Wild Ride

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is an
18-million-acre statewide network of connected lands and waters that supports wildlife and people.  

Seen in dark green, 10 million acres are protected as Federal lands, state parks and forests, or private lands under conservation easements.

The remaining 8 million unprotected acres in light green are opportunity areas for conservation and are mostly comprised of agricultural working lands, such as cattle ranches and timber land. Not only do these valuable spaces provide food and fiber for Florida and our nation, but they also provide interconnected landscapes that keep Florida’s wild spaces connected. 

Our Mural Campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation is headquartered in sunny St Petersburg, Florida.

Each year, SHINE® St. Petersburg Mural Festival transforms our shared spaces into a world-class outdoor gallery featuring top contemporary local, national, and international artists. Produced by the
St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, SHINE has created more than 100 murals throughout downtown and the surrounding arts districts since 2015.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation is a proud 2022 Bright Spot participant. Bright Spots are community-based murals created by local artists and centered around a specific audience or organization.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. Thanks to their contributions, you can learn more about the species in this mural. Scroll to learn about each of the species featured in the mural.

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Mother alligators guard their young for up to a year and it is not unusual for them to carry their babies on their heads or snouts — even inside their mouths!

The American alligator is one of two crocodilians native to Florida. Their diets include prey species that are abundant and easily accessible. Juvenile alligators eat primarily insects, amphibians, small fish, and other invertebrates. Adult alligators eat rough fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds.

Alligators regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperatures. Alligators are dormant throughout much of the winter. During this time, they can be found in burrows that they construct adjacent to an alligator hole or open water, but they occasionally emerge to bask in the sun during periods of warm weather.

The American alligator is Federally protected by the Endangered Species Act as a Threatened species, due to their similarity of appearance to the American crocodile, and as a Federally-designated Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)

Swamp Sunflower can be found in North and Central Florida in marshes, wet flatwoods and even roadside ditches. Their magnificent blooms can be seen in October and November. These flowers are a great resource for native pollinators.