Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Naples, Florida: Just a few miles east of I-75 in eastern Collier County lies a hidden gem on the edge of the Big Cypress Swamp. One of the last remaining strands of Bald and Pond Cypress in existence, the 10,000 acres of the Corkscrew Swamp are home to over 200 species of birds and wildlife.

During the early 1900’s the Big Cypress Swamp was in its prime. The swamp stretched for over 5,000 square miles and was home to thick forests of cypress trees. The Bald Cypress were Florida’s version of the California Redwood, they grew to over 130 feet tall and towered over the swamp.

Many species of wildlife resided within the canopy of the cypress, resulting in a very diverse population. By 1912, the National Audubon Society had wardens stationed within the Corkscrew Swamp to monitor the wildlife and most importantly protect the wading birds nests. During this time, it was common for a warden to record bird populations in the hundreds during a tour. The numbers continued to grow thanks the great breeding grounds found within the swamp.

But human interaction began to take a toll on the swamp in the mid 1900’s. Lumberman saw the vast forests of virgin cypress trees and immediately tried to profit from the lumber. They began to harvest the trees by the thousands and reducing the thick forests to nothing more then soil. The effects of the lumber industry devastated the region.

Efforts to save the Corkscrew Swamp began in the 1950’s. In response to letters to the editor and articles in publications, national attention was turned to the swamp and efforts to preserve the rich ecosystem were accelerated. In 1954, the Corkscrew Cypress Rookery Association was formed with the sole responsibility to help preserve the Corkscrew.

The group began to negotiate deals with the local loggers to help save the land. Lee Tidewater Cypress Company donated 640 acres and purchase an additional 160 acres of the largest trees. They had to work quickly to collect the funding needed to purchase the land before the lumber was harvested. Thanks to donors in the community, the $25,000 were raised by December 1954 to purchase the land.

A year later, the neighboring lumber company Collier Enterprises decided to help the cause by leasing 3,200 acres of the land to the association for $1 a year while they raise funds to buy out the last remaining timbers from the property.

The Audubon Society quickly began work to make the property one of its finest sanctuaries. The first project was to build a cabin on the property for the full-time warden.

The next task was to construct a boardwalk to help visitors get a closer look at the swamp. Up until the completion of the boardwalk, the guests would have to wade through waist deep waters in order to get a glimpse of the cypress trees and the wonders of the sanctuary. The original boardwalk was completed in 1956 at 5,600 feet in length. More improvements were made to the sanctuary including an driveway from the entrance to the boardwalk in preparation for the grand opening. The sanctuary opened to the public in 1960 with admission for only a dollar and free for under 12.

The sanctuary continued to evolved throughout the years. Today the park boundaries have expanded to include 11,000 acres of land and the boardwalk has extended to 2 1/4 miles.

When you visit the sanctuary, you will pass through the Blair Audubon Center with information on the sanctuary, a gift shop and theater that shows a film on life in the swamp. From there you begin the boardwalk journey that will take you through six different ecosystems, each with their own wildlife. The habitats you will encounter and some of their notable residents are:

• Pine Flatwood: Florida Black Bear, Mockingbird, Woodpeckers and more.
• Wet Prairie: Egret, Deer, Sparrow, Wood Stork and more.
• Pond Cypress: Hawk, Otter, Bittern and more.
• Bald Cypress Forest: Barred Owl, Alligator, Squirrel and more.
• Central Marsh: Swallow-Tailed Kite, Raccoon, Cardinal and more.
• Lettuce Lakes: Heron, Turtles, Rabbits and more.

The Corkscrew Swamp is a National Natural Landmark as well as a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Click on the photo above to visit my Corkscrew Swamp photo gallery.