How EXTREME is Wildlife in a Florida Garden?!?

[@Coolguyallthetime2k]

At 13mins it was soooo funny to see that Anole climb up the tree behind you right as you were talking about it. He wanted his camera time. How timely haha! Great video!

[@WildFloridian]

I know!! 😂😄😂

[@inchristalone25]

The lizard heard you talking about him and climbed up the tree as you were talking! lol

[@WildFloridian]

😂 Yes he did!

[@onelove1950]

I love watching your videos. They make me so excited to be moving back to Florida. My boys are really going to enjoy seeing all the different kinds of birds in Florida. Definitely not looking forward to the dang fire ants and other vicious bugs. But excited to see all the really cool creatures again and for my children to get to see them too will be so fun.

[@lorisilva10784]

I hate fire ants!! Whenever I see their mounds, I cover them with potato flakes. Then they go bye-bye. We have pineapple growing in our front yard instead of grass and mr. oppossum loves to take a bite out of each of our pineapples because apparently he forgot where his last meal was located!! If I'm not mistaken, I think the squirrels like cherry tomatoes too!! FYI: Don't know if you noticed in your video when you were talking about what I call salamanders. At 13:00, your buddy shows up on the tree like yeah she's talkin' about me!!

[@dswindlerhagen]

I’m new to Florida. We saw a hummingbird the other day. I have a black snake living in my yard. Anoles, Skinks & teeny tiny frogs at night.😊Huge grasshoppers….But overall the wildlife & like you said, the birds & butterflies are amazing😊

[@WildFloridian]

OMG! I'm jealous! Hummingbirds! But what a wonderful welcome with some amazing wildlife 🥰

[@lesleycrane7474]

Seeing painted buntings are a delight!!! We have lots of hummingbirds who love our coral honeysuckle vine.

[@WildFloridian]

Amazing!!!!

[@thewildingslanding]

We live in rural South Florida... I don't want to scare anyone, but, my list of what I have found in my gardens or on my land. We are not fenced, live between wetlands and a canal... let your imagination take over...😉

[@WildFloridian]

Imagination has taken off!

[@thewildingslanding]

@@WildFloridian I can start with the 3 flocks of wild Osceola turkeys that ate EVERY sunflower seed (over 200 lbs) I planted in the early Spring for a wedding... about a 5' well know reptile wandered across the property once...an otter (not cute cuddling creatures btw)...Cotton mouths...oven... a few Pigmy Rattlesnakes...a Bobcat that enjoys walking through my oak/palm hammock... Rat snakes and Black Racers almost daily...scorpions... a few Black Panthers...

[@seedsandsanity5525]

I always had dogs…and thus the squirrels were not so “problematic” but now that they have passed at 13 & 15…the squirrels have a free for all!! My berries, my sunflowers…anything and everything. I have big oaks so lots of acorn burring ;) We have so many birds…so many hawks, bald eagle, osprey, peacocks and all the staples like blue jays, morning doves, ibis… Lizards like crazy! Also these incredibly beautiful black/blue shiny skinks!! I just love all the wildlife/critters around our yard right here in Tampa!

[@GreatLeity]

I'm in South Florida and the wildlife encounters depend on where you are: turkeys, chickens, storks. We also have Cuban Anoles and be on the lookout for Monk Parakeets! I've also seen a lone swan in a lake once.

[@WildFloridian]

Oh yeah turkeys... I've seen them. And yes the monk parakeets! Makes you feel like you are in the tropics! And a swan 🦢?!?

[@gretchenmctavish7823]

This was a delightful and highly informative video. As a recent transplant from the northeast, I'm appreciating learning about Florida gardening. Thanks.

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! Glad it was helpful!

[@gidget8717]

This is the best thing to do if you are going to garden here. Watch experienced Florida gardeners. I moved from Virginia in 2014. There first 2 yrs were a comedy. I went to see the county agent, who after he apologized for laughing, said I had managed to plant everything opposite to when I should have planted! 🤣

[@em286]

Those crab looking spiders are orb weavers. They are so cool! They spin the coolest webs and their mouths are too small to bite humans so that's really good news to me. I love looking at them 😊😎

[@WildFloridian]

Ah yes the spiny orb weaver. Thanks!

[@trentacosta7328]

I absolutely love your channel! I am down in Broward county (10B) and live on a fresh water canal. Sooo much wildlife. I have a great native plant butterfly garden inspired by ......YOU!! Keep up the great work, you are amazing.

[@WildFloridian]

This comment is the BEST! Totally made my day! 🥰

[@kimberlyd317]

Wood storks and white pelicans migrate through and I find them fascinating! 😱 the manatees!!! ❣️❣️❣️

[@WildFloridian]

RIGHT!!!!! I totally forgot to mention wood storks and rosetta spoonbills. I really brain froze. I love birds. And I'm with you... manateeeees!!!

[@TheTrapperGuy]

We have pocket gophers in Central Florida. Most of Pinellas doesn't have them because the sandy soil isn't ideal for them. You will find them in Pinellas by Booker Creek park. Other critter that dig will be raccoons and opossums. They will sometimes grub like armadillos. News media helps to hype up alligators as dangerous. I have been swimming in Florida lakes and rivers for 40 years...even at night...and I am still here (although I wouldn't recommend it). Although you don't have them where you are...feral hogs and deer can be a problem for your garden (both are in North Pinellas. You will need high fencing for deer if you plant what they eat...and hogs will need a cement wall or be trapped and removed. Hogs can destroy your entire property overnight.

[@Nenlothiel]

Thank you so much for answering my creepy crawlers question! I’m actually looking forward to our move now. 🙂

[@laurenrhoads9712]

I live in northeast Florida and I love Florida’s wildlife

[@WildFloridian]

Yay for Florida wildlife! I'm with you Lauren!

[@White.Christopher]

I'm all the way down in Hollywood Florida and a completely residential area and I definitely had two large banana spiders appear in my yard I think it's a good sign though

[@garyK.45ACP]

I live in central, east coast Florida. Most common wild life is small, harmless lizards, small tree frogs and toads, and various non-venomous snakes. Most common are the black racers. They are harmless and beneficial. In 7 years of gardening in a suburban area, I have seen 3 coral snakes, 1 pygmy rattlesnake, and 1 copperhead. So...wear good gloves when weeding and doing things like putting out mulch. Assume there are alligators in all fresh water, though if you are not near a lake or river you usually won't see any gators. If you live near forested areas, you will see black bears and deer, possibly wild hogs. You aren't going to see those in the usual suburban neighborhood, but in more rural areas, just outside the developments. Armadillos, moles and gophers dig tunnels in the lawn. We have some issues with the birds called "Ibis". Also known as "Florida chickens". They dig around looking for grubs and worms. They scatter mulch all over the sidewalk. They don't hurt anything, they just make a mess. Anoles? Just get used to them. They are everywhere. They are perhaps the most harmless animal in the world. They occasionally do get in the house. We try to catch them and put them back outside. They will die in the house...nothing to eat or drink. Keep a small butterfly net handy to make it easy. They're FAST.

[@WildFloridian]

Love it! Thank you for sharing!

[@trentacosta7328]

I have lived in south Florida my whole life and just last month there was an 8' gator sunning himself in my neighbors backyard. Have never seen one up until then and I live on the water just east of the Everglades and take my boat out bass fishing all of the time.

[@garyK.45ACP]

@@trentacosta7328 I went fishing yesterday on Lake Jessup and saw two alligators, though it was only 66 degrees when I went out. In warmer weather I see dozens and dozens on every fishing trip. It is not uncommon to see half a dozen around the boat launching ramp. The locals claim this lake has the "highest concentration" of gators in the USA. I can't verify that, but there are a LOT of gators in that lake. I also fish in the St. John's river which has lots of gators and some of the central Florida lakes. One morning last summer, launching in Lake Apopka, there were dozens of gators floating on the surface within sight of the launch ramp.

[@trentacosta7328]

@@garyK.45ACP Yeah, I know that area has alot of gators. I live on a fresh water canal that ties into the Everglades and I know they are out there but sitings are rare in my area in Broward County. I hope that you caught some lunkers!

[@saunyar]

I am a 7th generation Floridian and Farmer/Rancher in the central FL area(I am more of a food forester of the permaculture style) I enjoyed your list-and would add tomato hornworms-they can be super small one day and hide on your tomatoes then eat the whole thing in no time. They get HUGE. They also blend in with the tomato greenery so ya gotta look close! (as I am sure you know!) Chickens love them, though! Also...yeah, gators...if there is a puddle of water-odds are there is a gator in it! Great video!

[@WildFloridian]

You are a rare bird! 7th generation! 😳 Thank you!

[@teresaholland4790]

And snakes 🐍

[@nancyfahey7518]

It was the first real thunderstorm that got me. I think there was a small twister involved. Scared the bejesus out of me. Opossum Raccoon Armadillo Rattlers 2 poisonous snakes I get every few years during droughts Bobcat walking thru, taking a chicken, several times a year.

[@yogininamaste]

I hear you, I run inside to hide everytime I hear loud thunderstorms. The earth shakes around me . So freaky. I almost stepped on Eastern diamondback rattlesnake on my hiking trips in winter months. There is definitely different wildlife but I love all these lizards, small spiders lol and frogs 🐸 hanging inside our lanai. They eat the bad bugs. We call them assassin bug team 😂😄👍🦗🕷🕸🦟

[@WildFloridian]

OMG! What a way to start! A 🌪 . It makes sense... we are the number one state for tornados per square mile. Yay for bobcats... sorry about the chickens 🐓

[@gidget8717]

Our first July, it rained everyday. And the first storm, I looked out the front door and the water was ankle deep! I was freaking out, I thought I would be water in the yard for at least 2 days! 20 minutes after the rain stopped, all the water was gone. 🤣 I was like...DANGGGGG!

[@nancytharp8213]

In East Orlando positive deer, hummingbirds , 🦋. Dragonflies. Negative squirrels, fire ants 🐜 ( Found concentrated orange 🍊 oil kills ants ). Yes lizards 🦎 eat roaches so always welcome to stay in my yard. Thanks for sharing. 😎 🏝🏖

[@pray_plant_paint]

I love Florida gardening says the gal from WI, UPstate NY, ME ... I garden in flip flops here! I've just spent my first August gardening here although I've lived here about 7 years. We used to own an off grid cabin on a lake near Redwood NY and would spend part of summer there - THERE be spiders: Wolf, garden, dock/fishing spiders. The insect population there far exceeds what I've experienced here in Northern FL. Here, I've encountered some large wolf spiders, crevice spiders, the "crab-like" orb weavers and the pretty iridescent orchard spiders. We all live happily together. My favorite are all the lizards and anoles. Oh, and I have a trio of black racer snakes. Missing this year were skinks. What's digging in my "sandbox"? Box turtles - so cute! I just spied my first Eastern Lubber Grasshopper and that one made the kill list after researching it a bit. I battle raccoons quite often. I have a fever today so enjoying many of your videos - thank you!

[@PegsGarden]

I have been living in Pasco county for almost 8 years and we are surrounded by lakes here, I think I saw an alligator maybe twice, they usually don't come around if there are a lot of people in my experience, the most wildlife I would see are raccoons in my backyard, ducks, cranes, crows and squirrels, the squirrels are the worst pest in my garden and the mosquitoes in the summer, in the cooler months which are November to March, not to bad with the mosquitos. I grow a ton of lemongrass around my property that really helps. Fire ants are the worst, there stings hurts so bad, usually they come out when we have had a lot of rain. By the way that is when my garden is the best from November to March, thanks for sharing another great video!

[@WildFloridian]

Love it!

[@sunshinejenny777]

Yes, I have started planting lemongrass as well. There also is a plant they call the "mosquito" plant that keeps them away. My neighbor has some. I do not know the scientific name.

[@pepperpearl8944]

When you were talking about anoles there was a lizard on the papaya tree behind you doing push ups. Iguanas have increased in population size down here in South Florida and they will eat ALL your plants!

[@WildFloridian]

LOL!!! I saw that once I was editing... in my head, I though, "this lizard is proving my point, they are everywhere, all the time." It is crazy about the iguanas. I'm on some facebook gardening groups and I'm shocked to see how bad it has gotten since I moved away.

[@RevAcres01]

I winter in Florida on Pine Island just love the wildlife the litt!e lizards are the best. Fun video thanks!

[@WildFloridian]

🦎 🥰 🦎

[@thewildingslanding]

We called them "Crab spiders". They are so beautiful! Wolf spiders get big, and are very common, but, harmless.

[@onelove1950]

Wolf spiders are not harmless to me. They freak me out so bad because they don't run away like most spiders they run towards you. I was never really afraid of spiders until I had a wolf spider come at me.

[@legauxmc]

Love your garden… I wish I can develop a tenth of the experience that many of you have. My garden is small, but the rain keeps helping me fail.

[@WildFloridian]

You’ll get there! Bit by bit 😄

[@keilabeyer2711]

I live in Central Florida and my property backs up to a conservation area and a retention pond. Every single year I have seen many non-venomous snakes as well as venomous snakes on my property, which is in the suburbs. The worst ones for me are the Cotton mouth snakes of which I have had four! Oh, and Just last week I was spreading mulch in the back yard and almost stepped on a pigmy rattle snake. I always wear boots!

[@keepitsunny3073]

We live in central Florida and we for sure have atleast one pocket gopher. Something kept eating my root vegetables and living holes and tunnels and then one day I finally spotted him, and, boy, are they fast! He shoots like lightning across the yard when I come up too quick and scare him

[@thomasharrison6978]

Hi, you do an awesome job. i live in one of those semi-suburban areas across from the Myakka River, We border on a lot of vacant lots so the wildlife is a little more diverse. Most are more dangerous to pets we have a significant coyote population. beautiful to hear the packs howling together at night, but you definitely want to be armed when letting your dog out at night in the yard. another beautiful animal that you will see are bobcats. what a lot of folks don't know is that Florida bobcats can grow to mountain lion size - no exaggeration. Most panther sightings are really bobcats - you have to see the tail in order to tell for sure. while some may not fear humans I've never heard of them attacking people. If you move here with a semi-outdoor cat or dog it would wise to see if they like being mostly indoor pets. only very very smart outside cats make it. the others go missing. Big dogs are usually pretty safe. smaller breeds not so much, they wind up on posters like the cats. We do have skinny tarantula sized spiders called fox or wolf spiders - I forget which name is correct. it's easy to get freaked out by a spider as large as your extended hand booking across your livingroom wall. supposedly they can bite you but would really just rather live to see another day. their eyes are big enough so you can guess their next move and splat. they are not cute. i was stung once by a scorpion - the only time i wasn't religiously wearing gloves. it is extremely painful. wear gloves and watch hand placement. diamondbacks are on the upswing here. the babys are the more dangerous no warning rattle or venom control. I almost stepped on one with bare feet - I use fire ant poison regularly so I can go barefoot. gators are across the street and don't really bother anyone. They are beautiful. I kayak down the same water to get to the gulf all the time and have never been bothered by gators however a mean spirited manatee followed me and did a body-tail slap that almost sent me flying and we have big sharks a few miles offshore. they are curious and I got caught on a top fin twice that spun my kayak around. no-one ever tried to eat me. so that fear is exaggerated as is the alligator attack. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[@thomasharrison6978]

i forgot the wild hogs. If they rut in your yard forget the little armadillo holes. They are super destructive to lawns and also very tasty, so there is an upside as well.

[@WildFloridian]

LOL! I have a friend form work who hunts wild hogs with his uncle.

[@ashleylitebrite6971]

Moles also dig holes. I have holes from moles.

[@joyceprice5998]

From Florida, have been bitten several times from Brown Recluse in the garden. Still playing in the garden!

[@WildFloridian]

Oh no Joyce! I'm happy you are still gardening 👩‍🌾

[@maga4u]

I was first canoe out when child got ate in JD State Park, 30 years ago. Never seen such blank faces, people were in shock. I always say if there's a puddle of water, in Florida, could be a gator.

[@sunshinejenny777]

Mostly the mosquitos come out as soon as the sun sets -- especially, the 1st hour afterwards. AVOID that time of day. They like moist, wet areas so try to keep your yard dry or well draining (which is EASY because it is ALL SAND anyway! Lol)

[@RCPrepping]

In my central Florida, zone 9b garden, I have lizards, hummingbirds, opossum, raccoon, wild birds, snakes, ladybugs, butterflies, and more I'm sue I have missed. My favorites to watch are the lizards.

[@gidget8717]

SCORPIONS! 🦂 I've been stung twice by those boogers. 2 times in 7 years isn't too bad.

[@sunshinejenny777]

Massive spiders here but they also do not bother you usually. The spiders are good to eat all of the bugs. An armadillo just walked right behind me about 3' away one evening as I was watering. I just let him go, no reaction. Thought it was cool he felt that comfortable. Lol.

[@ElleLasher]

South Florida here. Iguanas, Cuban Knight Anoles, Peacocks, Tree Rats, Bufo Toads, Green Parrots, Lubbers, Blue Maccaws (from the zoo during hurricane Andrew), ibis, hummingbirds, manatees and of course gators.

[@trentacosta7328]

yes! the zoo birds are everywhere!

[@samelita007]

I'm nodding my head as we went out to the garden this morning and I was a good breakfast for the mosquitoes. I do have a ton of moles in my yard especially during the cool season. For iguanas, STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Their tails can give some ugly cuts when they whip them; I saw this first hand when I lived in Panama. They also love eating orchids, so I am not a fan of them.

[@WildFloridian]

What?!?! You have moles?!? How the? I need to see these. I guess we need to do a lunch date... since you went out with Shirlene 😜 That is crazy about iguanas! Well if they eat your orchids... I would totally get that.

[@rockyr723]

Yep labelle FL here ! And moles everywhere . Rabbits and chickens seem to be the worst that come to the garden. Aside from that it's the year round bugs that are the pain in the rear !

[@trentacosta7328]

We have Iguanas everywhere around our property and they always run when we get near. They aren't aggressive at all.

[@samelita007]

@@trentacosta7328 that's very lucky!

[@user-hz7kv6js6l]

In my garden the most action has been 1 snake, 1 grasshopper, mosquitoes and noseeums. I'm in a suburban area zone 9b.

[@ronhart4166]

Funny story ! My wife's kin are from Michigan. And some of her Aunts came down to visit for their first time. And the scariest thing they saw. Was a LIZARD 🦎 !!! THEY WERE PETRIFIED !!! 😜

[@arizonajo2791]

Black snakes are very good. We do have rattlers hanging out in the rural areas that are being developed. Watch out for hawks with your small domestics.

[@relacionsustentable2319]

Largo area resident here. squirrels, racoons, Armadillos, opossum and bunnies are garden thieves, black racer snakes scare the crap of me and they can get big.

[@WildFloridian]

Darn garden thieves!

[@citruscountygardener6921]

I just came across your account and am really enjoying the information you are putting out. As for bugs, my family and I moved here from Las vegas about 2.5 years ago and we heard all the stories about the bugs and really, the stories were NOT true. Most of the time the bugs leave yu alone. They fly by (really loudly:) but just keep on going. I have seen some big ones here as compared to Vegas but very seldome have I had to yell a curse word as I was running lol. As for the ants, while I do see them, they don't seem to be that to common in my garden. Oh, I promise you, Fire Ants do die when they bite me. As for the spiders, there are Banana spiders that are pretty big but they seem pretty peaceful and mind their own business. By the way, I live in Central Florida. As for animals, we had snakes in Vegas (of course) and we have Rat Snakes here in fact my Daughter and I just caught one so we got her a tank. There is "Michael" the tortus and a beautiful fox and deer that we saw the other day as well. Actually they live in Vegas as well so nothing unique there. Thanks for the video.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you for sharing!

[@yogininamaste]

Great video. Im in southwest FL and II have great success using diy bug repellent spray. 1 part water and 1 part witch hazel, citronella essential oil, peppermint oil. Works for No See Ums. Also, I use 1 part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar and apply it directly on skin. Works same. I also use diy Neem oil spray with peppermint and rosemary, soap for insects for my vegetable garden. Others pets like rabbits, deers, squirrels...I use liquid spray repellent copy cat diy. Made from raw eggs + garlic and cayenne pepper. It doesn't harm plants or vegetables and it keep them off your yard. Hope that helps. Happy fall everyone.

[@WildFloridian]

I Love it! This helps so much

[@evelyn247]

Thank you for those DIY, those no see ums are the most intense wild in everybody’s back yard!! 😂

[@yogininamaste]

@@evelyn247 You're welcome. We had our Lanai build and I pick the regular screen thinking no mosquitos can't get it and now I have no see ums 😁😅😆 but it keeps them away with the stinky Apple cider vinegar and some citronella spray. 😃👍👏

[@kerryharvey6365]

Not unique to Florida but yellow jackets are another one to look out for. They don't die when they sting and there can be up to 5000 in a single nest (usually in the ground somewhere). Not super common in suburban areas but it does happen. Great roundup. :) There's lots of regional wildlife too. When I lived on the Space Coast they had these cool Cuban lizards that I've only ever seen there.

[@WildFloridian]

Good call on yellow jackets! Yes! I agree... Our wildlife is amazing!

[@janetpowell9811]

and lizard was on the back of the your papaya tree in your video.

[@WildFloridian]

I know! Right! Just doing its thing and I didn't even notice. 😂

[@dajf95]

like one week a year in miami/fort lauderdale we get in the 60’s and the iguanas literally freeze up and fall out of the trees. it’s so scary 😭. but the falling palm leaves only sound terrifying and there’s a lot of chickens 💀

[@WildFloridian]

LOL!!!! 😂 This is true Florida shenanigans!

[@trentacosta7328]

has to get way colder than the 60s though.

[@rrman2party]

Love your videos! Keep em coming.

[@WildFloridian]

Thanks 🥰

[@howiegrapek]

Hey there. i know you don't have iguanas up there, and they don't attack or bite people, but the do eat EVERYTHING down here (I'm near west palm beach). Just have to add that. On a different note, I actually got bitten by a recluse, but it was my own fault. I was hatcheting the vines off my trees along the fence line and the spider dropped off the tree onto me. I could have avoided it by wearing long sleeves/pants, but no. Live and learn... that sucked, but it was once in 10 years. Smiles

[@WildFloridian]

It blows my mind how much they have spread. I'm glad they haven't made it to the west coast. I also heard they are endangered on their native islands. Need to back them up when they fall out of the trees and send them back. Oh no! You got bit! That sucks. It can be hard to wear full coverage with the heat and humidity. I totally understand. Sometimes I'm good... but other times... I'm glad you are doing good and have survived to garden another day 😄

[@HCHermitHouse]

I'm an 8 yr transplant from Ohio and the mosquitoes here are definitely bigger, give me more of an inflammatory response, and do not care if I have deet on or if I have 6 weeks of leg hair or not. They're monsters. Lol. When I went to PA last year I got bit by northern mosquitoes and barely had a reaction. Florida ones leave welts on me the size of half dollars or bigger and itch like crazy.

[@WildFloridian]

Really? That is so interesting to hear. LOL on 6 weeks of hair. Northern mosquitos don't leave giant welts? Huh... Good to know. I remember going to Colorado and just being swarmed by mosquitos and them chasing Ben and I up the mountain. They would bite us through our clothes. But I'm totally fascinated by your experience. 😊

[@GreatLeity]

So I learned you can build up immunity to mosquitoes bites in your location. I know this because I went to tennessee a few months ago and one bite left me a huge welt, opposite what Florida mosquitoes leave me with.

[@alexfinucane8796]

I live in Crescent Lake St. Pete, in my garden foes are... mosquitoes, noseeums, fire ants (I have not seen them often though), yellow jackets, black widows (seldom) io moth caterpillars, rats...omg the rats -_-. Friends are cardinals, blue Jays, painted bunting, various warblers, monk and black faced conure, malachite butterflies, anoles, giant swallow tails, monarchs, gulf fritillary, and orchid bees

[@user-he3ek3cs4z]

Nematode's ? Yes I was surprised at the wonderful wild life here. Owls too!

[@WildFloridian]

Oh yeah! Owls. Are nematodes not a thing in the north?

[@MaribelLopez425]

She suppressed the giant banana spider memory

[@dswindlerhagen]

I have a yellow garden spider or zigzag spider…it’s pretty BIG! Thank goodness he’s not near my garden.

[@WildFloridian]

Whoa! I have never seen those before. 😳

[@PerkiiD]

Cracking up at the manatee part. You reminded me of my sister and I when you got excited for the gentle giants. Miami native here. Love all of our “unusual” wildlife. Toootally unrelated, but where do you get your mulch or wood chips from? I can’t find a reputable place in my area. Thank you for all of your videos! You are very much an inspiration for my gardening. ❤️🥰

[@sunshinejenny777]

I asked the local tree trimmers (for the electric company) when they were in my area and they brought a load over.

[@abuelitagrandma9486]

I love your information I’m planning a move to Port St. Lucie from up north in Long Island any information for South Florida when it comes to gardening and guests in your garden that scared me to death thank you for your videos worried

[@smartinez1376]

Wolf spiders. Oh yeah, and scorpions (non deadly and non confrontational, but painful sting). In the six plus years we’ve been leaving in our property in Spring Hill we’ve seen only one scorpion. A tiny little thing.

[@WildFloridian]

🕷 🦂 Yikes!

[@gidget8717]

Been stung twice in the seven years we been down here. Its like a wasp sting. You treat it with any bee sting meds, no problem. I live in Citrus county.

[@smartinez1376]

@@gidget8717 Ouch!

[@gidget8717]

@@smartinez1376 indeed!

[@BigDG80]

Wolf spiders are big enough to get my attention.

[@WildFloridian]

Ahhh the wold spiders!

[@kittyrivera6763]

Lubbers lay eggs in the soil in the fall. Tiny jet black babies emerge from the dirt in the spring. Like a hundred at a time! They go after long flat leaves. Think lilies or bromeliads. A peat in my yard is not a bug. There SANDSPURS!!!

[@WildFloridian]

Boo lubbers. That makes sense. Every time I've seen them around... they have been on lilles and bromeliads... which I don't have in my yard. AHHHH sandspurs!

[@blackbearhomestead]

Fire 🔥 Ants 🐜 have taken over my backyard in my garden. They farm the aphids and then attack us. I picked up a sticky jar to apply the product to the base of my fruit trees. I want to garden organically and do not want to use bait poison ☠️. What do you do? We live in North West Seminole. We have DAILY black bears 🐻, deer 🦌, coyotes, turtles 🐢, bunnies 🐰, Fox 🦊. Irish ☘️ Spring helps keep the deer 🦌 from devouring my garden, as well as human hair.

[@WildFloridian]

You have an amazing garden!!!! The wildlife you are getting! Boiling water dumped on them is the most organic thing for fire ants. But I haven't had any in this garden... so I haven't tested this.

[@prudence4493]

there's iguana's in st. lucie county, fl

[@WildFloridian]

NO WAY?!?! That far north! That is crazy. I can't believe they have spread that much.

[@milkweed7678]

Our main stupid animals here in IN are stinky skunks, raccoons, groundhogs, opossums, and deer. They all like to run out in the road and get hit. Mosquitoes, bees, lighting bugs, chiggers, and tons of beatles that will eat anything tender when it's hot and humid. Raccoons actually will eat your sweet corn the night before you start to pick it if you aren't ready for them.

[@mwnemo]

I have hairy legs and I get killed by no-see-ums. I think you just get used to the bites to be honest 😂

[@yogininamaste]

🤣

[@WildFloridian]

BWAHAHAHAHAH 😂🤪😂

[@doncharle7102]

Hi, love your channel.. May I ask a question? Ants and veggies. Black, red, etc.. Help. Signed , Desperate amateur in north fl..

[@hascjl]

You forgot the horrible wolf spiders that carry their babies on their back. Don’t hurt anything but they are so disgusting! I’m in Gainesville and DO have a lot of banana spiders, they are great for the garden and are our friends:) we do have deer problems here, but I think that’s everywhere!

[@wingnox]

Grew up in south Florida and live on the central east coast now. I swam in the murky swamps that look like tea. My husband thinks its crazy (non native). Horse flies will bite you. We have a pair of banana spiders on our property. I've seen one in urban orlando. We also have moles too up here that move my soil. I've only seen one dead unfortunately. We have a massive tortoise habitat by our home. They cross the road all the time. I dont like the invasive noles. They are a big issue to the native species. Iguanas can't make their way up here because the frost we get. We had some in west palm out by the glade growing up. We had a colony of 9 trash pandas at our old house that backed up on some woods. Don't forget the Florida Key Deer!! I love our state we have such a diverse natural native species along with our migratory species too. We have so many diverse species on the property i could list all day. We get hummingbirds on our fire bush.

[@WildFloridian]

Wait! What?!?! Back the truck up. You swam in the murky swamps... your husband is correct 🤪 LOL trash pandas! I love our key deer... never seen them in my garden... but I love them! Also I'm jealous Celestial of your hummingbirds! Some day they will find all the firebush that my neighbor and I have.... some day.

[@wingnox]

@@WildFloridian you'll get them!!! I haven't seen the deer down in the keys for a while but its so expensive now a day!!

[@legauxmc]

My area is wasp, they seem to be everywhere. I have been bit by a spider, don’t know which kind but it cause me an infection that required cleaning of the skin leaving a nice scar. Snakes I fear the most. No time to determine if good or bad snakes, cause I’m running inside the house.

[@WildFloridian]

Oh no 🙈 that sounds bad for a spider bite. LOL on the snakes. I only get the black racers in my yard.

[@sandysmith3761]

do you get parrots? an anole was hanging out on the papaya behind you during the video. what about deer and coyotes?

[@marticorpany5148]

Giant snakes in the everglades, river otters in central Florida (I saw one in Eustis). Monkeys that escaped from one of the parks. Big poisonous frogs. That's all I can think of that you didn't cover that Florida is famous for or that I spotted since I've moved down. Question: doesn't the fire bush attract hummingbirds?

[@WildFloridian]

Thanks Marti! I have never seen a wild otter... would love to some day. Firebush does attract hummingbirds if they are in the area. We have a lot of firebush between my neighbor and I... and that is where I thought I saw one during early morning... but it was backlit and I only saw it for a second. So I wasn't sure it was a hummingbird or a hummingbird moth.

[@hopefullycre8eddesigns665]

I am a native south FL almost 30 years, and this is my first time citing an iguana just when I am starting a garden. Does anyone have any things that I should look out for and how to keep them away? Would appriciate it!

[@smccoy42]

Wolf spiders….they jump.

[@WildFloridian]

I hear this... I have never seen them. 🕷 And I'm glad... I don't want them jumping at me. 😳

[@legauxmc]

I’m from panhandle of Florida

[@WildFloridian]

Howdy neighbor!

[@blackbearhomestead]

I love ❤️ banana 🍌 🕷!

[@WildFloridian]

I'm glad someone loves them! 🕷 😂

[@dylanrx897]

Wasps! Wasps are the absolute worst. No part of my yard belongs to me in the daytime as far as the wasps are concerned... 🤣 Also, they attack indiscriminately, not like bees who leave you alone if you don't bother them.. I can respect just about any animal but wasps are a solid 0/10.

[@WildFloridian]

So true! I have so many different types of wasps. Also have been stung by a wasp when I was pulling weeds... I understand your rating.

[@trentacosta7328]

yeah screw wasps!!!

[@Dr.SarahJ]

Really thought you were going to tell me how to stop iguanas from eating my crops 😢

[@teresaholland4790]

Armadillo, Possums, chicken hawks pigmy rattlesnake, Raccoons very bad for the chicken coop, hornworms, aphids, anoles lizard, Carpenter ant ball lands were dance kitchen, and Wood Peckers, pileated, robins Orioles, Redwing, blackbirds, garden, snakes, bees of all kinds wasp of all kind, butterflies yay hummingbirds, yay and five lazy fat cats😂❤

[@Carol-pz3fs]

I can’t believe you didn’t mention snakes.

[@WildFloridian]

LOL! 😂 I did... but I edited it out for time. The video would have been super long.

[@MaribelLopez425]

Did you just suppressed your snakes memories? That is the one thing that is currently freaking me out about living in FL. I’m getting used to the black racers.. but still nope!

[@AP-wz6zf]

Panhandle here.... black bears and yellow flies.

[@marilynearl6887]

I have a bunch of black ants that love my banana tree. Are they harmful to the tree?

[@WildFloridian]

No. Your banana should be fine.

[@marilynearl6887]

@@WildFloridian thank you

[@RaverQuarterHorses]

The squirrels destroyed my first attempt at a vegetable garden 🤬 they ate the sprouts and kept digging holes.

[@WildFloridian]

Darn squirrels!

[@bettyguest2749]

So is there anything we can do about the "palmetto bugs"? Starting my garden. Uh, please. Anyone

[@jacquisouza5008]

Palmetto bugs usually are in mulch for cover not really in your plants. At least that is my experience with them. I find them more in the house then the garden.

[@juliam4303]

I'm expecting you to say yellowheads. If not YELLOWHEADS, or other names I've heard..but it's like huge horseflies that are the WORST bites ever! Those and fireant bites are the worst. They may only be in the panhandle in August i don't know... we have mole/vole hills everywhere.. and a giant possum. Over in Jacksonville area there are like mole crickets?? We don't have them here. I may have that name wrong

[@daphnehorton7662]

We get Rats sometimes …. What do you guys do about them ?

[@jacquisouza5008]

I have tree rats also. I find the owls really keep the numbers down. And I have a bunch of feral cats I feed and they do a great job as well. Plus they keep the snakes away.

[@Joy222U]

Chiggers!!! When I mow the lawn I get attacked. My solution: Cover my lower-self with clothing that is dusted with sulpher powder. Use Off on my trunk and arms. After mowing, strip in the laundry room down to birthday suit. Throw everything (including the hat and gloves) in the washer. Take a hot shower and scrub scrub scrub with a loofah-sided wash cloth. Then take the wash cloth and towel to the laundry room. Start the washer on HOT.

[@precisiont5188]

Would getting rid of gators mess up the ecosystems besides allowing more pray? Are they really that important?

[@trentacosta7328]

Yes. Gators have been here long before any of us. They are the true locals, lol.

[@mistycarter9809]

I hate the fire ants!

[@jacquisouza5008]

Fire ants. Your gonna get bit.

[@friendsmakingmusic1751]

Toilet snakes!

[@WildFloridian]

What?!?!?

[@friendsmakingmusic1751]

@@WildFloridian I grew up in Miami during the 70s. Toilet snakes were a REAL problem! To the point that Dave Barry even did a column about it!

[@milkweed7678]

@@friendsmakingmusic1751 Outside toilets or indoor toilets?

[@jacquisouza5008]

LMAO, they are still a problem if you have a septic tank. I always look before I sit. Always turn the light on at night

[@maga4u]

skunkapeman? rotflmao!!!

[@lisaburnette6850]

I don’t want to be negative Nancy but please “get to the chase” a little quicker.. you repeat yourself quite a bit.

[@WildFloridian]

10-4 😉

[@trentacosta7328]

you are probably the only one that thinks that.

[@legauxmc]

Ugly looking frogs that climb everywhere, I don’t like them either

[@yogininamaste]

😁😆I love 🐸 they are so cute and eat bad bugs.

[@WildFloridian]

Not the frogs 🐸