Baby, It’s a Wild World
by Charlotte Skipper
Oviedo residents may think of their city as simply a bustling area full of booming businesses. But if they take a closer look, they’ll also find an even more active ecosystem of flora and fauna throughout the city’s parks and trails.
To better blend both worlds, the City of Oviedo’s Public Works Department and Stormwater Division are rejuvenating their Wildlife Whereabouts program. This educational initiative was started in May 2025 through an effort to track and observe 16 native species that can be found in Oviedo’s floodplains. The beautifully diverse species range from American alligators and Florida black bears to roseate spoonbills and monarch butterflies.
City employees including Amanda Kortus and Cameron Caicedo saw the potential to mold Wildlife Whereabouts into a citizen science program by creating an interactive map where explorers can upload photos and videos of wildlife sightings in their habitats. This way, residents and visitors can have fun exploring the great outdoors while they contribute to wildlife conservation.
“It’s eye-opening to see how many endangered or threatened species the city actually does have living here,” says Amanda, Oviedo’s stormwater coordinator. “This program helped us realize there’s more interest out there, and people really want to help us with conservation.”
Look for the Signs
And now, contributing to the Wildlife Whereabouts program is even easier. In April 2026, signs were installed at Center Lake, Round Lake, Sweetwater, Solary, and Riverside parks, detailing animals that residents might find in the area, along with a scannable QR code. The QR code takes users directly to the city’s website, where photos, videos, and descriptions of animals found in those areas can be uploaded.
Oviedo’s efforts to keep its wildlife protected are advancing, thanks to more photo submissions that are coming in from the public.
“Having a program where you’re able to see the results firsthand is really important for conservation efforts,” says Cameron, the city’s environmental and sustainability specialist. “From a stormwater perspective, it’s important to be able to see just how much wildlife is out there, how it all relates to the floodplains, and how we’re all intertwined.”
A Perfect Photo Op
Karen Guin, an Oviedo resident for 21 years, is an avid citizen scientist and has contributed to Wildlife Whereabouts numerous times. With a few snaps of her phone, she captured and uploaded a video and photos of river otters in Sweetwater Creek. Karen has also contributed photos of several other animals to the program’s interactive map.
For Karen, one of the best parts about living in Oviedo is being able to witness so much nature so close to home.
“Oviedo has some lovely parks,” she says, “and I’m out in them all the time, as well as several county wilderness areas, and I’ve just seen wonderful things. I love the local wildlife here.”
The city has plans to keep expanding Wildlife Whereabouts by adding more signs around Oviedo and bringing educational programs to local schools. At the end of the day, raising awareness will help keep the wildlife thriving in their natural habitats.
“Bringing more awareness might encourage residents to consider being a little bit greener,” says Amanda. “It’s about making people care and opening their eyes and getting everybody on board. You may not see these animals [every day], but they’re there.”
To learn more, visit CityOfOviedo.net/wildlife.
Safety First
Oviedo residents and visitors who are participating in the city’s Wildlife Whereabouts program should follow these safety tips:
Keep a safe distance from all wildlife, especially dangerous species such as alligators, snakes, and bears.
Do not feed the wildlife to get a good picture.
Do not disturb nests, eggs, or offspring.
Observe, don’t interact.