Florida Nature Reserve

Florida Nature Reserve

anole

peacock

Florida Nature Reserve

The

Rancho Sacramento

nature reserve

holds a primary

intention of

creating sanctuary

for all

sentient beings who

dwell

here.

We believe in

the value and

interconnection of

every life

form

-- human, animal, bird,

insect, and

vegetation

-

-

and desire

to

understand and sustain the

natural balance

that

surrounds

us.

We are grateful

to be living within a

53-

acre

nature

reserve

in

north central Florida

, protecting an

oak

hammock

habitat,

which

is characterized by a

moderately

open canopy

and

lush

upland

terrain,

with a

hearty

mix of

sandy soil, oak

hard

-

wood

s

, longleaf

pine,

and

abundant

saw

palmetto.

On

any given

day,

one's path

might

cross

with

fox,

deer,

tortoise,

hawk, eagle, owl,

indigo

,

rattle

or

coral

snake,

coyote, bobcat,

raccoon, skunk,

armadillo,

treefrog,

gecko,

lizard,

wild

turkey,

as well as

a

plethora

of

other

bird,

mammal

and reptile species.

The endangered

gopher tortoise

, considered a keystone

species,

is

particularly

significant to us for its reputation as

"nature's

innkeeper."

The long burrows

dug by the

gopher

tortoise

offer

a

home and

refuge

to numerous

other

creatures

--

estimated

to

be

as many as 300

different

species

from

mites

to foxes to owls

and

snakes.

The image

of

the

gopher tortoise

graces t

he

Rancho

Sacramento

welcom

e

signs.

Denice, a young gopher tortoise. Now 2 years old. She has a 65+ year life expectancy . . .

Denice poses for another photo . . .

Friends taking photos . . .