Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned West Indian manatees until they are returned to the wild. The park’s centerpiece is a first-magnitude freshwater spring, which produces millions of gallons of crystal-clear water each hour with the spring outflow creating the Homosassa River. Visitors a given a rare opportunity to observe Florida’s native wildlife in a natural setting and can stroll along the paved trails and boardwalks to see manatees and alligators, black bear and bobcats, and tiny Key deer and otters at close range. Many birds species, from colorful wood ducks and roseate spoonbills to majestic birds of prey and whooping cranes also inhabit the park. For a birdwatcher, this state park is a dream come true!
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
You start out taking a pontoon boat down the river to the park.
The park is surrounded by the river, so you take this
boardwalk to the different areas.
The very rare Whooping Crane
Sandhill Crane
BIRDS OF PREY There are two beautiful bald eagles in the park. 
This is a Crested Caracaras, a member of the falcon family.(I like his toupee!)
HAWKS
Red-Tailed Hawk 
Barred Owls
Horned Owls
Osprey
FLAMINGOS 
Little Night Heron
Roseate Spoonbill
White Pelican (Life is GOOD if you are a bird living in the park!)
Beautiful Flowers
Key Deer
This hippo is the park's oldest resident. The park used to
Beautiful Flowers
Key Deer 
This hippo is the park's oldest resident. The park used tobe an exotic animal farm. When the State of Florida bought it,
they only wanted native animals. But, "Lou" was so
popular, so he was allowed to stay.
MANATEES (there were a LOT of them)
This manatee was huge!
Common, but cute!
REPTILE HOUSE
This manatee was huge!
Common, but cute!
REPTILE HOUSE This thing was so small - the size of a golf ball.
Alligators
Alligators
Beautiful, clear spring
A man and his 2 friends enjoying the river
Beautiful, endangered Florida Panther
(there were a couple of them there)
(there were a couple of them there)
Red Wolves (also endangered)
(Smaller than the gray wolf, but bigger than a coyote)
A very large retired circus bear
Bobcat
A little fox
Lots of Herons and Egrets
Pair of Wood Storks
Anhinga
Brown Pelicans nesting
Beautiful Wood Duck
Wood Duck and his Wife
He was never far from his wife
River Otter out for his morning swim
Then a little roll in the dirt
Many, many varities of fish.
(Click on the play button (bottom left) to play videos.)
Whooping Crane making his famous whooping call
Whooping Crane making his famous whooping call
The underwater viewing area - LOTS of fish swimming in circles!
