Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Park Manager's Message Fall is in the air, it's a great time to visit Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park with the family. There are lots of new things to see, including four new animal residents. Three Red wolves are enjoying their new habitat, and a Florida panther, named Don Juan, has settled into his new home at the wildlife park. All of these animals are endangered species. Homosassa Springs is one of a very few places where you can see endangered West Indian manatees, Whooping cranes, Red wolves, and a Florida panther up close. Start your visit with a leisurely pontoon boat ride down Pepper Creek to the wildlife park. Along the way you may see ospreys nesting, limpkins, herons or egrets wading in the creek, wood ducks swimming along ; not to mention turtles sunning on logs, fish and, maybe even an otter. Every day a different experience waits. And that's just the beginning. Our elevated boardwalk system provides a great view of the wildlife, including a cougar, bears, bobcats, otters, deer, alligators and a wide variety of wading birds, birds of prey, and songbirds. The park's resident manatees make the first-magnitude spring their home, along with fresh and salt water fish that are free to come and go. The Fish Bowl, a floating underwater observatory, offers an unequalled, below-the-surface view of manatees and fish in the crystal clear spring environment. Three manatee programs, two Wildlife Encounters, and an alligator program are presented throughout the day, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Florida's wildlife.