The Trailblazer

In honor of World Wildlife Day on March 3rd, let’s take a look at some of the wildlife that call Hillsborough County home. You won't have to search hard to find them; these spectacular creatures can be viewed throughout Hillsborough County at your nearest conservation park or nature preserve. In 1987, Hillsborough County leadership thought it prudent to conserve land, waterways, and wildlife, ensuring the preservation of these resources for future generations to enjoy. Because of the wisdom of our community leadership, wildlife thrives in our backyards. Here is a sampling of 10 mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish you may encounter in the untamed, undeveloped lands of our County Parks and Preserves. Black Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Despite being named because they are most active at night, these birds can be seen in many of our conservation parks during the day. These short, stocky birds live in Florida year-round and primarily eat fish. They’re a communal bird a...

  You may have met the Diamondback Terrapin before, they’re a cute and charismatic turtle that’s beloved up and down the United States East Coast and call Tampa Bay home, too. Mascot of schools big and small – Maryland and Tampa Prep – this creature was nearly wiped out in the early 1900’s and is still facing pressure to survive today. A diamondback terrapin buried in the sand. These adorable spotted turtles with multicolored shells live in brackish waters – a mix of salty and fresh water – on our shores. They like mangrove estuaries, tidal creeks, burrowing in the sand, and are active during the daytime. They eat snails, crabs, clams, worms, fish, and plants. Beginning March 1 st we are giving them a better chance as FWC makes it mandatory to install excluder or “bycatch reduction devices” devices on crab traps in Florida, or to ensure the trap itself has a rigid funnel opening no larger than 2” x 6”. What’s a bycatch reduction device? It’s a plastic piece to attach to the op...

  Valentine’s Day is coming up – and if you’ve got a Valentine, Galentine, or just looking to Treat Yourself on February 14 th – we have some ideas! Bring Them to the Bouquet Eureka Springs Conservation Park  continues to be a favorite “hidden gem” of the county. They rotate much of the greenery you can see seasonally so your trip will be different every season. Take a stroll through the unique park and see stunning orchids, lilies, and more. It’s the perfect place for a sweet escape! In our Nature Preserves be on the watch for wildflowers starting to bloom like Lyreleaf Sage ( Salvia lyrate ),  Walter's Viburnum ( Viburnum obovatum ), and Coral Bean ( Erythrina herbacea ). They’ll put on a beautiful early show before the spring and summer wildflower season fully begins – but remember – look but don’t pick! Get Away for the Night Forget Netflix and chocolates– it’s time for campfires and s’mores. Cooking over a fire, cuddling up on chilly nights, stargazing – ...

  We know you love your Hillsborough County Conservation Parks and Nature Preserves - so we thought we'd make some Valentines for you to share with those you love the most! They feature some beloved species you can find in our preserves and parks, and we hope you enjoy them. 

  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – We’ve heard for years that these three things can help us save the planet – but can they? Sometimes it seems like we just skip to the last one, Recycle. All I have to do is put my recyclables into the blue bin and I’m doing my part, right?  What have I reduced ? Have I been reusing ? A re there other “R’s” I should be thinking about?  If you want to start 2023 being purposeful and working on reducing your impact, consider making your list of R’s a little longer. Rethink : It’s what we’re doing right now; rethinking about how we buy, use, and waste products in our lives. Take time to look around your home or community and think about how much waste is created, what you’d like to see changed, and what you think you can tackle first. Start small and remember: this is a cycle! Reduce & Refuse : Renting clothes, buying thrifted items, and borrowing all help us Reduce what we buy and waste, while getting us to consi...

Their ships have landed after a long time away - it's time to go Hiking with a Viking once again! This favored event will be back four times this Hiking Spree season, the first of which will be held Saturday, December 10th. Registration to these events is limited, but it will be the adventure of a lifetime as  Park Rangers and members from Wyrd Vikings lead you through Edward Medard Conservation Park and Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park four times this Hiking spree season.  On the journey, your Viking guides will teach you about their lifestyle, skills and crafts, weapons and combat, and most importantly, their appreciation and dependence on nature.  Don't miss these rare opportunities to go Hiking with a Viking ! Subscribe to the Trailblazer  to be the first to know when registration opens for these events!  Watch a video about past events here . 

This year's Hiking Spree will feature new trails, new prizes, and new opportunities to get out and explore all that Hillsborough County has to offer! Choose from over 25 trails all over the county, from wild and wonderful Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve in Plant City to the ever-popular Lettuce Lake Park, from our newest site Pebble Park (opening in November), to a city history hike through Ybor.  When you #TakeAHikeHC at eight or more trails you've won a prize! E very year our prizes feature a special species to our area - from the scrub jay to the fox squirrel - and this year is no different. Instead of an animal, our first ever plant species is featured: Sea Oates! The deep roots of these plants help protect our sand dunes and beaches, and can be seen on one of our hike locations this season - Egmont Key State Park.  There are a lot of new places to discover this year, and plenty of chances to hike. We'll even be announcing some other BIG developments and scheduled...