Schedule of FREE Nature Walks and Events on Environmentally Sensitive Protection Program (ESLPP) Preserves in Sarasota County

The following are free September 2008 nature walks for Sarasota County Natural Resources. Please follow the directions within each news release to reserve you a spot.

Please remember…

Let's respect our fellow participants, animals, lands and air space. Please refrain from smoking while visiting and enjoying your nature walk on Sarasota County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESLPP).

New College Students entertain at Red Bug Slough

On Saturday, September 6 from 11 AM - 12:30 PM, join New College ecology students and Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Dr. Margaret Lowman at Red Bug Slough Preserve in Sarasota to learn about the tools used for field ecology, including how to stalk invasive reptiles!

Red Bug Slough Preserve is one of many natural areas available through the county’s environmental lands program. In addition to a wide variety of native plant species, the preserve also provides habitat for gopher tortoises, bobcats and various species of wading birds.

Participants may bring a lunch, lawn chair, drinking water, cameras and wear comfortable walking shoes, and bug repellent. No registration is needed, just come and enjoy! No limit of participation.

Participants can reach Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Rd., Sarasota by taking I -75 to Exit 205 (S.R. 72 or Clark Road). Go west on Clark Road to Beneva Road and turn right onto Beneva. Continue north on Beneva Road until you reach the preserve parking lot, located west of Beneva Road (entrance ½ mile south of Proctor Rd.). Turn left and park in designated spaces. Parking is limited, so carpooling is strongly encouraged.

For more information, call 941-861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.

Summer Showers, September Flowers

With the summer showers brings September flowers. Please join us in viewing them along with flowering grasses and other native flora near Ainger Creek. Al Squires, Sarasota County volunteer, amateur botanist and Florida Native Plant Society member, will lead a free nature walk through the preserve from 9 - 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 10th, at Ainger Creek - Joseph parcel, 1049 Morningside Dr, Englewood.

Ainger Creek - Joseph parcel is one of many public lands available through Sarasota County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. It is home to a mosaic of marshes, tidal strands, tidal swamp, the brackish creek, pine flatwoods and oak hammocks, and provides habitat to the gopher tortoise and other wildlife.

Space for this walk is limited to 20, so call to reserve a spot. If the walk is filled, future walks are available. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket, a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (optional), camera and hand lens (optional).

Participants can reach Ainger Creek - Joseph parcel by taking I-75 to Exit 191 (N. River Road), travel south to Tamiami Trail, continue south across the Trail onto South River Road, travel South River Road to the second stop light which is Pine St., turn left onto Pine St., once on Pine St. take a left on Morningside Dr., take Morningside all the way down to the dead end past the white board fence (on each side of road), park in the grass west of the Joseph fence and please do not block the private gate at end of road or the horse step-over. Thank you.

For more information about this or other nature walks, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.

Off the Beaten Path at the Manasota Scrub Preserve

Be a detective. Explore the unknown. Early September is great time of the year to observe the variety of wildflowers and grasses in their fall splendor. Guests enjoy a limited opportunity to visit the rosemary scrub on the west side of Bridge Street. Enjoy the beauty during an informative stroll through Manasota Scrub Preserve in Englewood, from 8 -10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 13, 2008 with Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Nancy Edmondson.

Manasota Scrub Preserve is one of many public lands that are available through Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The preserve is home to numerous subtropical plants, as well as the great-horned owl and northern quail. Lucky observers may see evidence of resident animals as bobcat and gopher tortoise.

Because of the great response and limited parking, we can only take 15 persons per walk so call to reserve a spot. In the case that the walk has been filled, you will be invited to choose the next available Nature Walk. Participants should wear hiking attire, including long pants, wear comfortable hiking shoes that can get wet/muddy, a light jacket, a hat, sun screen, bug repellent, drinking water, binoculars for the best viewing of birds, camera and hand lens (optional).

Participants should meet at the entrance/parking area at Manasota Scrub Preserve at 2695 Bridge Street, Englewood. Take I-75 to Exit 193 (Jacaranda Blvd.) go south 5.3 miles, cross over 41 (Tamiami Trail) .07 miles to Englewood Rd. (SR776) south on Englewood Rd. to Manasota Beach Rd. Go west on Manasota Beach Rd. to Bridge St. (first street on left) Turn left and stop at the preserve entrance on your left.

For more information about this or other nature walks, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.