Wildlife Around Disney World’s Resorts. 7/4-7/25

     One of the things I like about visiting Disney World is staying at its resorts.  The ease of using the Disney-provided transportation from your resort to any of its parks is a major plus.  But I also like the habitats within and around the resorts.  I often head out early, while my family is still stirring or preparing for the day, and before the heat of the day takes hold, to walk around the resort in search of indigenous wildlife.  I’ll often do the same at night before going to bed.  I always hope to find something new, and our most recent trip did not disappoint.
Left, feral pig, or Eurasian wild pig.  Right, nine-banded armadillo.  © S. Weiss

We stayed at Coronado Springs, which has become our preferred destination.  Over the years I have built up quite a list of Disney wildlife.  In the last 20 or so years I have encountered such wildlife as alligators, feral pigs and armadillos.  I have 30 bird species for Coronado Springs alone.  In fact, my first ever mottled duck, wood duck, swallow-tailed kite and limpkin were all Disney resort birds.

Here are some highlights of from my Disney wildlife list.  Starting with birds besides those listed above my list includes more notably, red-shouldered hawk, common nighthawk, bald eagle, western cattle egret, wood stork, ruby-throated hummingbird, common gallinule, brown thrasher and great crested flycatcher. 
Left, limpkin.  Right, swallow-tailed kite.  © S. Weiss

Wild mammals are not as prevalent as other species, but aside from those mentioned earlier, some of my highlights include squirrel, cottontail rabbit and marsh rabbit.
Left, eastern cottontail.  Right, marsh rabbit.  © S. Weiss

Since you cannot through a stone and not at least bounce it into a body of water anywhere in Florida, reptiles and amphibians abound in the Sunshine State and the Disney resorts.  Brown anoles run amok in the resorts and parks.  Some more notable species are the above-mentioned alligator, Cuban tree frog, typical house gecko, toothed skink, Florida softshell turtle and Florida red-bellied cooter.  Oddly I have no snakes on my Disney list, even though Coronado Springs has signs posted all over that there are alligators and snakes in the area.
Left, brown anole.  Right, Florida softshell turtle.  © S. Weiss

Left, Florida red-bellied cooter.  Right, a species of toothed skink.  © S. Weiss

Left, typical house gecko.  Right, Cuban tree frog.  © S. Weiss

Of course, insects make up a large part of the Florida wilderness.  Some of my Disney insects are palamedes swallowtail, mournful sphinx moth, rosy maple moth, southern pink-striped oakworm moth, Amanda’s pennant, regal darner, fire ant and love bug.
Left, palamedes swallowtail.  Right, yellow garden spider.  © S. Weiss

Left, Chrysis conica, a species of cuckoo wasp.  Right, love bug.  © S. Weiss

Left, mournful sphynx moth.  Right, rosy maple moth.  © S. Weiss

Southern pink-striped oakworm moth.  © S. Weiss

Finally, there are some species with names that I feel are noteworthy unto themselves.  Some of these more interesting common names are the lichen-carrying green lacewing, double-banded plushback, dilemma orchid bee and still my favorite, the yellow fly of the dismal swamp.
Left, lichen-carrying green lacewing.  Right, double-banded plushback.  © S. Weiss

The yellow fly of the dismal swamp.  © S. Weiss

I’m sure there are still more Disney trips in my future to give me more opportunities to add to my wildlife list.  I can’t imagine though what could possibly replace yellow fly of the dismal swamp!


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