourself down to the Everglades and you may just spot a smooth-billed ani on an airboat tour. If not, there’s hundreds of other birds to watch! 

To book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours, call 800-368-0065 or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private  Airboat Tours are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax). Check out our Facebook page or website for coupons, discounts, and promotions on airboat tours.  

It’s summertime in the Everglades, which means there’s a lot of bugs out there. When visiting the Everglades for an airboat tour, it’s best you come prepared with bug spray (or put it on ahead of time), as well as proper clothing to keep your skin protected from bugs.  

Thousands upon thousands of insects, spiders, centipedes and millipedes call the Everglades “home.” From mosquitos and flies to butterflies and golden silk orb weaver, there are seemingly endless species of these “pests” living in the Everglades. We may clarify them as pests, but they are critical to the ecosystem as many are food sources for other animals, mammals, and birds. Spiders, for example, feed on insects and other “pests,” as well. Not ever bug species is beautiful and charming like a ladybug or butterfly, but they are play their part to the ecosystem.  

When it comes to insects, they represent about 90 percent of all life forms on Earth – that’s a lot of bugs! Throughout the world, more than one million insect species have been identified, but it is believed there may be more than 10 million species out there. As you can see, it’s a nearly impossible task to count how many bugs are in the Everglades, and no park-wide inventory has been done; however, the South Florida Collections Management Center currently curates more than 5,000 insect specimens from the Everglades.  

Insects don’t have a backbone and they are a type of invertebrate. They have a hard-exterior body covering caused an exoskeleton. They are cold blooded and do not have lungs.   

Arachnids, which are spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and whip scorpions can all be found in the Everglades. 

Centipedes are long, thin arthropods and have fewer than 20 legs or as much as 300 legs despite the “centi” in their name. They live in the Everglades, but usually aren’t seen because they are mostly nocturnal. 

Millipedes are commonly seen in the Everglades and they do not bite or sting. They are longer and thinner than centipedes and they can have anywhere from 36 to 400 legs. They are slower than centipedes. 

If you stick to paths and sit on an airboat, you won’t be bothered by too many bugs, but it’s always important to come prepared with bug spray. If you’re a lover of spiders, insects, and other creepy crawly creatures, come out on an airboat tour and see if you can spot any bugs crawling or flying around.  

While on an airboat tour, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of bugs (and not even know it) during your adventure. 

To book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, call 800-368-0065  or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).