As summer settles across Florida, another hurricane season is underway.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, and while none of us can predict exactly what the coming months will bring, one thing is certain: preparation matters. Taking steps now can make a big difference for your family, your pets, and the wildlife that call Florida home.
Living in Florida means sharing our state with incredible natural resources and diverse wildlife, but it also means facing the reality of powerful storms. Hurricanes can bring flooding, storm surge, high winds, and widespread damage that affects both people and animals.
Now is a good time to review your hurricane plans and make sure you’re ready if a storm threatens your area. Check your emergency supplies, stock up on essentials like water, nonperishable food, medications, batteries, and flashlights, and make sure you have a plan for your pets. It’s also important to know your evacuation zone, secure outdoor items around your home, and stay informed through trusted weather and emergency management sources.
When hurricanes move through Florida, wildlife often faces challenges of its own. Burrowing owls can lose nesting sites due to flooding and may be seen sheltering in unusual places after a storm. Manatees can become injured or displaced as habitats are damaged by storm surge and debris. Snakes are often spotted more frequently as rising water pushes them to higher ground. Fish kills can also occur when storms alter water quality and oxygen levels in lakes, rivers, and estuaries.
If you encounter wildlife that appears injured, stranded, or in distress after a storm, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Large fish kills can be reported to FWC at 800-636-0511.
When disaster strikes, FWC officers, biologists, and staff work tirelessly to respond. From conducting rescues and helping stranded residents to caring for wildlife and assessing storm impacts, their teams are often on the front lines before, during, and after hurricanes.
Our Foundation is proud to support those efforts. Through donor support, we help provide resources that strengthen FWC’s ability to respond when emergencies occur and assist the people dedicated to protecting Florida’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources.
Hurricane season can be unpredictable, but preparation is something we can all control. By taking a few simple steps now, we can help keep our families, communities, and wildlife safer in the months ahead.
Stay safe, Florida!
