The Florida Blind Crayfish
With summer steadily approaching, it’s time to start planning your next vacation. So you’ve decided –wisely– to skip the hassle of booking hotels and have rented (or purchased!) an RV for your next vacation. But where should you go? With fifty mainland states full of renowned attractions to choose from, there are obviously many choices. But with its abundant wildlife and natural parks as well as its countless beaches and popular tourist destinations, Florida may just be the perfect state for RVers looking for an exciting trip. Cut the hotel costs and drive all over, from Miami to Orlando to the Everglades and back— all while returning to the same bed each night.
Beaches, Theme Parks, and Crazy Creatures!
The Sunshine State has many world-renowned sights like Disneyworld, Universal Studios, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but there is also plenty of incredible wildlife to choose from. If your idea of the perfect vacation includes camping, seeing rare wildlife, and relaxing in nature, Florida has you covered. And for those willing to dig a little deeper, they may find even more than they expected! Head north of Orlando to Lake County and you may just get a sneak peek of one of the rarest creatures in the world. We have scouted all over Florida and if you want a glimpse of these little guys, we can point you in just the right direction.
Catch A Glimpse of the Rarest Creature in Florida the Blind Crayfish
Home to over 600 lakes and rivers, Ocala National Forest provides ample opportunity to relax and recharge through canoeing, boating, snorkeling, and other water adventuring. The closest towns are Altoona and Astor of Lake County. Ocala National Forest is home to many a natural jewel of flora and fauna– and is one of the only places in the world to see the rare and endangered blind crayfish in its natural habitat. The cave-dwelling crayfish with its pearly eyes and ivory shell is quite a sight–especially because they have none! Due to the darkness of the waters in the caves they inhabit, this crayfish has mutated over millennia and lost not only the pigment in its shell but the function of their eyes. There are not even a dozen of these ghostly creatures in the wild, and so little is known about them that the Fish and Wildlife Foundation is giving donating thousands of dollars so that the blind crayfish can be studied at length.
A one-inch long juvenile cave crayfish swims in the water column of a north Florida Spring.
Within Ocala National Forest, Alexander Springs is home to these elusive, cave-dwelling crayfish. With its gorgeous and crystal-clear turquoise waters and lush overhang of palm trees, this tranquil and verdant oasis is the perfect destination for nature lovers or those simply looking for a change of pace. Alexander Springs has boating and hiking, and even camping if you decide you’d like to spend a night under the stars. Park your RV at Ocala North Resort within Ocala National Forest and stay at home in the wild. A glimpse of the rare and endangered crayfish will make for an unforgettable story on your dream trip through the beautiful sunshine state!
