to our partners in protection, thank you.
All photos by Anna Crocitto
For almost 25 years, Conservation Florida has been honored to conserve more than 35,000 acres of land — saving vital landscapes that sustain unique ecosystems & wildlife across the state. From the Florida panther roaming the Everglades to the delicate ghost orchid blooming in our swamps, every acre we protect is a step toward preserving the beauty and biodiversity of Wild Florida.
We’ve made strides in our mission to protect Florida’s water, wildlife, and wild places because of you.
It’s your passion, your dedication to wildlife, and your love for the land that fuels our work.
Born in Florida, Bound to Protect
As a South Florida native, Zero Waste Store (ZWS) owner, Sarah Zielinski, knows firsthand the beauty and fragility of Florida’s natural landscapes. Growing up surrounded by the state’s unique wildlife and precious natural treasures, she developed a deep connection to what’s left of wild Florida.
In 2018, Sarah founded ZWS, an online marketplace offering over 1,000 eco-friendly and plastic-free products from small businesses. Her commitment to Florida goes beyond business — it’s personal, this is her home.
“Florida means everything to me,” Sarah says. “I want to do everything in my power to help protect the wild places we have left.”
As part of the 1% for the Planet program, Zero Waste Store donates a portion of its sales to support Conservation Florida. Their customers have the option to round up their purchases at checkout, directly contributing to Conservation Florida’s land conservation efforts. Allowing customers to stand up for black bears, scrub jays, and all the creatures who call Florida home.
“We may not have physical land to contribute,” Sarah shares, “but I'm happy that our donations help expand Conservation Florida’s land conservancy efforts, which in turn protects Wild Florida.”
When We Stand Together, Wild Florida Can Thrive
Protecting Florida’s water, wildlife, and wild places isn’t something we can do alone — it takes a community that believes in the future of Florida. Every donation, partnership, and act of advocacy has contributed to our mission, and we are deeply grateful for each and every one of you.
You’ve shown up for Wild Florida — for the rivers, forests, and the incredible wildlife — and because of your unwavering support, we are preserving precious green spaces across the Sunshine State.
As Sarah shared, "It makes us feel like we’re a part of the Conservation Florida mission," and that’s exactly what you are: a vital part of this collective effort.
Together, we are building a future where Wild Florida thrives — and we couldn’t do it without you.
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 35,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Want to support our land conservation mission?
Contact Sarah Shepard, Communications Director
sarah@conservationfla.org
Every Step Counts: The 2024 Wild Florida 5K raises over $25,000 for land conservation in the sunshine state
Whether you walked, ran, or danced across that finish line, one thing’s for certain: YOU helped save our wild Florida.
Whether you walked, ran, or danced across that finish line, one thing’s for certain: your participation helps ensure our wildlife and wild lands stay exactly that — wild.
You Made an Impact!
With 425 runners coming out to join us on December 8, 2024, we raised over $25,000 to help protect the lands we love and connect the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Runners from around the world:
“Living in the Netherlands, just 30 min away from Amsterdam, I was asked to travel to Orlando for my work. I care about nature and try to minimize my carbon footprint where I can. So, anticipating my flight I decided to come a day earlier and find a way to compensate for my environmental impact of the flight. I found your event on the scheduled events for Orlando and it immediately felt the right thing to do.” -Winfried
Runners crushed the course — both in-person & virtually. If you weren’t able to make the event in Orlando, you still made a difference — and broke a sweat!
Click below to view your race day photos! Don't forget to share the fun to social media and tag @conservationflorida!
A big thank you to our prize provider, FLOrigins, who hand-crafted this beautiful Florida flag piece for our overall winner!
Congratulations to our 2024 Wild Florida 5K winners!
THANK YOU TO OUR wonderful SPONSORS!
AND THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS!
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 35,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Questions?
Contact Sarah Shepard, Communications Director
sarah@conservationfla.org
Reel Skipper Partners with Conservation Florida for a Cause Close to the Heart: Protecting Paradise
Reel Skipper partners with Conservation Florida to save land. For the month of September, Reel Skipper is donating 30% of proceeds from the Conservation Florida Collection back protecting paradise.
Conservation Florida and Reel Skipper, an adventure clothing brand created by women for women, are teaming up to protect Florida’s wild places! Reel Skipper cares deeply about our planet’s natural wild wonders and all those who care for them. With developers targeting critical habitats across the state, so much we love is at risk. The Conservation Florida Collection aims to support the permanent protection of land that is disappearing rapidly across the state. Reel Skipper is dedicated to supporting Florida land conservation efforts, and you can help, too!
During the month of September, Reel Skipper is donating 30% of proceeds from the Conservation Florida Collection to help fund our mission of protecting the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and permanently connecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Purchasing from the collection directly helps protect land.
Conservation Florida has already protected more than 35,000 acres statewide, and with your help, there are only more to come.
Above photos by @anna_crocitto
Do you want to help even more? Getting involved is easy! You can support our mission by sponsoring events, volunteering, starting a fundraiser, donating services, and more! Land conservation is a community effort, and there are numerous ways to give support. Spread our mission and stay up to date by following @conservationflorida.
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved more than 35,000 acres of critical habitat.
Intern Spotlight: Meet Ewan
From volunteer to intern — Ewan’s journey with Conservation Florida began as a service project and blossomed into a deep passion for conservation, ignited by his experiences at the 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 D Ranch Preserve.
Ewan’s Journey at Conservation Florida
At Conservation Florida, our mission thrives on dedicated and passionate individuals like Ewan, whose journey with us has been nothing short of impactful and inspiring. Ewan first found us through a unique service learning project at University of Central Florida. What started as a school assignment turned into so much more for Ewan. The very values he was studying in our team turned out to be ones he lived by himself, thanks to his experience at D Ranch Preserve, roughly 30 miles outside of Orlando.
From Chance Encounter to Deep Commitment
When Ewan first stepped foot on D Ranch Preserve in October 2023, the sprawling land and the wind through the trees invited him in. He was met by Conservation Florida's land steward, Mark Rizzo, but also by the lush landscape — vibrant greens and earthy browns, where wildlife darted through underbrush and the sky seemed to stretch endlessly. The beauty and potential of the property, combined with the meaningful impact of our work, sparked something within him. He was drawn not only to the hands-on clean-ups but also to the broader mission of Conservation Florida. His semester-long project soon turned into an ongoing involvement, driven by a newfound passion for conservation and the unique charm of D Ranch Preserve.
Why Ewan Chose to Return
Ewan's connection to D Ranch Preserve grew stronger with each visit. Living in bustling Orlando, he cherished his escapes to the serene expanse of D Ranch Preserve. Each visit was truly wild: the brisk, fresh air that invigorated him, the dramatic thunderstorms that rolled across the horizon, and the subtle rustling of creatures hidden in the tall grass. These moments — watching a deer cautiously approach a clearing or feeling the first droplets of rain after a dry spell — cemented his belief in the importance of preserving such spaces. The ranch wasn’t just a piece of property; it was a testament to nature's resilience and a beacon for his future aspirations.
Making a Difference Together
Through early mornings and hands-on learning, Ewan's commitment landed him an internship. Mornings at D Ranch Preserve were a mix of grit and discovery: the challenge of treating invasive Cogan grass and the quiet satisfaction of seeing the land thrive. Under Mark’s mentorship, Ewan gained invaluable skills — balancing multiple projects, understanding land management, and witnessing the tangible effects of their work. Each skill learned was another brushstroke on his growing canvas of conservation knowledge.
“Every time I'm out there, I'm learning something new.”
Reflecting on the Experience
Working with Mark has been a highlight for Ewan, who praises the mentorship and practical skills he’s gained. Whether it's tackling trail maintenance or listening in on strategic planning sessions, Ewan values the broad knowledge and skills he's developed. He recalls the feeling of working on the ranch, reinforcing his desire to pursue a career in conservation. "To think that this kind of work could be a career path is so uplifting and inspiring. This is what I want to be doing, this kind of work,” he says.
Join Us in Our Mission
Ewan’s journey embodies what makes Conservation Florida special. His enthusiasm is infectious.
“It’s amazing to see people’s faces light up when they hear about D Ranch,” he says with a smile.
We invite you to experience the magic of D Ranch for yourself — explore the trails, feel the pulse of the land, and see how you can contribute to our mission. From community outreach to trail planning events, there’s a place for everyone to make a meaningful impact. Join us, and be part of something extraordinary.
“Ewan is a great example of how passion, leadership and volunteerism can lead to further contributions in conservation,” said Conservation Florida Land Steward Mark Rizzo.
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved more than 35,000 acres of critical habitat.
Save the Florida Panther Day: March 16, 2024
Save the Florida Panther Day, is a day — recognized by Florida law — to show some love for our state's iconic big cat. Because Florida isn’t just our home — it’s theirs, too!
Photo by Adam Bass, Vice President of Conservation
A Call for Conservation
Today, Save the Florida Panther Day, is a day — recognized by Florida law — to show some love for our state's iconic big cat. Because Florida isn’t just our home — it’s theirs, too!
Florida panthers once sprawled all across the Sunshine State — even roaming as far west as Arkansas and as far north as South Carolina.
Today only about 120-230 adult panthers exist, and they’re primarily spotted only in southwest Florida.
At Conservation Florida, we're committed to safeguarding the Florida panther's habitat. Last year, we preserved more than 10,000 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, ensuring safe spaces for these majestic cats to roam and thrive.
A male Florida panther’s territory can span 200 to 250 square miles in size. With roughly 1,000 people moving to the state each day (that’s a city the size of Orlando every year), their home is at risk.
The Florida panther was added to the endangered species list in 1967.
Male panthers typically weigh between 100 and 160 pounds, while females weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.
In the Seminole language, the panther is known as coo-wah-chobee, which means "big cat."
Florida panthers often have a distinctive right-angle kink at the end of their tails.
Panthers in the wild can live for 20 years or more.
Florida panthers are an umbrella species, which means when we protect panthers, we protect other threatened and endangered wildlife.
One of the greatest challenges facing the Florida panther is mortality due to collisions with vehicles. As development continues to encroach on panther habitat, the number of roadkills remains a significant concern.
In 2023 alone, there were 13 documented panther deaths, and all of them were attributed to vehicle collisions. These losses highlight the urgent need for measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect panther habitats.
You may have seen wild news stories of Florida panther sightings while on an evening neighborhood stroll — or even in your own backyard. It may seem exciting — the elusive Florida panther! But these big cats are simply on the hunt for territory to call home.
At Conservation Florida, we work tirelessly to ensure the Florida panther has room to roam — a home.
Our land protection projects have directly impacted the conservation of the Florida panther, ensuring populations continue to grow and thrive.
When you support Conservation Florida, you’re protecting the Florida panther, ensuring the survival of this iconic, endangered species.
Conservation Florida to Host Inaugural Sunshine State Soirée
We are thrilled to cordially invite you to the Sunshine State Soirée, promising an unforgettable journey from the bustling streets of metropolitan Orlando to the untamed beauty of wild Florida. Leave the city behind without actually leaving it.
Join us on Friday, April 5th, and trade the concrete jungle for sprawling swamps and buzzing wildlife. It’s an evening to celebrate what we all love — the real Florida.
Join us on Friday, April 5, and trade the concrete jungle for sprawling swamps and buzzing wildlife.
We are thrilled to cordially invite you to the Sunshine State Soirée, promising an unforgettable journey from the bustling streets of metropolitan Orlando to the untamed beauty of wild Florida. Leave the city behind without actually leaving it.
Join us on Friday, April 5th, 2024, and trade the concrete jungle for sprawling swamps and buzzing wildlife. It’s an evening to celebrate what we all love — the real Florida.
📆: April 5, 2024
⏰: 6 p.m.
Purchase your tickets now and secure your spot at the Sunshine State Soirée.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available, providing a unique chance to showcase your commitment to conservation.
Your participation directly contributes to safeguarding Florida's natural beauty for generations to come.
By attending this special event, you’ll not only have the opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of our home but also play a vital role in saving it. .
From captivating décor inspired by the diverse ecosystems of Florida to exquisite cuisine showcasing local flavors, every element of the soirée is designed to feel like home — to feel like Florida.
Proceeds from the Sunshine State Soirée go directly back to Conservation Florida’s work to conserve Florida’s natural & agricultural lands — from Pensacola to the Florida Keys.
Contact Allison@conservationfla.org for details.
Conservation Conversations with Erin Klein: Running the Path to Protection
With the new year often comes new goals & new resolutions (whether they’re self-motivated or culturally conditioned, we don’t judge). For many, that involves new hobbies — maybe even some extra exercise here and there.
Check out Erin’s take on it all! You might just find yourself running on the path to protecting wild Florida.
A Conservation Conversation with Erin Klein, Conservation Florida Intern
Why wild Florida? Why protect it?
I began running when I was twelve.
My dad invited me to run with his Navy friends along the Tampa Riverwalk, convincing me despite my raging reluctance and apprehension. Underneath the blazing Florida sun, my lungs burned, on fire from exertion. They weren’t used to this sort of stuff.
I remember wanting to give up and walk but pushing myself to finish the run. That feeling of exhilaration at the end was something that I would not forget. I did that!
Soon, I began to look forward to these runs, not only because of that elusive “runner’s high” that I’d chase, but because of the wildlife that would accompany me on new trails and pathways — the seagulls flying overhead, a snake here and there, and dolphins popping out of the sparkling sea.
I was hooked — I needed to see more.
Next, I was running through the marshes of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, alongside the Potomac River, my favorite trail in Alexandria, Virginia. One of the reasons I love it is because you can look across the river to see the National Harbor in Maryland. If you really wanted to, you could run all the way to the National Mall in DC. That was more than a few miles, though.
Most of all, I loved the greenery that enveloped me as I ran through the preserve. As I was running through the foliage, it felt like I could release my worries and stressors to the leaves and dirt surrounding me.
I was able to let it all go.
There are few places that bring me the level of serenity that nature does.
Moving to Gainesville solidified my love of running in nature — along with it, my innate desire to protect it.
I arrived on the University of Florida campus anxious at the thought of being on my own for the first time in my entire life. Being away from my safety net — my family and friends and the familiarity of life in Virginia — was terrifying. Growing up as a military child, this was not a new experience, but this didn’t make this move any easier.
I decided to bank on the one source of consistency that I knew I always could — nature. I Googled the closest running trail, the Hawthorne Trail, and set off.
As soon as I stepped out of my car, feet solidly on soft soil, I finally drew in a real, deep breath. I was at last alone, away from the hustle and bustle of campus.
But I wasn’t really alone, was I?
Birds flew overhead, and I listened to their twinkling. I saw squirrels running about along the foliage and then up the trees. I ran off the trail at one point to explore the stream below and came across small turtles sitting on the logs around it, soaking up the sun. A couple of miles down the path, I came across a sign labeled “Payne’s Prairies Overlook” and decided to follow the arrow, immediately amazed by the stretch of green that extended far beyond and below me, Sandhill Cranes and Great Blue Herons flying in the distance.
I finally felt it. Peace.
That familiar feeling I get from running in nature in a place far from home was an enormous relief. Aside from the calm that I felt, I experienced a profound sense of appreciation for the green, lush area around me, shielding me from the sun and from the loud noises of the cars zipping by. Wildlife conservation has countless benefits, and my life is undeniably better because of it.
Running has allowed me to establish an increasingly intimate connection with nature — and now wild Florida. It has inspired me to pursue a career in environmental policy, advocating for wildlife like the Florida panther. I hope to inspire change and share my love of nature with future generations.
What does nature mean to you? Whether you’re immersed in it, removed from it, or somewhere in between, we all benefit in some way from nature. Our lives would look quite different if it were to disappear.
Join me today in the fight for the conservation of our natural areas. Whether that be through contacting legislators or simply conversing with friends and family on the importance of conservation, we all play a role. By taking collective action, we can ensure that wild Florida stays exactly that — wild.
I’ll see you out on the trails.
Guest Author, Erin Klein
We’ve hit the newsstand! Heartland Living
We are honored to be featured in the December 2023 - January 2024 edition of Heartland Living, the only regional lifestyle community magazine in the Florida Heartland.
Take a deep dive into “Protect Our Paradise,” a six-episode docuseries that explores the wild beauty of Florida and the efforts being taken to protect it. Stream it now on the Discover Florida app.
Hey, Florida! You heard that right — go grab your copy!
Out now, Heartland Living, available in print to Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee and Polk counties and everywhere online.
We’re thrilled to announce that “Protect Our Paradise,” our six-episode docuseries, is featured in Heartland Living’s December 2023/January 2024 edition. Writer Christy Swift dives deep into the making of the series and sits down with Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen and Protect Our Paradise host Chad Crawford to explore what it takes to protect wild Florida.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Heartland Living for helping protect our paradise!
Magical Milestone: Walt Disney World Awards Grant to Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is officially a 2023 Walt Disney World Grant Recipient!
Today is the most magical day here at Conservation Florida!
We got a call today from a very special mouse with extremely exciting news … drumroll, please … we are officially a 2023 Walt Disney World Grant Recipient!
Walt Disney World will generously donate to 19 nonprofit organizations across the state of Florida — its home for more than half a century. Gifts total $1.5 million, all going back to create positive change in the state they call home.
Adventure awaits!
As Floridians, we are no strangers to the breathtaking beauty that our state has to offer.
More than 137 million people visit Florida each year to take in all its wonder. From the crystal-clear springs to the syrupy swamps, Florida's ecosystems are not only a real-life fairy tale — but they’re unfortunately at-risk.
With this generous grant from Disney, we will be able to continue our mission of preserving and protecting the unique ecosystems that make Florida so special.
You’ve got a friend in us.
Conservation is a team effort that truly takes a village — conservationists, communities, and corporations combined.
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support to fuel our projects and initiatives. The Disney Conservation Fund Grant is a shining example of how support and funding can make a significant difference in the world of conservation.
This grant will go directly back to save the lands we love — the lands that not only we call home but also Florida panthers, gopher tortoises, scrub jays and manatees.
Our own team knows firsthand the magic of Walt Disney World! Jessica, Conservation Florida operations manager, got her start in conservation at Animal Kingdom with the Disney College Program in 2017. For Jessica, this award was a full circle moment.
“I made it a personal goal to fundraise for the Disney Conservation Fund during my time in the program,” she said.
Now, she’s a part of the magic making conservation a reality!
Photo credits: Disney
Making Magic.
We're waving our wands to say a heartfelt thank you to Disney for their unwavering commitment to conservation. We’d also like to thank all of our supporters, partners, and volunteers — your support, whether through donating or lending a hand (or land), keeps the magic alive.
Conservation is like a full day at Disney – it takes teamwork (and funding) to create some magic. But it’s more than worth it.
Conservation Florida Achieves Reaccreditation from Land Trust Alliance
Conservation Florida, the boots-on-the-ground land conservation trust of Florida, is delighted to announce that it has successfully been reaccredited by the prestigious Land Trust Alliance.
Photo by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath
Conservation Florida, the boots-on-the-ground land conservation trust of Florida, is delighted to announce that it has successfully been reaccredited by the prestigious Land Trust Alliance.
This remarkable achievement solidifies our dedication to upholding the highest standards for land conservation programs.
"We are incredibly proud to have earned reaccreditation from the Land Trust Alliance," said Traci Deen, CEO of Conservation Florida. "This achievement serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication to responsible land conservation and sustainable practices."
The accreditation process is a rigorous evaluation of a land trust's policies, practices, and operations, ensuring they align with national quality standards. By meeting or exceeding these criteria, we have demonstrated our commitment to conserving Florida's wild and working landscapes and fostering a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor.
"Accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance not only validates our work but also provides numerous benefits for our organization and the communities we serve," said Frances Nevill, director of External Affairs and Strategic Communications for Conservation Florida. "It bolsters public confidence in our ability to protect valuable lands from development, preserve biodiversity, and enhance recreational opportunities. The accreditation serves as a hallmark of excellence and sets us apart as a trusted, accountable partner in land conservation initiatives."
In addition to maintaining high standards, the Land Trust Alliance provides invaluable resources, training, and networking opportunities to further stretch the organization's reach. Through collaboration with other accredited land trusts across the country, they can share best practices, exchange ideas, and collectively make a greater impact.
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we extend our gratitude to our dedicated staff, volunteers, supporters, and partners who have played an instrumental role in helping us achieve reaccreditation from the Land Trust Alliance.
Conservation Florida remains committed to safeguarding our precious lands for future generations, ensuring that wild Florida remains wild.
Wild Florida 5K 2023 Recap
Whether you walked, ran, or danced across that finish line, one thing’s for certain: YOU helped save our wild Florida.
Whether you walked, ran, danced, or crawled across that finish line, one thing’s for certain: YOU helped save our wild Florida.
Your participation in this year’s event helped ensure that our wildlife and lands stay exactly that — wild.
You Made an Impact!
With over 400 runners coming out to join us on September 2, 2023, we raised over $30,000 to help protect the lands we love.
Click below to view your race day photos — and don't forget to share the fun to social media!
Runners and walkers alike took to the starting line early Saturday morning in Lake Baldwin Park, anxiously awaiting the start signal. The beautiful 3.1-mile course spanned in front of us, stretching along the edge of Lake Baldwin, a reminder of why we’d all sacrificed a Saturday morning snooze — to save the wild wonders we love.
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation.
Runners crushed the course — both in-person & virtually. Even if you weren’t able to make the event in Orlando, you could still make a difference — and break a sweat!
After fist-pumping and leaping our way across the finish line, we headed over to Gator’s Dockside for the Wild Florida 5K Official After-Party. We all grubbed for good — the proceeds of purchased meals were generously matched by Gator’s Dockside Baldwin Park, going directly back to our land-protecting work.
Congrats to our Wild Florida 5K overall winner!
ORESTES GUTIERREZ
18:43.5
Thanks to your support, this was by far the most successful Wild Florida 5K we've ever had! We nearly tripled last year’s attendance and increased our fundraising efforts exponentially.
We hope to see you all next year!
Conservation Florida Harnesses the Power of Partnerships to Save Land and Connect The Florida Wildlife Corridor
As part of a community of land protection professionals, Conservation Florida cooperates to achieve statewide land conservation goals. Acting together, we can save land on a scale that is big enough to protect Florida's natural and working lands — lands on which we all depend.
Conservation is a team sport, and we want everyone on our team!
We’re all about partnerships. We have formed effective working relationships and formal agreements with federal, state, local, academic, and other nonprofit organizations.
As part of a community of land protection professionals, we cooperate to achieve statewide land conservation goals. Acting together, we can save land on a scale that is big enough to protect Florida's natural and working lands — lands on which we all depend.
Because protecting land means protecting water, wildlife, and our quality of life, Conservation Florida and our partners are moving quickly to save as much land as possible within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. With 8.1 million acres (about twice the area of Connecticut) currently unprotected within the 18-million-acre Florida Wildlife Corridor, we have a lot of work to do!
We are leading a regional initiative in the Northern Everglades called the Headwaters to Okeechobee, or H2O. Here, our goal is to save land that protects water, which means land around rivers, lakes, and streams and lands with strong recharge areas.
We are also actively involved in the Avon Park and the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape Partnerships.
Collaboration is one of our core values. It’s also one of the most powerful tools we have to protect Florida’s vulnerable and special lands. But don’t just take our word for it. Read on to meet a few of our conservation partners and learn how we harness the power of partnerships to protect land statewide.
What do the USDA, DOI, and DOD have to do with conservation?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Department of Defense (DOD) may not come to mind when you think of land protection, but all three departments have agencies and programs dedicated to conservation. All of these departments of the federal government are great land protection partners!
The USDA’s vision statement covers a wide range of goals from “helping rural America to thrive" to preserving “our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.”
We have a similar vision for Florida! That is why we are working closely with two USDA agencies – the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service – to protect cattle ranches in the Northern Everglades and longleaf pine habitat in the Panhandle.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Our NRCS partners are supplying financial and technical aid to help us conserve agricultural lands, wetlands, and grasslands of special significance in the H2O. Thanks to the NRCS’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program combined with matching funds from the DOD and other sources, we have placed thousands of acres under contract to be permanently protected.
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There is no question in my mind that what we do now is for future generations. I know that they will thank us for engaging in land conservation today.
My favorite activity? I’d say hiking because it allows for intimate time spent with nature. Since moving to Florida, I have had the opportunity to travel much of the state visiting many of NRCS's 33 field offices. Two exciting adventures I’ve had included kayaking on the Santa Fe River and tubing down the Ichetucknee.
I hope to see increased participation in RCPP in the future.
With more than 250,000 acres under easement in Florida already, I see great opportunity to develop partnerships and programs that protect threatened and endangered species.
"NRCS could absolutely not be able to do what it does without partnerships. One of the things I love the most about NRCS is that it prioritizes the establishment of effective partnerships to protect land. Since the Farm Bill became law, over $700 million has been invested in Florida through NRCS's RCPP [Regional Conservation Protection Program]. Even with this huge investment, I believe there is tremendous potential to grow and expand partnerships in Florida.” – Juan Hernandez, Florida State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Department of Defense
We’re also engaged with the DOD’s Office of the Secretary of Defense to buy conservation easements on working ranchlands located near the Avon Park Air Force Range. The Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program has awarded Conservation Florida millions of dollars for land protection projects in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape. We are using these funds to buy development rights from landowners who want to take part in the program. The benefits? Landowners get to keep their family land intact, the Air Force sustains critical military mission capabilities, and we get to save vibrant natural areas for fish and wildlife. A triple win!
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For me personally, land conservation is about balance. As a career Air Force fighter pilot, I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to work with partners like Conservation Florida to preserve working lands, protect the environment, and in doing so, promote land uses that are compatible with our mission.
My favorite Florida animal? It’s difficult to name just one particular species, so instead I’d say my favorite individual animal is M34, the FL Black Bear that took a 500-mile walk, crossing the range twice. To me, M34’s journey validates APAFR’s internal conservation efforts while highlighting the need to keep Florida’s natural lands connected. I’m sure you are familiar but just in case: https://floridawildlifecorridor.org/about/inspired-by-a-bear/
“Since 2010, Avon Park Air Force Range has been fortunate to have one of the most dynamic and successful Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) programs in the nation. In partnership with local, state, and non-governmental organizations, $23 million has been invested into the landscape surrounding the Range resulting in the protection of 12,000 acres of private lands. Despite the success, one aspect that was lacking has been the opportunity to work with an established land conservancy. The partnership with Conservation Florida changes all that and will no doubt bring even more opportunity to preserve working lands, protect the environment, and sustain the military training mission.” - Buck MacLaughlin, Range Operations Officer, Avon Park Air Force Range
Department of the Interior
Last, but not least, through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a bureau within the DOI, we are restoring habitat for plants and animals at our D Ranch Preserve in Volusia County. USFWS is providing us with funds and technical support to reintroduce fire to our preserve, which will make it a better place to live for rare species like Rugel’s pawpaw plants, gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes, longleaf pines, and Florida scrub-jays.
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Land conservation allows us to responsibly steward the important natural resources we share as a people, which in many cases, are the foundation of our success as a nation.
My favorite Florida animal is the Sherman’s fox squirrel. Despite the loss of important habitat, these guys continue to hang on and make a living off altered landscapes. They remind me of the need to strive for healthy habitat.
“Partnerships have allowed Florida to consistently remain a national leader in land protection and management. You don’t have to look far to see regions of the state that have benefited from the hard work of diverse partners like Conservation Florida, working together for common goals. I think of the multiple agencies, Florida’s working lands, various nonprofits, private landowners, Florida’s land trusts, and so many others and realize success would not be possible without strong partnerships. At times, it can be easy to fall into a narrow view of one’s conservation goals, but remaining open to the notion of working with others allows for greater success than can be achieved alone. The synergy and end results typically outshine the sum of their parts.” – Chad Allison, Partners for Fish and Wildlife/Coastal Program Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Conservation Florida and state agencies: We go way back!
Florida’s government has a long history of protecting land. In fact, it dates back to the 1800s! However, time is running out to save what is left of the wild places we treasure. The population in Florida is growing faster than most other states in the nation. We’re seeing an influx of about 1,000 new residents a day, which equates to a city the size of Orlando moving here every year. Still, Florida is the site of the nation’s first wildlife refuge, Pelican Island, and the first eastern national forest, Ocala National Forest. Over the years the state has enacted several substantial land acquisition programs to save natural areas.
By partnering with state agencies like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Conservation Florida is able to maximize state funding for land protection. We advocate for meaningful funding for programs like Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. We also facilitate the acquisition of land and conservation easements to protect high-priority conservation properties by working closely with our agency partners and our incredible state conservation programs.
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Partnerships and collaboration are essential for conservation efforts.
Favorite activities? I enjoy boating and fishing in Florida’s near-shore areas and shelling on the beach. Beachcombing has been a natural part of her life for many years.
Division of State Lands Director Callie DeHaven visiting Bald Point State Park with the NatureServe Network Van Tour to showcase key ecosystems that support threatened and endangered species, like the horseshoe crab, and meet some of the scientists and programs that help conserve them.
“Protecting Florida’s natural resources has to be a team effort. We depend on the diversity of viewpoints from our partner agencies, industry representatives, and public stakeholders to ensure that we are able to protect our resources for generations to come. The Florida Forever initiative is a great example of this.” – Callie DeHaven, Florida DEP Division of State Lands Director
Regional water management districts offer added partnership opportunities. The state's five water management districts include the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Suwannee River Water Management District, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the South Florida Water Management District.
In 2015, Conservation Florida partnered with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Forest Service to buy the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Marion County. The Silver Springs Forest serves as a protective, natural buffer for the Silver River and Silver Springs, which originate directly to the south of the conservation area. Conservation Florida negotiated the purchase of the Silver Springs Forest and raised money to close a funding gap, and the St. Johns River Water Management District owns and manages the land in line with its mission to protect and ensure the sustainable use of water resources.
It’s better when we’re together!
Land conservation in Florida has many players, but we're all working towards the same goal. When we work together, we can accomplish more. That's why we work closely with fellow land trusts to protect Florida's remarkable and precious places throughout the state.
Conservation Florida is a proud member of the Alliance for Florida Land Trusts, AFLT, a network of over 22 land trusts working to protect Florida’s environmentally sensitive lands, natural areas, and public health. In fact, our President + CEO, Traci Deen, was elected president of AFLT in early 2021. She has helped the group achieve its shared goals of improving communications among state conservation practitioners, advocating for meaningful conservation funding, and sustainable land protection solutions.
“What an honor to work with the dedicated, passionate thought-leaders of the Alliance of Florida Land Trusts,” said Deen. “This is an exciting and critical moment for land conservation in Florida, and together, we are capable of achieving powerful results for our natural environment.”
It's simple. Together, we can save more land. Our collaborative conservation efforts combine unique resources, expertise, and local knowledge to protect the places that Floridians love throughout the state.
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Together, we are saving land in communities, on our coastlines, and in our most wild and special places. To learn more about the Alliance of Florida Land Trusts, click here.
We lend our support to cities and counties that want to protect special places in their local communities.
Local government agencies and citizens who vote for conservation ballot measures play a critical role in protecting our natural resources. Counties like Volusia and Alachua have programs, approved by voters, that supply a dedicated funding source for conservation projects. While cities, like Dunedin, have found innovative ways to combine public and private funding to protect critically endangered scrub habitat in North Pinellas County.
Citizens in cities and counties throughout Florida recognize the value of conservation lands to their quality of life. Conservation Florida supports initiatives that keep beautiful, wild places intact for the public to enjoy.
Conservation Florida is working closely with Polk County to protect habitat for endangered species on Lake Marion. Its location between Tampa and Orlando and its unique natural landscapes (such as the one-of-a-kind Lake Wales Ridge) are driving rapid development and growth in the area. Residents and visitors want to keep the rural character of the area, and Conservation Florida backs the proposed ballot measure that would uplift land protection in Polk County.
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Conserving land and water resources is important because it facilitates in maintaining healthy and functioning ecosystems that support plants, wildlife and sustain natural processes, that ultimately benefit people.
My favorite activity outdoors is hiking. It’s a great way to experience the diverse natural habitats, wildlife, and wildflowers of Florida. I love seeing colorful wildflowers blooming during the fall in Florida.
The Polk County Environmental Lands Program is the result of a grassroots effort made by citizens in 1994. Through a referendum the citizens voted to tax themselves to protect and preserve Polk County’s water, wildlife and wilderness. The program has protected more than 26,000 acres with full fee acquisition or conservation easements. The program works closely with private landowners to achieve solutions that meet their needs, while protecting Polk’s water and natural resources. In addition, the program manages Polk’s Nature Discovery Center, where we work to educate students and the community about the natural and water resources around them.
“Partnerships and collaborations have been very important in the conservation of land, water, and natural resources in Florida. Partnerships have led to conservation impacts beyond what a single organization may be able to do. An example is the conservation of the globally endangered system, central Florida uplands made up of scrub and sandhill habitats. Together private entities, nonprofit groups, local, state, and federal government work together to protect and manage a series of conservation areas along the Lake Wales Ridge.” – Candice Knothe Polk County’s Environmental Lands Stewardship Coordinator
In the summer of 2021, Conservation Florida also collaborated with Alachua County and Alachua Conservation Trust to save 236 acres on the Santa Fe River. After years of negotiations, together we reached an agreement with the landowners to protect their cherished family land. This remarkable, pristine habitat will eventually become a public preserve.
A long journey is better with friends by your side.
As a nonprofit, Conservation Florida relies on the generous support of donors to fund our mission. We keep our donors at the heart of everything we do to protect land, water, and wildlife. Stretching our dollars to get the most impact is always top-of-mind.
That’s why combining resources and skills with our nonprofit partners is strategically useful. It’s also fun to collaborate with our friends in the nonprofit sector to achieve common goals.
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Well-planned landscape-level conservation coupled with sound land stewardship assures the continuation of our natural heritage for all subsequent generations. Some of my most memorable experiences have occurred in the great outdoors. As a father of two sons, the experience of sharing time with them in the outdoors is invaluable – as is the experience of watching my sons mature and independently begin to share my enthusiasm and conservation ethic. This human perspective, the infinite life experience possibilities is important of course, but perhaps even more important is that the preservation and stewardship of our wildlands is the right thing to do and in our own best interests. The health, quality and integrity of our future depends on it.
Favorite Florida animal? It would have to be a long-tail weasel. You never see them! It’s so elusive it’s kind of like a holy grail.
Favorite outdoor activity? Probably family outings on North Captiva Island. Half of it is a preserve and we spend a whole week immersed in it. I’ve also enjoyed backpacking trips to Ocala and springs and canoeing down in the Everglades.
“I think that partnerships are incredibly important in the environmental arena because we’re all on the same team and we share so many of the same environmental ethics, values, and objectives. The total is greater than the sum of the parts. In any event, we can do so much more together, and we all have different skill sets’. – David Sumpter, Executive Director of Wildlands Conservation
Protecting paradise is our shared story of conservation. It’s what “WE” do!
We believe in our hearts that to know wild Florida is to love her! However, it’s not practical for a population of over 20 million residents to find a meaningful connection with the natural beauty and wonder of our state without a proper introduction to what we have and what’s at stake.
That’s why we are launching a new conservation TV series airing soon on the Discover Florida Channel. The six-episode docuseries is a joint venture between Conservation Florida and Crawford Entertainment.
Crawford Entertainment is a Florida-based company that produces and distributes nationally syndicated specials, documentaries, and original content which air on major U.S. networks and digital streaming platforms worldwide.
“Co-creating “Protect Our Paradise” with Crawford Entertainment is an extraordinary opportunity to raise awareness of the important mission before us all.” – Traci Deen, Conservation Florida’s CEO.
Another storytelling project underway is a short promotional video that highlights our work to protect land, advocate for meaningful conservation funding at the state level, and educate Floridians about our natural resources, which include, springs, rivers, and rare habitats and species. The video will be created by volunteers from around the world who work with GiveVisuals to create impactful visual stories.
GiveVisuals is a nonprofit organization that provides charities with the free opportunity to expand the impact of their good work in service to others by fostering a network of creative people who want to share their visual storytelling talents.
“We love being able to give back in such a meaningful way. Stories have so much power, and we are honored to be able to help tell the story of Conservation Florida.” – Shannon Abitbol with GiveVisuals.
Our academic partners get an A+ for supporting land conservation.
In 2018, Conservation Florida and the University of Central Florida (UCF) teamed up to produce research and offer guidance and a multidisciplinary voice to land and wildlife conservation in the greater Central Florida region. The partnership is between Conservation Florida and both UCF’s Biology Department and UCF Coastal, and it represents teaching, learning, and research opportunities out in the field.
“Our new partnership with Conservation Florida will allow UCF to bring its academic power to the table, and to work with them to expand their efforts to protect Florida’s irreplaceable conservation lands.” – Graham Worthy, Ph.D., chair of UCF’s Biology Department and UCF Coastal’s director.
Landowners and supporters are the real conservation heroes.
Last, and most importantly, we want to thank our most valuable partners – the landowners who work voluntarily with us to protect their land and the supporters who donate time and money to make our mission possible. There are many ways to protect land and all of them require a landowner who is willing to work with a conservancy such as ours to come to an agreement that suits everyone’s unique needs. It takes time and patience, but the reward is an immeasurable gift to the future.
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I am a native Floridian, and I have seen a lot of changes in my state over the last 67 years. As the population has swelled from 3 million to over 20 million, I have gained a greater appreciation for our magnificent and wonderful native species. I admire our wildlife from the perspective of a wildlife veterinarian, a founder and former director of a wildlife rescue group, and an outdoorsman and fisherman. Florida’s environment, natural beauty, and natural resources are in peril, and it is important that we conserve and protect them.
I ask you to please consider joining me in making an investment in Florida’s conservation future by supporting Conservation Florida. Together, let’s save Florida, for nature, for people, forever.
Owners of Nayfield Acres
KC and Marybeth donated a conservation easement to Conservation Florida.
As soon as we had the means to do so, my wife Marybeth and I wanted to invest in land conservation. We considered our purchase of a 136-acre tract just north of White Springs to be an investment in our values – an investment in Florida’s future. We named our property Nayfield Acres and worked with Conservation Florida to place a conservation easement on the land. – KC Nayfield
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide, accredited land conservancy protecting Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes with a primary focus on saving land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. We’re grounded by a deep love for Florida and a history of impactful boots-on-the-ground land conservation. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy and nature-based recreation. Since our founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has led the way in strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through acquisition, facilitation and incubation of conservation projects.
We save land by developing conservation strategies, exploring funding sources and purchasing or accepting donations of land and conservation easements. Our other services include providing expertise to guide landowners through the land protection process, serving as a trusted community partner to support statewide land conservation and promoting land conservation through effective education and advocacy. Our vision is large-scale, and we are 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida – for nature, for people, forever!
Skater Embarks On 1,000-Mile trip to benefit wildlife, Conservation Florida
Justin Bright is raising money and awareness for Conservation Florida by traveling across the state on a skateboard. His journey provides a glimpse of the obstacles and dangers faced by Florida’s wildlife as they search for wild lands that are connected and protected.
Justin Bright is raising money and awareness for Conservation Florida by traveling across the state on a skateboard. His journey provides a glimpse of the obstacles and dangers faced by Florida’s wildlife as they search for wild lands that are connected and protected.
by Justin Bright
A special camping trip at Shell Key for my 10th birthday gave me childlike wonder for wild Florida and its “magic” that I never grew out of. I’ve made memories with my dad and friends my whole life on that small barrier island off the coast of St. Petersburg. In college, my favorite hometown wilderness would end up being the perfect example of Florida’s overdevelopment crisis and battle with climate change as Shell Key was partially developed for condos and its shores continued to erode. I recently visited the island to see least terns and American oystercatchers (pictured above) during nesting season, and the looming concrete buildings beside pristine waterways and sandy dunes was a sad reality check. But still, those birds continue to nest on its shores year after year and the shrinking island still serves as a sanctuary for threatened wildlife.
My appreciation for Florida’s natural wonders started early. Growing up, I quickly realized I lived on a peninsula truly unique from anything else in the world.
I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County — the most densely populated county in the state, with almost 3,000 people per square mile. I spent my childhood weekends exploring the area’s beautiful coastline with my dad and younger brother, and I experienced firsthand the consequences of relentless concrete expansion on native ecosystems.
I dreamed up a self-supported trek across my home state from these childhood experiences that cultivated my great appreciation for Florida and its wildlife — and of course my passion for skating long distances. A journey from the Panhandle to Key West is incredibly difficult for a human. So, imagine the dangers facing our state’s wildlife as they try to navigate roads and developments that have fragmented the land they need to survive.
I started skateboarding when I was 13. Other than learning new tricks, I was pushing my board 10 miles to a find skate spot or meet friends — planting a seed for distance skating without realizing it. Around the same time, I discovered I had a knack for skate filming which helped keep me skating for the next decade.
I recently graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s in mass communications after studying journalism and wildlife ecology as an undergrad. I took an avian ecology class during my third year that completely blew my mind about the incredible biodiversity in the bird world and ecosystems at large.
I started birding more and covering environmental issues as a photo and video journalist, which led me to more deeply understand the urgent ecological threats that my home state is dealing with.
We live in one of the most biodiverse places on earth with life found nowhere else but here, from scrub jays to gopher tortoises, coral reefs and pine savannas.
When I first had the idea of a self-supported trip on my skateboard, I couldn’t ignore the similarities between a person undertaking a trip like this and native wildlife trying to cross the state in the same way.
My statewide skateboarding trip is about more than just a guy and his board making it from the Alabama boarder to Key West. It is about the connectivity needed to do that, for the safety of both people and animals.
From a Bear’s Point of View
If it’s dangerous for me to navigate the never-ending web of roads on my way from the panhandle to the Keys, how hard must it be for a black bear or Florida panther?
According to a Federal Highway Administration study, there are an estimated 1-2 million collisions between cars and large animals every year in the United States.
This presents a real danger to human safety as well as wildlife survival. The study identified the Florida panther and the Florida Scrub Jay among 21 federally listed threatened or endangered species in the United States for which road mortality is among the major threats to the survival of the species.
The unnecessary deaths of wildlife that occur as animals navigate between conservation lands, crossing roads when they must, threaten biodiversity and can have long-term effects on ecosystems. In addition, animals on roadways endanger both drivers and wildlife.
According to the DMV, a collision with some form of wildlife occurs, on average, every 39 minutes, and 1 out of every 17 car collisions involves wandering wild animals.
Photo by Adam Bass.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, vehicle collisions are responsible for 90% of the known bear deaths. Collisions have been on the rise since data collection first began in 1976 due to factors such as increasing human populations and development and fragmenting wooded areas which cause bears to cross roads more frequently.
Prior to the year 2000, yearly panther roadkills were four or fewer. But beginning in 2000, these numbers have ranged from six to 34 annually. Panther deaths caused by vehicle collisions have been sharply reduced in areas where crossings and fencing are in place. Currently, there are 60 wildlife crossings or bridges that have been modified for use by panthers on Florida’s roads.
Finding Hope Through Florida’s Habitats
My 1,000-mile skateboard journey took me through every critical Florida ecosystem...and it provided me with a unique glimpse of what it is like for Florida wildlife to navigate between the diminishing habitats they call home.
As Florida’s population booms, new roads, housing developments, and shopping centers fragment natural ecosystems and cut off movement. Protecting land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor preserves wildlife habitat and gives wide-ranging animals like the Florida black bear and panther the territory they need to survive and thrive. We call it “room to roam.”
Without wildlife corridors, iconic species like the Florida black bear and Florida panther are at risk of becoming isolated in small islands of protected lands. Corridors allow individual animals from different populations to successfully breed and ensure genetic diversity. They also allow animals to move to different habitats to find food and water, as part of their natural migration patterns.
Conservation Florida has been working on connecting key segments of the Florida Wildlife Corridor since its founding in 1999. Together with its incredible partners and supporters, Conservation Florida is now actively leading the charge to protect over 100,000 acres with the Corridor.
Some of the damage we have done to this one-of-a-kind landscape is irreparable. The Everglades will never flow the same way it once did. Our old growth forests and the communities they supported are long gone; but, we still have so much to conserve for the present and future.
If we want to point things back in the right direction, we have to be aggressive about prioritizing land over profit. To me, conservation and environmental justice are invaluable parts of social progress around the world.
I hope that my trip can draw attention to the challenges that wildlife face as their habitats continue to diminish, with the greater goal of spreading awareness of the need for a connected Florida Wildlife Corridor.
I hope that folks might feel inspired to visit a new part of Florida and fall in love with it. I saw nearly every ecosystem the state has to offer (and there are a lot!).
I want people to see the results of ongoing habitat fragmentation and the perils that roaming wildlife face while trying to access resources to survive. That realization should also spark hope and accountability for the future. I also hope that people go out and skate!!!
Connecting The Corridor
Justin's trip took him from the panhandle to the Florida Keys through the areas Conservation Florida is diligently working to connect and protect to form a statewide network of natural corridors called the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
“The Florida Wildlife Corridor provides a vision for Florida as a whole that protects the places we all love, offers habitat and room to roam for our native species, cleans and stores water, provides ample outdoor recreational opportunity, and supports Florida’s family farms and ranches, all while accounting for Florida’s future growth,” said Traci Deen, Conservation Florida’s CEO.
With the support of our supporters and partners, Conservation Florida is proudly working to to protect over 100,000 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Justin’s journey is drawing attention to the importance of safe roadway crossings for black bears, panthers, and many other species, including humans!
He is highlighting the importance of conserving land in a unique and extraordinary way. Cheer Justin on today and show your support for protecting land in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and beyond by making a generous donation.
Photos by Justin Bright.
About Conservation Florida’s ‘Voices for Conservation’ Series
From the sandhills to the swamps, Floridians don’t always agree, but we do find common ground in the land we share. Conservation connects us. It’s part of our ethos, our Floridian ethic. In it, there is hope for Florida’s conservation future.
Conservation Florida created Voices for Conservation to amplify the importance of protecting our native plants and wildlife, fresh water, family farms and ranches, and wild places.
The series of blogs and videos will feature Florida conservationists from all walks of life speaking up for a common goal – saving land. For nature. For people. Forever. Every voice offers a unique perspective, but at the heart of each story is the same powerful message. Protecting land is necessary to keep our state, its people, and its wildlife healthy and thriving.
From the mother land to a promised land
I want to contribute to the diversification of people working in the environmental sector by fostering an intimate connection between young minorities and the environment. I hope to impact this field by contributing to the education of underserved children in urban areas who have limited access to wild places and show them the benefits of nature and the importance of their responsibility to protect it for the next generation.
Nature is My Refuge
By Papa Gueye
Papa Gueye participates in a biological survey with Conservation Florida partners, Wildlands Conservation.
My name is Papa, and I am a conservation program fellow at Conservation Florida. I am so honored to have been given this opportunity, as it gives me a chance to do meaningful work in Florida where I graduated both high school and college. My work in the field of conservation is meaningful to me because nature is my refuge.
My family moved from New York to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa when I was two years old. It was there, in my grandparent’s small village called Coki, Louga that my interest in conservation began to flourish. Every summer, I looked forward to leaving the city to visit my grandparents on their farm about four hours away from our home in Dakar. In the village, I helped my grandfather water the plants, climbed trees to collect fruit, and played soccer in the sand with friends.
These experiences strengthened my love for nature, and I soon developed the idea that plants need to be protected because they grow so peacefully, yet humans constantly destroy balanced ecosystems for their own gain.
My deep and unwavering appreciation of plants has shaped my life. At the age of 16, I moved back to the U.S. from Senegal. It was then that I began to learn English. During this time of my life, I faced many challenges. I encountered difficulties adapting during my high school years due to my lack of fluency in English and culture barriers, but I always found comfort in nature.
I was fortunate to attend high school in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. I found great joy taking in the unique natural beauty of each state: from hiking the Stone Mountain summit in Atlanta to exploring the trails at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park in Tampa. Over time, my interest grew, and I decided to pursue a degree in environmental science.
Florida is very special to me because it reminds me of the region in Senegal where I grew up. My favorite aspect of Florida is its unique landscapes, especially the abundance of water in springs, lakes, rivers, and bays. Everywhere I’ve been in Florida, there is always a body of water in proximity, which adds substantial beauty and biodiversity.
Working for Conservation Florida is allowing me to help protect this beautiful place and gain valuable experience in natural resource management. Much of my work involves managing Conservation Florida’s 476-acre D Ranch Preserve in Volusia County.
One of our main management goals for D Ranch Preserve is to restore the populations of longleaf pines and habitat for gopher tortoises. We plan to do this by reintroducing prescribed fire, which is crucial for both species’ survival and will improve habitat for other species living in the preserve.
Entrance to cave at a Conservation Florida easement property in Branford on the Santa Fe River.
I have also helped with annual monitoring activities on multiple conservation easements held by Conservation Florida in various locations around the state. As a result, I have been lucky enough to experience a variety of natural communities, each rich in plant and animal species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Each site I’ve visited for monitoring thus far has such unique characteristics it amazes me that they are all in the same state. To name a few, I saw for the first time a den that had been inhabited by a cougar in Williston. In White Springs, I visited a property that contained a hidden spring and probably the biggest live oaks I’ve ever seen. Finally, in Branford I saw remarkable swamps with huge cypress trees along with an immense cave that is visited by multiple animals.
Looking back, I am grateful for all of the experiences that have led me to this point in my career. From the time I received a scholarship to play soccer at Thomas University where I was able to greatly improve both my social skills and fluency in English to my internship with North Carolina State University where I learned about the importance and implementation of forest management – I have found a career path that allows me to pursue my passion for plants and share my love of the natural world with others.
Papa Gueye accepts a Scholars for Conservation Leadership award from Wendy Jackson, former vice president at the Land Trust Alliance.
In fact, all of my training and education has contributed to my successful fellowship with Conservation Florida. My Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee gave me experience working as a student research assistant at the Center of Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, and I was able to present my research on two occasions! Later, during my internship, I participated in the timely implementation of field activities which include planting, control, and management of competing vegetation, along with monitoring and documenting disease or pest threats.
I was awarded a year-long fellowship with Conservation Florida through the Scholars for Conservation Leadership Program in August of 2020. Working with Conservation Florida has been a very rewarding experience so far. I am able to make a huge impact on Florida’s animal and plant species by ensuring their survival.
In the future, I want to contribute to the diversification of people working in the environmental sector by fostering an intimate connection between young minorities and the environment. I hope to impact this field by contributing to the education of underserved children in urban areas who have limited access to wild places and show them the benefits of nature and the importance of their responsibility to protect it for the next generation.
As a young minority professional, I am determined to use my voice to advocate for justice, equality, and the inclusion of minorities in environmental sciences to reflect the racial diversity of our country.
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land trust with a mission to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy and nature-based recreation. Since our founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has led the way in strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through acquisition, facilitation and incubation of conservation projects.
We save land by developing conservation strategies, exploring funding sources and purchasing or accepting donations of land and conservation easements. Our other services include providing expertise to guide landowners through the land protection process, serving as a trusted community partner to support statewide land conservation and promoting land conservation through effective education and advocacy. Our vision is large-scale, and we are 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida – for nature, for people, forever!
Saving the Last, Vast Landscapes: Ranches
“Ranches in Florida provide some of the last, vast green space in our state. They’re providing critical habitat to our native species, and from the swamps to the sandhills, ranches in Florida are key to supporting our unique biodiversity and an array of habitats on a landscape-scale,” writes our Executive Director & CEO Traci Deen.
By Traci Deen, Executive Director & CEO
I’ve lived in Florida most of my life. It runs deep in my DNA as five generations before me also grew in the Florida sunshine. I supposed I knew a decent amount about our state. I swam in crystal blue springs, I hiked our public spaces, and I camped in the keys. I grew up in Miami, went to school in Tallahassee, and put roots down in Orlando. Having all of these experiences, I’d grown to love the many flavors of our State. Yet, I know now there was a significant part of Florida that I didn’t really know, a piece of her I’d only read about in A Land Remembered. I needed to get to know The Heartland if I had any shot at protecting Florida’s last, vast landscapes.
Matt Pearce
Photo by Adam Bass
Thankfully, Matt Pearce of Pearce Cattle Company, an 8th generation Floridian and past President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, invited me and Adam Bass, our Director of Conservation, to join him on a cattle drive. What better way to learn? Matt believes that in Florida, land conservation and ranching go hand in hand, and he generously shared his heritage with us so that we could experience The Heartland, firsthand.
Black Coffee & Cow Dogs
It was 4am when my alarm went off in a cabin in Okeechobee, Florida. My eyes shot open as I heard dogs barking outside and the sound of cowboys trailering in ranch horses and cow dogs. We’d be leaving Okeechobee at 4:30am sharp to head south toward the Everglades. Matt, with the warmth of a true gentleman, offered his cabin to the Conservation Florida team for the night prior. Dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans, layers of shirts, and my most trusted boots, I stepped outside of the cabin and was greeted by 40-degree weather, a cup of piping hot, black coffee, and the low hum of of a dozen cow dogs and horses rumbling in anticipation of the trip.
The cowboys were quiet, dancing a dance they knew by heart. My tendency for nervous chatter was quickly swallowed as I watched them prepare in unison. I hopped into Matt’s truck, the darkness of night illuminated by his headlights and the moon alone. Adam sat in the front passenger seat, and another truck and trailer followed us. At 4:30 on the dot, we drove, hauling four horses and a handful of dogs in the trailer. On the radio “A Country Boy Can Survive,” played as Hank Williams sang “ain't too many things these old boys can't do.” I didn’t know then how poignant and true that would be and what it could mean for Florida’s conservation future.
Sunrise and Sugarcane
As we drove, country music filled the quiet of dawn’s approach. I sat in the back of a powerful truck as we moved south, all three of us sipping, gratefully, on our no-nonsense coffee. We passed the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Brighton Indian Reservation, a potent reminder of the history, heritage, and culture that fills Florida. As the sun began to rise on my left, we drove on a two-lane highway, and I realized we were surrounded by fields of sugarcane as far as the eye could see.
Photo by Adam Bass
When we arrived, the light of morning broadcast a vast green landscape only three hours from Orlando, but lightyears away. North of the Big Cypress Preserve, Matt grazes cattle on 7,000 acres protected by a Wetlands Reserve Easement — a conservation program that provides an opportunity for landowners to receive money to enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring land from agricultural production. It’s a smart tool used in Everglades water protection. Another cowboy with a clever smile and well-worn hat approached as soon as I got out of the truck. “Ma’am,” he said, bidding me a good morning. He held his arm out, offering me bacon from a white styrofoam container. In hindsight I’m so glad he did, we wouldn’t be stopping for lunch until noon and we’d be riding horseback until then. I think he knew I had no idea what was coming and insisted that I have, not one piece, but two. I learned in the moments to follow that he’d been working cows for four decades.
Traci Deen and Buttons
Photo by Adam Bass
Matt approached with a quarter horse named Buttons and a saddle that looked like it would fit me well. His daughter’s saddle, he explained. The thoughtfulness and the kindness shown to me that day as the group shared with me a part of who they are – their culture – struck me. Another truck hauling horses and dogs arrived, making the total number of cowboys on site nine. Nine, plus me, an outsider with a great love for Florida, and Adam, with a camera in hand. Adam has the incredible ability of capturing the intersection of ranch culture and wild Florida in a single photo and documented the cattle drive on his Sony camera.
With a quickness and surety of doing something you’ve done a thousand times before, the cowboys hopped on their horses and moved out. On Button, I followed, trying to stay out of the way. The dogs trotted parallel to their larger partners. They moved with a purpose. I asked Matt what we were doing, and he smiled. He said “We’re herding cows, and then we’re moving them about six miles up to another ranch.” You could tell he was right where he belonged: in a saddle, out in the wild, chasing cows. There was a comfort and confidence in the way he led the team as he broke us into crews.
The Herd
Hours flew by in the blink of an eye. The team of ranchers, ranging in ages, were laser focused. I was unsure how to help (or at a minimum not get in the way), but they encouraged me to learn and participate. The dogs, each loyal to their specific rancher, moved with horse and rider, herding cows into groups that would then be moved across a vast Florida landscape. The ranch horses were spirited, and they were persuasive; a beautiful extension of the rider above.
The first collection of cows took four hours. Free roaming the property, they had to be found and then convinced to move toward the growing group of others. Using tricks learned from experience, they clicked and whistled and spoke with the cows in an altogether unknown language to me. Occasionally I’d hear “Move Cow, Move!” and smile that I was starting to understand.
Mother cows with calves that were too young to make the trek were pulled out and put back into the pastures. One of the calves I witnessed must have been newborn, with its umbilical cord still attached. The Cowboys, otherwise tough, were gentle in those moments. A reverence of life, I thought, which I found an important juxtaposition, given the fate of the older cows.
Photo by Adam Bass
We began to move. Matt moved to the front, serving as the Conductor, also known as the Point or Lead Rider. He was responsible for the direction, route, and speed of the herd. Four cowboys split into groups of two serving as Swing and Flank Riders. These riders kept the herd together, backed Matt up, and with two on each side of the herd, they kept its form and function. Four more riders cracked whips as they hung back, serving as the caboose, if you will. These Drag Riders kept the entire mass moving forward, cracking the whip intermittently to encourage the slower cows to move forward. This is where I was invited to join, and I loved it.
Photo by Adam Bass
The wind was howling. “Hooo, that’s that Seminole wind blowing,” a Cowboy with a ballcap said. He was right, it was strong; heavy with pride, and heritage, and duty, and … Florida. They moved as a team. There were moments of laughter, of deep comradery, and a few muffled expletives as maverick cows tested the cowboys by trying to make a grand escape. At one point a brave young cow came straight for me and my zone. My fellow Drag Riders screamed “Don’t let him out!”
…he got out. They laughed, they poked fun, and I laughed back. This was hard work, understatedly, but I felt alive. We moved through landscapes, riding miles, keeping the herd moving together. Wild Florida under our feet, boasting its colors of green, yellow, purple, and blue all around us. Leaving Matt’s ranch, we entered a native grassland. The cows ahead, the Cowboys moving quickly, we entered a field that erupted in barren beauty as we moved through it. Purple martins, at least a hundred, flew from the grasses, encircling us with their chatter and flight. A piece of wild Florida that perhaps wouldn’t be so, if this land wasn’t protected by a conservation easement. We crossed a waterbody, we passed through wetlands, and encountered too many cabbage palms to count. We saw old Florida in all her glory amidst the chilly winter morning.
Photo by Traci Deen
We trekked on, and I enjoyed some of the most extraordinary wild Florida habitats. I learned it was not unusual to see a panther, and many other iconic Florida species out there. Five hours in, everything hurt from the physical exertion. I thought I was well equipped for a day in the saddle as an experienced equestrian. Oh no, no I was not. We broke for lunch, pulling cabbage palm leaves and wood from the landscape to start a fire. “You’re eating Cowboy lunch,” one of them said as they put sausage links onto the fire. I was famished, and the lunch was incredible. Mostly quiet, the Cowboys ate, and I thought we were done. My knees screamed as we saddled back up for four more hours of herdin’ cows.
Last, Vast Landscapes
I’ve been an advocate for conservation in our state, and for protecting our ranches for many years. I’d seen the science and the maps. I knew that ranches were connecting current conservation lands, were alive with wildlife, and actively storing water. Matt was right, though, there was no better way to learn—to really get it—than to experience it for myself. There we were, on thousands of acres of land that regularly provided habitat for Florida panthers, bald eagles, and more. Land that, but for ranching and conservation, would be in peril or perhaps already converted into “the last crop,” which is what housing and commercial developments that go up on former agricultural land is often called.
Photo by Carlton Ward, Jr.
Ranches in Florida provide some of the last, vast green space in our state. They’re providing critical habitat to our native species, and from the swamps to the sandhills, ranches in Florida are key to supporting our unique biodiversity and an array of habitats on a landscape-scale. Many ranchlands preserve landscapes in their natural and untouched conditions, keeping lands wild and harboring pockets of old Florida. More, scientists have discerned that improved pastures can support some imperiled species of our native wildlife, like the Crested Caracara. Importantly, ranches can help keep the Florida Wildlife Corridor intact, and without them, our greenways and wildlife corridors would be fragmented and lost forever.
Ranches, not rooftops, are contributing to the long-term health of our state’s wildlife and residents. They’re also keeping places that would become cookie-cutter-concrete-single-family homes from meeting that fate—for now. Ranches indeed provide a rich service to our future.
Photo by Carlton Ward, Jr.
Florida is the third-most populous state in the nation, growing by nearly 1,000 newcomers each day. We’re projected to exceed 30 million residents by 2060. With this comes a greater demand for water and the development of rural and natural lands for urban use. How we manage our natural resources over the next 10 to 20 years – what we save and what we pave – will determine Florida’s conservation future, and the future of Florida as a whole. We watch and mourn the loss of green space as another piece of paradise is paved, another ranch is divided and sold, and we see what’s coming: more of us, more roads, more rooftops. So, this is it: this is the last great push for land conservation in our State… and we can’t make strides without ranching and other working lands.
Photo by Traci Deen
As Florida’s population booms, poorly planned expansion of cities is cutting off natural wildlife corridors. Conservation Florida is combating these threats to our future by protecting natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations.
Conservation easements in particular are a smart tool here: keeping Florida’s family farms and ranches in business while simultaneously protecting the conservation value of the land is significant. Maintaining green landscapes, wildlife corridors, habitat and open space, while safeguarding food security and the rural communities that are dependent on the economic viability of agricultural operations is a double, or triple win.
Hank Williams had it right. There’s not a lot these old boys can’t do. They introduced me to The Heartland, and it has forever enriched my understanding of wild Florida. Ranches are a vital part of the conservation puzzle. It’s hard work and heart work, back-breaking and grueling but glorious all the same. It’s thankless in many ways but helps keep Florida green. So, I urge you to think beyond the beaches, look inland, and thank a Cowboy (or gal) for keeping Florida Florida… and join Conservation Florida as we work to protect Florida’s ranchlands.
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land trust with a mission to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy and nature-based recreation. Since our founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has led the way in strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through acquisition, facilitation and incubation of conservation projects.
We save land by developing conservation strategies, exploring funding sources and purchasing or accepting donations of land and conservation easements. Our other services include providing expertise to guide landowners through the land protection process, serving as a trusted community partner to support statewide land conservation and promoting land conservation through effective education and advocacy. Our vision is large-scale, and we are 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida – for nature, for people, forever!
I'm a Sportsman and a Conservationist
Conservation isn’t a magic box. It doesn’t simply happen … It takes teamwork, an effort that’s larger than one stakeholder group … It’s ranchers, it’s sportsmen, it’s the environmentally conscious … It requires that we all play the role of the steward, and that we push for the right things for these places we love.
Travis Thompson is passing on a tradition of hunting and conservation to his son, Will.
Meet Travis Thompson: A Fishing & Waterfowl Guide, Writer, Radio Host and Voice for Conservation
To understand why I care so much about conservation, you need a little background.
I’m a 5th generation Floridian, born into a family that camped, hunted, and fished every single weekend. Growing up, we never went on vacation out of state, because leaving Florida seemed insane … the winters were at deer camp in Citrus County; the springs chasing Osceola turkeys around the Green Swamp; the summers tangling every mangrove in Charlotte Harbor while trying to best our last snook; the falls spent in duck blinds and deer stands and dove fields all over the state.
There was no moment for me where I became a sportsman. It just was. It just is.
When I end up at a party or a wedding or a dinner, invariably, my end of the table will end up talking about hunting, or fishing, or the outdoors. It’s in my nature, like breathing.
That may seem like a strange set up to discuss conservation, but hang with me.
Travis out on a Florida lake fishing with his grandfather.
A family tradition
For many sportsmen and women, their goal when they arrived in the woods was food on the table, and that’s not a bad thing. We love wild game, and it’s still a big part of my family’s regularly scheduled feedings. But, for my dad, being in the wild was about that: being in the wild.
There was no gray area in our adventures … you didn’t kill a snake, you didn’t needlessly take too many fish, you didn’t attempt a shot on an animal that you weren’t sure of. The land was everyone’s, and we were its stewards, a point we were reminded of on every hunt, every fishing trip, and at every campfire.
My sister and I nicknamed these “the lectures” in good natured fun, and we’d roll our eyes and eat another powdered donut — a 12 year old’s best attempt at a non-verbal “whatever, Dad.”
But, somewhere along the way, that conversation changed. It stopped being a lecture and became more of a discussion. And that led to more questions, and answers, and an ethos was born — Florida is special.
There was no moment for me where I became a conservationist. It just was. It just is.
There’s only one Florida. We cram our state full of cookie cutter developments, a race to the finish, office buildings and strip malls full of folks dreaming of the weekend, of palmettos and palm trees and the places we grew up. The pursuits we held so dear.
This is why conservation matters so much to me.
Travis and Will share a high-five moment on a fishing trip.
I want to have places I can take my kids and someday my grandkids. I want to sit in the same woods where I spent a Saturday with my grandfather. Generations spanning across centuries, sharing the common threads of a last name and a wild place, is why this matters.
Conservation isn’t a magic box. It doesn’t simply happen … It takes teamwork, an effort that’s larger than one stakeholder group … It’s ranchers, it’s sportsmen, it’s the environmentally conscious … It requires that we all play the role of the steward, and that we push for the right things for these places we love.
Floridians love to talk about water in conservation, but land is the starting point. Aldo Leopold once said “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
As a sportsman, a Floridian, a father, the land is a community I belong to. I take from it, in game, but I am part of it, and it is a part of me … there’s no compartmentalization, no discernible differences …
Without organizations like Conservation Florida, the wild places will be lost forever. Our corridors will be broken, and our habitat lost, our ecology compromised, and our community destroyed. It’s why I stand next to this program and support the work being done … ensuring wild Florida exists for generations to come, a legacy of conservation that, as a hunter, I’m proud to be part of.
Travis and his wife, Emily, pose with a snook they caught in Florida’s waters.
About Conservation Florida’s ‘Voices for Conservation’ Series
From the sandhills to the swamps, Floridians don’t always agree, but we do find common ground in the land we share. Conservation connects us. It’s part of our ethos, our Floridian ethic. In it, there is hope for Florida’s conservation future.
Conservation Florida created Voices for Conservation to amplify the importance of protecting our native plants and wildlife, fresh water, family farms and ranches, and wild places.
The series of blogs and videos will feature Florida conservationists from all walks of life speaking up for a common goal – Saving land. For nature. For people. Forever. Every voice offers a unique perspective, but at the heart of each story is the same powerful message. Protecting land is necessary to keep our state, its people, and its wildlife healthy and thriving.
Growing up on a Florida Ranch
Conservation is not a very popular topic among my peers. As a teenager, and as a rancher, I think it should be. … My livestock judging team has qualified for state this year! I have raised and shown my family’s own calves since I was eight years old. My younger brother, Gabe, also likes to raise and show steers at the annual county fair.
For Peyton Chandley, ranching and land conservation go hand in hand. Photo courtesy of Peyton Chandley.
A Young Voice for Ranching and Conservation: Peyton Chandley
Conservation is not a very popular topic among my peers. As a teenager, and as a rancher, I think it should be. Our planet is already suffering from too much urbanization, and it will be even more populated when my generation grows older. Green spaces can always be turned into concrete, but developed land can rarely go back to nature.
Take a second to picture your favorite place. Out of anywhere in the world, where would you choose to live?
I have been fortunate enough to grow up in one of my favorite places - a dreamy landscape in Lake Wales, Florida. It is not uncommon to see a family of wild turkeys, a bald eagle carrying a freshly caught fish, a pair of crested caracaras, scampering whitetail deer, or the occasional gopher tortoise all within one hour.
A lone cow stands in a field as a storm approaches. Photo courtesy of Peyton Chandley.
This property is one of many ranches owned by my family. Many people are quick to blame agriculture for loss of habitat, but the ranchers I know strive to be good stewards of the land. Ranches provide habitat for countless endangered species that would not have a home otherwise.
The Chandley family has resided in Lake Wales and owned Grape Hammock Camp for four generations. This gem on Lake Kissimmee is a hot spot for fishing and airboat tours. Now, I live farther north on the Kissimmee chain, but this oasis will always be my early childhood home.
Although I am in my school’s International Baccalaureate program, previously played volleyball and have been on the weightlifting team, my activities and hobbies differ from the other students at my highschool. Outside of school, I am a member of 4H, the Florida Cattlewomen's Association, and the Junior Florida Cattlemen's Association at both county and state levels.
My family has a small herd of primarily SimAngus cattle that supply us with show steers to sell for the county fair each year, heifers to raise and return to the herd, and market calves to ship to a feedlot. Running this family ranch with my dad, Barrett Chandley, has taught me about forage, nutrition, and reproductive practices such as artificial insemination. Since it is an operation so close to a body of water, I have also learned about how beef cattle act as land management tools by grazing the aquatic weeds and plants.
One example is the West Indian Marsh grass, an invasive plant that is taking over the wetlands. There is currently no selective herbicide used, so the chemicals sprayed in defense actually kill all plants, even the natives. Beef cattle are a more natural and sustainable strategy to combat some exotics.
My livestock judging team has qualified for state this year! I have raised and shown my family’s own calves since I was eight years old. My younger brother, Gabe, also likes to raise and show steers at the annual county fair. Livestock shows are one way for youth to present their projects and show the public how much we care for our animals. I wish everyone had the opportunity to raise both breeding and market livestock projects because the unique skills I have learned from the experience are invaluable.
My mom, Lori Chandley, comes from a family with cattle production even more ingrained in their blood. Lightsey Cattle Company produces beef cattle in Polk, Highlands, and Osceola counties as well as in southwest Georgia. We own approximately 25,000 acres and lease another 11,000. My ancestors are estimated to have arrived in Florida with cattle in the 1850s, making me an eighth generation Florida cattle rancher.
Some of my favorite memories have been marking and branding cows during the winter and gathering up calves to wean and ship during the summer.
I have a lot of pride in this lifestyle, but unfortunately the amount of people entering the agriculture field is diminishing. There are so many incredible people in the Florida citrus and beef industries, both of which my family are a part of, that have not only helped me grow as a person, but have also worked diligently to ensure the future success of Florida’s people and its land.
I have been a witness to the complexity that goes into growing more food on less ground. Using Best Management Practices (BMPs), long hours, and good work ethics, Florida farmers are more sustainable than ever before.
Peyton’s grandfather, Cary Lightsey, is a 6th generation Florida rancher and a conservationist.
To me, the most influential of these and my role model is my grandfather, Cary Lightsey. Although there is no doubt that he has pride in the successful business he has built from nothing, my grandpa never boasts about his many accomplishments. He is more than the traditional cowboy image, his priorities are three simple things; family, faith, and the future of his land. His theory is that he is only borrowing God’s land for future generations.
Florida has one of the most biodiverse terrains in the world. We have ranches, like Brama Island for example, where you can find pastureland, forest, lakefront, marshes, and oak hammocks all in one place. There is something especially beautiful about the oak trees and palms growing together on the same soil that highlights the unique nature of the Sunshine State.
Experiencing wild Florida is something that I want everyone to have the chance to do, forever. I am grateful for organizations like Conservation Florida that are working to make an impact on this growing problem before it is too late.
About Conservation Florida’s ‘Voices for Conservation’ Series
From the sandhills to the swamps, Floridians don’t always agree, but we do find common ground in the land we share. Conservation connects us. It’s part of our ethos, our Floridian ethic. In it, there is hope for Florida’s conservation future.
Conservation Florida created Voices for Conservation to amplify the importance of protecting our native plants and wildlife, fresh water, family farms and ranches, and wild places.
The series of blogs and videos will feature Florida conservationists from all walks of life speaking up for a common goal – Saving land. For nature. For people. Forever. Every voice offers a unique perspective, but at the heart of each story is the same powerful message. Protecting land is necessary to keep our state, its people, and its wildlife healthy and thriving.
Photographing the Night Sky at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
The late spring and warm summer months provide towering clouds and thunderstorms making for dramatic skies above the grassy dry prairie dotted with hammocks.
Panoramic view of Sevenmile Slough captured using infrared photographic techniques by George Wilson.
Article by George Wilson
Florida has two “Dark Sky Places”
Situated about 100 miles (driving miles) from Orlando, FL is Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. It is a favorite photography location of mine for my black and white panoramic images. The Preserve is also one of just two International Dark Sky Places in the Sunshine State – the other, Big Cypress National Preserve, sits further south near the River of Grass – the Florida Everglades. Overall, there are 120 recognized International Dark Sky Places worldwide.
The International Dark Sky Places Program was founded in 2001 with a goal to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sky sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.
The late spring and warm summer months provide towering clouds and thunderstorms making for dramatic skies above the grassy dry prairie dotted with hammocks. The clear skies and crisp nights of fall and winter are the best times to photograph the Milky Way, our home in the cosmos.
What you might see at Kissimmee Prairie
This great expanse of dry prairie grasslands is also home to a myriad of species, many of which are threatened and endangered. It is a common occurrence for me to observe white tailed deer, crested caracara, alligators and burrowing owls. Often when standing with my camera set on its tripod, these animals make an appearance, enhancing my own experiences and memories of the prairie.
The non-migratory Florida grasshopper sparrow, perhaps the rarest bird in North America, is found only in the dry prairies of south-central Florida. The dry prairie expanse in Florida has declined by 90% as it was converted for agricultural use. This decline had a downstream affect – with the loss of habitat, came the loss of population in the grasshopper sparrow. This species is measured by the counts of male birds, which sing, and thus they can be heard more readily than seen. In 2018, only 50 male singing birds were counted, demonstrating that a very small population remains. The 53,000 acres of the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is one of the last strongholds for this imperiled species.
Internationally recognized for the lack of light pollution, the skies above the prairie are exceptionally dark making visual observation of stars, planets and the Milky Way’s gas clouds with the naked eye or binoculars possible. It is these conditions that make my night sky photography workshops possible.
Tips for shooting the Milky Way
The process of photographing the Milky Way is far from complicated, but it begins with locating the darkest sky possible and then working after the moon has set below the horizon or on a night with a new moon. The moon has a 28-day cycle from waxing to a full moon and then waning back to a new moon – this presents a fair number of opportunities throughout the year to try this type of photography.
One of the first things you should know about photographing the Milky Way is that there is also a “Milky Way season” — this is an optimal time to shoot. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way season begins at the end of January. That’s when the Galactic Center – the brightest area of the Milky Way - starts to be visible above the horizon. By the end of October, the Galactic Center will have dipped back below the horizon again for a few months.
On a late September night, long after the moon had dipped below the horizon, we gathered for a recent Milky Way workshop. Singh Ray Filters - from Arcadia, FL - joined us with several of their new Astro Filters for us to try.
Singh-Ray’s Astro-Vision Filter is designed to help remove the unwanted light pollution that often comes from the use of street lights and other ambient lights, which can cause issues when shooting in close proximity to cities. Looking North from the various camping areas and the telescope pads, the yellow glow of civilization can be seen. This filter was a natural choice for us to use in capturing color correct images before doing any post processing. I am an advocate of “capturing in the camera” and not “creating in the computer” both in my own work and how I teach others to develop their own photography skills.
This image of the Milky Way was captured without using a filter
This image of the Milky Way was captured using the Astro filter
What kind of gear you’ll need
Planning is very important, and being properly equipped is not be overlooked.
However, you will not need a lot of expensive gear – just the right gear. (I first jumped into Star Trails photography while a teenager in Boston – yes, talk about light pollution! But it was a start!! I had a locking cable release, a film camera and a tripod. I timed my shots with the second hand on my wrist watch.)
Camera: First, you will need a camera with the following options: Manual focus option on the camera, a “Bulb” setting. This allows you to hold open the shutter longer than 30” in Manual Exposure Mode.
Intervalometer: This is a fancy term for a release with a timer. There is no one size fits all and some cameras are not compatible with them. If you have just a cabled release – bring a watch with a second hand - or time things with your phone. More importantly, the intervalometer allows the shutter to be tripped while keeping the camera perfectly still.
Wide Angle Lens: In theory you could use any lens you want, but my general rule of thumb is to use a wider field of view lens (35mm or wider) to capture more of the nighttime sky. I typically work between 24mm and 85mm depending on the “vision” I have at that particular moment. Knowing the focal length of the lens is how the proper shutter speed is determined. Lenses at 85mm and longer can be helpful in isolating specific constellations.
Tripod: While most any tripod will work, long exposures will really benefit from a heavier sturdy tripod. I use a SLIK 700 DX Pro or a Manfrotto 290. We can always weight your tripod with a heavy bag, sand bag or something like that for a bit more stability.
Memory Cards: Of course, make sure you have enough memory.
Camera settings
Using the RAW setting on your camera will allow you to capture all of the important details in the image.
Turn off your auto focus – it will not work well shooting the dark night sky. Also, being on a tripod, you will not need image stabilization, so you can turn that of as well.
As for the settings, I have everyone start at ISO 800 with the aperture set as wide as possible (f2.8, f3.5 or similar). As for the shutter speed – that has a relationship with the focal length of the lens. To determine a shutter speed that will not allow the stars to elongate during the exposure, divide the number 500 by the focal length. For example, if you are using a 28mm lens on your camera divide 500 by 28 (500/28 = 17.85). This yields a result of 17.85 seconds, so I just round up to the closest duration on the camera – 20 seconds. To make the image brighter or darker, you will adjust only the ISO.
Once you have your camera set up, the Milky Way extends across the night sky from the South to the North will moving through the sky as our earth rotates on its axis.
Planning for a night under the stars
When I am overnighting at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, I usually reserve a campsite or telescope pad. I keep an air mattress in the back of my SUV for napping as I need to. But more importantly, I have both an electrical and water hook up. This means I can charge batteries, which do discharge quickly during long exposures. As for batteries, I carry at least three and a small flashlight. The flashlight (I use a headlamp) has a red light – this feature does not cause the eye to dilate and readjust to the darkness – it is also a courtesy to any stargazers or photographers out there with you.
For my own creature comforts, I always have a cooler packed with sandwiches, snacks, water and so forth. I also have a constellation map app on my phone.
In the fall and winter months bring layers of warm clothing and something in which to sit comfortably. A reclining outdoor chair or even a camping pad (if you want to lie down) are good options. Remember you may be outdoors in the pitch dark for hours at a time and it can get really cold, really fast – even in Florida. Don’t skimp on warming comforts under the circumstances.
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is working to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes – for nature, for people, forever! We work statewide to protect land that supports native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. In addition, our projects near Kissimmee Prairie Preserve and Avon Park Air Force Range will help keep contribute to the Florida’s dark skies, which are becoming more rare as development increases. Please support conservation by making a donation today.
About George Wilson
George Wilson self portraiat.
George Wilson grew up in a family where art was commonplace through multiple generations on his mother’s side. Sunday afternoon outings were usually at art exhibits in the metropolitan Boston area.
The drive to create was encouraged early and he received his first camera at the age of eight. By thirteen, he had saved enough paper-route money for an SLR. The camera became my medium of choice during George’s high school years and went along as he crisscrossed Europe as an exchange student. Yes, he can still speak German today, more than 35 years later. It was these images produced his first major photography award from The Boston Globe Newspaper Company.
His professional career began and continues today, in newspaper work. In the editorial world, he has been published in both national and international publications. But during the early to mid-1990’s his work also began to evolve into a drive for conservation of our wild spaces. Drawing inspiration from several great outdoor photographers, George is in the process of creating a body of work dedicated to the wilderness areas of Central Florida needing protection in hopes that through the medium of photography we all will be inspired to protect and preserve our natural resources.
In 2016, Orlando was devastated by the senseless tragedy of the shootings at the PULSE Nightclub. During the sweltering days of June, George was on the “front lines” covering the tragedy and Orlando’s reaction. The morning after the tragedy, he found himself checking on friends who may have been there during the previous night and capturing news photographs to keep the world beyond Orlando informed. The following year, 2017, he was sponsored into and considered for the Pulitzer Award in the Breaking News Photography category for my images taken during the tragic PULSE Nightclub shootings in Orlando.
“My images are meant to inform first, help us remember and then to heal our community”. With that in mind, the images were donated along with his Pulitzer letter and Media Credentials to be held in the permanent collection of the Orange County History Center. These images formed a major part of the PULSE Exhibit for the One Year Memorial Observations. These images have a further life in the temporary memorial and will go on to be featured in the permanent memorial as well.
The State of our State: a Bird's Eye View
As we quickly gained altitude, the trees below multiplied into forests, houses sprouted into neighborhoods, and the roads became snaking masses cutting through the land.
View of the Silver River from above.
Article and Photos by Tanner Diberardino
Edited by Marlowe Starling
Why I loved and hated seeing Florida from above
As a college senior on the cusp of graduating with the hopes of working for an environmental nonprofit, I had admittedly become a bit cynical about my job prospects. That is, however, until I received an email from the assistant director of Conservation Florida about a possible internship. About a week after opening that email, I found myself sitting in the copilot’s seat of a plane (that I was way too large for) with Traci Deen, the executive director, and Butch Parks, the director of conservation. Quite the first day as an intern.
Traci Deen, Conservation Florida’s executive director standing with pilot, Charlie Martinez on flight day. The flight was arranged courtesy of Southwings, which is “a non-profit conservation organization that provides a network of volunteer pilots to advocate for the restoration and protection of the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Southeast through flight.”
That morning, I arrived at the hangar weightless with disbelief but weighed down by about 30 pounds of camera gear. In the lobby, Butch splayed a map over the table and reviewed our flight plan with our pilot, Charlie Martinez, as he snacked on hard-boiled eggs and told tales of his days in the Air Force. I was briefed on which areas were important to photograph, and with that we climbed into the plane. I squeezed into the front seat with Charlie and started to get my cameras and equipment ready for the flight as we taxied out to the runway.
I had flown in a small plane once before, but the experience of taking off still felt unfamiliar and exciting to an exclusively commercial flyer. As we lifted off, the plane bounced and swayed as if it were lifted by a string. I started recording on my GoPro, got my two photo cameras powered on and set up, and grabbed my video camera just in time to catch our departure from Earth.
Capturing the Views
In just seconds, the horizon emerged behind the expanse of wild Florida. The thin haze that hung over the Orlando Executive Airport earlier that morning had lifted, and we were treated to a sunny sky with only a few wispy clouds hanging in the distance. With no air-conditioning in the plane and the sun beaming in through the windows, I had to keep wiping sweat off of my camera, but it was worth it; the sun illuminated the landscape brilliantly and made my job a lot easier.
As we quickly gained altitude, the trees below multiplied into forests, houses sprouted into neighborhoods and the roads became snaking masses cutting through the land. Butch and Traci were rattling out names of rivers and forests one after the other as I snapped away, trying to keep up: the Wekiva River, St. Johns River, Lake Monroe. I tried to take as many photographs of the land as possible while also creating interesting compositions to highlight the unique beauty of this bird’s eye view.
Water from the Withlacoochee River flows into Princess Lake.
Once we reached cruising altitude at 1,200 feet, Charlie slowed and steadied the plane, and the beauty of Florida’s wilderness came into focus. The forest was split in two by the Wekiva River as it glimmered in the late morning light. Vast prairies opened up into lakes and streams, and tiny white dots came and went as airboats weaved throughout the wetlands. Seeing Florida like this truly shocked me and affirmed everything I had heard about how lush and biodiverse this state is. I was taken aback by the sheer scale of the landscape, with swamps and grasslands running for miles and miles. I remember telling Traci, “I wish everyone could see Florida from the air, because then we’d have a much easier time saving it,” and I truly meant it. Unlike the rolling hills and towering mountains of the American West, much of Florida’s beauty is tucked away behind walls of trees, invisible because of its flatness.
Seeing the Big Picture
My job on this flight wasn’t merely to photograph the amazing beauty of Florida, but also to tell the story of how that same land is under threat from overdevelopment. This is a fact that became evermore obvious as the beautiful rivers and prairies became speckled with houses and dissected by highways. Bridges of various sizes straddled rivers, roads cut through previously remote forests, and housing developments consumed patches of green, slowly choking them until there were none left. I saw trees being leveled and burned to make room for new development, while other housing developments only miles away sat baron with only a few houses having ever been built in the entire neighborhood. It was much worse than I thought.
A housing development being built near Clermont, Florida.
Cook Lake surrounded by encroaching development.
An RV resort built only a few hundred feet from the banks of the Ocklawaha River
As a lifelong Floridian, I was familiar with the high amount of development in our state, but I was wholly unaware of the scale. The same size and grandeur of the Florida wilderness that awed me minutes prior now terrified me as I saw it replaced with a congruent cluster of housing developments and highways.
Seeing the state broken up into segments by roads and developments reminded me of an article I had read years ago about the Florida panther. This segmentation breaks up the panther population into smaller groups that can’t access each other, forcing them to breed within those smaller populations. In an article for Wired Magazine, Brandon Keim explains that years of this has caused the eastern panther population to become “riddled with genetic defects and too inbred to survive much longer.'' Unfortunately, it doesn’t end with apex predators like the panthers, as habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to the variety of life on this planet. The International Union for Conservation of Nature produces the most comprehensive list of threatened species globally called the Red List, and according to the WWF, habitat loss is the primary threat to 85% of the species on the list.
Protecting Florida’s Biodiversity
This puts Florida in a particularly concerning spot. We live in one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, and also face high rates of development with nearly 29,000 new homes built last year in Orlando alone according to the Orlando Sentinel. So concerning, in fact, that the state falls within one of only 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world, which are regions home to at least 1,500 endemic vascular plants and greater than 70 percent habitat loss.
All of this information points to the fact that it is imperative that we are thoughtful and think critically about the future of Florida. We cannot continue to grow at this rate with this little foresight and expect to maintain the wild spaces that drew so many here in the first place. Developers with little-to-no accountability for the land they build on are controlling the future of Florida and shifting the landscape in ways that cause permanent damage. We must protect and conserve Florida’s wild spaces while also adapting our already developed land into places of smart and responsible growth.
The St. Johns River, Konomac Lake, and Lake Monroe (From nearest to farthest)
I feel extremely grateful and privileged to have taken that flight and to have seen Florida from this new angle. This perspective is as inspiring as it is educational; there is just as much to learn from seeing the state’s unbridled beauty as there is from seeing the destruction it faces. Efforts from groups like Conservation Florida are the reason that over nine and a half million acres of land are currently being managed for conservation, and the reason I find any solace in our state’s future. A future where we are smarter about how we manage our land, and no longer have to worry about driving countless important species towards extinction.
One of Conservation Florida's ongoing projects: Triple S Ranch
Conservation Florida is working to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes – for nature, for people, forever! We work statewide to protect land that supports native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Please support conservation by making a donation today.
We would like to extend a very special “thank you” to Southwings for making this flight possible. Southwings promotes conservation through aviation.
A peaceful day at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
As our nation’s population continues to grow, more forests and marshlands are destroyed, and more species have become endangered. A refuge is a protected place where wild creatures can live undisturbed by humans.
Written by David Kyle Rakes
Adapted for Conservation Conversations by Marlowe Starling and Cyndi Fernandez
Designated one of “Florida’s Special Places,” the West Volusia Audubon Society offers guided walks at Lake Woodruff on Sundays in the winter. Photo by the Florida Audubon Society.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is located northwest of Deland, Florida and is well known for its lakes, marshes, waterfowl and migratory birds. The openness of this wetland, with its almost treeless expanse of water and grass, makes for a glorious and captivating place.
As our nation’s population continues to grow, more forests and marshlands are destroyed, and more species have become endangered. A refuge is a protected place where wild creatures can live undisturbed by humans.
The first refuge was started here in Florida in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. The three-acre Pelican Island on the Atlantic coast became a protected place for birds. The president was then concerned about native birds that were being killed because of a fashion craze for hats made from their feathers. Today, there are 567 National Wildlife Refuges covering more than 146 million acres of land as of September 2018, and they exist in every state of the United States.
The lake and refuge were named in honor of Major Joseph Woodruff, who in 1823 acquired the De Leon Springs property, when it was known as Spring Garden. These two springs contribute much to the freshwater marshes, streams, and lakes within the 21,574-acre refuge. Lake Woodruff and the surrounding wetlands became a refuge in 1964 to “preserve, improve, and create habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, according to a 2002 U.S. Fish and Wildlife brochure.”
Entering the Refuge
The summer sky was an azure blue, sans clouds, when I drove down Mud Lake Road to the park. The road was straight and hard-packed, but because of large potholes, I drove in zigzags. The park road meandered through oak and pine habitat, past the Myakka and Live Oak trailheads and through a swampy area. I parked, I strapped my water bottle and binoculars to my belt, sprayed some bug repellent on my arms, legs and clothes, put on my large straw hat, grabbed my satchel and journal and walked through the opening to the marsh.
When I walked away from the tree line toward the first pool, I noticed how the cloudless sky surrounded the flat marshlands like a warm blanket. I walked a little closer to the water, which was bordered with tall sedges, rushes, and cattails.
The pools are connected by underground pipes with gates to manage water levels for the waterfowl. Park officials manipulate the water levels in the impoundments by flooding and draining “to discourage undesirable vegetation while encouraging desirable plant species.” These management techniques in the wetlands are said to benefit waterfowl, such as wading birds and ducks.
A swamp hibiscus has five pink petals, a maroon-colored central tube, and a long pistil reaching out past the petals, ending with a pink knob. The flowers open in the late afternoon and close by noon the following day. Photo "Hibiscus" by PMillera4 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Past the pond, a lawn-like grassy road led me along the east side of one pool. The water was low, revealing yellowish dried grass with some pockets of green vegetation. This was much different from my last visit in February, when the pools had more water. During that trip, I saw the blue-winged teal, a dabbler duck, sitting quietly on the cold water as red-wing blackbirds swooped overhead, disappearing into the cattails before making their common “congaree” calls. The sandhill cranes honked loudly as they flew in V-formations, and American coots gathered together by the hundreds. Along the pools’ edges, savannah sparrows darted in and around the swamp hibiscus.
Now, these birds were missing, and the embankments along the pool had overgrown grasses, fennels and sedges that ranged from three to six feet tall. Growing with the grasses were two different species of large pink hibiscus flowers. One species of hibiscus was called the swamp rose mallow, and the other was called the swamp hibiscus with smaller flowers. I could not help admiring the blossoms, which seemed to be blown up large as if they were under a microscope.
Trekking to the Tower
As I walked between Spring Garden Lake and a pool, a white peacock butterfly flew by me. The butterfly traveled fast, just a couple feet off the ground along the wild grasses. The bobbing and weaving of the butterfly on its impossible-looking course reminded me of my zigzag drive around the potholes earlier. Scientists say the erratic flight of the butterfly helps it elude birds and other predators. How differently the white peacock butterfly flew compared to the zebra longwings that floated through my backyard. The white peacock is a unique butterfly and thus not often confused with others; it is mostly white on the forewings and hindwings, with a few dark spots and dull orange scaling along the margins. I often see this butterfly by pond edges and marshes. Some of its affinity for wet areas no doubt comes from the adults looking for the frog fruit or water hyssop plants to lay their eggs on.
![White peacock butterfly at Lake Woodruff pools. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b03298f5b409b4a9180ed37/1568394757946-12NTW73W6NKCDEP32RG6/white+peacock+butterfly.png)
White peacock butterfly at Lake Woodruff pools. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
A black vulture perches on a frondless sabal palm at Lake Woodruff.
As I neared a tall wooden observation tower, I noticed a southern black vulture perched on a frondless sabal palm. Nearby were three more topless palms, each with a single black vulture perched on top. I wondered why the tops were gone from the palms. The apex, or heart of palm, is at the top of the tree where the fronds grow. It is sold in stores and restaurants, but once it is removed from the tree, the tree is doomed to die. It seemed unlikely that someone would take the edible tops from the trees in a wildlife refuge. Perhaps the palms had succumbed to old age, disease, insects or something else. These four scavenger birds were motionless and reminded me of those creepy stone gargoyles near the rooftops of old buildings. Even when I climbed the observation tower and had a panoramic view of the pools and lake, the vultures remained eerily still and silent.
I continued walking along the canal and stopped again to say hello to an older man taking pictures of a great blue heron fishing in the canal below. We both looked down at the wading bird craning his long neck over the water. The bird had a straight yellow bill and staring eyes; the neck was so long that if the bird had his head up, it would have been almost five feet tall. In fact, the neck vertebrae of this heron are of unequal length, forcing the bird to carry its neck kinked in an S-shape when flying and sometimes when at rest. I waited to see if the heron was going to spear a fish with its bill. Many times, I had seen the neck project the bill forward into the water with lightning speed and come up with a fish or frog attached to the open bill. The open bill gives the heron two points with which to hit its mark; in case it misses with one, the other may spear its prey.
![A great blue heron at Lake Woodruff spears lunch. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b03298f5b409b4a9180ed37/1568395042138-TXSO5DLS1WV3LHE791CU/heron.png)
A great blue heron at Lake Woodruff spears lunch. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
Wading through Flooded Flatwoods
I followed the trail west into a waterlogged piney flatwoods known as Jones Island. This was August, the middle of summer, and the rainy season for most of Florida. I left the open marsh to traverse trails that were as much as a foot deep in water. Young loblolly pines with an understory of the subtropical saw palmetto predominated on the island.
Walking along the grassy road, I saw an alligator in the distance. It moved across the surface of the canal waters and hid in some tall grasses. The sun was much higher in the sky now, and I had to stop a few times to wipe the sweat from my brow and to hydrate myself. Looking south was a postcard view of the marsh with many open miles of grass that ended in a horizon below the blue sky.
After walking about another quarter mile along this straightaway, I saw a red rat snake up ahead in the grass, sometimes called a corn snake. It is nonvenomous but known to bite. Its body was colorful, with gaudy deep-red and yellow-brown bands. I got out my binoculars to look closer at it. The snake remained very still; its head was lifted up a few inches off the ground and looking my way. I wondered what the snake would look like in motion, so I walked to the left toward the snake’s tail, and when I got directly behind it I gently grabbed the tail. The snake turned its head around. I jumped back a few feet and watched as it seemed to slither back and forth in one place, not going anywhere but producing a most unusual effect. Amazingly, the snake appeared to compress most of its body, making itself taller and flatter on the sides. When the snake slithered in the grass with its compressed body, it looked like a banner or ribbon turning and spinning as a kite tail would in the air. While I stopped in awe to watch its performance, it quickly slithered across the grass and disappeared. It seemed like the unusual movement of the snake was a ruse to startle me, so it had some time to escape.
Also known as the Eastern corn snake, this nonvenomous snake constricts its prey. Learn more. Photo by Moses Michelshon.
Red rat snakes are beautifully colored, so they have been very popular in the pet trade business. However, when this snake is encountered in the wild, it is often killed by humans who mistake it for the copperhead, which has similar markings. Its other common name, corn snake, was said to have come from its regular presence near grain stores, where it preys on mice and rats that harvest corn. This red rat snake would help control populations of wild rodents in the marsh.
When I drove out of the park and once again steered the black and white warbler in the zigzags around the potholes, I cheerfully recalled the erratic flight of a butterfly and the crooked backbone of a snake. I left the park feeling quite satisfied with the walk and lucky to have seen so much wildlife.
David Kyle Rakes has been a volunteer nature walk guide at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida, for the last five years. He is the author of Botanizing with Bears and Other Florida Essays, available to purchase at the Silver River Museum and Springside gift shop at Silver Springs State Park for $15. You may contact the author directly by emailing him at barakes123@gmail.com or writing to him at PO Box 2706 Belleview, FL 34421.