Brevard County Wildlife
Manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, birds, and gators — discover the incredible wildlife of the Space Coast.
🦭 Current Season: Manatee Watching!
February is peak manatee season on the Space Coast. As water temperatures stay cool, Florida manatees gather in warm-water refuges throughout Brevard County. Head to Manatee Sanctuary Park or Haulover Canal for your best chance to see these gentle giants up close.
Wildlife Guides
Manatee Viewing Guide
Winter is prime manatee season on the Space Coast! Florida manatees seek warm water when ocean temps drop below 68°F, congregating in power plant outflows, natural springs, and protected canals throughout Brevard County. These gentle giants can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and are surprisingly graceful swimmers.
🕐 Best time: November through March, early morning
📍 Top spot: Manatee Sanctuary Park, Cape Canaveral
Tips & Locations →
Best Locations:
- Manatee Sanctuary Park, Cape Canaveral
- Haulover Canal, Merritt Island
- Banana River Lagoon
- Indian River Lagoon near Melbourne
Tips:
- Look for "manatee footprints" — circular ripples on the water surface
- Never touch, feed, or pursue manatees
- Kayaking offers the best close-up views
- Early morning is best before boat traffic picks up
- Polarized sunglasses help you see through the water glare
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Brevard County hosts more sea turtle nests than almost anywhere else in the U.S.! From May through October, loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Melbourne Beach is one of the most important nesting beaches in the Western Hemisphere.
🕐 Best time: May through October (nesting); June through November (hatching)
📍 Top spot: Archie Carr NWR, Melbourne Beach
Tips & Locations →
Best Locations:
- Archie Carr NWR, Melbourne Beach
- Sebastian Inlet State Park
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Satellite Beach
Tips:
- Join a guided turtle walk — Melbourne Beach or Canaveral National Seashore
- Never use flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night during season
- If you find a nest, do not disturb — report to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society
- Hatchlings emerge mostly at night — turn off beachfront lights!
- Season is May-Oct, so plan a summer visit
Birding the Space Coast
The Space Coast is a birder's paradise with over 330 species recorded. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge sits along the Atlantic Flyway and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival draws thousands of birders from around the world.
🕐 Best time: October through April for migrants; year-round for residents
📍 Top spot: Merritt Island NWR — Black Point Wildlife Drive
Tips & Locations →
Best Locations:
- Merritt Island NWR — Black Point Wildlife Drive
- Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, Viera
- Thousand Islands, Cocoa Beach
- Sebastian Inlet State Park
- Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge
Tips:
- Black Point Wildlife Drive opens at sunrise — arrive early for best activity
- Bring binoculars and a spotting scope
- Winter months bring thousands of migratory ducks, warblers, and shorebirds
- Look for roseate spoonbills, wood storks, and painted buntings
- The Viera Wetlands are free and open dawn to dusk
Dolphin Watching
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are year-round residents of Brevard's waterways. They're commonly spotted in the Banana River, Indian River Lagoon, and just offshore in the Atlantic. Watching dolphins feed, play, and surf the waves is one of the Space Coast's greatest free activities.
🕐 Best time: Year-round, especially early morning and late afternoon
📍 Top spot: Banana River, Merritt Island
Tips & Locations →
Best Locations:
- Banana River, Merritt Island
- Port Canaveral inlet
- Indian River Lagoon
- Off Cocoa Beach Pier
- Sebastian Inlet
Tips:
- Kayaking the Banana River at dawn offers amazing dolphin encounters
- Look for birds diving — dolphins are often feeding nearby
- Never chase or approach dolphins by boat within 50 yards
- Sunset dolphin cruises depart from Port Canaveral
- Dolphins sometimes surf the waves right alongside surfers at Cocoa Beach
Living with Gators
American alligators are a fact of life in Brevard County. They inhabit every freshwater body — lakes, ponds, canals, and retention ponds. While generally not aggressive, they deserve respect and distance. Florida law prohibits feeding or harassing alligators.
🕐 Best time: Year-round; most active spring through fall
📍 Top spot: Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR
Tips & Locations →
Best Locations:
- Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR
- Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, Viera
- Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay
- Any freshwater canal or retention pond
Tips:
- Never feed alligators — it's illegal and makes them dangerous
- Keep pets on leashes and away from water edges
- If a gator is over 4 feet and in a residential area, call FWC: 866-FWC-GATOR
- They can run fast in short bursts — maintain at least 30 feet of distance
- Nesting season (May-June) makes females especially territorial
Recent Sightings
Florida Manatee
Feb 14📍 Manatee Sanctuary Park, Cape Canaveral
Group of 8+ manatees spotted in the warm water outflow area. Several calves visible!
Bottlenose Dolphin
Feb 13📍 Banana River, Merritt Island
Pod of 12 dolphins feeding near the causeway at sunset. Spectacular jumping!
Roseate Spoonbill
Feb 12📍 Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, Viera
Stunning pink spoonbills wading in the shallows. Great photo opportunity from the boardwalk.
American Alligator
Feb 11📍 Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island NWR
Large 10-foot gator sunning on the bank near stop 4. Keep your distance!
Bald Eagle
Feb 10📍 Thousand Islands, Cocoa Beach
Nesting pair with eaglets visible in the tall pine near the kayak launch.
Florida Manatee
Feb 9📍 Haulover Canal, Merritt Island
Over 20 manatees gathered in the canal. Crystal clear water — you can see them perfectly from the observation platform.
Where to See Wildlife
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Over 140,000 acres of diverse habitats. Black Point Wildlife Drive is a must-do 7-mile auto tour.
Manatee Sanctuary Park
Small park in Cape Canaveral where manatees congregate in winter. Free and easily accessible.
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Where the Indian River Lagoon meets the Atlantic. Great for dolphins, shorebirds, and sea turtles.
Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands
Viera Wetlands — a constructed wetland that's become a premier birding destination. Free entry.
Thousand Islands
Mangrove islands in the Banana River accessible by kayak. Amazing for dolphins, manatees, and birds.