Florida's Everglades is a vast subtropical wilderness of sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, cypress swamps and slow-moving water. But beneath its seemingly tranquil surface lives an extraordinary collection of predators.
Alligators lurk almost completely submerged, venomous snakes disappear among the vegetation and enormous invasive pythons squeeze the life from their prey. Even sharks can venture into the region's brackish waters.
But which animals really deserve their deadly reputation?
- It straddles two US states, contains 15,000 alligators, and is home to a snake as long as a bed
- It spans over 1 million acres, contains rare creatures and is the only place on Earth where two watery, deadly apex predators clash
8 most dangerous animals found in the Everglades
American alligator
With its armour-plated black body, muscular tail and powerful jaws, the American alligator looks like a survivor from another age for good reason - its ancestors have been around for more than 150 million years.
Found in the freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps and marshes of the south-eastern US, males typically grow to between 3m and 4.6m long and can weigh around 450kg. They are also accomplished swimmers despite appearing cumbersome on land.
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Adult alligators are apex predators, feeding mainly on fish, turtles, snakes and small mammals, although these opportunistic hunters will tackle almost anything they can overpower Rather than chasing victims over long distances, alligators are ambush predators, often waiting almost completely submerged before exploding from the water. Humans have occasionally been killed, but such attacks are rare.
Females lay around 32–46 eggs, but life is perilous for the hatchlings. From an average clutch of 35, only an estimated four survive to maturity, with young alligators falling prey to wading birds, otters and even larger alligators.
In the Everglades, alligators are far more than predators. During the dry season they excavate depressions known as "alligator holes", which retain water as the surrounding marsh dries and provide vital refuges for fish, turtles, birds and other wildlife.
American crocodile
The Everglades is one of the rare places where American crocodiles and American alligators live alongside each other – but telling them apart can be tricky.
Look at the snout. Crocodiles have a narrower, more tapered one than alligators and, when their mouths are closed, the fourth tooth on the lower jaw remains visible. They are also greyish-green rather than black.
South Florida marks the northern limit of the American crocodile's range, where these shy and reclusive reptiles inhabit brackish and saltwater ponds, creeks and mangrove swamps.
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They feed mainly on fish, turtles, frogs, birds and small mammals.
And don't be alarmed if you spot one basking with its formidable jaws wide open. Known as "gaping", this is not a sign it is preparing to attack. As cold-blooded reptiles, crocodiles rely on their surroundings to regulate their body temperature and opening their mouths helps them cool down.
Females lay between 20 and 60 eggs, which incubate for around 85 days. When they hatch, their mother digs open the nest and carries her tiny offspring to the water.
Despite their fearsome appearance, American crocodiles are generally wary of people and will usually retreat if approached.
Burmese python
One of the Everglades' most formidable predators shouldn't be there at all.
Native to Asia, Burmese pythons are an invasive species that has become firmly established across southern Florida, particularly in and around the Everglades.
They are among the largest snakes in the world. Adults caught in Florida average between 1.8m and 2.7m long but the largest ever captured in the state measured more than 5.4m.
These non-venomous snakes kill by constriction, coiling their muscular bodies around their prey before swallowing it whole. And they have extraordinary appetites – Burmese pythons can consume a meal equivalent to 100% of their own body weight.
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Almost anything is potentially on the menu. Mammals, birds and reptiles have all been discovered in their stomachs, including protected species such as wood storks and endangered Key Largo woodrats.
Adult pythons have few predators in Florida and their impact on native wildlife is so concerning that wildlife officials actively remove them from the Everglades.
Although such a huge snake is potentially dangerous to people and pets, it is the native wildlife of the Everglades that has most to fear.
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
The eastern diamondback is the largest rattlesnake species in the world and one of the Everglades' most venomous predators.
Named after the distinctive dark diamond-shaped markings running along its back, it hunts mainly small mammals and birds, striking its prey and injecting venom through long, hinged fangs.
But there's another surprising reason this snake is so well adapted to Florida – it is an excellent swimmer. Eastern diamondbacks can cross stretches of water and have even used this ability to colonise islands.
A bite can be extremely serious and requires immediate medical treatment, but rattlesnakes don't hunt humans. Their famous rattle is a warning, allowing a potential threat the chance to move away rather than forcing the snake to strike.
Despite their deadly reputation, the snakes themselves face growing threats. Habitat loss and fragmentation, road deaths and deliberate killing by humans have caused them to disappear from some urban areas of Florida.
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Florida cottonmouth
Also known as the water moccasin, the cottonmouth is perfectly at home in the Everglades' watery landscape.
These heavy-bodied venomous snakes average between 60cm and 1.2m long and are found in marshes, swamps, streams and lakes – although they can also wander surprisingly far from water.
Young cottonmouths look very different from adults, with brown or tan bodies marked with reddish-brown bands and a striking bright yellow tip to the tail. They become progressively darker with age and some adults appear almost uniformly dark.
They are also frequently mistaken for harmless water snakes. One giveaway is the deep heat-sensing pit between each eye and nostril, which helps cottonmouths detect warm-blooded prey.
Despite their fearsome reputation, cottonmouths are not necessarily aggressive. But they are venomous and should always be given plenty of space.
When threatened, they may coil their body, raise their head and gape, revealing the startling white interior of the mouth that gives the species its memorable name.
Florida panther
One of the Everglades' most elusive predators is also one of its largest.
Florida panthers can measure between 1.5m and 2.1m from nose to tail and weigh up to 73kg. Their long tail is almost as long as their body and helps distinguish them from Florida's other native wild cat, the much smaller bobcat.
Panthers are solitary animals and are most active between dusk and dawn. They use densely vegetated forests as cover for resting, raising their young and stalking prey.
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Powerful and stealthy hunters, they prey on animals including deer and wild hogs. But despite being physically capable of seriously injuring a person, Florida panthers are elusive and encounters with humans are rare.
In fact, humans pose a far greater danger to them. The Florida panther is federally listed as endangered and remains one of the most imperilled mammals in the United States.
Florida black bear
Florida's largest land mammal may look cumbersome, but don't be fooled – black bears can run at speeds of up to 35mph, climb 30m up a tree in just 30 seconds and are also excellent swimmers.
Males typically weigh between 113kg and 204kg and possess an extraordinary sense of smell, capable of detecting an odour from at least a mile away.
Despite their size and strength, Florida black bears are opportunistic omnivores rather than fearsome predators. Around 80% of their diet is made up of plants, including acorns, berries and saw palmetto, while insects account for another 15%.
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They are naturally wary of humans and attacks are extremely rare. Problems are more likely when bears discover easy meals around homes, including rubbish, pet food and bird feeders, which can cause them to lose their natural wariness.
And if a bear stands on its hind legs, don't assume it is preparing to attack. It is usually simply trying to get a better look – and smell – at what is in front of it.
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Bull shark
Sharks might not be the first predators that spring to mind in the Everglades but the bull shark is no ordinary marine species.
Growing to around 3–3.4m long, these stocky predators have an extraordinary tolerance for different levels of salinity. They can move between the sea, estuaries and freshwater and are the only shark species capable of tolerating long periods in freshwater. Some have travelled hundreds of miles inland through river systems.
Bull sharks are opportunistic hunters with a remarkably varied diet. Fish, rays, other sharks, sea turtles, seabirds and even dolphins have all been found in their stomachs.
Females produce between one and 13 pups after a pregnancy lasting around 10–11 months. Shallow estuaries, river mouths and coastal lagoons provide important nursery areas for their young.
Bull sharks are also considered one of the more dangerous shark species to humans and have been responsible for numerous unprovoked attacks worldwide – although an encounter in the Everglades remains unlikely.
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