Protecting Wildlife and Habitat

With nearly 13,000 acres of wildlife habitat, Audubon staff make natural resource management a top priority and rely on a variety of methods to protect this special place.

Prescribed Fire

Fire is a critical force driving the ecology of South Florida. Most of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s habitats have evolved to depend on fire. Historically sparked by cloud-to-ground lightning strikes or ignited by native Americans, frequent fire reduces fuel loads and maintains a mosaic landscape that helps wildlife thrive.

Prescribed fire allows land stewards to protect Sanctuary resources and the community from wildfire while reaping the benefits of fire in our ecosystem: reducing hazardous fuels, stimulating regeneration of plants, maintaining biodiversity, and protecting forests and soils. Using frequent low-intensity fires to prevent high-intensity fires is one of the most important things Audubon can do for wildlife and people.

Different habitats have different fire needs. While marshes should burn every 3 to 5 years, wet prairie should burn more frequently (2 to 4 years) and cypress forests should only burn every 25 to 100 years. Land stewards carefully plan each burn based on the habitat type, current condition (plant communities, ground conditions, water level), weather, time of year, known wildlife present, and other factors. Special considerations are always made to protect buildings and the boardwalk and to minimize impacts on visitors. Audubon staff coordinate fires with partnering agencies and communicate with neighbors. All burns are permitted by the Florida Forest Service and carried out by a certified prescribed burn manager.

Invasive Species Management

South Florida’s sub-tropical climate and role as a hub for global commerce have made it a hotspot for non-native species. A small percentage of the species introduced to this ecosystem have the potential to become established, and many wreak havoc on native plant and animal communities. Invasive plants and animals can displace native species, reduce biodiversity, and alter ecosystem processes. Battling these invaders is an essential job for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s land stewards.

Outside prescribed fire season, the land stewardship team spends the majority of their time removing non-native, invasive plants from the Sanctuary. Audubon uses integrated pest management, an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on the prevention and removal of invasive species, to protect native species and maintain healthy native communities. With new plant and animal invaders showing up each year, land stewards work closely with the research team to share information, ensure best practices, and engage invasive species experts across the state.

Restoration

Land stewards use habitat restoration to reverse ecosystem changes due to changes in land use (like former farm fields turned back into natural habitat) or changes in hydrology or fire regimes. Restoration is also sometimes needed to address particularly aggressive invasive species that become well-established before control is possible.

Audubon’s biggest restoration effort in recent years at the Sanctuary is a marsh and wet prairie restoration project. Since 2013, land stewards have worked to remove over 1,500 acres of shrubs and to aid the natural reestablishment of native grasses and sedges. Restoring these highly productive and biologically diverse habitats improves wetland functions like storing rainwater, refilling the aquifer, and improving water quality in Southwest Florida’s estuaries.