Whales in Florida in December
Yes, December is a good month to see whales in Florida. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 1,735 of the 20,100 sightings logged across the year (8.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Good month for whales in Florida
8.6%
of yearly sightings
1,735
records in December
#5
busiest month of 12
20,100
verified records a year
November 7.3%, December 8.6%, January 9.1%. Busiest month is May at 10.7%.
20,100 verified observations of whales in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When whales are recorded in Florida
Peak month
May
2,156 records (10.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,823 | 9.1% |
| February | 1,581 | 7.9% |
| Marchpeak | 2,111 | 10.5% |
| Aprilpeak | 2,030 | 10.1% |
| Maypeak | 2,156 | 10.7% |
| June | 1,691 | 8.4% |
| July | 1,445 | 7.2% |
| August | 1,280 | 6.4% |
| September | 1,286 | 6.4% |
| October | 1,486 | 7.4% |
| November | 1,476 | 7.3% |
| December | 1,735 | 8.6% |
Whales you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | 12,681 |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin | 3,175 |
| Wild Boar | 2,268 |
| Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin | 833 |
| American Bison | 313 |
| Domestic Cattle | 42 |
| North Atlantic Right Whale | 26 |
| Sambar | 11 |
In Florida, December carries 8.6% of the year's whales sightings, about 0.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from November (7.3%) into December, and it heads toward January (9.1%) after. The busiest month is May (10.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The whales most often recorded in Florida are White-tailed Deer, Common Bottlenose Dolphin and Wild Boar. Those counts are annual totals rather than a December split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in December itself.
Which whales you are most likely to see
- White-tailed Deer12,681 records
- Common Bottlenose Dolphin3,175 records
- Wild Boar2,268 records
- Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin833 records
- American Bison313 records
- Domestic Cattle42 records
Plan your whale trip in Florida
Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main whale viewing area.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you see whales in Florida in December?+
Yes. December accounts for 1,735 of the 20,100 verified whales sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 8.6% of the annual total.
Is December a good time to see whales in Florida?+
December is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though May and March is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for whales in Florida?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, March and April, based on 20,100 verified observations.
Which whales are you most likely to see in Florida?+
The most-recorded species in Florida are White-tailed Deer, Common Bottlenose Dolphin and Wild Boar, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.