Wildlife on the Island

Upon check-in at our hotel, the lady at the counter informed us of some beach rules.  This time of year is sea turtle nesting, and anything left on the beach might get in their way.  We didn't see any sea turtles though.

This is a gopher tortoise having lunch by the pool.  There were traffic signs all over the island for "gopher tortoise crossing."

Mom was good at spotting manatees in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  We saw two while we were there, but this smaller one was the only one present when I had my camera.

I snapped this osprey one evening during a walk on the beach.