A Southern fox squirrel — larger, rarer and harder to spot than the common gray squirrel — has been caught on camera at a wildlife crossing beneath Wekiva Parkway (S.R. 429) in Central Florida.
Trail cameras installed by the Florida Department of Transportation captured the striking sighting, offering a glimpse into the wildlife that quietly moves through one of the region’s most carefully designed roadways.
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What is a Southern fox squirrel?
Southern fox squirrels are notably larger than the gray squirrels most Floridians see in their backyards, and they’re far less common. Their presence at the wildlife crossing underscores just how important these conservation features can be for local ecosystems.
The trail camera footage is a reminder that even in a region defined by its roadways and urban growth, nature finds a way — especially when given a little help.
Wekiva Parkway built with wildlife in mind
Completed in 2024, the Wekiva Parkway was the final piece of Central Florida’s beltway system. But FDOT didn’t just build a road — it built a road designed to coexist with the natural world around it.
The project included the purchase of 3,400 acres of conservation land and the construction of 1.5 miles of wildlife bridges, along with special fencing engineered to protect animals and natural resources within the Wekiva River Basin.