Went to Homassassa Springs State Park
 

Today. We were going to Fort Island Beach in Crystal River this morning, but it was overcast and cool so decided to make a side trip. What a delightful park it is, we took the boat ride and saw Manatees, and every imaginable species of bird, wolves, fox, bear, and a hippo! Lots of gators, turtles, fish, and beautiful flowering bushes. Cannot recommend this enough as a day trip of about an hour from TV. We went to the beach for awhile but it was so windy we didn't stay long.

A "hippo" ?????????? A hippo is not even remotely indigenous to Florida and the State Parks are not in the exotic species biz.

ya sure it wasn't a Manatee??

That is a GREAT state park .... just one of many wonderful, interesting and enriching things that can be found if one actually ventures outta The Bubble .... good on you for doing so!

Did you really see a bear??? I dream of seeing a bear in it's natural habitat - so lucky.

The hippo was grandfathered in. Great park. I've taken plenty of spectacular pics there.

homassassa
 

Was this a zoo? Wolves, and Hippo's? While in that area anyone, be sure to eat at Crackers. Great seafood, on the water.

Cedar Key and Homassassa in one day is a long day.


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The zoo at Homasassa Springs State Park is for the native Florida animals. Go there and read how their hippo is a native Florida animal. Good story.

The park is a fee area since it is a State Park. However, if you are a disabled veteran, you are able to get a family pass free for life for all Florida state parks. Thank you, Florida.

Can you park at the the beach, take a towel to lay on the sand, and go in the water?

But what about the bear???

Sign me up.

You can park 6 feet from the beach, take a towel, a chair, lay on the sand, get in the water, all that! They have covered picnic tables, free parking, and dressing/restrooms.

The park at Homasassa Springs was a privately owned game preserve, purchased by the state in 1979. The Hippo was there and could not be sold, so Gov. Chiles made him an honorary Florida citizen. It is a beautiful park and animal preserve.

The hippo's name is Lucy and she is 52 years old. I think that she was part of the park before it became what it is today. Only indigenous wildlife was allowed to stay so they made Lucy an official Florida resident. Lucy gets fed twice a day (I think) and comes up out of the water to eat. If you see her tail spinning stand back because that's a sign she's gonna poop. There's a sign to warn people. I've seen it and it's something else when she lets loose.

There are actually two bears. One is much smaller than the other. I snapped a picture the last time I was there. Believe it or not the bear was pooping when I took the picture but a bush was in the way and you can't see that part. I'll post the pic tomorrow when I figure out how.

[IMG]https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...eagle-flag.jpg[/IMG]
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ar-pooping.jpg
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...94-2-bears.jpg

I don't have a picture of Lucy.

First ..... Well I will be darned I have been their maybe twice and not sure how I missed the Lu the hippo.

Second ..... no, Lu is not native to Florida. She is an African hippo born in San Diego. Complete story here:

Florida's Resident Hippo Celebrates 50th Birthday During Florida State Parks Diamond Anniversary - 01/26/10

Here is big Lu last time I saw him....
 

The park is a great take, I have been to the park several times with guests, but I have yet to see Lu eat. Folks that have seen that say it quite a treat....

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...ps84c579bb.jpg

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Not sure if you will see one in Florida, but bears are all over the northeast.
They come down into our town, into residential neighborhoods, etc.
Even in New Jersey, our nephew spots them crossing the roads near his home. Vermont has plenty of bears, as does our neighbor, New York.

Pretty common in our area in NY too. Not as common as deer which are in our yard all the time but we see them frequently, even in neighborhoods. No big deal. They just come through looking for a meal.

There are bears all over Florida as well -- actually several were in trees in Orlando this summer, but I wasn't there to see. I guess I wouldn't call that their natural habit either!

A lot of bears east of TV, half way to the coast. Actually signs on highway warning of bears.

Da Bears are in Chicago.

The Florida Black Bear was once on the endangered species list but was removed in 2012 due to a nice resurgence in their population thanks to successful conservation / protection.

It is not uncommon to see them on a hike in the Ocala National Forrest which is within 30-45 mins of TV. More here:

Florida Black Bear | Florida Black Bears 101 | Defenders of Wildlife

I just read the weekly All Ears newsletter (Disney) and they reported that a black bear was spotted on the campgrounds of Fort Wilderness. Campers are to report bear sightings to Disney security and reminded to keep all foods secure and trash secured in dumpsters.

Too bad you're not around in mid april

Cedar Key Florida Chamber of Commerce - On Florida's Nature Coast

49th Annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts
April 13th, 2013 to April 14th, 2013

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Homassassa state park
 

This sounds perfect place to take our 5 yr old granddaughter. How do you get there fromTV?

I agree! http://www.floridastateparks.org/res...w-brochure.pdf

Let me see if this works, jmvalcq: The Villages, FL to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - Google Maps




Also: Florida State Parks 75th Anniversary 1935 - 2010

Put the address in at this site and click on directions.
Google Maps