Wild Florida

A protective mother alligator watches over her young as they learn to hunt and fend for themselves. At just 8 inches long, they’re defenseless and could be an easy meal for a passing bird or hungry male alligator.

Florida is home to beaches, coral reefs, pine forests and the famous Everglades wetland, but a growing human population and abandoned exotic pets like pythons are threatening this wild paradise. Can Florida’s ecosystems continue to weather the storm?

Florida's longleaf pine forests need fire to survive and rejuvenate, but the much-needed wildfire threatens local human populations. To keep these forests alive and away from people, fire management specialists ignite controlled, man-made fires.

When wildfires spread through Florida's Longleaf Pine forest, the animals must find a way to cope. The gopher tortoise digs burrows that provide refuge to hundreds of species of animals.