Incredible Wildlife at Myakka River State Park

You're right It's definitely ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL

[@wildflowersadventures]

💙☀️🙏🏼

[@suehancock5573]

Flooded Hot and gators!!🤯🤯. But look at the memories you are making! 😊 When these girls grow up and have families of their own they will have lots to talk about! Momma bear you are awesome! 🤙💪❤️🎈😊

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thank you 😊 I’m so blessed to be able to do life with them. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Enjoy your day

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thank you! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@lonniefrazier2671]

Thanks for taking us on your adventures awesome

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thanks for being here and sharing them with us! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@LeaC816]

I had to go coat myself in deet just to watch this one! 😂 I am glad y’all had a good time despite the flooding. There definitely still seemed to be plenty to see and do in that state park! It was pretty cool to see so many critters, but I know a bunch were probably just trying to find a place to be after the hurricane. That inflatable couch looked like a fun comfort item. Would y’all take it along again? I admire your decision to go do things without your husband. I appreciate your whole family’s sacrifice in order for him to serve and protect your community. It’s not an easy job for the officer or their family. Thank you for another great adventure and I hope those ant bites didn’t keep you up at night scratching your feet!!

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your kindness and support. It’s been an honor to be married to him. Yes, we’ll definitely take the inflatable couch again! It was so comfortable. $30 from Walmart and worth it. I can see putting it on the outside of the tent on the mat, too. We had a great time despite the flooding. Even though it prevented us from hiking or seeing the canopy walk, it was cool to see. I can imagine what it was like a few weeks ago when the roads were flooded and you couldn’t even drive through there! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@dbroom51]

Sorry the park was flooded and so hot. You ladies are troopers! Mama Bear, when you walked down that creepy trail alone, I was screaming “turn around, turn around now”! Lol!

[@wildflowersadventures]

lol, I get it! I was trying to be brave! It was sooo creepy!! Knowing there’s gators all around the trails makes it scary. I couldn’t believe the 2 that were so close to where I was standing when I was looking out at that dock! Freaked me out! 😂 Maybe we’ll visit again when it cools down some, and hopefully the flooding will have receded. Thanks for being here and sharing our adventures! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@On_Trail-Bumbles]

Enjoyed your camping adventure. I do a lot of car camping here in Virginia. My daughter loves the nighttime camp fires with marshmallows, and we cook kielbasa on roasting sticks over the fire. Very yummy. A tip I learned is that when I start my fire in the fire ring, I put some of the fast lighting coals I use in a grill on the bottom. Burns hot and fast, and I add the wood to the top of the coals. Stay safe and have fun.

[@wildflowersadventures]

That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing. And yes, nothing like roasting marshmallows on the camp fire, right?! We loved walking through and camping in VA! So beautiful. Looking forward to getting back there soon! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@judithpearson3968]

Good morning, Ladies of the Bear family. Thanks for taking us along with you on your summer camping trip. I've found since I've gotten older - the heat and I don't get along, but since I was lying in my bed in AC with a kittie curled up next to me, I was fine. Wow, it was quite flooded. I can do snakes but am terrified of gators. Mama Bear, when you were walking down that trail, I was amazed at the beauty of the tree canopy next to the intense blue of the sky with the floating white clouds. So pretty. Really appreciate your family's willingness to share their adventures with us. Ya'll take care. Stay safe. See you for the next adventure. Hi to Ellie and Alice. Any chance for an updated pic or video on them, especially Alice. Kittens change so much so quickly. Bye for now.

[@wildflowersadventures]

Hi there! Thanks for coming along with us! We’re so happy to share with you. The heat is definitely difficult, especially because it doesn’t even cool off into the evening or over night to provide any relief. I’ve noticed that I’ve become a bit more intolerable as I’ve aged as well. I love the tree canopy, too. It’s beautiful and peaceful! Thank you for asking about Alice and Ellie. I’ll post a few pics on the community page. 🐾💗 Love and light to you! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@walteragentplummer7031]

❤❤

[@wildflowersadventures]

💙☀️🙏🏼

[@kymountaingal3672]

I really enjoyed watching watching this video. We were there a couple of years ago just driving through the park. I absolutely love it there! At the bridge we saw all kind of gators even one that had tiny babies❤ All in all, looks like you all had fun even tho it was HOT. Memories made📸

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thanks so much! We’re so happy to share our adventures with you. Yes it was blistering hot! Hard to breathe hot! Whew! But we made the best of it and had a great time. Regretfully, we didn’t get to hike or go on the canopy walk due to the flooding. Maybe next time! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@baothiletran-ef8zn]

thank you!

[@wildflowersadventures]

You’re welcome. Thanks for being here! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@luisahirsch5654]

I love watching your family adventure trips! 😊 Sounds like it was a fun time in spite of the heat and flooding. Yes, probably fall/Florida winters would be much more comfortable. Lol Florida deer! In NJ, we have a lot of deer even in residential areas. Oh my goodness..the alligators! Ahh..that is scary! The two that you zoomed in on seemed like they were looking at you guys. The baby one crossing the street was cute though. I remember doing an Everglades boat tour and I remember it being so hot! I think it was in July. We did see alligators and I remember the boat guide telling us the history of how alligators came to be in Florida. She said that people would get them as pets not realizing how big they would grow and then would abandon them near the water so they multiplied. Looking forward to watching more of your adventures! God bless you and your family and have a great weekend! 😊

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thank you! We’re so glad you’re here and sharing our adventures. We’re having so much fun! And wow, never heard that alligator origin story. How crazy?! Pets?! 😬 Not surprised though. People do crazy things, right?! 😂 We’ll see you in the next video! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@paulst4523]

I think the everglades toud guide was talking about pythons and you thought he was talking about alligators

[@wildflowersadventures]

@paulst4523 I can’t remember what was said now. 😂

[@dannythecamper4186]

Good video, it's a lot of fun to go camping, and seeing a lot of deers, rabbits, birds, raccoons and birds, so let's keep on hiking 😊

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thanks Danny! Next adventure, I’ll be celebrating my birthday and hiking in one of my favorite places! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@dannythecamper4186]

@@wildflowersadventures that will be good, so let's keep on hiking

[@Jack-uy6tc]

So cool - we've been there- we have small home in Sarasota, and love taking visitors there. Thanks for the upload ! :)

[@wildflowersadventures]

Oh that’s cool! I love it when you guys have been to the places we have, too. It’s definitely a nice state park. Hopefully they are able to do more maintenance and upkeep. It seemed that a lot was a bit unkempt. Did you notice that the last time you were there? 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@Jack-uy6tc]

@@wildflowersadventures Yes we did- seems like the infrastructure needing some updating and better upkeep. I'm not sure with recent flooding if that has had an effect also. We have a home up North - but we spend the winters on the Suncoast

[@wildflowersadventures]

@Jack-uy6tc that’s wonderful you can winter here. I bet it’s nice to have mild winters. And yeah, hopefully they can upkeep the park a bit better. It’s a gem!

[@Jack-uy6tc]

@@wildflowersadventures Thank you ! I love having 2 homes- and both places feel like home. We'll be at Mykakka - I plan to engage a worker/ranger about the status of the parks upkeep.

[@wildflowersadventures]

@Jack-uy6tc blessed indeed! I’m sure you’ve worked very hard to have both beautiful homes. So happy for you. 😊 I’d love to hear what the ranger tells you about the upkeep and future plans.

[@galejones5870]

You are way braver than me!! I would not be even camping there. 😂

[@wildflowersadventures]

Haha! I thought about deciding against it after we saw all of those gators! 😂

[@russellely1021]

peace river canoe trip in the spring when the water is low would be an adventure for you. also you can find prehistoric shark teeth and other bones

[@wildflowersadventures]

Ooh! Sounds interesting! Where is that?

[@russellely1021]

@@wildflowersadventures a little south of Myaka river state park near arcadia , there is even a peace river campground on the river and even better there is an outfitter that supplies canoes and any other gear if needed. they also transport you upstream from them and you float back to them. i will look up the website for you

[@wildflowersadventures]

@russellely1021 ah, ok!! Thank you so much!! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@jujudavis65]

So happy seeing the adventures continue!🤗 What a beautiful State Park but I’m with you on the Gators! Do you mind me asking what crossbody you use? So cute! 😊

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thank you! We’re truly living this life as an adventure! I’m really looking forward to the next one! I’ll be hiking in the mountains of GA! Stay with us. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@RickINFJ]

The first few minutes of gator jokes were hilarious..navi-gator! 😂 Debbie displaced a lot of wildlife, right down to the fire ants! Bummer the trails were still flooded out. I think your fear of gators is completely rational, MB. They gots way too many teeth for my liking. Good advice over your morning coffee...be brave, don't wait, and get out there. 😊 You will find beauty if you seek it. I don't blame y'all for a thumbs down on summer camping, wayyy too hot down there. Take care ladies, Brian, Logan, and the 4 leggeds too. ✌️

[@wildflowersadventures]

Thanks friend! We crack ourselves up. Lots of laughter in our family always. 😂 My fear seems rational when I’m surrounded by gators, but then when I’m safe and away from them, I remember that they really don’t want much to do with me. 😂 I’m trying to combat my fears so I can do more of the Florida trail. We’ll see. I hope we can encourage people to get out there and seek the beauty nature has to offer. It brings so much peace in an otherwise kinda crazy world. Thanks for being here! I hope you have a great day! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@tresannrn8454]

Hey Wildflowers, another great video! The park was absolutely beautiful!Thank you as always for allowing us along. Do you think the flooding had blurred the boundaries for the alligators ? It just seemed like there were so many . I don’t think that your fear, being up a bit ,was in any way unsubstantiated. I would have felt the same, especially with my children with me…lol.. whether in the car or not. Great advice that you gave, in getting out with family on your own at times. I also agree that you have been an inspiration to just get out and enjoy nature. Thank you again sweet Mom… it’s always a blessing for me, seeing your family. Be safe out there. Much love and light.. right back at ya!!✌️🙂❤️

[@wildflowersadventures]

Hey there! It really is a beautiful park! I think we’ll visit again. I’m not sure if the flooding blurred the boundaries. It seems like there’s just so many gators and because it’s not a very busy place, I think they just roam everywhere. I hate that I’m so afraid of them, lol! I’m sure they want nothing to do with me, but it’s sooo creepy walking around so many. The whole place felt very wild! Thank you for your kind words. I hope we can continue to inspire people to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer us. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@tresannrn8454]

@@wildflowersadventures 🙏🏼💙

[@michaellocke2766]

"GATORS-GATORS" THE HIGH WATERS DROVE ALL THE GAME TO HIGH GROUND. AT THIS POINT "YALL" ARE PRO CAMPERS!!! THE SKY'S ARE SO NICE IN EVENING.LIGHTS AT TENT SITE I LIKE A LOT. BOAT RIDE COOL. IF YOU ADD UP ALL THE NIGHTS CAMPING WOULD BE A LOT? CAR RIDING IS NICE IN FLORIDA HEAT. RIGHT!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING. I ENJOY THE LANDSCAPE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN.😊

[@wildflowersadventures]

They were everywhere for sure! So much wildlife to see and enjoy. Not sure we’re pros, but we’re very comfortable camping and being outside. 😊 It’s been a lifestyle for years, so I’ve definitely lost count of the nights we’ve been camping. God is so good to give us so much to enjoy! Those tent lights are great! $20 on Amazon but I may have found some just as good for even cheaper, $10. Stay tuned, I’m going to test them out soon. Thanks for being here! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@dalevodden1359]

Hey wildflowers the Unknown Soldier here have you ever been to weeki wachee that would be an interesting place to visit the last time I was there was around about the age of the Little Bear 🐨 that would have been back in 1972 hey nice a pair of boots and briefcase still on the hoof boy he's a big boy too, alligators good eating too bad you can't hunt them in Florida they do in Louisiana well I'm rambling on here so you guys have a blessed day and God bless

[@wildflowersadventures]

Hey Unknown Soldier! Not yet! That place has been on our list for years. We really want to go soon. The mermaid show seems cool!! I think it is legal to hunt gators with a permit. I know a lot of people think they taste good. I was a little kid when I tried fried gators and I can’t remember if I liked it. God bless you friend! Thanks for being here. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@DJMoore-001]

This was awesome. All the Alligators are what I picture when I think of Florida. Do snakes get moved to higher ground like the gators? I would think they do but I have no idea. Sorry about my comment to the guy trolling you. I know giving them attention is what they want. Normally I don't.

[@wildflowersadventures]

Hey there! Thanks! It’s such a cool state park! Looking forward to visiting again when the waters have receded. I think the e snakes must move to higher ground as well. When I talked with the ranger about me wading through the water to get to the canopy bridge, she advised against it and said that there have been an increase in moccasins recently. I didn’t see the troll comment or your response to it. I’ll have to go back and look. I’m getting used to them, I guess, lol. We got a significant enough while on he AT, too. 😂 Thanks for sticking up for us though. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@wildflowersadventures]

Dang, saw the comment you’re talking about. Wow….he even resorted to name calling. 😕 Calling us losers! Shame. Thanks for sticking up for us. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@DJMoore-001]

@@wildflowersadventures I was wondering about the snakes. Those would be my biggest worry. You're welcome. People don't need to be nasty, It is easy not to watch if someone does something they don't like. Just keep doing you. I think a lot of us enjoy your videos.

[@DJMoore-001]

@@wildflowersadventures Yeah some peoples kids. I guess that one was raised with no manners. 😁

[@wildflowersadventures]

@DJMoore-001 yeah, when the ranger said there’s been an increase in moccasins, I decided against washing through that water quickly! 😂 And yeah, hurt people hurt people. I pray for the trolls. They give me lots more time talking to God. 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@stacymcmahon453]

Look at it this way, you can paddle the trails instead of walking them 😂 It's funny that the gators were everywhere during the day and then vanished at sunset. I wonder where they went. Maybe it was best that you didn't see them in the dark though. I sometimes go out on the trails with night vision and it can be eerie to see all the eyes in the forest, even when I know they belong to critters that are no threat.

[@wildflowersadventures]

Hahaha, yes, very true. Although I was too chicken to put a kayak in those dark waters. I was shocked not to see a single gator at night. That’s when they’re most active usually, so I was sure we’d see some. Very strange, but yes, maybe better we didn’t. It probably would’ve made for a tougher night to sleep! 😂 Darn, NVG’s would be a great idea!! Especially at this place. Next time, I’ll try to remember. Thanks for the idea! 💙☀️🙏🏼

[@stacymcmahon453]

@@wildflowersadventures Well, PVS tubes still cost as much as a nice used car. What I have is a 1st-gen night vision scope with a built-in digital camera and IR light that I picked up from Cabelas for around $150. The image is grainy and I don't think I would buy it again, but it's fun to see wildlife outdoors at night. The first time I took it out, our cat followed me. We got a little way into the woods and I turned on the scope and saw a fox just sitting in the middle of the trail, staring at us. Maybe it could see the IR light, I don't know. My cat definitely saw the fox though because he was sitting in between my feet ;)

[@wildflowersadventures]

@stacymcmahon453 thanks for the feedback! And yes, u bet your sweet cat saw it way before you did! They are amazing hunters and pretty formidable animals!

[@julietrinchard3699]

Just now getting to watch and am thinking y’all are too close to the gators! Yikes, so brave ! Smiled the whole way through. Such a beautiful family 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

[@julietrinchard3699]

Enjoyed the tropical beauty, though, also!

[@buddino1]

You can’t tell us he has no time for family. If he doesn’t it’s because he chooses not to. I work nights, I’m on call , have a rotating schedule and I work about 24 hours Overtime a pay period. I still MAKE time to do things with the family and take my vacations. I just don’t buy it that he has no time. He works full time just like the rest of us. So let’s just call it what it is. He puts his job forst about his family. Kids grow quick and before you know it they’re gone. What a big mistake he’s making

[@wildflowersadventures]

I’m going to do my best to be kind and respectful in my response to you. I’ll start off with saying that you’re absolutely right: I never said my husband doesn’t have time for his family. Curious how you heard that…. For the rest of your statement, please go back and re-listen to what I actually said. Then you may realize that you literally couldn’t be farther from the truth. I apologize if I came across in the completely incorrect way that you describe it above. Hopefully I’m able to clarify myself now. My husband has sacrificed so much for our family and he has never once put anything above us. He is involved with our children on a daily basis and is an amazing father and husband. To further explain, just to be crystal clear: I don’t know what you do for a living, but there are many careers, such as law enforcement, the fire service, military, and many others that require a schedule that isn’t as flexible as others. For example, if he gets a SWAT or K-9 call out, it’s HIS JOB to respond, regardless of what we may have planned. When we have a hurricane, he has to report to work whether it’s during the hurricane or not, often for 12+ hours at a time. And yes, he works forced overtime every single week and also works midnight shift. Many days he sleeps only a few hours so that he can wake up and be there for us…to have a meal with us, help the kids with homework, teach us Jiu Jitsu (he’s a BJJ black belt), guide us in our lifting workouts, go to the kids wrestling, BJJ matches, gymnastics, ballet, etc., help me with chores, mows the lawn, upkeep of our home and cars, you get the point hopefully. It’s a lifestyle I understand and my children and I proudly support him. Thank God there are people like him that will run towards danger to help others, even when it’s inconvenient for our family.

[@MsJanene7]

@@wildflowersadventures Please let this be the ONLY time that you respond to nonsense like this. You do not owe ANYONE a response to their PERCEIVED understanding of a situation. I truly enjoy your content and hope that jerks like this are not a discouragement to what you share. SHEEESH!!! What a guy! 🙄

[@wildflowersadventures]

@MsJanene7 Thank you for your support. 💙 I really don’t know how he misinterpreted me, but I’ll take responsibility for trying to be even more clear when I speak. My family means everything to me and my husband is a true hero, in every sense of the word! 🙏🏼💙 Thank you for sharing our adventures with us. It’s people like you who make this worth it!