Withlacoochee State Forest

Withlacoochee State Forest has been named one of the “10 Coolest Places You’ve Never Been in North America” by the World Wildlife Fund. Managed by the Florida Forest Service, the Withlacoochee State Forest is located on U.S. Highway 41 approximately seven miles north of the town of Brooksville and 50 miles north of Tampa and is a nature lovers paradise.

Hike, bike, or horseback ride on miles of trails, or simply drive through the forest. Paddle the winding Withlacoochee River, Little Withlacoochee River, and Jumper Creek, all of which have been recognized as Outstanding Florida Waters.

Notice the variety of trees at Withlacoochee State Forest. Discover southern magnolias, oaks, maples, gums, slash pine, longleaf pine, pond cypress, bald cypress, and hickory. Blooming blazing stars, goldenrod, thistle, and more will greet you along the way.

Withlacoochee State Forest is teeming with wildlife. The forest is part of The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and is designated a Florida Scenic Trail. Listen and look for fox squirrels, white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises, rabbits, gray squirrels, wild turkeys, sandhill cranes, hawks, bald eagles, and owls.

Croom Motorcycle Area provides 2,600 acres of off-road facilities for motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts.

For those who want to take their time and explore all of Withlacoochee State Forest campgrounds are available. There are several primitive campgrounds for those who want a more rustic experience. The Tillis Hill Day Use Area is a perfect place for larger gatherings. A pavilion, commercial-sized grill/smoker, and dining hall are available for cooking and feeding your guests. There are 3 pavilions and numerous picnic tables waiting for you to enjoy your picnic at McKethan Lake.

Leashed pets are allowed in some areas. Be sure to stop at the Withlacoochee State Forest Visitor Center for maps, current conditions, and more.

For more information: https://www.fdacs.gov/…/State-Fo…/Withlacoochee-State-Forest

Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain

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Seminole State Forest

Seminole State Forest, located in Eustis in Lake County, boasts 18 different ecological communities, each with its own unique animals and plants, 15 springs, the Black Water Creek, and the Wekiva River. Sand pine scrub measuring 4300 acres provides a home for Scrub-Jays, Eastern Indigo Snakes, Hooded Pitcher Plants, and the iconic Florida Black Bear.

Acquired under the Conservation and Recreation Land, Save Our Rivers, Preservation 2000, and Florida Forever programs, Seminole State Forest is managed by the Florida Forest Service.

A hiker’s paradise awaits you at Seminole State Forest. There are more than 34 miles of hiking trails maintained by the Florida Trail Association. The National Scenic Trail crosses thru a 16-mile expanse of the Seminole State Forest and runs from Rt. 46 to the Ocala Forest. The North Sulphur Island Loop Trail is 8.5 miles and the Lower Wekiva Loop Trail is 10.4 miles.

There are 25 miles of equestrian trails and 25 miles of open roads and trails for bicyclists. Explore Black Water Creek in your canoe or kayak. Drive-in access for automobiles requires a permit.

Camp at one of the 5 primitive campsites, cook your dinner on the fire ring, and eat at the provided picnic table. Three additional walk-up campsites are located on the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Pets are welcome when on a leash.

Seminole State Forest is located in the Wekiva River basin and has 2 entrances. The Bear Pond Trailhead is located off of State Road 46, approximately 5 miles west of Interstate 4. Cassia Trailhead is located off of Brantley Branch Road, 0.1 miles east of State Road 44 in Cassia.

For more information: Seminole State Forest / State Forests / Our Forests / Florida Forest Service / Divisions & Offices / Home – Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

For more information: https://www.fdacs.gov/…/Our-Forests/S…/Seminole-State-Forest

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo

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Bottlenose Dolphin

With their never-ending smiles, Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) easily capture our hearts. These large mammals grow to lengths of 10 to 14 feet and can weigh as much as 1,100 pounds. Their powerful bodies allow them to reach speeds of over 18 miles an hour. They can live to be 50 years old.

Bottlenose Dolphins can be found inshore and offshore, including in estuaries. They are easy to spot as they surface two to three times a minute to breathe. Bottlenose Dolphins live in a community called a pod. Here they communicate with each other with an elaborate system of squeaks and whistles. Their speech allows them to work as a group to help a sick or injured dolphin, encircle a school of fish for a community dinner, and guard the pod against a shark attack.

Using echolocation, Bottlenose dolphins make 1,000 clicking noises per second. The sounds of the clicks travel through the water until it bounces off their prey. When the sound returns, the dolphin can expertly determine the shape, size, and location of their next meal. Each day an adult dolphin can eat 20 pounds of flounder, mullet, pinfish, sheepshead, and marine invertebrates.

Feeding a dolphin or swimming with a dolphin can seem harmless. It is not. In fact, it is against federal law. Human interactions with these magnificent animals can cause them to be drawn to humans, thus putting them at risk of boating accidents, entanglement in fishing nets, and consuming food that jeopardizes their health. Dolphins will pass these dangerous behaviors to their next generation. Grab a camera, and sit back and enjoy them playing and leaping in their natural, wild habitat.

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Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park
Here are no lofty peaks seeking the sky, no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land. Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of water, but as the last receiver of it.
~ President Harry Truman
Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the US. Its 1.5 million acres include swamps, marshes. mangroves, hardwood hammocks, pinelands, sawgrass, and slough ecosystems. It is designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, a Wetland of International Importance, and a protected area under the Cartagena Treaty.
Once measuring 11,000 square miles, the Everglades contained a slow-moving sheet of water which balanced the ecosystem in southern Florida. Colonial settlers saw the area as farmland. Developers found it suitable for development. In the early 1900s, the wetland was being drained for development. Years of human interference in this natural landscape severely damaged the ecosystem and imperiled the animals and plants who once thrived there.
Everglades National Park was established in 1947 at the insistence of scientists and conservationists to conserve the remaining natural landscape. Animal and plant species found only in the Everglades became protected. Many of the Everglades’ ecosystems are fire-dependent, therefore, a fire regime is in place. Prescribed burns not only assure that the animals and plants will survive but also thrive in their homeland. In 1977, Congress named 86% of the park the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness in honor of her relentless work on behalf of protecting the Everglades. There are 21 protected species in the wilderness and 1/3 of the area is submerged.
Everglades National Park provides boundless opportunities for research. Current research includes the study of invasive plants and animals as well as wildlife and hydraulic monitoring. Located on the edge of the Atlantic ocean that is experiencing sea level rise, the Everglades is the perfect place to study the changes already caused by Climate Change as well as future changes that are certain to occur.
Everglades National Park is waiting for you to explore the ecosystems and discover the endemic and legally protected animal and plant species. Look for abundant alligators, white-tailed deer, and bobcats. Discover rare and endangered species such as American Crocodiles, Florida Panthers, and West Indian Manatees.
There is plenty to explore and discover at Everglades National Park. Guided tours, boating, and hiking are wonderful ways to learn about the park. Camping sites are available for RV’s and tents. For the more adventurous, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness offers primitive camping complete with dark night skies for stargazing.
Temperatures average 53°F to 77°F from December through April. May through November is the wet season when the humidity and temperatures are high. There are 4 entrances, each with their own unique areas to explore. Be sure to click on the link below to plan your trip.
Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain
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Blue Passion Flower

Blue Passion Flowers (Passiflora incarnate), also known as Maypops, are native to Florida and easy to grow in your yard. They are host plants for Gulf Fritillary butterflies and attract a variety of bees and butterflies as well as hummingbirds and bats. Look for Blue Passion Flowers along roadsides and in citrus groves or anywhere there is dry soil.

A Blue Passion Flower vine is a must-have for your butterfly garden. The stunning 3-5 inch blooms only last for a day, however, they bloom summer through fall. Plant this vine along a fence or let it climb up your arbor or trellis. The Maypop will die back after frost but will pop up again in May.

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo


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River Lakes Conservation Area

River Lakes Conservation Area is an Upper St. Johns River Basin Project and is overseen by the St. Johns Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Together, the organizations reclaimed drained marshlands, replumbed existing canals, and created new reservoirs. Today, the restored wetland habitat helps control flooding, improves water quality, reduces freshwater discharges to the Indian River Lagoon, and provides a clean water supply to Melbourne.

The restored River Lakes Conservation Area, located 15 minutes west of the Viera, delights outdoor enthusiasts. Hike, bike, bird watch, discover wildlife, or launch your boat or paddleboard. The area includes 3 lakes: Winder Lake, Poinsett Lake, and Washington Lake. Picnic pavilions and restrooms are provided at Washington Lake. There are 3 boat ramps on the property. Primitive camping sites and shelters are available for those who want to spend the night or a week.

Explore the 7 miles of trails through hardwood and palm hammocks, open vistas, and grasslands. Wildflowers, wood storks, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and river otters are residents at River Lakes Conservation Area. Dogs are welcome and must be on a leash.

For more information: https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/river-lakes/

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo

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Pygmy Rattlesnake

Pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius) are found throughout Florida. They are found in various habitats in the wild and are the most common venomous snake to make an appearance in a Florida yard.

At only 18 inches long and with a skin color that allows them to camouflage easily, Pygmy rattlesnakes are seldom seen. They have a small rattle that sounds like a buzzing insect. Like all snakes, the Pygmy Rattlesnake prefers to retreat when encountering a human. However, this feisty snake won’t hesitate to attack if provoked.

Pygmy Rattlesnakes give birth to three to nine live young in late summer. Mice, nesting birds, lizards, insects, frogs, and other small snakes make a menu full of meal choices.

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Brahminy Blind Snake

The Brahminy Blind Snake (Indotyphlops braminus) is also known as the Flower Pot Snake because it hitchhiked from Asia to Florida in shipments of potted plants.

All Brahminy Blind Snakes are female. Reproduction occurs when the cells in the egg begin to divide. A single snake can produce eight genetically identical babies.

This tiny snake is often mistaken for an earthworm. On closer inspection, you will see that she has no segments, and her eye sockets are covered with scales. She may even stick out her tongue while you are holding her.

Look for Brahminy Blind Snakes in your garden under rotting wood, leaf litter, and mulch. They pose no known threat to natives. Their favorite dinner of termites and ant pupae can be found when they burrow into moist, loose soil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty1DnxHpVqA&feature=youtu.be

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