Treasure Island, Florida is a beautiful beach teeming with a wide variety of wildlife. From marine life to reptiles, there are a host of creatures for nature lovers to enjoy. Whether you’re in the mood to just check out the community of beach animals or catch some of the local fish, Treasure Island is a great place to satisfy your cravings. Many of the species can be seen without leaving the shore, but those who venture out by boat encounter an even wider range of amazing creatures.
Fish – Since Treasure Island is a beach community, there are obviously a wide variety of species lurking in the waters. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the best places to spend a day, whether it’s snorkeling and watching all the underwater creatures or sitting down with your rod catching some of these delicious fish. Some of the fish species normally found in these waters include:
- Group
- snapper
- royal fish
- Cobia
- permit
- Flounder
- Vine shoot
- shad
- Barracuda
- black tip sharks
- spanish mackerel
Mammals – There is much more than fish roaming the Treasure Island area. There are a variety of mammals that also call this beautiful beach community home. Many people love to come to St. Pete to catch a glimpse of the beautiful dolphins and manatees. Dolphins are one of the most sought after attractions for many tourists who visit the area. The good part is that most tourists are in luck because seeing a dolphin on Treasure Island is extremely easy. Dolphins love to play and show off in the water and are usually even easy to spot from the beach. When you are out on a boat in the summer months, it is not unusual for a pod of dolphins to swim behind your boat. Manatees are another creature that people always love to include in their sightseeing tours. Although a bit more elusive than the dolphin, it is not uncommon to catch a glimpse of one of these “sea cows”.
Reptiles: There are a wide variety of reptiles that call this area of Florida home. There are more than 45 different species of snakes in the state of Florida, both venomous and non-venomous. Florida is also home to a few varieties of sea turtles, the most common of which is the loggerhead sea turtle. Florida beaches are home to 80% of the loggerhead sea turtles in the US, and up to 68,000 nests can be found in Florida each year!
With an abundance of wildlife throughout the state, Florida can be a wonderful place to observe nature. Treasure Island and the Gulf Coast have a unique group of animals and no one who loves nature should miss out on these beautiful creatures. Always remember not to disturb wildlife and allow them to live and reproduce naturally, so that many generations to come can enjoy their beauty.
