Butterflies move between flowers as wind chimes ring through the trees at the Trout Lake Nature Center.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to Tohopekaliga High School on Thursday after the school’s resource officer reported an alligator on campus.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a new silverback gorilla. Bakari, 21, is taking over leadership of the park’s family troop after the departure of longtime silverback Gino.

Tech giant Google is seeking government approval to release 32 million mosquitoes into Florida — and the proposal has sparked reactions from thousands online.

Armadillos are a familiar sight across Florida — and for many homeowners, they’re best known for digging up yards and gardens. Health experts say there’s another reason to keep your distance: Armadillos can occasionally carry the bacteria that causes Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.

A 21-year-old man said he was bitten by a shark off Daytona Beach Shores over the weekend after he moved his pregnant fiancée toward shore and then fought to get the animal off him.

A severely burned osprey found on a Blue Origin launch pad the day after a rocket explosion is recovering at the Florida Wildlife Hospital.

An investigation is underway after a dog was allegedly struck by a Brevard County patrol car, which then left the scene, according to Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

A Central Florida man was arrested after being accused of violating recent emergency rules regarding a flesh-eating parasite, according to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Volusia County has officially broken its sea turtle nesting season record — and there are still three months left to go. As of Wednesday, turtles have laid 1,517 nests along the county’s coastline, surpassing the previous record of 1,516 nests set in 2023. Nesting season runs through Oct. 31.

Three rare reptiles in Florida are being added to the list of endangered species under federal law, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Bunnell police arrested a 21-year-old Palm Coast woman on Sunday after officers discovered two dead dogs inside a storage unit where investigators allege the animals were kept in “dangerous conditions.”

Hunters from all over the world are in the Everglades right now, competing to bring in the most Burmese pythons before the Florida Python Challenge wraps up on July 19.

Kangaroos, monkeys, giant lizards, snakes and a 2,000-pound white rhinoceros are among more than 140 animals that escaped from captivity in Florida since 2022, state wildlife records obtained by News 6 reveal.

Residents in Edgewater say feral hogs have been tearing up their yards — often overnight — causing thousands of dollars in damage. The city says it has trapped 50 hogs over the past three months as part of an ongoing effort to get the problem under control.

The pasture mealybug has now been detected in 15 Florida counties — including two Central Florida counties — and scientists at the University of Florida are racing to find solutions.

An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy lost his hand in an alligator attack while fishing with his family at Nelson Fish Camp in Florida. The boy's father attempted to save him, but the alligator severed his hand, which could not be reattached despite multiple surgeries. The community has rallied around the family, raising funds for medical expenses and future prosthetic costs. Authorities remind the public to stay alert and cautious around alligators, especially during warmer months.

For the fourth year in a row, one Florida city ranked at the top of the list.

Deputies said he took over 20 dogs from his mother's home in Palm Coast before heading to St. Johns County, where they were purposefully released and abandoned on the side of the road.

Deputies said they received a tip last week about the video, which was reportedly posted to Snapchat.

Loved ones of 31-year-old Brittany Clark are mourning after officials say she was killed in an alligator attack in Seminole County. Family members say Clark loved the outdoors and spending time on the water.

Trappers caught a 12-foot alligator and a 13-foot alligator from the area in Seminole County where a 31-year-old Orlando woman died Sunday after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with her boyfriend and best friend. What we know about the attack, and what Florida wildlife officials are doing now.

After coming across a Facebook post showing the duct-taped dog, investigators said they jumped into action to find the animal and its owner.

People who want to bring sloths into Florida will have to file for a special permit under a new rule by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The new policy was created after dozens of sloths died in the care of a group planning to open the Sloth World attraction on International Drive in Orlando.

Chicken petition tops 750 signatures as commissioners prepare to discuss backyard hens.

A sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle named Wombat is back in the wild after spending three months recovering at the Marine Science Center in Volusia County.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey took to social media on Thursday, targeting an animal cruelty suspect after a dog had to be euthanized.

Florida is well known for its record-holding alligators, but there’s another scaly predator that has quietly expanded into the state, according to experts.

Another of the sloths from Sloth World has died. The Central Florida Zoo in Sanford announced that Willow, one of 14 sloths that arrived at the zoo in April, had to be put to sleep.

The boyfriend of a woman mauled to death protecting her dog is now being accused himself of animal cruelty, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Brevard County deputies are investigating after three dogs were found dead inside a trailer belonging to the boyfriend of a woman who was fatally attacked by dogs last month.

Volusia County is having a record-breaking sea turtle nesting season — and it’s not even close.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom introduced guests to Ivy, a baby Masai giraffe now visible on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Keepers say she’s shy, staying close to mom Willow, and part of an AZA Species Survival Plan conservation effort.

Gov. DeSantis has extended a state of emergency after the screwworm was detected in the U.S. last week. Meanwhile, Florida's agricultural leader has imposed emergency rules to ward off the threat.

Gatorland in Orlando was forced to evacuate on Tuesday over a reported bomb threat, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Aquarists at EPCOT's The Seas with Nemo & Friends are rehabilitating 14 rescued sea turtles as part of a broader conservation mission that also includes manatee rehabilitation, butterfly tagging, and other wildlife programs largely hidden from public view.

A Central Florida man was arrested after he shot a cat in the eye with a BB gun and killed it, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

After sparking fears about a resurgence in Florida, the New World Screwworm has prompted an emergency rule in the Sunshine State, according to the FDACS.

Tech giant Google is seeking government approval to release 32 million mosquitoes into Florida, according to CBS News.

A College Park woman says coyotes have killed her feral cats and cost her thousands of dollars in prevention efforts — but wildlife officials say relocation isn't an option.

Edgewater police and city leaders are moving forward with a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating backyard chickens as more residents already keep hens at home.

Dogs and their owners took to the waves Sunday during the Hang 8 Dog Surfing Extravaganza, a beachside event that combined surfing, community engagement and fundraising for local animal welfare organizations.

The dog owner who was arrested a week after her loose dogs killed a woman, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, won’t be able to leave jail.

After a woman died from dog bites in Brevard County last week, the sheriff has announced that the dogs’ owner has been arrested.

Video submitted by a News 6 viewer shows the monkey wandering through an open field not far from Wekiva Springs State Park.

Florida state law allows for residents to keep a variety of strange animals as pets, though there are more than a few hoops to jump through, depending on what type of critter you want to take home.

A Sanford family is demanding accountability — and action from the city — after a 12-year-old rescue dog was attacked at a local dog park, leaving a 91-year-old woman and her beloved pet traumatized.

The Central Florida Zoo is extending the quarantine period for the rescued sloths connected to Sloth World as the animals continue recovering from the conditions they arrived in one month ago.

Walk into SeaWorld Florida’s Coral Rescue Center, and the first thing you notice is the light - a deep, oceanic blue that washes over rows of tanks filled with some of the rarest coral on Earth.

A deadly dog attack raises questions why two large dogs that neighbors say were always running loose weren’t taken away from the dog owner sooner.

A pair of dogs was found tied to a dumpster at a rest stop in Central Florida, leading investigators to ask for help from the public, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A Flagler County dog rescue says it has been inundated with 67 dogs — all stemming from a single animal neglect case.

The milestone was reached earlier this month when SeaWorld Rescue in San Diego saved an orphaned California sea lion pup found on the back stairs of a beach house.

Wild hogs have been spotted tearing up grass and frightening residents in an Osceola County neighborhood.

Central Florida Zoo officials say Mr. Ginger, one of the dozen or so sloths from Sloth World under the zoo’s care, has died. The zoo announced the youngest of the Sloth World sloths died despite round-the-clock efforts, including being hand-fed every few hours and spending time much of his time in an incubator to regulate his body temperature. Mr. Ginger was believed to be only four to six months old.

For those who can’t make it to the Sanford Welcome Center, the shirts are available for purchase online through the Sanford Main Street website.

Florida wildlife officials are stopping the importation of all sloths into the state in the wake of the deaths of dozens of sloths meant for an Orlando attraction.

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on another two bills, adding to the list of over 80 laws approved so far this year.

A pregnant woman, a man and three dogs were rescued from the Ocala National Forest last week, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Joey Manna travels to a Gainesville-area state park to photograph Florida’s gopher tortoise and meets Katherine Saylor of Defenders of Wildlife, who explains why this keystone species—and the fire-dependent, high-and-dry habitat it relies on—is disappearing fast. The search reveals a surprising truth: gopher tortoises (and the conservation choices that protect them) aren’t just “out there” in the wilderness—they’re often right in our own neighborhoods

State Rep. Anna Eskamani said the agency has agreed to pursue rulemaking changes before the end of the year.

The city of Orlando will begin rehoming its resident Lake Eola swans as the city prepares for a massive renovation plan around the lake. The deaths of dozens of swans and other birds from avian influenza earlier this year also influenced the decision.

Researchers have revealed exactly what’s responsible for the vast majority of alligator attacks.

A Lake County woman was arrested after Lake County detectives found 31 emaciated cows on a property in Tavares. According to a probable cause affidavit, 31 zebu-style cattle were found in “extremely poor body condition, with prominent ribs, spine, and pelvic bones clearly visible, consistent with severe emaciation.”

Over the past couple of years, experts have noticed a heavy decrease in lovebugs across Central Florida. But that trend seems to have reversed this season.

Tucked away in southwest Florida, visitors can find a prehistoric warm spring — the only one of its kind in the state.

Joined by Orange County commissioners and sloth conservation experts who traveled from Costa Rica, Eskamani spoke outside the shuttered Sloth World facility on International Drive.

Despite initial belief that no crime occurred, the family is urging investigators to revisit the case as weeks have passed without information.

Newly obtained records by Orange County Community Correspondent, Jayna Manohalal, show another 21 sloths died while under the care of Sloth World, bringing the total number of known sloth deaths connected to the facility to 55.

A Palm Coast woman is accused of abandoning her three children at a hospital — allegedly angry over a dead dog — while deputies say more than 40 animals were living in squalid conditions at her home.

Another sloth has passed away after dozens of others died ahead of the opening of Sloth World in Orlando.

Another sloth has passed away after dozens of others died ahead of the opening of Sloth World in Orlando.

A recent study shows that two destructive termites are spreading much farther throughout the state than experts initially predicted.

Central Florida is known for horsepower. And no, we’re not talking about the Daytona 500.

Florida prosecutors are looking into whether criminal charges are possible after dozens of sloths died ahead of the opening of Sloth World in Orlando. On Friday, Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to a call for a criminal investigation from State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

Florida prosecutors are looking into whether criminal charges are possible after dozens of sloths died ahead of the opening of Sloth World in Orlando. On Friday, Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to a call for a criminal investigation from State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

Troopers made a surprising discovery after pulling over a pickup truck in Central Florida, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A Umatilla woman battling cancer found a dog on Facebook to help her through treatment, but she says it was all part of a lie, and now, she is out thousands of dollars.

The rescues over the weekend were the third and fourth reported in Lake County this month.

A rescued sloth’s death is prompting renewed scrutiny of an Orlando attraction, as a state lawmaker calls for a state and federal investigation into animal deaths, alleged mismanagement and potential legal violations.

The zoo confirmed the remaining 12 sloths are currently in stable condition. Staff said their full focus has now shifted to ensuring those animals continue to recover.

Alligator mating season is now underway in Florida, posing a threat to residents in the state.

At Harbor House of Central Florida, family members have a safe place to go, right alongside their pets.

A planned tourist attraction along International Drive has been shut down before ever opening its doors after state investigators say more than 30 sloths died while in the care of the business.

A Pomeranian named Odin became an internet sensation after Brevard County firefighters used the Jaws of Life to rescue him when his head got stuck in a metal gate at his home in Merritt Island.

Trooper Steve on Patrol went behind the scenes to show you exactly how your donations are changing lives.

Residents in Apopka have raised concerns online about cows appearing undernourished in a local field, prompting debate over their care.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Clem Newman and his dog were attacked in Orlando by two men over an apparent misunderstanding.

An investigation has kicked off this week after a gopher tortoise was found sprayed in the face with insulation, according to state officials.

She’s built like a police dog and trained like one, but Radar’s mission is very different, and it could be impacting your health right now.

Tortugas’ Florida Kitchen shared clips of the encounter on social media, assuring followers that no one was hurt.

On a windy morning at Kelly Park East, a small group of volunteers fan out along the shoreline, clipboards and buckets in hand, eyes scanning the surf for one of nature’s oldest survivors.

A dog is home safe after a family received AI photos showing an injured pet

As dogs, cats, and other pets increasingly take on the role of family members, some couples are planning for the possibility of a breakup before it ever happens. So-called “pet prenups” – agreements that spell out who gets custody of an animal and how expenses are handled – are gaining traction as a way to avoid costly and emotional disputes down the road.

News 6 has obtained body camera video from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office that shows a deputy arresting a 14-year-old boy accused of picking up a baby alligator and swinging it by its tail.

A Melbourne man was put behind bars this week after he was accused of beating up a chihuahua, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

Move aside, Jaws — there's a new shark in town. And he's got an unfortunate name.

A man was arrested on animal cruelty charges in Volusia County after police say two dogs, left in a truck for hours in a Walmart parking lot, died of apparent heat stroke.

A manatee’s journey from a storm drain to the open water captivated a community. And for one Melbourne Beach family, it became something even more personal.

A 14-year-old boy is facing a felony charge after Volusia County deputies say he was seen swinging a baby alligator by its tail and kicking it at a Stetson University facility.