Wildlife in Urban South Florida is More Common Than You Might Expect.

Living in South Florida, you live closer to wildlife than you do in many places.  I have explained this to many a good friend from more urban cities up North.

I regularly "shoo" ducks off the property.

There are foxes and coyotes in the area.  While I have never heard a 'yote howl, I have heard from the local notables, to expect them.

I have seen Raccoons and Opossums on my back porch.  The "Lanai" seems to be a highway for critters. 

Those two we leave alone.  They are beneficial even if they do soil the pool backsplash more often than I prefer.  One Opossum did not like me on the back porch one day.  I spoke to it in my best Steve Irwin impression "Go on, mate, you'll be right, go find your way!".  She did and I went on about my business turning on the irrigation.  After all, Opossums are beneficial and will eat the ticks if they find them.

We've got literal flocks of cherry headed amazon parrots here.  I heard they are native to Puerto Rico and are getting rare there.  But the green gems are here and I talk to them on the walks.

Speaking of flocks, there isn't a day I get to see a Monarch Butterfly.  It's because we refuse to spray the lawn for bugs, and I have planters with Milkweed all over the property.   Including the one on the front porch that I have a cage built over them.   I want the seeds.

Did Someone Loose A Rooster?  Because the neighborhood has been adopted by one, magnificent in black with a red comb.  You know he's there because he is calling frequently before dawn looking for company. 

On my last trip down before we moved here, I took Lettie to a park in Dania Beach.  Great ice cream nearby, if you are coming down keep that in mind.  Also keep this in mind, there are alligators here.  I understand they can be mostly anywhere in the state, and this particular one took an interest in Lettie.

We left.  Immediately.  She survived a number of years longer.  We did look for the monkeys that are supposed to be in the trees there but they didn't want to tangle with the dog or the big ape descendant walking her.

I spotted two species of lizards in the yard just now, plus Green Iguanas.  Oh trust me, I would like to see a cold snap thin these herds.  Herds.  As in Jurassic Park herds of upwards of 5 foot long green beasts with an attitude running to be far from you.  I see them frequently at the park as I am riding past.  "Roaring" at them seems to move them along to bounce off the cyclone fence and into the interior where they can go about their iguana-tastic lives.   Away from me.  Off the trail with you!

Along with the flocks of birds that visit we've got tree frogs.  I'm happy that we don't have the Coqui that are native to Puerto Rico because they are quite loud.  The one I am thinking of is a tree frog that was not happy with me chasing it with a cell phone to get the picture.  It scampered from waist high to about 7 or 8 feet off the ground.

You don't see them during the day as they tend to dry out.  The temps here are not as hot as the big cities up North, but this being Tropics-adjacent, bring your sunscreen.  The tree frogs will taking cover during the day.  Shade only, no direct sunlight.

All of this can be seen on the five or so mile walks that I take during a day.  Forgetting the humans and the domestic animals that come with us, this is quite a crowded little place.