Winter The Dolphin, Manatees, Pythons: FL’s Top 2021 Animal News

FLORIDA — With the end of 2021 upon us, check out some of the top stories about our furry, feathered and scaled friends in Florida.

Newly Adopted Dog Lost Near Everglades, Found 9 Days Later

The pup went missing April 20 after a van taking him to his newly adoptive family crashed on U.S. 27 between Miami and Belle Glade.

Drowning Manatee Rescued, Red Tide Toxin May Have Caused Illness

A drowning manatee was rescued from the Manatee River near the Business U.S. 41 bridge Monday morning thanks to the efforts of two Freedom Boat Club employees.

FL Mom Halts Thanksgiving Preparations To Capture 7-Foot Python

A TikTok video of a Florida mom wearing an apron and flip-flops pulling a 7-foot python from beneath her car has garnered 2.9 million views.

'Karmic Payback' For Retired Circus Elephants Loving Florida Life
Forced to entertain us in circuses, these sentient creatures discover at an expansive Florida sanctuary what it's like to be an elephant.

World's Richest Dog Is Selling Madonna's Former Mansion: Report

This beautiful Miami-area estate was previously owned by Madonna and has been listed by its current owner, a German shepherd worth $500 million.

Dave Bautista Adopts Puppy Found With Chain Embedded In Neck

After arriving abused with a chain embedded in her neck, Penny the puppy left the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in actor Dave Bautista's Rolls Royce in September.

'Teaching It A Lesson': Florida Man Tries To Toss Live Gator

A Florida man was arrested this week after attempting to throw a live alligator onto the roof of a beachside cocktail lounge.

Black Bear Goes For A Swim In Naples Pool After Break-In

A Naples homeowner got the surprise of a lifetime when she found an uninvited guest in her screen room Sunday: a large black bear broke in to take a dip in her pool.

A Tale Of 2 Pigs: Throwaway Potbellied Pigs Land In Paradise

A video shows Archie the potbellied pig chasing around after his new canine sibling while Turbo is in hog heaven with his piggy partner.

Chicken Life: Clementine Rules The Burlington Roost

A St. Pete family made up for lack of entertainment during the pandemic with three chickens who provide a show with their personalities.

Falling Cat Caught In American Flag At UM Football Game: Watch

During the University of Miami's 2021 football season home-opener at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens Saturday, the university's facilities manager saved the day when a stray cat fell from the upper deck.

Green Iguanas Now Illegal In FL; What Pet Owners Should Know

A new statewide law prohibits the sale and purchase of 16 nonnative reptiles in Florida, including green iguanas and tegus, a type of lizard from Central and South America that can grow as large as a dog.

Four Baby Lemurs Born At Lemur Conservation Foundation In Myakka

Four newborn lemurs, including a set of triplets, were born to two mothers at the Lemur Conservation Foundation's Myakka City reserve.

Otter Rescued Off Gandy Boulevard By FHP And Good Samaritan

An otter was safely relocated to a pond in St. Petersburg after it got too close to busy traffic.

Manatees Are Dying In Record Numbers, But Help May Be On Way

An unprecedented 1,038 manatees deaths were recorded in Florida in 2021, up from 637 in 2020. The mammals are starving and help is needed.

7-Foot Python Hitches A Ride On Sailboat, Travels Across South FL

A couple visiting FL from Chicago came face-to-face with "an unwelcome stowaway" — a Burmese python — in the shower of their sailboat.

Winter The Dolphin's Death Mourned By Fans, Aquarium Staff

Winter, the famous dolphin whose fight to survive after losing her tail in fishing line was told in the movie "Dolphin Tale," has died.

You Thought Turtles Couldn't Fly? Florida Woman Begs To Differ

Forget falling iguanas. A Florida woman was hurt near Daytona Beach when a flying turtle crashed through her windshield on Interstate 95.

Sheriff Facebook Fans Speculate On Pup's Involvement In Car Theft

Bandit was returned to his owner unharmed, but the sheriff's office honored the gutsy little dog with the title of honorary K-9 for the day.

Watch: Police Dive Team Encounters Sharks' 'Feeding Frenzy'

The Sarasota Police Department's dive team had a close encounter with a school of sharks during offshore training in the Gulf of Mexico.

Python Huntress, Fashion Brand Forge Unlikely Partnership

Amy Siewe, who hunts pythons in the Florida Everglades, provides the snake skins for the python purse collection from Sarasota's BSWANKY brand.

Rescuers Reunite 5 Ducklings Stuck In Storm Drain With Mother

While the flustered mother duck looked on, rescuers removed the grate to the storm drain and gently scooped the ducklings into a bucket.

'Trump' Etched Into Back Of FL Manatee In Citrus County

Federal authorities are looking for the person who etched the word “Trump” into the back of a Florida manatee in January. Manatees are a “threatened” species protected by federal and state laws.

Watch: Large Gators 'Wrestle' In Lakewood Ranch Backyard

When Gordon Silver found two alligators wrestling in his Lakewood Ranch backyard, he grabbed his phone and started recording.

Healing River Beekeepers Rescues Swarms, Shares Knowledge Of Bees

Based in Bradenton, Healing River Beekeepers has rescued and relocated more than 200 bee colonies from private and public properties.