Moccasin Lake Park

Location: Park is tucked away within a neighborhood.

Temperature: 78 degrees F

Weather conditions: Overcast -100% cloud coverage, Slight breeze.

History: In 1982, the location became a park after being used as a borrow pit.

Below is a picture of an American Alligator in Moccasin Lake (the pit)

 

 

After viewing amphibians, reptiles and a great horn owl in the information center, we then went outside and saw several rescued birds. One particularly interesting bird was a American Black Vulture(Coragyps atratus) named Elvis. Vultures are native to Florida and are scavengers. Their habitats include Fields, scrubs, water sides and dumps.

The park offers a trail that presents a plethora of native Florida flora and fauna. Below is a picture of the Green Anole, a native lizard of Florida.

 

 

 

 

Similar to many habitats, there were also invasive and non-native plants present in the park. The main invasive plant the park it battling in the Air Potatoes.  Due to the recent rain storms the Caesar Weed was also present throughout the forest under canopy. This plant is considered a secondary successor, it is an invasive plants.

 

 

 

 

Overall, this park allowed an enjoyable opportunity to see native Florida habitat with human influence.