Florida Everglades (Page 2): I understand the the Florida Wildlife Department has crews tha capture about 1,000 pythons a year in the Everglades. And I saw a documentary on PBS that...

Mpeter45 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

I understand the the Florida Wildlife Department has crews tha capture about 1,000 pythons a year in the Everglades. And I saw a documentary on PBS that showed pythons being born there. Maybe contact the Wildlife people about tagging along?

rfbccb Loc: Central Mississippi

nicedream wrote:

Guy's, I was always going to hire a guide. Chill.

I'm a woman lover. I really like Woman, ok? Can't wait to see what you say to me.

Could someone explain this, I don't know how this fit in.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Got a dog traveling with you ( 4 legged type), leave in car.... Gators just love cute lil puppys.... Yummmmme....

himmeroo Loc: Brewer,Maine

I was down there last year.hitched a trailer on my bicycle,threw all my photography equipment in the trailer,and rode the Shark Valley trail at dusk.I had to literally ride around alligators on the trail.I got some great light with the setting sun and with my bike I got to take my time and stop as long as I wanted.

Shark Valley Spoonbill

Ariel of gators at Shark Valley tower

Add Loc: S.W.Florida

I agree with most all above,however do take canoe trips.Don't mess with alligators and they will leave you alone.There are some overnight canoe trips to the NPS chickies that are great.Airboat trips are fun,but not photo ops.No matter what,you will probably not see a Python.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Forgot to add, and surprised others haven't either.... DO NOT think that gators are slow and cumberson... Because they are just the opposit.. For a short distance they are very fast and can jump quite high... Don't play Tarzan....

Millismote Loc: Massachusetts

nicedream wrote:

I'm moving from St Louis to Tampa in a week! It's a return trip for me as I went to high school in the sunshine state. Have totally documented Stl and now have a new opportunity. One of the trips I'd like to take is into the Everglades to do wildlife photography.

I have been to the Everglades several times and feel that the airboat rides are a waste of time for photos. If you are on Rt 41 be sure to stop at "Shark Valley", look it up on the internet. It is an 18 mile slow speed ride in a cart with a guide. Lots of birds, gators etc with a great lecture of the eco system. http://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/ Try to get there early in the morning for best viewing.

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

A shorter trip from Tampa would be Gatorland in Orlando. I go there at least once a year to shoot nesting birds in the rookery. There are also plenty of gators as would be expected (see pictures below taken during mating season).

If you do go to the Evergades and you make it to the main entrance near Homestead you should stop at the first attraction once you are in the park whhich is Royal Palm. There's a nice boardwalk where many gators can be seen. The rest of the drive to the end of that roadr at Flamingo is not too exciting unless you venture into the jungle. I would agree that there are many great spots along US 41 to see gators.

Skutterbug Loc: Central Florida

May I suggest a trip to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park...about 1-1/2 hours from Tampa...It is an all Florida Wildlife Park except one Hippo...I bit of a story there. Very nice park, lots of photo ops...get an idea what you will encounter here in Florida before you set out in the wild. You may want to identify the poisonous snakes down here for safety. They have a small but nice reptile house.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i124/Skutterbug/All%20my%20photos%20%20INDEXED/Reptiles/5108-7-0820.jpg

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Skutterbug wrote:

May I suggest a trip to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park...about 1-1/2 hours from Tampa...It is an all Florida Wildlife Park except one Hippo...I bit of a story there. Very nice park, lots of photo ops...get an idea what you will encounter here in Florida before you set out in the wild. You may want to identify the poisonous snakes down here for safety. They have a small but nice reptile house.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/

That's great idea for something close. I live 20 minutes from there and was there just last Tuesday.

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=nicedream]

I live in Ft Lauderdale and bass fish once a week in the Everglades. I go to the "Sawgrass" site or Everglades Holliday Park both on RT 27. Also Lake Okechobee is full of gators. I have never seen a python. I have seen Coral snakes now and then. PS High mercury so I catch and release only.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I did a repley, but no answer back? I guess everyone here is use to jerks. or weird things. I think it was rude, he/she asked help help and comes back with that!! Go figure. To days world, and some put up with it! Not me.
Erv

rfbccb wrote:

nicedream wrote:

Guy's, I was always going to hire a guide. Chill.

I'm a woman lover. I really like Woman, ok? Can't wait to see what you say to me.

Could someone explain this, I don't know how this fit in.

Steve Byland Loc: New Jersey

I always stay in Florida City (west of Homestead) then go into the park and hit places like Anhinga Trail (probably the best place for photographing everything there. Nice boardwalk, no guide needed. Work the marked points of interest on the way down to Flamingo at the end of the road. Nicely developed, food available and you should see Crocs at the canal by the marina. Again, no guide needed.

You would enjoy a boat ride, but you'll get much better photos from the boardwalks on the route above as the wildlife is very used to people.

Typical set of photos from my first trip there:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_byland/sets/72157594556686989/

CLG_pisces Loc: NJ

nicedream wrote:

I'm moving from St Louis to Tampa in a week! It's... (show quote)

I was just there, we went into the Everglades about 45 min S. of Palm Beach Gardens; we also had a 2 hr private airboat ride. It was a perfect day, but I found that the sound of the airboat scared everything away. It was difficult to take pics. Re. Snakes, I asked are captain about that and he said the snake problem hadn't come that far north yet. I did post a few pics here a couple weeks ago, you can see what I'm talking about. Here's the site for the airboat: www:cypressairboats.com - hope this helps!

frederdane Loc: Orlando, FL

Steve Byland wrote:

I always stay in Florida City (west of Homestead) ... (show quote)

Great set of photos. Unusual to see a batch like this with no culls.