At Frost Science, we care for protected species as part of our mission to protect biodiversity and restore fragile ecosystems and provide visitors a closer look at the diversity of life in South Florida. Through their stewardship, we support global conservation efforts and inspire our community to take action for wildlife.
Protected Species at Frost Science
Loggerhead sea turtle
Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), named for their large heads and powerful jaws, are one of the seven species of sea turtle on Earth. Six of the seven species can be found around the United States and are federally protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Sea turtles face many conservation threats, including the loss of nesting habitat from coastal development and rising sea levels, unintentional capture in fishing gear, boat strikes, and marine debris. Many turtles confuse plastic debris such as bags or fishing lines for food.
Miko, who can be spotted in the Gulf Stream exhibit, is a loggerhead sea turtle. Miko was rescued and rehabilitated four separate times by the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park for ingesting fishing gear, until the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision (FWC) deemed that Miko was no longer fit to be released back into the wild. Miko has been under the care of Frost Science since the winter of 2019. Our aquarists feed her a healthy diet and she gets regular veterinary care.
Miko Fun Facts
- She weighs over 230 lbs.
- She is estimated to be about 20-30 years old, and could live to over 80 years old.
- She is target trained, meaning she can swim to a target placed in the water to receive her daily meal.
- She eats a diet of squid, herring, mackerel, and capelin.
- Her preferred food seems to change every week!
Roseate spoonbills
Roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) are native birds to Florida. Named for their pink color, roseate spoonbills were nearly hunted to extinction for their feathers in the 18th and 19th centuries. After many years of conservation work their populations have made an amazing recovery, though they are still listed as threatened by the state of Florida.
Roseate spoonbill fun facts
- The museum has three roseate spoonbills, Scoop, Ladle, and their chick Teaspoon, who hatched in the summer of 2024.
- A group of spoonbills is called a bowl.
- Much like flamingos, they get their coloration from their diet. Roseate spoonbill feathers can range from pale pink to magenta.
- They are considered an indicator species for the health of the Everglades as their nesting locations and success change with prey abundance, salt levels, and water height.
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Gopher tortoises
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is the state tortoise of Florida. Their name refers to their excellent digging abilities, because like gophers, they dig large burrows. While their habitat spans across seven different states, gopher tortoises have been designated as a threatened species in Florida due to habitat loss and fragmentation from human development.
Gopher tortoise fun facts
- They can live 40 – 60 years in the wild, and over 90 years in captivity.
- Gopher tortoise burrows can be up to 48 feet long and 10 feet deep.
- They are a keystone species, as over 350 different species rely on gopher tortoise burrows for shelter!
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Goliath grouper
The Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is the largest bony fish in Florida, growing up to 8 ft long and weighing up to 800 lbs. Once classified as critically endangered because of overfishing and loss of juvenile habitat, this species has made a comeback due to fishing regulations and is now considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.
Goliath grouper fun facts
- The are ambush predators.
- Goliath groupers make noise. They produce an audible grumble sound to warn invaders away from their territory and locate other goliath grouper during spawning season.
- They can live over 30 years.
Scalloped hammerheads
The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a pelagic shark that can be found along Florida’s coast. They are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List due to overfishing and, in 2014, were the first shark species to be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Scalloped hammerhead fun facts
- They return to their place of birth to spawn, and scalloped hammerhead pups spend their first few years in their coastal nursery before swimming out to the open ocean. Miami’s Biscayne Bay is a nursery habitat for the great hammerhead shark, a scalloped hammerhead relative.
- Scalloped hammerheads can travel in schools during seasonal migrations.
- They can grow up to 14 feet long and weigh over 330lbs
- They give birth to live young.
American crocodiles
American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and considered a threatened species in Florida. Between the 1930s and 1960s they were overhunted for their hides. Today they are impacted by illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and road collisions.
American crocodile fun facts
- Their natural range in Florida is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators naturally coexist.
- They are one of the largest species of crocodile.
- They are one of two species of crocodile known to live in saltwater environments.
- Baby crocodiles make a chirping or grunting noise to alert the mother when they have hatched. This noise has been compared to the sound of a laser beam!
Eastern indigo snake
The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) is named for its beautiful blue-black color. Once found throughout the southeast United States, their populations have decrease due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In the state of Florida, they are designated as Threatened and are also protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Eastern indigo fun facts
- They have a commensal relationship (a type of symbiosis in which one species benefits from another without harming the other species) with gopher tortoises, often using their burrows as shelter from predators, forest fires, and extreme winter temperatures.
- Although it is the largest North American snake and may look imposing, eastern indigo snakes are non-venomous and considered docile.
- The oldest known eastern indigo snake lived to be nearly 26 years old.
- As an apex predator, they are important for controlling the population size of their prey species, which includes small mammals, birds, frogs, fish, turtles. venomous snakes, and even small alligators.
Birds of Prey
Frost Science houses rescued birds of prey, including the short-tailed hawk, eastern screech owl, and red-shouldered hawk at our Batchelor Environmental Center (BEC).
The Batchelor Environmental Center (BEC) is Frost Science’s off campus aquatic and avian care and research facility. Located at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami, BEC is where our aquatic animals undergo quarantine. It is also one of our collaborative spaces for marine research.
Quarantine is an important part of caring for aquatic animals. Before new animals can be added to our aquariums, they undergo careful observation and health checks. This process prevents the potential spread of disease or parasites to animals currently at the museum.
To learn more about our work with raptor rehabilitation, check out these articles: https://www.frostscience.org/category/animal-rescue-and-rehab/
We are not currently taking in new birds for rehabilitation, but the following local rehabilitation facilities are accepting injured and/or orphaned native wildlife and some non-native species:
Pelican Harbor Seabird Station accepts native birds and mammals. They are located at 1279 NE 79th Street, Miami, 33138; 305-751-9840.
The South Florida Wildlife Center accepts all wildlife from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. They are located at 3200 SW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, 33315; 954-524-4302.
If you need information about how to help injured or orphaned wildlife, please call our hotline at 305-322-8887 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you find a baby animal, it is generally best to leave it alone! The animal is usually not orphaned—in fact, the parents may be nearby looking for food or watching the baby. Monitor it over several hours or a day and be sure to call us for advice if you’re still concerned.
