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This 168-acre park offers visitors the opportunity to get up-close to some of Florida’s native species of wildlife. The 1.1 miles nature walk takes you past alligators, river otters, a hippopotamus, black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcats, snakes, birds of prey, manatee, a western cougar, and more. Located at the headwaters of the Homosassa River and just nine miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the spring that feeds the park is one of the only places where thousands of freshwater and saltwater fish congregate.
Did you know:
- The hippo at the park is named Lucifer, weighs 6000 pounds, and can remain fully submerged underwater for 30 minutes.
- The park’s 45-foot deep spring pumps millions of gallons of water every hour.
- The park serves as a rehabilitation center and refuge for endangered West Indian manatees. The natural spring environment gives the manatees a chance to re-acclimate themselves to a more natural environment before they are released.
- The park currently houses a Western cougar, which serves as “ambassador” for the endangered Florida panther. Currently, there are only about 50 Florida panthers left in the state.
Links:
Homosassa Springs – Manatee Cam
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs
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