A Citrus County Experience: Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

Here's another adventure for you to explore when you are visiting Citrus County and staying at Jan's Highland Guest House. http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/42553

After a couple weeks of clear, cold central Florida weather, I took

advantage of a beautiful day to show my visiting family Homosassa Wildlife State Park

Your visit begins with a leisurely pontoon boat ride down the Pepper Creek to the wildlife park. Along the way you may see ospreys nesting, limpkins, herons or egrets wading in the creek, wood ducks

swimming along; not to mention turtles sunning on logs, fish and, maybe even an otter.

Every day a different experience waits.

There are many reasons to visit Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

This year the park introduced four new animal residents. Three Red wolves are enjoying their new habitat, and a Florida panther, named Don Juan, has settled into his new home at the park.

All of these animals are endangered species. Homosassa Springs is one of a very few places where you can see endangered West Indian manatees, Whooping cranes, Red wolves, and a Florida panther up close.

The elevated boardwalk system provides a great view of the wildlife, including a cougar, bears, bobcats, deer, alligators and a wide variety of wading birds, birds of prey, and songbirds.

The public is treated to a permanent exhibit highlighting

Winslow Homer's 1904 watercolors of the Homosassa River.

Winslow Homer is considered to be one of America's greatest artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The artist lived from 1836 to 1910 and the display of Homosassa paintings are from his visits to the tropics. They are displayed in the Visitor Center as you pass through the main entrance to the park.

Of course, the manatees are the Parks' star residents.

Along with fresh and salt water fish they are free to come and go.

This is the time of year that the Manatees come into the surrounding

Springs in search of warmer waters so we were

guaranteed to see our share of manatees. Their migration carries

them into Crystal Rivers', Kings Bay and under the Long River Bridge where they can beviewed in their natural habitat. The Fish Bowl, a floating under

water observatory, offers an unequalled,

below-the-surface view of manatees and fish in the

crystal clear spring environment.

Three manatee programs, two Wildlife Encounters,

and an alligator program are presented

throughout the day, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Florida's wildlife.

LUCIFER

Another famous resident of the Wildlife Park is Lu the Hippo. When he was younger, the African hippopotamus was a part of the Ivan Tors Animal Actors, which used the Homosassa attraction

as its winter home beginning in the late 1960s. Lu and some of the other animals were left at the privately owned park when it was sold.

When the state took over in 1989, officials had planned to find Lu a new home since he didn’t fit in the all-Florida wildlife theme. Area residents overwhelmingly opposed moving Lu and in 1991, Gov. Lawton Chiles issued his "honorary citizen'' edict, granting permission for the hippo to live out his days at the park. This allowed Lu to stay at the park indefinitely. Lu is one of the oldest hippos in captivity and the most recognizable and beloved resident of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Lu justcelebrated his 50th birthday in January 2010. Every year his birthday is a well publicized

occasion and a birthday party brings many area school children

to visit with Lu and wish him another happy birthday. this year's celebration has been declared a "signature event'' as part of the Florida Park Service's 75th anniversary. This year Lu got a tractor tire to play with which may take him back to when he was just a young hippo tossing around a tire in the Union Carbide television commercial to demonstrate the brand's durability. He had a birthday cake (bread with sweet frosting) and many songs in his honor performed by children of the Homosassa Elementary School chorus. The International Hippo Society.

For his part, Lu is taking all the special attention in stride.

A day at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is one you will long remember. It's an ideal family outing.