Wildlife Report: Six Mile Cypress Preserve

Fort Myers, Florida: As Florida begins Phase I reopening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few of Florida’s natural gems have started to open. We took advantage of this and practiced our social distancing skills during a wildlife hike at Six Mile Cypress Preserve. The park was rather empty for a weekend and we enjoyed a nice leisurely stroll to the preserve. We have been coming to this park for years and this was the driest I have even seen the park. Much of the swamp and ponds were dry or mostly dry. Hopefully this weekend’s rain will help replenish some of the park’s waterways. During today’s trip, we saw:

  • American Alligator 
  • Black Crowned Night Heron 
  • Eastern Gray Squirrel 
  • Florida Softshell Turtle 
  • Great Blue Heron 
  • Great Egret 
  • Limpkin 
  • Northern Cardinal 
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker 
  • Red Shouldered Hawk 
  • Roseate Spoonbill 
  • Snowy Egret 
  • Tricolored Heron 
  • Tufted Titmouse 
  • Wood Duck 
Six Mile Cypress Preseve is located at 7751 Penzance Boulevard in Fort Myers, Florida. It is open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. While admission to the preserve is free, Lee County charges $1 an hour to park with a maximum charge of $5 per day. Under state rregulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; groups are limited to less than 10 people, groups are required to keep a 6 foot social distance from other groups and the picnic pavilion and other enclosed areas are currently closed.

Click on the photo above to view photos from today and the entire Six Mile Cypress Preserve photo gallery.

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