Sanibel Island was decimated when strong winds and a deadly 18' high storm surge from Hurricane Ian came rushing over and swallowing up the island on September 28, 2022.  But God made nature incredibly resilient, and both the island wildlife and the people who live there are strong and holding onto hope.

Seven weeks later, signs of LIFE are springing up in this beautiful and beloved tropical paradise. Enjoy these photos of the recovery of the plant and animal life on Sanibel after Ian. May it give you hope as well! ♥️

Signs of Plant Life & Vegetation on Sanibel after Ian

Yes, the vegetation is greening up, plants and flowers are budding, and signs of life are popping out everywhere!

The bold color of hope...beautiful hibiscus at Sanibel Moorings 🧡

As Sanibel resident Mark Heiman remarked,

"For the first 4 or 5 weeks after Ian, we didn’t see or hear any signs of life on the island. There weren’t even mosquitoes or noseums. For the last couple of weeks we are seeing a transformation. The island is greening up, we are hearing and seeing birds, mourning doves, cardinals, woodpeckers, pelicans, Osprey, and Ibis. We have seen raccoons, iguanas, and manatees. And the mosquitoes and noseums are back with a vengeance."

Signs of Wildlife on Sanibel after Ian

I love all of these beautiful photos of the animals and birds on Sanibel that are thriving after Ian!

Iguanas

Crocodile

Majestic Osprey

I hope these Sanibel photos brought a smile to your day. You can see more beautiful post-hurricane wildlife photos and videos on my post How is Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge after Hurricane Ian? 

Please share with someone who would love to see these beautiful signs of life as well.

Hope abounds, and life is springing up everywhere on Sanibel! ♥️

Beautiful Photography Credit

A big thank you to the Sanibel residents who shared their beautiful photos of the post-Ian wildlife on Sanibel.

Many of these stunning wildlife photos were taken by Sanibel artist Angelika Geerlof. You can see more of her work on her Sanibel Moodscapes Facebook page HERE and her website HERE. Many of her photographs are available for purchase on canvas, mouse pads, tote bags, calendars, Christmas ornaments and more.

Support a local Sanibel artist this Christmas! ☺️

Share your Stories, Photos, Updates about your Sanibel Business, & Volunteer Opportunities

If you have a personal story about the hurricane, and/or photos or videos of the damage and recovery efforts that you'd like to share on this site, please submit them HERE. I would also like to know about volunteer opportunities so I can share them with others. 
If you have a business on SanCap, we would also love to stay updated on your recovery progress. Just let us know HERE!

Sanibel Online Shopping Directory

Help support Sanibel in its recovery efforts as well as  Sanibel businesses by shopping from the Sanibel Online Shopping Directory! What a great way to show love to your favorite island! ❤️‍🩹