The Trailblazer

  Follow these simple tips to keep your warm-weather paddling trip above water! 1. Plan Ahead Yes, we know it sounds simple- but there's more to paddling in Florida than just showing up with a kayak. Some areas might be harder to paddle at low tide, some may require payment, and some you'll definitely need a map for. Make sure to look up the spot where you plan to paddle and find any maps and information you may need beforehand.  Check out the Canoeing and Kayaking in Hillsborough County webpage for information on which Hillsborough County Conservation Parks and Nature Preserves make for the best paddling adventure, including where you can rent a canoe or kayak! 2. Bring Plenty of Sustenance This tip also sounds simple, but it's very important! When you're out on the water, you may be a long ways away from your car and not realize how long it'll take to return. Make sure to pack more snacks and water than you think you'll need.  It's easy to forget to stay ...

Have you ever been hiking at a Hillsborough County Nature Preserve and wondered to yourself why the edges of the trail have been tilled up? If so, you aren’t alone- it’s one of the most common questions we get asked, and the answer might surprise you. Trail damage at Bell Creek Nature Preserve  The cause of this widespread rooting is the feral hog, Sus scrofa . Technically the same species as the domestic pig, these animals cause over a billion dollars of land damage every year in the United States. They root for acorns and underground tubers with their snouts, turning up clods of dirt and killing grass and other plants. A single group, or sounder, of hogs can root up multiple acres in a day, ruining trails, rights-of-way, farm fields, and even golf courses.  A sounder of feral hogs travels down the trail in a Hillsborough County nature preserve Feral hogs aren’t only a nuisance to humans- they’ve caused plenty of harm to Florida’s native wildlife species too. Hogs are not nat...

Hillsborough County's Prescribed Fire Program Sustaining Massive Success Florida is a leader in prescribed fire For a longer, in-depth explanation and analysis, please read the extended version of this article. Florida is the champion of many things, but one accomplishment we’re certainly proud of is maintaining our status as one of the leading states in prescribed fire acreage. You read that right! In 2019,  Florida executed prescribed burns over 1 million acres of land  – one of only two states in the nation to accomplish this feat. Many people associate wildland fire with California, Colorado, and other western states. As we move into the wildfire season for the Southeastern US, it’s important to remember that most fires larger media outlets typically report on are catastrophic wildfires, not prescribed fires. Prescribed fire is #goodfire Since Hillsborough County’s Environmental Lands Management Department prioritizes safety and public awareness, most of what you’ve heard...

Hillsborough County's Prescribed Fire Program Sustaining Massive Success Florida is a leader in prescribed fire Florida is the champion of many things, but one accomplishment we’re certainly proud of is maintaining our status as one of the leading states in prescribed fire acreage. You read that right - in 2019,  Florida executed prescribed burns over 1 million acres of land  – one of only two states in the nation to accomplish this feat. Many people associate wildland fire with California, Colorado, and other western states. As we move into the wildfire season for the Southeastern US, it’s important to remember that most larger media outlets typically report on catastrophic wildfires, not prescribed fires.  Arid, hot, mountainous, and over-developed areas carry a much higher risk when it comes to wildfire. These complications are only exacerbated when policies like consistent fire exclusion are the norm – we can blame Smokey Bear for that one. It’s been almost 77 years s...

Hillsborough County EL-Rat Team Locates Previously Undiscovered Endemic, Endangered Plant Population  Did you know that a flower with the species name Glandularia tampensis existed? You might never have seen one in the wild, as this plant is extremely rare and endangered.  Environmental Lands Management Research and Analysis Team members Gillian Seymour and Rose O'Donovan were overjoyed to discover a previously unknown population on ELAPP land in March. Unfortunately we cannot disclose the exact location to the plant's endangered status.  The Team members noted that this population is near an area that had been severely affected by invasive wild hog rooting. Worried about the species' possible eradication, they immediately contacted Bok Tower Gardens , an organization  dedicated to conserving and restoring rare native plants.  The Rare Plant Conservation Program assisted our staff in safely collecting the seeds for preservation and to secure the population's fut...

  If you’re a frequent visitor at Camp Bayou Nature Preserve in Ruskin, you may notice a big change on your next trip.  What was once an overgrown, vine-filled tangle of impenetrable vegetation along 24th street is now an open pine canopy full of dappled sunlight! Part of the hardwood reduction project area This didn’t happen by accident- Hillsborough County's Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department recently completed a hardwood reduction project at Camp Bayou. Using heavy equipment, a contract crew removed most of the oaks and underbrush from a 10-acre area, leaving pine trees and only a few oaks behind to grow. This change may seem drastic, but it’s for the greater good of the wildlife and native plants that call Camp Bayou home. Historically, this project area was composed of pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, and scrub, which are habitat types that benefit from frequent fires. These habitat types are extremely important to some of Florida’s threatened ...

Join us in celebrating an exciting holiday this April 10th: Florida Gopher Tortoise Day!  This beautiful creature is the only tortoise native to the southeastern United States and is one of  Florida's most beloved wildlife species. Although you may see gopher tortoises fairly often while hiking in Hillsborough County’s Conservation Parks and Nature Preserves , these burrow-dwelling reptiles are listed as threatened by the state of Florida and are protected by state law. The population of gopher tortoises in many states has decreased dramatically over the past century due to human activity and development. Gopher tortoises prefer open, dry habitat such as scrub and pine flatwoods. Unfortunately, high and dry areas like these are among the first chosen for development, and much of the gopher tortoise’s natural habitat has been lost. Nature preserves and parks, like those in Hillsborough County, are among the only safe places left for gopher tortoises to live. They can also be fo...