Florida's Endangered Species

Manatees

The manatee is one such example. These marine mammals are also known as sea cows, and generally live in shallow waters like rivers, springs and shallow waters off the coast. A manatee spends half its day sleeping in the water, while the rest of the time they are grazing near the surface. The type of manatee that resides in Florida has a lifespan of up to 60 years. Manatees are an endangered species, and their numbers are threatened by such issues as loss of habitat and being hit by passing boats. They are protected by the Florida government, and since 1975 have been the State Marine Mammal.

Florida Panther

Another popular animal and symbol of the state is the Florida Panther. This animal is a subspecies of the cougar, and has been the Florida State Animal since 1982. Living in the swamps and forests of South Florida, they are another endangered species, with only about eighty to one hundred remaining. They are mainly threatened by humans, and large alligators.

American Alligator

The American Alligator is another symbolic member of Floridian fauna, and resides only in the southeastern section of the United States. Inhabiting America’s wetlands, in Florida they call the Everglades home. Today, there are approximately one to one-and-a-half million living in the Sunshine State and because of this they were removed from the endangered species list in 1987 though they remain a protected species.

Key Deer

Living only in the Florida Keys, the Key Deer has a population of roughly three hundred to eight hundred. While hunting these animals was banned in 1939, it wasn’t until the 1950s when they were almost extinct that they were labeled endangered. The main threat to their survival is road kills by passing motorists.

Roseate Spoonbill

The Roseate Spoonbill is a wading bird that lives in South and Central America and along the Gulf Coast. It was once hunted for its remarkable tufts of pink feathers, and today it is habitat loss that threatens the species’ survival.