One-thing new Plantation Bay residents often comment on is the amount of wildlife they regularly encounter throughout the community.
Just check out this video testimonial from one of our Plantation Bay residents…
Unlike a lot of other Florida communities built in areas that have essentially been bulldozed and cleared for development, much of Plantation Bay has been purposely undeveloped and left in its natural state. As a result, it is a habitat for an array of Florida wildlife species, some that are friendly, and others you’ll want to avoid.
Here’s a look at what you might see when living in Plantation Bay:
White-Tailed & Key Deer
Both white-tailed deer and Key deer are found throughout the state of Florida. White-tailed deer can be identified by their white and brown tails. They tend to range between 90 and 115 pounds. Key deer, which are a smaller subspecies, average about 80 pounds.
Deer are known to rest during the day and are most active at night. They generally feed on whatever plant life they can find, which might include shrubs and other landscaping. Female deer are known for being quite protective of their infants, so if you come across a baby deer, the best thing to do is leave it along because its mother is likely nearby.
Florida Black Bears
Sightings are pretty rare, but Florida black bears are another animal that you might be able to catch a glimpse of. These bears are large in size, short tails, and rounded ears.
One common misconception about Florida black bears is that, like Key deer, they are smaller than their northern counterparts. This is simply not true.
Another misconception is that bears do not have to hibernate during the winter months in Florida because of the climate. Even in Florida, food can become scarce for wildlife in the winter months, so both male and female bears will take advantage of their natural ability to hibernate.
Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys are another popular form of wildlife in Florida. You can distinguish between male and female Turkeys by looking at the size of the turkey and the color of the skin on the animal’s head and neck. Males will be thicker with a pink or red head, while females will be thinner with a blue head.
While they may not look like it, turkeys are able to fly quite well over short distances. They are generally seen walking in order to conserve energy, but can actually fly at speeds approaching 55 miles per hour if necessary.
Wild Boar
Whether you refer to them as wild boar, wild hogs, Feral pigs, or wild pigs, these animals can be found all over the state of Florida. Despite their abundant population, Wild Boar are not native to Florida. They were likely brought to the country by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in the 1500s.
Freshwater Turtles
Florida is home to 26 different types of turtles, and 18 of those are freshwater species. Most of these Freshwater Turtles have hard shells, but there are three species that are known to have soft shells. All turtle species are reptiles that breath air, which means that even swimming turtles have to come up for air eventually.
You’ll see turtles in many of the lakes throughout Plantation Bay, and occasionally you’ll see one crossing the road. Insert your own “Why did the turtle cross the road?” joke here.
Snakes
Snakes are one type of local wildlife that you probably won’t be too excited to run into, but they are omnipresent here in Florida so we’d be remiss not to include them.
Snakes like the Eastern Indigo Snake, Eastern Coachwhip, Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth, and Water Snakes can be found all around Florida. While not all snakes are dangerous, you will want to be very cautious if you come in contact with a snake, because many of them are poisonous to humans.
Alligators
Alligators are one of the most popular and exciting forms of wildlife found throughout Florida. These reptiles prefer to reside in fresh-water lakes, slow-moving rivers, and swamps. Their diet consists of just about any small insect or animal that crosses their path.
You’ll sometimes see alligators in the lakes and sloped banks around our golf courses. Common sense tells us that we should not disturb alligators and you should not try to feed them either.
Also, if you have small pets, do not let them hang out around the edge of any lakes or ponds unattended.
Birds
When it comes to Plantation Bay wildlife, birds are probably the most popular attraction because of the tremendous diversity. Birding enthusiasts are able to spot everything from Cranes, Seabirds, and Waterfowl to Songbirds and Woodpeckers.
Some of the particularly interesting local birds include the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, the Florida Scrub-Jay, the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, and the Eastern Bluebird.
Life in Florida presents many opportunities to observe wildlife in a natural environment, but unlike other developments, Plantation Bay residents are able to do so from the comfort of their own homes and neighborhoods.
Residents here can’t help brushing up on their knowledge of local wildlife because they get to experience it on a daily basis!
