FLORIDA WILDLIFE

A bear and a coyote recently took a walk together along a trail. Here's why wildlife officials think they were spotted together.

The Animal Legal Defense has joined Gatorland offering a reward for information.

Caretakers at the Brevard Zoo are determined to get to the bottom of the health issues for a Florida black bear cub discovered in the Ocala National Forest a little more than a year ago using the latest technology to make sure he has the best life possible.

They are as synonymous with Florida as flamingo’s Manatees or as they are sometimes called, sea cows, love the tropical weather and warm waters of Florida. Powell shares his knowledge of these gentle giants and tells us how the pandemic has likely had an adverse affect on them. By some estimates there are about 13,000 manatees on the planet with about half of those living in the southeastern U.S. While boating is good for those who are feeling cabin fever during the pandemic, it has not been good for manatees. “We had seen it in Blue Spring, we had actually seen it up in north Florida and I think even Georgia,” Powell said.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A 17-year-old was bit by a shark Saturday in Ormond Beach while surfing in the ocean, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue officials. The teen was bit on his right leg while retrieving his surfboard in waist deep water at the Neptune Approach off Ocean Shore Boulevard, Capt. Tamra Malphurs, with Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue, said. The 17-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. [TRENDING: 2020 Voter Guide | What to expect if Trump wins | What to expect if Biden wins]

Cane toads ooze a milky, toxic substance called bufotoxin, which is deadly to cats and dogs if they bite, sniff or lick the giant toads. The toxin is also dangerous for humans, and people should wear gloves and protective gear when disposing of the toads, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Cane toads are native to South and Central America and first brought to Florida to manage pests in sugar cane fields in the 1930s, according to the University of Florida. Now cane toads are reported in Central and South Florida, usually south of the I-4 corridor. Click on the icons below to see reported cane toad sightings in Florida.

EUSTIS, Fla. – A Eustis family caught a furry encounter on video when a young bear visited their home in search of food. Quan Nguyen, who lives near Eustis Middle school, said he woke up to find his garbage knocked over and trash littered everywhere. When he checked his home’s security cameras, he saw a young bear tip over the can, flip the lid, and take off with a bag full of garbage. Nguyen said the bear seemed hungry and may have been frightened by construction near his home. He said his kids are cleaning up the furry thief’s mess, totally unbothered that the bear made a midnight visit.

Within a week, there was barely any grass left because wild boars kept digging through his Southport Bay neighborhood near Poinciana. [SEE PHOTOS OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY BOARS IN GALLERY BELOW]Full Screen 1 / 5 Boars have been damaging Kel Young's yard in Kissimmee. He said deputies and wildlife officials told him he’s allowed to shoot and kill the boars because they are nuisance animals. “So everyone is telling me to shoot them, shoot them, shoot them,” Young said. Since the boars are now tearing up the corner of the block, he’s hoping the Southport Bay HOA can come up with a solution.

Wolves, New Guinea Singing Dogs, foxes, panthers, bobcats, even prairie dogs call Shy Wolf Sanctuary home. Shy Wolf Sanctuary lives behind the home of Nancy and Kent Smith and was once just a large yard that has since been converted into a haven. Shy Wolf runs on over 61,000 volunteer hours per year, 52,000 pounds of meat and solely on donations. The sanctuary plans to keep growing, securing permits to develop 50 off-site acres so they can house more rescues. If you want to learn more about Shy Wolf Sanctuary, read the stories of the sanctuary’s residents, schedule a visit or make a charitable donation, click here.