Tourist attractions in Miami: Five Creatures Kids Will Love to See at the Everglades National Park

The unique natural ecosystem of the Everglades is an environment conducive for the existence of several species of animals and birds that may be seen on the air boat tours. This ecosystem is made up of an amalgamation of many different habitats. There is something for visitors of all ages visiting the park like the air boat tours, the swamp buggy rides, camping, bird watching and more. But kids will enjoy themselves here more so because there are so many activities suited just for them! The marshy wetland landscape of the Everglades National Park provides a fabulous habitat for over 40 species of mammals, 350 species of birds and 27 species of snakes and many other endangered and threatened creatures. Here are some of the creatures of the park that kids will squeal with delight on encountering.

The Manatee

Manatees or sea cows as they are also called are gentle giants reaching up to 4 meters in length and weigh up to 1,300 pounds. They are strong swimmers. They usually move in slow motion but if need be, they are also able to swim at about five miles an hour. Sometimes in short bursts they can cover up to 15 miles an hour. They live in the salt water bays, shallow estuaries and slow-moving rivers where they can feed on aquatic vegetation. These gentle creatures are an absolute delight to encounter in the water.

River Otter

River otters are aquatic mammals that live along rivers, streams and lakes. Their preferred habitat includes marshes, wetlands and wood-bordered water bodies. This is why they absolutely thrive in the marshlands of Shark Valley. They are rather acrobatic in the water and use their flexible long bodies, webbed hind feet and strong tails to paddle and steer. They can hunt fish underwater, skillfully chasing them all about the place.

Atlantic Bottle nose Dolphin

One of the most well-known marine mammals in the Everglades National Park is the Atlantic Bottle nose Dolphin. This adorable creature is a coastal species that is found in the saltwater estuaries of the park. It thrives in tropical and temperate waters. They are very intelligent, charismatic and friendly creatures who don't exhibit much fear of humans.

Key Deer

It is one of the smallest deer in existence, no larger than a big dog. The small size of the Key deer is said to be an adaptation technique because of the scarce resources and harsh climate. Key Deer are visible almost all year round but most often in the month of August and are most often viewed two hours post sunrise and two hours before sunset.

American Alligator

The American alligator is a species that is over 150 million years old. An average male American alligator is up to 10-15 feet in length and about 9 feet for females. These creatures can be seen on the air boat tours, sunning themselves along the banks of the river.