Weather: Beautiful with few clouds
Egmont Key State Park
1.6 miles long
less than 1/2 mile wide
400 acres
Established 1974
Majority of the island is sectioned off as a National Wildlife Sanctuary, mainly for the migrating birds.
Egmont Key Beach
The island was also utilized as a camp for Seminole prisoners during the Spanish American War.
During this visit (our second) it was so much more pleasurable to visit the island. We were also to observe many more species since they were out and about roaming the island. We were also able to interview the park ranger on this trip, Tom.
He let us know that the park's biggest threat is erosion. Human interaction is not a problem because all of the visitors know to keep the state park clean and it is less accessible than most state parks. Also, over 1800 keystone species gopher tortoises call this lovely island home!
The gopher tortoises make burrows as their home and shelter that other creatures on the island depend on during storms and fires to stay safe making them a keystone species.
The island has some different ecosystems but the main ones are beach forest ecosystem and high pine grasslands as well as wetlands. The ecosystems change as the elevation changes.
I loved Egmont key and I can't wait to present our adventure to the class!
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