Myakka River State Park

 

Everyday in Myakka River State Park is exciting and new. The sites you see and the wildlife you encounter each day is jaw dropping. Today was know diffferrent. The best time to view these sites are first thing in the morning. So I was up and out the door by 7 am and yes it was still dark and a little foggy but the sun had started peaking out above the tree canopy.

 



Sunrise over Myakka River State Park









After watching the sunrise I ventured down the road only to spot my first live yes live not roadkill armadillo. He was so fast crossing the road that I was only able to capture his back end. He must have learnt from seeing most of his relatives dead on the roadside. I called him armonee armadillo because of his nice suit. I have know idea whether it was a male or female I just called him Armonee.  

 

Armonee Armadillo

 

Deer feasting on the limb branches

Wild hogs are becoming a serious issue throughout Florida. Florida's wild hogs are often referred to as feral hogs. It is believed that hogs were first brought to Florida, and possibly the United States, in 1539, when Hernando de Soto brought swine to provision a settlement he established in Lee County. However, it is possible that hogs had been brought to the same site in 1521 by Ponce de Leon's brief visit. During the next four centuries, explorers and settlers brought pigs with them. Many of these animals were given to or stolen by Native Americans, who expanded pig numbers and distributed throughout the state. Europeans and Native Americans alike often raised these swine in semi-wild conditions (at least until the mid-1900s when open range ended and it became illegal) where hogs were allowed to roam freely and only rounded up when needed.

Wild Pigs

One of the attractions of Myakka is the well known canapy walkway. Completed in 2000 and inspired by Dr Margaret Lowman it became the first public treetop walk in North America. The walkway is suspended 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy. The tower rises 74 feet to a spectacular view of treetops, wetlands and the prairie. The building of the Canopy Walkway and Tower was a culmination of park volunteers, park staff, and professional contractors together providing 2,571 hours at a cost of $98,860.50.


 

Canopy Tower

 

Canopy Walkway

 

If your afraid of heights this is not where you want to be

 

View from Tower