ANIMALS

From afar, it can prove challenging to tell the difference between crocodiles and alligators.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sends an annual reminder that black bears may be in unexpected places.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released video showing Officers Kopp and Johnson removing a small alligator from the 104-year-old woman's home near Atlantic Boulevard and Art Museum Drive.

The humane society is now urgently seeking donations and community support to continue providing loving homes for these deserving animals.

Epic Outreach is a farm and animal rescue on Jacksonville’s Northside that takes in abused, neglected, and lost farm animals and gives them a new lease on life. Their mission has grown so much in that time that they’ve outgrown their space.

In this week’s SnapJAX stories, a picture of a pack of some very well-behaved golden retrievers got my attention. So I traveled to St. Marys, Georgia, to find the story behind the picture.

K9s United held a fundraising event Saturday in St. Augustine that will benefit four-legged law enforcement throughout Northeast Florida and beyond.

In this week's SnapJAX stories, it was a picture of a smile that got my attention, but it wasn't human. I went to Melrose Florida to get the story behind the picture and that's when things got wild.

As someone who is obsessed with penguins, celebrating World Penguin Day (April 25) was my in for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jacksonville Zoo's Tuxedo Coast exhibit. Still, I almost couldn’t believe it when the zoo officials said yes!

I thought it would be fun to share the list of who’s who in the Jacksonville Zoo's Tuxedo Coast exhibit so the next time your family visits, you can really “meet” the penguins.

Seemingly in no time, a bird had built a nest right on top of the panel of the garage door opener.

Did you know we had an alpaca farm right here in Jacksonville?

In a few weeks, K9s United will hold a big fundraising event to benefit four-legged law enforcement throughout Northeast Florida and beyond.

Did you see that story about the 75-year-old St. Augustine woman who was attacked by a raccoon?

A St. Augustine woman was hospitalized overnight after a 30-pound raccoon chased her and her dog into her house, the woman’s neighbor told News4JAX.

Banks, the newest jaguar at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, celebrated his first birthday Sunday, according to the zoo.

Staff members with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and other agencies released 34 rehabilitated sea turtles on Jekyll Island in Georgia on Wednesday.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had to call for backup Monday night after an alligator ended up on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The help they got was shorter (and younger) than they expected.

The FWC is sharing ways to be "BearWise" to help prevent conflicts between people and bears.

Manatees are a threatened species because of pollution, climate change and hunting.

Two women are attempting a 500-mile drive down the coast of Florida to receive the Guinness World Record for longest distance by toy cars, and their journey began right here in Duval County.

These include upfront costs, the cost of annual essentials and optional costs.

These include upfront costs, the cost of annual essentials and optional costs.

Skunk spray unfortunately can be a common price of dog ownership.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is now offering a website that offers an easier way for nature lovers to plan their excursions.

Here is a breakdown of what breeds are most vulnerable and what prevention steps to take.

Friday is National Pig Day, and an education farm sanctuary in Jacksonville is using this day to honor its rescue pigs that live on the property.

Mina, Machli and Beppy have been spending the last four months mostly behind the scenes so they could bond with their mother, Cinta.

Nassau County Animal Services shares the current state of their shelter.

The Fort Worth Zoo welcomed a new edition to its family.

Clay County Animal Services said all of the animals have been examined by their staff. And those that need any advanced medical care, have those appointments scheduled.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a mass animal surrender in Middleburg.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is asking for the community’s help in locating the owners of a goat that was seen on the city’s Westside Saturday morning.

Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in all waters of the St. Johns River system must be removed from the water before Jan. 16, the first day of a 10-day trap closure, the FWC said in a news release Monday.

In honor of National Bird Day on Friday, Florida Power & Light shared some images of birds that have been spotted at FPL solar energy centers across the state.

A dog is safe and sound after falling down a cliff and then being stranded in Oregon.

Gwen Cash said she was injured on New Year’s Eve while trying to protect her dog from an alligator in Pembroke Pines.

The Christ Church in the Westside holds a live nativity with real animals.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' Colors of the Wild holiday ZOOLights experience launched Thursday night with a special encounter between the zoo's penguins and Jolly Old St. Nick.

An extremely rare white leucistic alligator has been born at a Florida reptile park.

Jawlene, named after Dolly Parton’s popular song “Jolene,” was rescued in September in Sanford after photos of the injured animal circulated on social media.

Hundreds of available dogs and cats will be available at the JHS Adoption, Education and Pet Help Center located at 8464 Beach Blvd. and at ACPS located at 2020 Forest St.

EPIC Outreach works closely with law enforcement throughout Northeast Florida, including area sheriff’s offices and Animal Control. Right now, 61 animals call the farm home.

The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens broke ground Friday on Manatee River, a gift from J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, and the new VyStar SkyScape entrance.

The rescue said they have more than 150 cats in their care and can’t continue to operate unless they get a “substantial amount of donations.”

The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is keeping up with a more than 800-year-old tradition.

Instead of a dog, the man tried to bring in an alligator that he said has been his emotional support animal.

Columbia County has created an Animal Enforcement Department that will begin enforcing all county ordinances and state statutes involving animal control, starting Sunday.

A Florida reptile park has taken in an alligator that lost its nose and upper jaw to a fight or boat propeller.

The pandas are currently in Washington, D.C. because of a loan agreement established between the Zoo and the Chinese government. But that arrangement is about to end.

I’ve learned the beaches on the northern end of Amelia Island are a shark tooth hunter’s dream!

The newest jaguar cub at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens made his highly anticipated first public appearance Thursday, exploring the Range of the Jaguar exhibit for the first time.

Sea turtle watchers have set up orange barriers across Mayport beach to protect 17 Loggerhead sea turtle nests -- an unexpectedly high number for the beach since several dunes were destroyed in recent hurricanes.

Each year 500,000 pets find themselves trapped inside the smoke and flames of a house fire.

A raccoon on Jekyll Island in Glynn County has tested positive for rabies.

Hero, a 6-year-old yellow lab and trained therapy dog, was adopted by the Women's Center of Jacksonville in April from K9s For Warriors.

In the past few weeks, there have been multiple black bear sightings in places like Tampa, Orlando and here in Jacksonville.

This happened in 2020 and is part of a series and is part of a series where we are looking back at most-watched viral videos.

Monday is National Alligator Day!

Florida is one of the richest states when it comes to paleontology, and new discoveries are being made every day.

The incredibly popular python hunt is returning to Florida in August, and hunters who want to accept the challenge of removing invasive Burmese pythons from the wild can register now.

Meteorologist Katie Garner got a chance to go out with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see the issues they deal with firsthand on the St. Johns River.

There’s no better way to celebrate National Rescue Dog Day!

Friday is the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. An estimated 291 species have been saved from extinction since the law was signed in 1973. To date, the law has saved more than 99% of species under its protection.

One of two endangered tortoises is back at a popular St. Augustine attraction after being stolen late last year. Two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of the reptiles.

Do you have a pet that was rescued from a bad situation, and now has the life it deserves thanks to your love, sacrifice and devotion?

Sea turtle nesting season began Monday, and turtles are expected to bury their eggs in nests up and down the Northeast Florida coast until October.

Given its jumping ability, you would think the deer would make one awesome outside hitter!

This took place earlier this year and is part of a series where we are looking back at most-watched viral videos.

If you've lived in Florida long enough, you know that critters are just part of the equation. From raccoons and birds of all kinds to gopher tortoises, gators and bats. Living in the Sunshine State means sharing our habitat.

It's spring, and that means black bears in Florida will be more active, including moms and their cubs. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has some advice to help you avoid bear conflicts.

A mama bear was trying to get four cubs across a two-lane road in Connecticut, and what transpired will give you all the feels.

Kelly Garrahan, a resident of Titusville, found a creature with oddly shaped head and tail in her yard, which started disrupting her farm animals.

It appears a group of husky puppies was enjoying the cold temperatures so much on Tuesday that they just had to escape their home and explore the outdoors.

Three animal advocacy groups in Jacksonville are asking the community for help as the annual "kitten season" approaches. They're sharing information about what you should do, and what to avoid, to best help out.

Florida Sen. Lauren Book filed a bill intended to protect animals, and the legislation included a proposal that would make it illegal to let a dog stick its head out of a window of a moving car. But after getting feedback on that proposal, Book reportedly plans to amend the bill and remove that ban from the legislation.

Alligator safety is the focus of a statewide meeting being held this week in Jacksonville.

A new Florida bill would make it illegal to let a dog be in a driver’s lap or stick their head out of a window of a moving car.

A plane came down in a cow pasture and then flipped onto its roof Wednesday morning, Clay County Fire Rescue said.

Bars in Tampa and Orlando are challenging the Florida Department of Health over decisions to block dogs from being in the establishments.

An exercise rider at a Florida horse track has died in a training accident.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission performed a necropsy on a whale that washed ashore at Hanna Park in Jacksonville, but the report does not reveal to researchers how the whale died.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said a whale washed up Wednesday morning on the beach at Hanna Park.

An Orange County pet store has been ordered to pay $85,000 to consumers after the Florida attorney general’s office said customers were deceived and sold sick or dying puppies, News4JAX sister station WKMG-TV News 6 reports.

Federal officials say the fading North Atlantic right whale will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act and requires a series of protective steps to stave off extinction.

This year, News4JAX has been following white squirrel sightings in the Jacksonville area.

From white squirrels and poisoned puppies to a Jacksonville serial killer and local entrepreneurs, our News4JAX.com team worked hard this year to showcase a variety of special content for our online audience.

The 35-year-old zookeeper who was “viciously” attacked Wednesday by a 5-year-old North American black bear at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens suffered many lacerations on her head, back and thighs, according to a police report obtained Thursday by News4JAX.

A 5-year-old North American black bear that escaped an exhibit behind the scenes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Wednesday evening and “engaged” with a zookeeper was fatally shot by the zoo’s lethal weapons team, officials said.

Tis’ the season of giving but to scammers it’s all about taking, and nothing is off limits.

Along Florida’s East Coast, threatened manatees that are facing starvation are fed through an unprecedented program started last year.

At least 13 bald eagles were likely poisoned by scavenging the carcasses of euthanized animals that were improperly disposed of at a Minnesota landfill and three of the majestic birds have died.

The Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) and Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to save the lives of cats and dogs in America’s shelters by 2025, are teaming up for another adoption campaign to encourage people to adopt a new best friend.

Clay County Animal Services is teaming up with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and the Petfinder Foundation this holiday season to help long-term shelter dogs in Clay County find their forever homes.

Multiple people on social media have been sharing photos and videos saying they’ve seen coyotes roaming near homes in northern St. Johns County in recent weeks.

Three adult male manatees rescued from waters in the Florida Keys earlier this year have been returned to a Keys canal after being treated and rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando.

A man is charged with animal cruelty in connection with the death of a cat in the Springfield neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The city of Jacksonville’s Animal Care and Protective Services will host a free dog adoption event Saturday at the Legends Center.

Jacksonville firefighters rescued two dogs from a house fire Wednesday morning in the city’s Sandalwood neighborhood, officials said.

Pet owners in the Springfield area who were already on edge following the recent disappearance of multiple cats are even more on edge after an incident involving a family cat was caught on video.