Whether you're enjoying one of our many beautiful beach parks, hiking through a cypress strand, boating or kayaking through the mangrove estuaries or exploring one of our nature centers in town, there's no doubt that you will encounter our native wildlife.
The estuaries stretching from Naples and Marco Island down into the Ten Thousand Islands section of the Everglades are home year round to thousands of bottlenose dolphin. Fishing and sailing expeditions usually are highlighted by multiple dolphin sightings. Florida manatees also call these waters home.
Bird watching is catching on worldwide as a pleasant pastime for some, and a grand obsession for others. The Paradise Coast of Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades is blessed with a bounty of beautiful birds, some full time residents and others that migrate through at different times of the year.
Collier County's vast areas of preserve lands stretching from the mangrove shorelines of the Everglades deep into the upland forests is a critical habitat for the endangered Florida panther, Florida's official State animal. This rare animal is shy and elusive, but there have been sightings along Janes Scenic Drive in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and along the Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Both roads are open to the public and make good wildlife drive locations. Otter, deer, black bear and fox squirrel also call the area home.
