Florida Everglades Tours

Airboat Rides in the Everglades

 

No Everglades Adventure is complete until you board an airboat and buzz across the sawgrass and shallow marsh habitats of the Florida Everglades!

 

Starting with the native Calusa Indians, efficient and safe transportation across the Everglades has always been a vital part of living in and exploring the Everglades.

 

Because of this water flow, before roads and highways were built, the Everglades’ natives as well as explorers and adventurers could only travel through the Glades’ with the assistance of a boat. The first boats to be used by the natives who first called the area of the Everglades their home were dugout canoes that were used to skim across the shallow waters of the Glades. Carved from a trunk of a cypress tree, the trunk of the tree would be carved by a master craftsman until its core was hollowed out. At this point, the trunk would be smoothed and shaped into a vessel that resembles our modern canoes.

 

Fast forward a couple thousand years to the creation of the modern motorboat. The shallow, grassy waters did not allow regular boats to travel swiftly across the glades, so a Miami-based aviation innovator named Glenn Curtis got to work and created what we know now as an airboat in the 1920s.

 

Everglades airboats were designed specifically for use in the unique landscape of the Florida Everglades. Crafted with a purpose, airboats were designed to have a flat bottom and elevated machinery to keep all mechanics above the water. The unique design of the airboat allows for the vessel to operate in shallow, grassy waters. Because the airboat was invented just as the Tamiami Trail, the road that connects Naples, Florida to Miami, Florida, the boat was never used for mass transportation.

 

Instead, the airboat was adopted by local fisherman, guides, and tourist attractions as the main mode of transportation through the sawgrass prairies and mangrove sanctuaries in the Florida Everglades.

 

Step into an airboat, and feel the power of this amazing machine as the large fan on the back powers up to whisk you and your family into some of the most unique habitats and ecosystems in the world. Our skilled captains will offer you ear protection, these vessels can get a little noisy. Once you’re cruising, you’ll experience one of the most exceptional rides of your life as you literally glide on top of grass, surrounded by wildlife like birds, turtles, alligators, and more!

 

If you’re in Fort Myers Beach or Fort Myers, we encourage you to join us as we travel south into the Florida Everglades and join us for a fun adventure on an airboat ride through the Everglades!

 

 

Everglades Conservation: Now More Important Than Ever

 

 

 

A recent report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources assessed 241 natural wonders around the globe. Seventeen on these sites have been deemed to be in a “critical” condition, meaning they are “severely threatened and require urgent, additional and large-scale conservation measures” to be saved.

 

 

 

The only site in the United States to be mentioned? You got it, Everglades National Park.

 

 

 

Per UNESCO, “This site at the southern tip of Florida has been called ‘a river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea, the exceptional variety of its water habitats has made it a sanctuary for many birds and reptiles, as well as for threatened species such as the manatee.”

 

 

 

The report does not fail to mention that the Everglades is home to numerous threatened and endangered species. They have determined, “unless more restoration projects are enacted outside the site … that deliver more clean water to the site as correctly timed sheet flow … the essential qualities and habitat of the site will continue to be lost.”

 

 

 

The question is, how do we fix this and reverse the issues in the glades? One answer suggested by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is, education and interpretation programs. Listed as a “highly effective” method of protection and management.

 

 

 

Every day, our efforts as an ecotourism organization work to convey the natural aspects, values and, impending threats. Education allows us to help others understand the importance of the Everglades as a habitat and home for the ecosystems of South Florida and beyond.

 

 

 

As the largest area in the state for wildlife, protection of the Everglades is vital to maintaining and restoring the ecosystems that make our beautiful landscapes function as they should.

 

 

 

An eco-tour is defined as “a vacation tour or package that showcases ecology (wildlife, etc.) or is ecologically friendly.” At Everglades Adventures, it is our passion to introduce visitors and locals to the wildlife and natural areas that make Southwest Florida so unique in an environmentally safe and exciting way.

 

 

 

At Everglades Adventure, we always obey all environmental standards to ensure that our area remains safe and clean for the entire Fort Myers Beach ecosystem. As nature enthusiasts, we take conservation and ethical business practices very seriously. It is our duty to do so in a manner that does not disrupt or disturb the natural environment and all the creatures that call this area home.

 

 

 

Working together to not only explore the Everglades and all that she is, but to also educate and teach others to respect and appreciate the importance of this area’s existence. We aim to inspire and encourage Everglades adventures for years to come.

 

 

 

Everglades National Park Celebrates 70th Birthday

Now here’s a reason to celebrate! 70 years ago, Everglades National Park was established by President Harry S. Truman. On December 6, 1947, President Truman spoke the following words in relation to the opening of the brand new National Park.

“Here are no lofty peaks seeking the sky, no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land. Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of water, but as the last receiver of it. To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in our country.”

This month, Everglades National Park celebrates its 70th anniversary.

About thirty years before Everglades National Park was established, the National Parks System was created. In the mid-1800s American expansion threatened to degrade the stunning landscapes that spread across the Nation. When President Theodore Roosevelt took office in the early 1900s, the National Park System was developed. Roosevelt named 18 national “natural” monuments by the end of his term which also became national parks. The National Park System was officially established and recognized in 1916.

The Florida Everglades joined the list of beloved National Parks in 1947 after political controversy and disagreement in South Florida. Environmental activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas published “The River of Grass” the same year. This book is credited with securing the area for preservation, along with efforts from many other area activists.

December is always wonderful time to enjoy Everglades National Park. December marks the beginning of the dry season when the average highs are in the upper 70’s (instead of topping 100 degrees!), humidity is at its lowest along with the number of biting mosquitoes and flies, and wildlife of all kinds is at its most visible due in large part to the receding waters.

At Everglades Adventure, we encourage you to get out and explore the Everglades area. Our guides are waiting to celebrate with you.

Why the Everglades?

So you’re trying to decide where to spend some warm weather vacation time and just can’t seem to pinpoint that destination? Well, let us try and help you do that because we feel that it’s the Florida Everglades of course!

With 36 protected species living in the realm of the Everglades including the american crocodile, snail kite, manatee, panthers and sea turtles you are at no loss of seeing some amazing wildlife and yes, you will see alligators. Lots of alligators.

Formerly the home of the native Calusa indians, the Everglades were not only a hunting ground, but a way for these native people to traverse the State. Using what is now Everglades National Park, the first residents of south Florida would travel across the river of grass for resources, trading, and more. The Calusa empire stretched over most of present day Florida and the Everglades and it acted as a major highway in ancient times.

Our experienced guides will present the nature and wildlife you expect to see during an Everglades tour, with additional fun on a swamp buggy and airboat ride! These are the real rides that you won’t find in Orlando. Our interactive tour is truly an experience that will never be forgotten. Learn about many species of reptiles and wildlife, such as alligators, snakes and birds. The Everglades is truly the Heart of South Florida. In order to appreciate the natural beauty of our corner of the State the Glades offers you the best of the natural world! And you guessed it, don’t forget your camera, smartphone or GoPro, the Glades offers you incredible views and experiences that you will want to capture for yourself and send to your friends and family up North.

We hope we have swayed you! Join us for one of our amazingly fun and informative tours into the Everglades where you will find that warm weather adventure you crave!

Book your tour online at www.evergladesadventure.com

Everglades Brings the Best During Dry Season Months

The Everglades is always thought of as a wet world of natural wonder year round, but as the seasons change up North they change in the Deep South as well. Fall and Winter is our dry season where the daily rains relent and long stretches of time go by with little or no rainfall. The swamp lands literally shrink down in size and this makes for some very interesting investigation here at Everglades Adventure.

December to April is one of the very best times to visit and enjoy all that the Everglades has to offer in terms of nature to be seen and enjoyed with temperatures in the 70’s and fewer mosquitoes than in the heavy rainy season. As the swamps start to dry up they actually turn landscapes into completely different areas. The sawgrass marshes turn into sawgrass prairies that can be traversed by foot and not in air boats. You will also be able to see the exposed bald cypress buttresses. The smaller pools also mean that wildlife is huddled around ponds and lakes that are much smaller than in the Summer months. Alligators, wading birds, turtles and rodents vai for time in the water at this time and you can often see quite a few animals all at once in these hidden corners. The birds that fly South every winter find homes in the Everglades so you will see massive flocks of migrating birds and bird lovers will find ample opportunities for great photography.

Alligator holes never dry up during this time period. The gators carve out a place in the marshes pushing the muck around and creating spaces between the limestone rocks called alligator holes. The alligators use this to their benefit by hunting the wildlife that is drawn to the water hole during drought times. Time spent here is time well spent as all the creatures of the Glades find their way to water during dry season.

Enjoy with us this great time to view the nature of the Florida Everglades and don’t forget to bring your camera and sense of adventure!

Mosquitoes: Pest or Key to the Ecosystem?

Do you know anyone that really likes mosquitoes? Most people do not care for these buzzy biters, but being that they are omnipresent in South Florida and in particular the Everglades, some thought has to be put into their role in the swamp ecosystem. In fact, when you look into these “pests,” they are a fascinating study in nature!

During the rainy summer months, our area sees an increase in the number of mosquitoes present across southwest Florida. This increased population is a direct result of standing rainwater that provides the perfect condition for these creatures to lay their eggs. As they lay their eggs, they start the food chain as larvae which are eaten by the Gambusia (mosquito fish) who in turn are food for larger fish such as wide mouth bass and garfish who are eaten by the alligators and larger birds and of course to humans as well. What starts off as a nuisance is really a key component to the food chain in the Everglades.

There are over 40 different species of mosquitos in the Everglades and an interesting fact is that most of them don’t bite humans. Of the species that do it’s only the female that will bite. The life cycle of the mosquito follows the pattern from eggs laid in water which are connected together into a raft shape in which they float on top of the water. Within 48 hours the egg hatches and becomes the larva which will eventually swim in the water and then surface to breathe. They will shed their skins four times before they emerge into the pupa stage. This part of the cycle is known as a resting phase in which they don’t feed, but are able to flip their tails to propel them up and down in the water. They emerge from the water as adults and will take a short period of time to let all it’s body parts dry so it will be able to fly. The wings spread and dry and then they can take flight.

The length of time that they spend in each stage is dependant on the species and the temperature. Generally the higher the temperature, the shorter the period of time needed to fully form. This translates into anywhere from 4 days up to as long as a month. It’s about two days or so after they arrive at adulthood that they can draw blood and mate and start the whole cycle all over again.

At this point they become pests to humans, but with a little bug repellant you can avoid the sting and enjoy your day in the Everglades!

What is an estuary? And is there one in the Everglades?

Estuaries are constantly in the news in our area and there’s so much time devoted to discussing them and their protection, but many do not know exactly what an estuary is. An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water, normally brackish with a river flowing into it. It must have a free flow out to a large body of water such as an ocean or sea.

The Everglades has one of the largest estuaries in the United States in the Florida Bay. A critical element of understanding the Everglades is that there is no river per se, there is a flow of water towards the South, which is called the River of Grass, because it is water in constant movement through the Glades to the Florida Straits into the Florida Bay.

The estuary is composed of mangrove forests and behind them lie the marshes. This is a fascinating diverse world for wildlife!

Snook, redfish, seatrout, tarpon, bonefish are the major fish species that abound here. Birds are represented with the roseate spoonbills, egrets, great white herons, bald eagles, seagulls, pelicans, ospreys and cormorants. This makes for really fun bird watching as these are some of the most beautiful birds on earth and they can all be found in this one area, our backyard!. This protected land is host to many other animals including raccoons, opossums, bobcats and squirrels.

It is vital to the Everglades ecosystem that we keep our estuaries healthy and thriving, as so much life begins in and around the estuary environment. Without environments like the estuaries in and around the everglades, our animal populations would decrease and the everglades would cease to exist in as it does today.

Birds of Prey in The Everglades

The Florida Everglades is host to one of the most inviting environments for birds (and bird watchers) in the world. From herons to ibis, wood storks to spoonbills, the Everglades always provides a welcome habitat for birds of all shapes and sizes—including birds of prey.

Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are predatory birds, usually distinguished by a hooked bill and sharp talons. These birds are flesh-eating birds and include eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, falcons, and owls. Additionally, most birds of prey have keen vision, a fleshy mass at the base of the beak, and extremely powerful flight.

Osprey
The osprey is a bird of prey that is found worldwide and can be identified by its mostly white belly and chest and black back. The head of an Osprey is quite striking; it is bisected by a dark eye-stripe and gleaming yellow eyes. The talons of an osprey have evolved to catch and carry fish as they are quite rough and their toes are held with three toes forward and one in reverse. Often confused with gulls while in flight, an osprey traditionally has more bounce to their flight pattern. Ospreys are frequently seen near rivers, estuaries, salt marshes and large bodies of water. When these creatures spot prey, the plunge feet first into to the water to snatch their catch. Additionally, keep an eye out for their large nests. The nests are usually near water located on top of dead trees or utility/nesting poles. The best time to spot an osprey in the Everglades? Winter!

Red-Shouldered Hawk
If you are exploring a swamp forest near woods and water, chances are, you are in red-shouldered hawk territory. Identify a red-shouldered hawk by its red and peach colored underside and black and white wings. Feasting on mice, frogs, and snakes, the red-shoulder hawk is a swift predator and a strong, steady flier. Interestingly, red-shouldered hawks return to the same nesting territory year after year. Look for their nests in a tall tree below the canopy but toward the tree top, usually in the main trunk. Nest trees are often near a pond, stream, or swamp.
Keep your cameras ready!

Wild Hogs In The Everglades

Florida has many weirdly wild matters of nature that fascinate and entertain those who visit The Florida Everglades, and leave the professionals scratching their heads as they work to protect our delicate ecosystems.

One of the wildest of weird happenings in Florida, our wild hogs! These grumbly, hairy, destructive omnivores came to our state in 1539 when Hernando De Soto landed in south Tampa Bay with horses, hogs and 620 men to set out exploration across the state of Florida. All these years later, there’s over 3 million descendants spanning across our nation. In Florida, wild hogs are predominantly found in the dense farmland around lake Okeechobee and, of course, in our sparsely populated Everglades.

These 100-200 pound beasts are not the most friendly creatures. But don’t worry, they are quite shy and skittish.
Though wild hogs are an interesting animal to see poking around within the sawgrass, wild hogs are an invasive species and pose problems for the delicate ecosystems of the Florida Everglades. Snacking on their diet of nuts, crops and other animals, these creatures are thrivers and survivors, taking whatever they need from their surroundings to survive. The hogs leave farmers with damaged crops, and fields, upturned and eaten seedlings, and destabilized ground from hogs burrowing into it for hidden food sources. This behavior causes erosion and destroys water aquifers such as ponds and stream banks.

These beasts also compete for food with other animals, they may consume the nests and young of many reptiles, ground-nesting birds, and mammals, and, with their keen sense of smell, can find young domestic livestock, including poultry, lambs and goats. Wild hogs do 100 – 200 million in damages to our state on an annual basis.

Regardless of their status, wild hogs are always a treat to see on our Everglades Adventure tour. Book yours today at www.evergladesadventure.com/book-online/.

Everglades Lizards

Many of our Everglades explorers are on the lookout for the world-famous lizard like alligators that roam throughout the Everglades, but did you know that our area is also known for the common lizards that can be found in every nook and cranny of South Florida? Though not nearly as daunting or powerful as a Florida Alligator, the lizards that inhabit the Everglades, Fort Myers Beach and beyond are just as fascinating. Because of the warm climate conditions in South Florida, our area provides an environment that supports life that cannot survive elsewhere, making Florida a hotbed of lizard activity!

One of the most commonly seen lizards is the Brown Anole. You will see these small lizards everywhere from your vacation rental, to hotel property, to outside of the grocery store, all the way into the heart of the Everglades. Native to the Bahamas and the Caribbean islands, the
Brown Anole is extremely common but not native to the area. Look for Brown Anoles hanging out low in in trees and shrubs, or even running across the ground. Male Brown Anoles can reach a length 8 inches and are characterized by a brown body with yellowish spots.

Another type of anole frequently found in South Florida and The Everglades is the Knight Anole. These vibrant green creatures are quite striking and beautiful but are also non-native anoles that originally arrived from Cuba. Though they do look like iguanas, they are in fact a completely different (and much smaller species). Males can grow to be approximately 18 inches long and will change colors, from green to dark brown, during mating periods, temperature changes, and times of stress.

Switching from anoles to geckos, the Tropical House Gecko. The best time to spot these small creatures is at night, next to a bright light. When looking at these animals, you will notice chevron-like markings on their back and large, four toed feet. The Tropical House gecko is also a non-native species and originally hails from sub-Saharan tropical Africa, Madagascar and the Mozambique Channel Islands.

From anoles to geckos, lizards are one of the most commonly seen animals in South Florida. If you encounter any lizards, chances are they will run away on their own as they are quite shy.