Meet Native Wildlife in the Fort Myers Sanibel Area

After one too many Massachusetts winters, I moved to Florida. Besides escaping bitter Northern temperatures, I enjoy the frequent animal sightings that are served up in The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. From West Indian manatees to loggerhead sea turtles to a seemingly infinite variety of birds, this place is home to as many creatures as Eden.

Marvelous Manatees

Manatees are drawn to Fort Myers' 17-acre Manatee Park because its canal contains the warm-water discharge of a nearby power plant. When the water in the Gulf dips below 68 degrees, the manatees swim into the park to warm up.

As I meander down the park's centerpiece boardwalk, I spot them – manatees in water shallow enough to see their entire bodies. At first, I spot one manatee, then a second, third and fourth. The animals flip over under the water, then one rises before me, almond-eyed, full-faced, his expression bovine and curious.

Pelicans, Egrets, Herons and More

Birding in The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is easy. You can probably start when you arrive at Southwest Florida International Airport, or in the parking lot of your hotel.

If you're interested in birds, you’ll want to travel to Sanibel Island's J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. I choose to explore the refuge by tram, operated by Tarpon Bay Explorers.

Within minutes, my group has spotted roseate spoonbills; brown and white pelicans; great, red and snowy egrets; white ibis; double-breasted cormorants; and osprey. The highlight: seeing a red-shouldered hawk catch and eat a black snake.

There are numerous parks and refuges in which to go bird watching. Among the best:

National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary – anhingas, storks, owls, warblers and hawks

Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve – herons, egrets, woodpeckers and migratory birds

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve – anhingas, red-shouldered hawks and wading birds

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Each year beginning around May, female loggerhead sea turtles instinctively return to the beaches on which they were hatched to lay their eggs. While adults can reach 350 pounds, turtle hatchlings are tiny and fragile.

Observe the nests from a distance, and be sure to follow the lights-out policy in effect on area beaches. Moonlight guides the hatchlings to the water, but artificial lights can confuse them and cause them to wander toward dangerous roads.

Delightful Dolphins

Dolphin sighting is the Holy Grail of animal watching in Florida. I book a dolphin cruise offered by Adventures in Paradise. (Similar jaunts are offered by Captiva Cruises.) We sail toward the setting sun, past an archipelago of mangrove islands.

Soon, we spy a pod – first one dorsal fin, eventually four. The dolphins leap out of the water. First their rubbery backs are visible, then their trademark grins. Unafraid, they seem to enjoy swimming alongside our boat. I wonder if they appreciate the merry shouts and pointed fingers of our party.