
Bats are most well known for their echolocation, which allows them to locate prey even on the darkest night. They’ve also been known to nest on the undersides of palm fronds and in Spanish moss. You may also like: 10 Species of Turtles in Georgia (With Pictures)īecause caves are hard to come by within this state, bats will often find shelter in man-made structures, such as buildings and bridges. Most bats can eat their body weight in insects every night. All bats within Florida are insectivores, meaning they eat a lot of moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles, wasps, ants, mosquitoes, and many more.

Batsįlorida actually has at least 13 recognized native species of bats, although at least 20 different species have been found throughout the state. This is especially concerning because as an invasive species, their population numbers are only growing, which increases the number of interactions they have with humans. Nine-banded Armadillos are the only animal other than humans that are capable of hosting the bacteria that causes Leprosy, and the method of transmission is not well understood. If you see one of these animals at night, it’s best not to approach it. Armadillos have been slowly moving north into other U.S.

They’re an invasive species that drastically decreases sea turtle numbers by eating their eggs, and can also cause many structural instabilities while they dig their burrows around foundations. Nine-Banded ArmadilloĪrmadillos are actually the most significant nuisance pests in Florida, along with much of the Southeast. Because of this immunity, they have great value as carrion eaters and will eat things other animals wouldn’t be able to, such as over-ripe fruit, cockroaches, slugs, and any uneaten food that would otherwise attract rats. They actually pose a far lower health risk to humans and have a high level of immunity to other diseases as well. Opossums, as far as we know, are immune to rabies. This non-aggressive marsupial, the only one in North America, is incredibly beneficial to local ecosystems. They’re more populous in Southern Florida, but are highly adaptable and capable of surviving just about anywhere. Opossums are incredibly common throughout the United States, and Florida is no exception. They have a home range of approximately a mile that they prefer to roam in, and usually have multiple den sites within this range. The raccoon typically sleeps in the trees during the day and prefers to become active in the late afternoon and stay awake throughout the night. image: Rks117 | Wikimedia Commons | CC 3.0 Raccoons have adapted very well to urban settings and oftentimes prefer to rummage through garbage, as they possess remarkably dexterous hands, rather than forage for natural foods. There is only one raccoon species in Florida, and it sports the traditional black mask across its eyes which makes it easily identifiable. In this article we’ll take a quick look at 9 animals found in Florida that prefer the night over the day and give a few fun facts about each one.


There are many, many nocturnal animals in the state of Florida. Of all these species, the nocturnal animals in Florida are especially interesting as they all possess unique adaptations and abilities that suit them best for the darkness. With such a diverse environment, the species that live here are just as unique with many species, such as the Florida Panther, only found here. Florida is home to an insanely wide variety of animals, from the beaches to the swamps to the dense forests of the Panhandle.
