The Everglades Hit Its Driest Point in 25 Years and Captain Greg Shows CBS Miami What It Looked Like

The Everglades Hit Its Driest Point in 25 Years and Captain Greg Shows CBS Miami What It Looked Like

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A Record Breaking Dry Season in the Florida Everglades

This past season in the Florida Everglades was unlike anything locals have seen in decades. Water levels dropped to historic lows, wildlife patterns shifted, and the land itself showed signs of stress that only seasoned Gladesmen truly recognize. For the first time in twenty five years, the Everglades reached a level of dryness that changed the entire ecosystem.

When CBS Miami came out to cover the story, Captain Greg, owner of Airboat Adventures Everglades, took them straight into the areas most affected. Not the tourist spots, but the real Everglades. The places where the River of Grass should be flowing, where wading birds should be feeding, and where the marsh should be alive.

Watch the CBS Miami feature‍ ‍https://youtu.be/uJKkasqvZVc?si=WZczIRryi7HE_2WX

What CBS Miami Saw With Captain Greg

Out on the water, Greg showed CBS Miami exactly how severe the drought had become.

Water levels dropped so low that normally flooded areas turned into open mud flats Marsh beds dried out and cracked under the sun Wildlife crowded into smaller pockets of habitat Vegetation browned and thinned far earlier than usual

For people who do not spend time in the Glades, it is easy to assume dry season is just dry season. This year was different. This was a warning sign that affects every part of the Everglades ecosystem.

Wildfires Followed the Drought

After months of extreme dryness, the Everglades saw multiple wildfires break out across the region. Smoke columns rose over the horizon, sawgrass burned, and tree islands were scorched. Fire crews worked nonstop to keep the flames from spreading into new areas.

Wildfires are part of the Everglades natural cycle, but when the land is this dry, they burn hotter, faster, and more aggressively. The damage left behind can take years for the ecosystem to recover from.

The Everglades Foundation Speaks Out

During the CBS Miami coverage, The Everglades Foundation also spoke about the severity of this year’s drought and the long term risks it poses. Their scientists have been warning for years that water mismanagement, climate shifts, and invasive species are putting more pressure on the Everglades than ever before.

Learn more about their work https://www.evergladesfoundation.org

Their mission aligns closely with what Captain Greg sees every day. An ecosystem that needs protection, restoration, and public awareness.

Invasive Species Make the Problem Worse

Dry conditions hit native wildlife the hardest, but invasive species like Burmese pythons, chameleons, iguanas, and other non native predators do not slow down. They thrive in stressed ecosystems.

Greg sees the impact firsthand.

Fewer raccoons, rabbits, and birds in python heavy areas Chameleons and iguanas pushing deeper into the Glades Native species losing ground they cannot afford to lose

This is why python removal and invasive species control matter. Every python removed is one less predator destroying native wildlife.

Why Protecting the Everglades Matters

The Everglades is one of the most important ecosystems in the world. It is the drinking water source for millions of Floridians. It is home to species found nowhere else. It is a living river that stretches across the bottom of the state.

When it dries out like this, it is a reminder of how fragile it really is and how much work goes into protecting it.

People like Captain Greg, The Everglades Foundation, and countless conservationists work every day to keep the River of Grass alive. Awareness matters too. The more people understand what is happening out here, the better chance we have of saving it.

See the Everglades Through the Eyes of a Real Gladesman

If you want to understand the Everglades the way Greg does, you have to see it for yourself. Not from the highway, not from a boardwalk, but from the water.

Airboat Adventures Everglades Miami Florida 305 766 1929 FloridaTourCompany.com Instagram at airboat adventures everglades

Ride with real Gladesmen See what CBS Miami saw Learn why the Everglades needs us now more than ever