Voices of Change Animal League says an estimated 40,000 cats and dogs in Marion County are not spayed or neutered — overwhelming shelters and clinics alike. Now, the organization wants to expand its clinic to meet that growing need and prevent animals from being turned away without care.

If you’ve ever looked up at dusk and seen what you swore was a little bird flying like it just drank three espressos—surprise. That’s probably a bat.

The conventional wisdom in Florida is that if you see a body of water, assume there is a gator in it. But some bodies of water have more than others — quite a few more.

Orange City leaders are considering a new way to penalize people who violate local animal cruelty and animal abandonment rules — including fines of up to $7,500 for repeat violations. The proposed ordinance would update the city’s existing animal-control regulations and allow violations to be handled as civil infractions under Florida law.

A massive fish popped out of the surf at a beach in California, photobombing a woman heading into the water.

This month, pest-control company Orkin has released its latest ranking of the “rattiest” cities in America — and a few metros in Florida managed to make the list.

Calfuccino, a female manatee rescued off the coast of Florida, arrived last week at EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends, where she is sharing her habitat with Cider and Tanimura.

Weighing approximately 220 pounds, Annautaq is now receiving around-the-clock care from SeaWorld Orlando’s animal care and veterinary team — one of only four U.S. institutions currently capable of housing walruses.

Five tiny kittens found running across a Seminole County trash tipping floor are now in foster homes after waste workers spotted them in a dangerous area and rushed to help.

Casselberry leaders are set to discuss the city’s peacocks at a special meeting, as residents in the Lost Lake neighborhood remain divided over what should happen to the birds.

A man was killed by a 12-foot-long alligator at a park in Winter Garden on Friday evening, according to the fire department.

A mother says she forced herself to release her four-month-old daughter’s stroller as a dog dragged her to the ground, determined not to let the baby fall with her.

A bear wandered across the street from Orson Weste’s home in Lockhart on Tuesday, giving him a close-up encounter he didn’t expect.

Terminix has released its latest report highlighting which areas of the country have the worst bedbug problems — including right here in Florida.

The family behind missing-bird signs posted around east Orlando is asking for help bringing their parrot home while grieving the death of their 19-year-old son.

After a 10-year-old dog was thrown into a dumpster earlier this year — leading to its death — its owner has now been sentenced to 20 days in jail, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

A missing cat named Butterscotch has sparked a countywide search in Brevard County after she disappeared following a crash on Interstate 95 last week.

Orange County Animal Services will soon accept only stray animals with urgent medical needs or concerning behavior. The temporary restriction is expected to last about a week.

For thousands of Lake County residents, keeping a black bear out of the trash starts with something that looks deceptively ordinary: a garbage cart.

An existing grass airstrip tucked into rural northeast Lake County is at the center of a much bigger question: What happens when plans for expanded flight-training operations meet a landscape known for wetlands, national forest land and one of Florida’s most recognizable birds?

A Volusia County man was arrested on a felony animal cruelty charge after deputies said his dog, Tanner, was found severely emaciated and suffering from multiple untreated infections, with additional charges of resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia following his arrest.

An Oak Hill man has been taken into custody after his dog was found starving and suffering from “extreme neglect,” according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

A Central Florida man has been arrested after deputies said they found videos showing him sexually abusing young children, including an infant.

A Seminole County judge has ordered a Geneva man to be held in jail on no bond, a day after investigators said the man deliberately set his house on fire with more than a dozen dogs inside.

Florida is now in the midst of its creepiest time of year: “Spider Season.”

Disney's Animal Kingdom is saying goodbye to fan-favorite Sumatran tiger Bakso as he turns 2 and moves to a new zoo this fall to play a critical role in saving a species with fewer than 600 left in the wild.

A house fire in Geneva ended with six dogs dead and left the home a loss, according to Seminole County officials.

Today’s Everyday Wild episode breaks the usual “Florida species” rule… because we’re talking gorillas. Ahead of World Gorilla Day, the Disney Conservation Fund announced $100,000 in new grants for gorilla conservation—supporting GRACE, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and Gorilla Doctors.

A Florida black bear checking out an Orlando apartment complex got escorted off the premises by police earlier this month.

Two photos posted online have sparked dozens of comments — and renewed concerns about wild hogs roaming through the Lake Nona community.

A Punta Gorda woman was arrested after a video was discovered that revealed her engaging in a “sexual act” with the family’s pet dog, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

Five puppies are now a step closer to finding loving homes after Puppy Rescue Flights completed a rescue mission from Alabama to Central Florida over the weekend.

Five puppies are now a step closer to finding loving homes after Puppy Rescue Flights completed a rescue mission from Alabama to Central Florida over the weekend.

Human development may be shifting the seasonal calendar for pollinators, according to a new study from University of Florida researchers.

A University of Florida researcher has documented a mosquito species never before recorded in the United States.

A fight over two alligators living in a Viera retention pond may have ended before some neighbors could convince their homeowners association to reconsider having them removed.

A surfer off New Smyrna Beach was bitten by a shark Wednesday. Volusia County Beach Safety says the male surfer was in the water at around 11 a.m.

A U.S. lawmaker from Florida has introduced a new bill after a Central Florida woman was killed in an alligator attack earlier this year.

Bowen Aquarium will occupy a 14-acre site on Port Canaveral property bordering the Banana River, located just off State Road 528. The campus will feature 10 buildings, some dedicated to the filtration systems required to maintain the large habitats, along with heavy landscaping designed to mirror the natural look and feel of natural Florida.

Orange County is under a West Nile virus advisory after sentinel chickens used to monitor mosquito-borne illness tested positive, according to Orange County Mosquito Control.

A Silver Springs man is recovering after being bitten by a shark Sunday in Key West.

An HVAC technician has been arrested after he was caught kicking a homeowner’s dog by a dog-treat dispenser, according to the Sanford Police Department.

Permit applications for Florida's upcoming bear-hunting season will open up next month, with the official hunt kicking off later this year.

A Florida HOA paused plans to euthanize an invasive Muscovy duck population after residents took matters into their own hands, capturing and transporting the ducks to a private sanctuary an hour away.

The peacocks have become a feathered fault line in Casselberry — loved by some as part of the city’s character and blamed by others for property damage they say they have little legal power to prevent. Now, for the first time in years, the protections surrounding them could be reconsidered.

A News 6 Neighborhood Network tip brought us to a Sanford community where an HOA’s plan to euthanize Muscovy ducks is drawing pushback from some neighbors.

Casselberry commissioners approved a one-year pilot program Monday that would allow some residents to legally keep backyard chickens within city limits.

The Deltona City Commission is scheduled to hold a second reading on a proposed ordinance that would increase fines for violations involving animal abandonment and strengthen the city’s local animal-control rules.

A wild mustang can begin its life roaming federally managed land in the American West and, years later, end up thousands of miles away at a rescue in Central Florida.

The owner of a dog that Volusia County deputies said killed an 8-year-old boy in DeLand has been arrested again — this time on drug charges, according to jail records obtained by News 6.

The Lake County Animal Shelter needs help after taking in 85 dogs from a “high-volume pet owner.”

In its report, Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators cited disease, transportation stress, and nutritional deficiencies as contributing factors in the deaths of 55 sloths at the never-opened International Drive attraction.

New Smyrna Beach firefighters helped push two beached manatees back into the water Monday night, but state wildlife officials say the animals should not have been touched or moved without direction from trained responders.

A Brevard County woman was arrested on Monday after she was accused of stabbing a horse, according to Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Florida is well-known for its large alligator population, but with that comes a pretty big downside: a greater possibility of alligator attacks.

A bale of baby sea turtles got turned around overnight Friday in Volusia County. Fortunately, some Volusia County deputies were able to stop and give them directions. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said about 75 sea turtle hatchlings were seen trying to crawl up a beach approach toward Atlantic Avenue. It's a reminder that Volusia County requires beachside properties to keep lights to a minimum during nesting season.

The 10-day event drew 907 participants from 30 states and overseas, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The longest snake pulled during the challenge measured nearly 17 feet.

A Volusia County animal sanctuary that has cared for elderly and disabled animals for more than four decades says it is searching for a new home after the property’s new owner began charging $4,000 a month in rent.

Nearly a year after the Sloth World controversy sparked outrage across Central Florida, Orange County leaders are exploring whether they can prevent a similar situation from happening again.

Butterflies move between flowers as wind chimes ring through the trees at the Trout Lake Nature Center.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to Tohopekaliga High School on Thursday after the school’s resource officer reported an alligator on campus.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a new silverback gorilla. Bakari, 21, is taking over leadership of the park’s family troop after the departure of longtime silverback Gino.

Tech giant Google is seeking government approval to release 32 million mosquitoes into Florida — and the proposal has sparked reactions from thousands online.

Armadillos are a familiar sight across Florida — and for many homeowners, they’re best known for digging up yards and gardens. Health experts say there’s another reason to keep your distance: Armadillos can occasionally carry the bacteria that causes Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.

A 21-year-old man said he was bitten by a shark off Daytona Beach Shores over the weekend after he moved his pregnant fiancée toward shore and then fought to get the animal off him.

A severely burned osprey found on a Blue Origin launch pad the day after a rocket explosion is recovering at the Florida Wildlife Hospital.

An investigation is underway after a dog was allegedly struck by a Brevard County patrol car, which then left the scene, according to Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

A Central Florida man was arrested after being accused of violating recent emergency rules regarding a flesh-eating parasite, according to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Volusia County has officially broken its sea turtle nesting season record — and there are still three months left to go. As of Wednesday, turtles have laid 1,517 nests along the county’s coastline, surpassing the previous record of 1,516 nests set in 2023. Nesting season runs through Oct. 31.

Three rare reptiles in Florida are being added to the list of endangered species under federal law, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Bunnell police arrested a 21-year-old Palm Coast woman on Sunday after officers discovered two dead dogs inside a storage unit where investigators allege the animals were kept in “dangerous conditions.”

Hunters from all over the world are in the Everglades right now, competing to bring in the most Burmese pythons before the Florida Python Challenge wraps up on July 19.

Kangaroos, monkeys, giant lizards, snakes and a 2,000-pound white rhinoceros are among more than 140 animals that escaped from captivity in Florida since 2022, state wildlife records obtained by News 6 reveal.

Residents in Edgewater say feral hogs have been tearing up their yards — often overnight — causing thousands of dollars in damage. The city says it has trapped 50 hogs over the past three months as part of an ongoing effort to get the problem under control.

The pasture mealybug has now been detected in 15 Florida counties — including two Central Florida counties — and scientists at the University of Florida are racing to find solutions.

An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy lost his hand in an alligator attack while fishing with his family at Nelson Fish Camp in Florida. The boy's father attempted to save him, but the alligator severed his hand, which could not be reattached despite multiple surgeries. The community has rallied around the family, raising funds for medical expenses and future prosthetic costs. Authorities remind the public to stay alert and cautious around alligators, especially during warmer months.

For the fourth year in a row, one Florida city ranked at the top of the list.

Deputies said he took over 20 dogs from his mother's home in Palm Coast before heading to St. Johns County, where they were purposefully released and abandoned on the side of the road.

Deputies said they received a tip last week about the video, which was reportedly posted to Snapchat.

Loved ones of 31-year-old Brittany Clark are mourning after officials say she was killed in an alligator attack in Seminole County. Family members say Clark loved the outdoors and spending time on the water.

Trappers caught a 12-foot alligator and a 13-foot alligator from the area in Seminole County where a 31-year-old Orlando woman died Sunday after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with her boyfriend and best friend. What we know about the attack, and what Florida wildlife officials are doing now.

After coming across a Facebook post showing the duct-taped dog, investigators said they jumped into action to find the animal and its owner.

People who want to bring sloths into Florida will have to file for a special permit under a new rule by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The new policy was created after dozens of sloths died in the care of a group planning to open the Sloth World attraction on International Drive in Orlando.

Chicken petition tops 750 signatures as commissioners prepare to discuss backyard hens.

A sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle named Wombat is back in the wild after spending three months recovering at the Marine Science Center in Volusia County.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey took to social media on Thursday, targeting an animal cruelty suspect after a dog had to be euthanized.

Florida is well known for its record-holding alligators, but there’s another scaly predator that has quietly expanded into the state, according to experts.

Another of the sloths from Sloth World has died. The Central Florida Zoo in Sanford announced that Willow, one of 14 sloths that arrived at the zoo in April, had to be put to sleep.

The boyfriend of a woman mauled to death protecting her dog is now being accused himself of animal cruelty, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Brevard County deputies are investigating after three dogs were found dead inside a trailer belonging to the boyfriend of a woman who was fatally attacked by dogs last month.

Volusia County is having a record-breaking sea turtle nesting season — and it’s not even close.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom introduced guests to Ivy, a baby Masai giraffe now visible on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Keepers say she’s shy, staying close to mom Willow, and part of an AZA Species Survival Plan conservation effort.

Gov. DeSantis has extended a state of emergency after the screwworm was detected in the U.S. last week. Meanwhile, Florida's agricultural leader has imposed emergency rules to ward off the threat.

Gatorland in Orlando was forced to evacuate on Tuesday over a reported bomb threat, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Aquarists at EPCOT's The Seas with Nemo & Friends are rehabilitating 14 rescued sea turtles as part of a broader conservation mission that also includes manatee rehabilitation, butterfly tagging, and other wildlife programs largely hidden from public view.

A Central Florida man was arrested after he shot a cat in the eye with a BB gun and killed it, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

After sparking fears about a resurgence in Florida, the New World Screwworm has prompted an emergency rule in the Sunshine State, according to the FDACS.

Tech giant Google is seeking government approval to release 32 million mosquitoes into Florida, according to CBS News.

A College Park woman says coyotes have killed her feral cats and cost her thousands of dollars in prevention efforts — but wildlife officials say relocation isn't an option.

Edgewater police and city leaders are moving forward with a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating backyard chickens as more residents already keep hens at home.