Homosassa Springs: Top 4 Wild Friends You Need to Meet
The burbling of water sounded closer than ever now. Chief Tiger-Tail (aka Thlocko Tustenuggee) pushed aside another branch, the leaves scraping against his arm. He stopped where he stood, looking out at the scene before him. Members of his tribe huddled behind him, peering over his shoulder.
Calm, clear water stretched out before them, reflecting the brilliant, blue sky. Beneath its surface darted hundreds of fish – and there! – even manatees were swimming peacefully here. The chief stepped forward and onto the bank, dipping his toes in the warm water. By his feet, a wild pepper plant waved in the gentle breeze.
“Let’s call this place Homosassa,” said Chief Tiger-Tail, picking the plant. “Where the wild peppers grow.”
Okay, so that might not be exactly how the moment went down, but the beauty of Homosassa Springs is accurate enough, and the Seminole chief’s choice of name, Homosassa, really does mean “place where the wild peppers grow.”1
Today, the springs are part of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, which is home to several unique species. Unlike a zoo, each captive animal is here because they can no longer survive on their own in the wild.
We recommend visiting Homosassa Springs for both the natural, breathtaking beauty, as well as a chance to meet these amazing and loveable critters!
Marvelous Manatees
While the resident red wolves and bobcats roam in large but enclosed areas, the West Indian manatees have a free run of Homosassa Spring!
Some of these sea-cows are just wintertime visitors, escaping the chillier waters of the Gulf of Mexico from November to March. However, other sweet, rehabilitated manatees swim in Homosassa all year long, gliding through the gorgeous first-magnitude spring. Alongside them, you’ll spot both freshwater and saltwater fish alike, including jacks, snapper, and snook!
However, you aren’t confined to merely peering through the rippling water from above. Head into the depths via The Fish Bowl, an underwater observatory! Bathed in blue but without getting soaked, you can see the manatees and fish up close.
The Fish Bowl itself is quite a marvel; the 55-plus-year-old structure is anchored by a walkway but actually floats in the spring.2 When it was first installed in 1963, a fish-safe, biodegradable lubricant was needed for the skids used to lower it into the water. The solution was bananas.3 (Though the peels weren’t nearly as slippery as depicted in the cartoons.)
Today, The Fish Bowl is still considered the penultimate attraction of the state park. Where else can you enjoy air-conditioning while greeting a wild manatee?
(Wish you could get even closer? Just a short, 13 minute drive away is Three Sisters Spring, where you can swim with manatees!)
Lu the Hippo
You can walk the Pepper Creek Birding Trail through the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to catch a glimpse of several of Florida’s native birds, including the whooping crane, bald eagle, and fabulous flamingo. In fact, every animal in the park, from the alligators to the Key deer, is native to Florida.
Well, almost everyone.
Lu the Hippo was born in San Diego, California, in 1960.
When Lu joined the Ivan Tors Animal Actors, he relocated to Homosassa Springs and became a Hollywood star with his work in “Cowboy in Africa” and “Daktari.” Despite his stardom, Lu found his name on an eviction notice in 1989, when the Florida Park Service began moving non-native species out of the state.4
However, Lu’s loyal fanbase joined together to petition on behalf of their beloved hippo. A letter was sent to the governor. The governor at the time, Lawton Chiles, was so moved by Lu’s plight and the deep love expressed by the Homosassa community that he agreed to the petition.
To keep Lu in Florida, Governor Chiles made the hippo an honorary Florida citizen. That citizenship has allowed Lu to thrive at Homosassa Springs all these years and also makes him the only Florida hippopotamus.
Lu is also the oldest living hippopotamus in the United States, having just celebrated his 61st birthday in January! As he does every year, this happy hippo celebrates with a tasty, frosted cake and a specially composed song. (Check out his adorable birthday video here!)
While most wild hippos do not live past 50, Lu is a true legend and (with the help of some ibuprofen for arthritis) is still going strong.
Dearly loved by each of his caretakers, Lu likes to spend his days swimming, laughing, and munching watermelons. Long-handled paint-rollers are used to pamper Lu, coating his skin with moisturizing aloe and honey lotion.5 Volunteer Vicky Iozzia, who sings Lu’s yearly birthday song and talks about Lu throughout the week, is the hippo’s best friend. A bench near Lu’s enclosure has a plaque that reads ” Lu and Vicky Forever.”
However, Lu is always open to meeting new friends, too! If you call out to Lu, he might just call back or do a somersault in the water!6 You’re sure to be star-struck when you visit this kind-hearted hippo at Homosassa Springs.
Black Bears: Maximus & Biddy
The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is no stranger to taking in and rehabilitating Florida black bears. In fact, up to 11 bears are given to the park each year, then released back into the wild after some TLC.7 These bears aren’t introduced to the public.
However, a six-month-old bear-cub named Maximus was introduced to adoring fans in 2019. This was because it had already been determined Maximus was non-releasable.
His mother abandoned Maximus for unknown reasons and weighed only four pounds when he was rescued. Caregivers worked round-the-clock to feed and monitor the cub. Unfortunately, while Max had been saved, he had also imprinted on humans, which meant living in the wild was no longer an option.
However, Homosassa Springs was ready to welcome the ebony ball of fur with open arms.
Today, Max has grown into a fine bear and is still as adorable as ever!8 He has an important job as an ambassador for his species, teaching visitors about black bears in Florida, their place in the ecosystem, and the importance of having state parks, like Homosassa, where they can still exist in an increasingly urbanized world.
Max is adapting well to life in the park, learning the ropes of being “on exhibit” and seen by the public. (He doesn’t seem too flustered.) But, of course, it helps that he can rotate exhibit shifts with Biddy, the adult, a female black bear that’s been a Homosassa resident since the early 2000s.
Whether you meet Biddy or Maximus, they’re sure to capture your heart with their big brown, sparkling eyes and beautiful, coal-dusted coats.
Florida Panthers: Yuma & Sakata
In 2014, a shivering kitten with blue eyes and a spotted coat was found and revived by determined veterinarians.9 This was Yuma, a week-old panther, on the brink of death.
Since then, Yuma has grown into an elegant, tan-coated panther and is a permanent resident at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park! (Like Max, Yuma is imprinted on humans and no longer fears them as a wild cat should.)
Yes, Lu has songs written for him, and Yuma’s got his own poem to:
Yuma’s not a puma; he’s a panther don’t you know. . .Named “Chieftain’s Son” – a special one – long may he live and grow.
Yuma’s favorite pastime is pouncing on cantaloupe – his favorite enrichment item.10
Yuma is joined by Sakata, Homosassa Spring’s other resident panther, a fellow rescued orphan. Together the panthers provide a voice for their species, whose wild habitat is quickly diminishing due to continued urbanization.
Yuma and Sakata also provide a rare opportunity for you – that is, actually getting to see a Florida panther! Reclusive and preferring to live in remote areas, it’s extremely rare to see one in the wild.
Yuma and Sakata are definitely the cat’s meow of Homosassa Springs!
These are the top four critters to meet at Homosassa Springs, but there’s so many more!
With the varied wildlife, great trails, passionate rangers, and beautiful waters, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is the perfect place to visit over and over again.
Cover Image
Photo: Paul Clark via Flickr
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