Did you see any wild alligators?
There & Back Again: Brooks to Key Largo to Kachemak Bay
- Thread starter Pleistohorse
- Start date
Did you see any wild alligators?
@DavidBrown Not a one.
Departure: Savannah, Georgia. 0846. Light / Weather: Bright and partly cloudy. 71F. Distance to nearest ocean: 13 miles southeast to the Atlantic. Elevation: 49 feet.
Two small zoos today and then up to the piedmont country of North Carolina. After nearly three weeks in Florida I am beginning to feel an urgency to move north. What was an anticipation is starting to feel like a fact.
I saw of birds this morning on a drive out to Tybee Island. I think today I’m going to avoid counting birds and just stick with mammals.
Two small zoos today and then up to the piedmont country of North Carolina. After nearly three weeks in Florida I am beginning to feel an urgency to move north. What was an anticipation is starting to feel like a fact.
I saw of birds this morning on a drive out to Tybee Island. I think today I’m going to avoid counting birds and just stick with mammals.
SusScrofa
Well-Known Member
Did you get a glimpse of the construction of the new dolphin exhibit at Gulfarium? If you did, how is it looking so far?
Any interesting species at Gulfarium or Talahassee Museum?
I will probably be heading to the Tampa area in December or early January and plan on doing a number of facilities there. You aren't the first person to praise Homossassa Springs so high, and I feel inspired to try and squeeze a visit in on my trip
. How many manatees did you see there exactly?
@SusScrofa I only saw what they had on the map. But it looks like it will be a big improvement. The facility is very utilitarian…but right in the shore. With a couple of natural dunes roped off. Like anywhere in Florida…they know how to exhibit Alligators. That exhibit is great. The seals, the penguins, the non-rehabbed sea turtle? Hmmmmm…..
Tallahassee Museum is great. The enclosures (maybe except for the River Otters are really good. I enjoyed seeing a genuine Florida Panther. And I loved watching the Red Wolves. Most interesting to me though was the Whitetail Deer. I’ve seen three (maybe four) really good Whitetail Exhibits I’m Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. At Tallahassee it’s not signed, but it looked to me that they had a Key Deer on display. The animal appeared to have a poorly healed front leg…perhaps from a collision or other accident. I don’t know. But I’ll put that up there as interesting animal.
I believe I saw seven manatees at Homossassa Springs. Definitely visit…especially in the winter.
Tallahassee Museum is great. The enclosures (maybe except for the River Otters are really good. I enjoyed seeing a genuine Florida Panther. And I loved watching the Red Wolves. Most interesting to me though was the Whitetail Deer. I’ve seen three (maybe four) really good Whitetail Exhibits I’m Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. At Tallahassee it’s not signed, but it looked to me that they had a Key Deer on display. The animal appeared to have a poorly healed front leg…perhaps from a collision or other accident. I don’t know. But I’ll put that up there as interesting animal.
I believe I saw seven manatees at Homossassa Springs. Definitely visit…especially in the winter.
Departure: Florence, South Carolina. 0856 hours. Light / Weather: Bright and sunny with high clouds. 57F. Nearest Ocean: The Atlantic. Cold and Grey. 68 Miles east. Elevation: 138 feet.
The highest and furthest inland for a bit no?
Two small native zoos yesterday were kind of cool. Got some great pictures. Within an hour I’ll be in North Carolina. In about two hours, the North Carolina Zoo. Sleep in a bit today. Hard to do in an Interstate hotel.
Tonight I imagine Roanoke Virginia will be my resting point. For an early day at Mill Mountain Zoo and then Shenandoah National Park. Expect Whitetail Deer and Turkey sightings. Saw a few Armadillos on stretch of South Carolina road yesterday. I think in Alaska I would have tried to stop reverse and grab pictures of them. Especially so if they were Armadillos. But here the road was busy and they came up fast in the roadside meadows and I was passed them…before I was ready.
Safe travels today everybody. I’ll check in tonight…and sooner or later…post about a hundred pictures and write some reviews. Off the top I’ll say that Gulf Breeze Zoo (for its faults) is underrated. Brevard, aside from a cracking American Crocodile exhibit a bit over-rated. Still a great zoo though.
And yes…Florida can really put together some awesome crocodilian exhibits. Hands down.
The highest and furthest inland for a bit no?
Two small native zoos yesterday were kind of cool. Got some great pictures. Within an hour I’ll be in North Carolina. In about two hours, the North Carolina Zoo. Sleep in a bit today. Hard to do in an Interstate hotel.
Tonight I imagine Roanoke Virginia will be my resting point. For an early day at Mill Mountain Zoo and then Shenandoah National Park. Expect Whitetail Deer and Turkey sightings. Saw a few Armadillos on stretch of South Carolina road yesterday. I think in Alaska I would have tried to stop reverse and grab pictures of them. Especially so if they were Armadillos. But here the road was busy and they came up fast in the roadside meadows and I was passed them…before I was ready.
Safe travels today everybody. I’ll check in tonight…and sooner or later…post about a hundred pictures and write some reviews. Off the top I’ll say that Gulf Breeze Zoo (for its faults) is underrated. Brevard, aside from a cracking American Crocodile exhibit a bit over-rated. Still a great zoo though.
And yes…Florida can really put together some awesome crocodilian exhibits. Hands down.
Did you ever post a species list for Gulf Breeze? I may be stop by on my way back from SoCal and was just curious what they had that's not listed on the map. Very much agree its an underrated facility. I haven't been in almost 15 years and very much enjoyed my visits in the mid 2000s
Gulf Breeze was bought by the people that own Virginia Safari Park (and now Alabama Safari Park and the new Texas Safari Park) a few years ago and it sounds like they've really turned it around. Before they stepped in the park was struggling, and then got hit by two hurricanes. VA Safari is AZA quality. What did you think of Mill Mountain?
@TinoPup I’m in Roanoke now and will visit the zoo at opening tomorrow. I’m looking forward too it. Time permitting (I really want to spend the remainder of the day driving through Shenandoah National Park before it gets dark) and if it’s open, I’ll try to visit Virginia Safari Park as well. On a summer day it would be doable. Not sure here in the late fall. ;-)
Alright. I posted a species list for Gulf Breeze Zoo! @PSO take note!
Had a sit down meal at Texas Roadhouse:
Species List (mammals only and all head-mounts):
Whitetail Deer - 5
Mule Deer - 1
Bison - 1
Pronghorn - 1
Mouflon - 1
The Moose and the Jackalope were fake.
ok…also two Large-mouthed Bass and a full body mount of some kind of “road lizard.”
One of the Bass may have been the kind that sings jingle bells when you press its belly…I didn’t check to verify.
Had a sit down meal at Texas Roadhouse:
Species List (mammals only and all head-mounts):
Whitetail Deer - 5
Mule Deer - 1
Bison - 1
Pronghorn - 1
Mouflon - 1
The Moose and the Jackalope were fake.
ok…also two Large-mouthed Bass and a full body mount of some kind of “road lizard.”
One of the Bass may have been the kind that sings jingle bells when you press its belly…I didn’t check to verify.
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It's still warm enough that you should see most of the ungulates, and the cheetahs
I was hoping to go last week but my whole day to do something turned into half a day, and at 5 hours away, it wasn't going to work. It's not quite Shenandoah but the drive through the safari is nice, hilly.
Departure: Roanoke, Virginia. 0850 hours. Light / Weather: Clear, cool, and crisp. 34F. Nearest ocean: The Atlantic - 198 miles due east. Elevation: 1243 feet.
Today we head for Mill Mountain Zoo here in Roanoke and then the Shenandoah National Park.
This is new….
Today we head for Mill Mountain Zoo here in Roanoke and then the Shenandoah National Park.
This is new….
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Glad you went, looking forward to your opinion!
Great shot! That animal is a big reason to make it there someday.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Apologies if you already mentioned this, but will you be doing full reviews of the facilities you visited once you return from the trip? Would definitely enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Departure: Somerset, Pennsylvania. 0935 hours. Light / Weather: overcast and cold. 33F. Nearest Ocean: Chesapeake Bay off the Atlantic - 180 miles southeast. Elevation: 2190 feet.
Did you guys know that the Carnegie Museum of Natural History was closed on Tuesdays? There is nothing but bitter irony in the day saved bypassing Wilmington.
What then, what then?
Quick jaunt through the Pittsburgh Zoo and then a solid drive to South Bend, Indiana. Bright and early wake up to spend the day at the Field Museum.
I’m beginning to remember how much I hate the cold and the dark. The lure of love and riches that brought me there….the webs of obligations that aid my stay…
Dark stuff here in the Iron Hills of Appalachia. Let’s get on the road.
Did you guys know that the Carnegie Museum of Natural History was closed on Tuesdays? There is nothing but bitter irony in the day saved bypassing Wilmington.
What then, what then?
Quick jaunt through the Pittsburgh Zoo and then a solid drive to South Bend, Indiana. Bright and early wake up to spend the day at the Field Museum.
I’m beginning to remember how much I hate the cold and the dark. The lure of love and riches that brought me there….the webs of obligations that aid my stay…
Dark stuff here in the Iron Hills of Appalachia. Let’s get on the road.