Dolphin & Other Wildlife

The Indian River Lagoon is home to over 1,000 Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. Studies have revealed that “our” dolphin spend most of their lives in the lagoon and rarely venture away from their home grounds.

 

Our tours run exclusively thru the Thousand Islands of the Banana River, one of three large estuaries that make up the Indian River Lagoon Ecosystem. The Thousand Islands are a group of natural & spoil low islands that consist mostly of Red, Black, & White Mangroves. The dolphin we see in the Thousand Islands tend to travel in families of 2 or more and spend their days cruising around the mangrove islands and canals in search of food.

 

Scientists estimate over 4,000 Manatees populate the Lagoon and are very common along our waterways from Spring thru Fall. In the colder winter months they migrate to warmer waters.

 

The Banana River supports the largest Brown Pelican Rookery on the Atlantic Coast. It is also home to a significant population of Alligators and Diamondback Terrapin Turtles.

 

On every one of our tours, you will have a chance to see Dolphin, Manatees, Pelicans, Osprey, Bald Eagles, and many other birds and wildlife. Our naturalist/tour guides are very familiar with the local waters and will be your “eyes on the water” to help spot the wonderful wildlife that populate the waters of your tour route.

 

 

Indian River Lagoon Fun Facts:

 

• The width of the lagoon varies from one-half mile to 5 miles.
• The average depth of the water is only 4 feet.
• The 156-mile-long estuary is composed of three main bodies of water: the Banana River, the Indian River and the Mosquito Lagoon.
• Five inlets connect the Indian River Lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean.
• The lagoon has 685 species of fish.
• The lagoon has 370 species of birds.
• The lagoon has 2,200 animal species.
• The lagoon has 2,100 plant species.