Wildlife around Naples: the back story

About Wildlife around Naples: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Naples Editorial Team

Few US resort towns sit this close to so much wildlife. A guide to what you can see, where and when, and how to keep your distance.

In the water

Bottlenose dolphins are common in the Gulf off the beaches and in Naples Bay, and boat tours from the bay often see them. West Indian manatees move into warmer, sheltered water in the cooler months and graze in canals, bays and rivers. Watch from a distance and never feed or touch them; it is against the law to harass them.

Birds

Brown pelicans, ospreys, herons, egrets and ibis are everywhere. Roseate spoonbills feed in the shallows of the estuaries, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is famous for its wading birds, including wood storks. Burrowing owls live in protected burrows on Marco Island. Winter is the peak season for birders.

The wildlife is part of daily life here, not just something you visit.

On the beach at night

Loggerhead sea turtles nest on the beaches roughly from May to October. Beachfront lights are dimmed in season, and you should keep the beach dark, fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before you leave, and never disturb a nest or a hatchling.

In the swamp

Alligators live in freshwater lakes, canals and the Everglades. They are usually shy, but never feed them (it is illegal), keep pets and children away from the water’s edge, and keep a good distance. Big Cypress and the Fakahatchee Strand are also home to the rare Florida panther; seeing one is extraordinarily unlikely.

Our advice: book a licensed boat tour from Naples Bay for dolphins, walk the Corkscrew boardwalk early on a winter morning for birds, and give every animal space; a good photo is never worth disturbing it.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Wildlife around Naples: the back story before you go.