Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is not your usual state park; it’s really more like a nice, small zoo. You start out with a leisurely pontoon boat ride down Pepper Creek to the wildlife park. There are all kinds of birds wading in the creek, as well as turtles sunning themselves on logs. You arrive at the park and an elevated boardwalk provides a great view of the wildlife, including a Florida panther, a big black bear, lots of alligators and a wide variety of wading birds, birds of prey, and songbirds. There are a couple of wolves which were nice to see (even though I don’t believe in keeping wild animals in captivity). It’s a great place to see manatees up close in the very clear, shallow water, and the birds are AMAZING. You could spend the entire day here – it’s beautiful.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
You start out with a quick boat ride to the park.
Once you are inside the park area, manatees swim in the
clear water all around you.
clear water all around you.
A rare Florida Panther
There are 2 beautiful wolves there.
This is a tiny Key Deer
This hippo is the most popular attraction there.
A big black bear (he is the retired "Gentle Ben")
The wide variety of birds in the park are spectacular!
My favorite bird, the endangered Whooping Crane.
A Sandhill Crane
There's a beautiful pair of Bald Eagles.
White Pelican
Wood Storks
Barred Owls.
Horned Owls.
NO CLUE WHAT THIS IS!
Hawk.
Osprey.
Red-Tailed Hawk.
Flamingos.
Some reptiles.
A Sandhill Crane
There's a beautiful pair of Bald Eagles.
White Pelican
Wood Storks
Barred Owls.
Horned Owls.
NO CLUE WHAT THIS IS!
(I think I did pretty good identifiying all the birds;
this guy was the only one I couldn't figure out!)
Roseate Spoonbill
Hawk.
Osprey.
Red-Tailed Hawk.
Flamingos.
Some reptiles.
