Staff from both Sarasota County Fire Department and the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department will be conducting a State authorized prescribed burn today, April 23, 2025 on the Carlton Reserve starting after 1000.

 Location: The burn is located south of the South Powerline Trail near trail markers 4-6

 Management Zone(s): Zone 9A (21.5 acres) . See attached map for zone locations. The National Weather Service Fire Forecast predicts southerly winds today.

 If you have any questions about the burn please contact the burn boss, Matthew Brady, 941-363-1088.

Click on link

pick a park

Volunteers  painting entrance/exit road posts and  finishing painting public area totems

End of 2023-24 Season Update

Volunteer Activities 

1. Raked and cleared public area to prepare for annual Cub Crawl
2. Deployed permanent signs for CubCrawl (donated by FCR)
3. Helped publicize, setup, conduct, dismantle and store Cub Crawl obstacle course
4. Repainted restrooms
5. Cleaned and repainted yellow gates (ongoing)
6. Cleaned signs: entrance, interpretive, kiosks, etc.
7. Repainted PUF totem arrows 
8. Lubricated locks in public area, reported locks being tampered with to staff and LE
9. Greeted and assisted campers
10. Assisted with gate locks for special events
11. Marked access points along river for law enforcement and staff
12. Monitored undesignated campsites and fossiling sites on river
13. Assisted law enforcement by documenting and relocating poached rescued endangered bromeliads
14. Organized a program on Prescribed Fire: Jay Bailey
15. Organized a program on Wild and Scenic River : Chris Oliver
16. Organized program on alligators: FWC Officer Andy Polaszek
17. Renovated kiosk in front of cabin, renovated a 2nd time using 6 County panels 
18. Posted notices in kiosks: cabin, parking, Boldly Go, and Sleeping Turtles
19. Picked up trash at kayak launch and along Border Road
20. Repainted white posts on exit/entrance roads and parking lot (ongoing)
21. Repaired and cleaned metal interpretive signs
22. Serviced entry signs: added fill to support posts, repainted, cleaned (ongoing)
23. Moved  60+ blocks  for shed entry
24. Added lockable storage to shed 
25. Added flammable paint storage container to shed
26. Added storage shelves to shed (ongoing)
27. Sorted and created storage bins for FireFest and other County signage
28. Assisted at FireFest with counting, setup, takedown and parking
29. Recruited, coordinated  and publicized guided electric bike rides
30. Recruited, coordinated  and publicized guided family bike rides
31. Recruited, coordinated  and publicized guided birding/photography hikes in Carlton
32. Recruited, coordinated  and publicized guided birding/photography hikes in Sleeping Turtles - North
33. Recruited, coordinated and publicized guided hikes in Carlton
34. Trimmed and tossed vegetation from PUF area, including all color trails (removed as much fire load as possible via Kubota)
35. GPS located stumps in trail for removal by staff (estimated 40 locations)
36. GPS located and reported invasive plants: cogon, pepper, melaleuca, lygodium: 106 locations
37. Weedwhacked and GPSed all accessible well monitoring sites (est 30-50)
38. Weedwhacked and GPSed all accessible Carlton trail markers, totems, walk-thrus, gates, signs, benches, tables, (est. 150)
39. Repainted all named trail signs (white)
40. Archived  (photo and spreadsheet) all trail and well monitor locations: dates of clearing, repainting
41. Manned visitor cabin (log attached) to provide information and water (8-10 cases donated by FCR)
42. Cleared cabin AC fence and restroom perimeters
43. Cleaned off Windy Sawgrass roofs and cleared around buildings to remove fireload 
44. Deployed and serviced 6 trail cameras and publicized select photos on social media 
45. Maintained two websites: www.carltonreserve.org and FCR FaceBook page
46. Presented a tribute event for retiring staff(4), FCR paid for and presented glass framed photos
47. Produced multiple videos and posted on YouTube (FireFest, CubCrawl, Keepers of the Land, Retirement Tribute, Trail Camera and Wildflower Collections, etc.)
48. Recruited, interviewed and trained multiple new volunteers
49. Continued to rescue endangered bromeliads and spread seeds to repopulate the Carlton, Deer Prairie and other natural lands
50. Assisted SCSO and EMTs with gate access and trail information in a heart attack incident
51. Assisted lost hikers and bicyclists plus bicyclist with equipment failure.
52. Captured and released over 50 mice from the cabin
53. Notified staff of downed trees blocking trails with GPS coordinates  
54. Assisted, coordinated with land manager, and documented work by Carlton volunteer who cleared all 99 markers in Deer Prairie Creek Preserve 
55. Assisted in checking report of possible fire re-ignition in Doe Hammock
56. Obtained and laminated maps, educational posters, program notices posters  (ongoing)
57. Developed a list of “talking points” for cabin docents and guides
58. Developed a consolidated volunteer/public information site for SC natural lands www.walkaboutflorida.org using materials from public resources (ongoing)
59. Purchased and installed curtains for public programs in the cabin
60. Purchased HD TV for program presentations in the cabin
61. Purchased correct materials and re-chinked cabin with elastomeric caulking to help stop water leaks
62. Represented the Carlton at FireFest and the Giving Challenge: info table and maps
63. Monitored and reported gray and black water overflow tanks in restroom
64. Recruited, trained and acted as trail ambassadors
65. Cleaned up campsites in Cabbage Loop
66. Moved picnic tables to pavilion and shady locations as needed
67. Refilled map kiosks as needed
68. Posted SC public service notices on FB and website
69. Provided support for USDA feral hog program
70. Assisted with gate security at Carlton and Deer Prairie Creek
71. Cleared path for FireFest haywagons
72. Organized tour of water treatment plant (ongoing)
73. Provided toilet paper when supply ran out in restroom
74. Met FWC officers to locate illegal fossiling equipment and operations sites
75. Trimmed sides of entrance and exit roads (ongoing)
76. Developed slideshow of volunteers for website, FB and email distribution (ongoing)
77. Logged Kubota usage mileage and fuel, reinflated tires as needed
78. Cleaned and rearranged cabin (ongoing)
79. Removed old fence wires around markers to prevent entanglement in equipment
80. Raked and flattened (Kubota) feral hog damage

Websites Statistics

FaceBook

followers        1220

last 28 days post views        852

Most popular posts

June 5 regarding low flow, no flow levels on the Myakka River:      479 views

May 2 photo of alligator on Boldly Go:        612 views

www. carltonreserve.org

Visits since Mar 2015 186,255

AVERAGE VISITS PER YEAR 15,521

visits last 28 days 365

Friends of the Carlton

Tribute 

to Jay, Bill, David and Jeff

Keepers of the Land

video 1:  Keepers of the Land

video 2: Retirement Tribute

Sarasota County Recognizes Volunteers

(including Friends of the Carlton Reserve)

for contributing in kind services worth over $6.2 million

(click photo for video link)

 Barred Owl hunting along south border of Carlton Reserve

video by Kevin Walgreen

(click photo for link)

Alligators (excerpts)

Presentation by FWC Officer Andy Polaszek

March 18, 2024

(click on picture for link)

Juvenile Gator on Mother's Back

Photo by Kevin Walgreen

Carlton Reserve is on ABC7 WWSB

Discovering the Suncoast

with Mike Modrick

Click image to view

The Carlton segment is about 9 minutes into the broadcast and covers the law enforcement search, Hurricane damage, flooding, the Memorial Day 2021 wildfire and Fire Fest 2023

ABC7:  Mike Modrick interviews  Joyce Adams and Sherm Stratton

in the Carlton Reserve

Click here

Despite closures due to COVID, wildfire, flooding, and a month-long manhunt, the Carlton Reserve's priceless serenity is a sanctuary, reminding us of nature's ability to renew itself and us.

Click on picture or here to view 4 minute video using trail cam captures.

Amazing half hour video

captured by Jacob Klasinski documents not only the dynamic Carlton Reserve environment as it transitions from drought to flood, but also its rich biodiversity of wildlife and habitats: coyotes, owls, bobcats, alligators, herons, egrets, hogs, deer, otter, vultures, raccoons--even crayfish and fish! Click on video  

"Queen of the Marsh"

new trail camera video

alligator and other wildlife from the Carlton Reserve

by Jacob Klasinski

More great trail camera video

from the Carlton Reserve and Big Slough

by Jacob Klasinski

Click on photo

New trail camera video footage 

from Jacob Klasinski

Carlton Reserve Wildlife:

coyotes, deer, turkey, bobcat, feral hogs, etc.

Click here or on photo

"You are here" map kiosks (12) have been installed in the Carlton Reserve to assist trail users along 100 miles of trails crisscross 38 sq. miles.

12 UV resistant signs were designed by Debbie Blanco (retired 10/30/20), funded by Friends of the Carlton, printed by H&H Signs, and installed today by Russ Johnson and Art Smith.

Trail Camera Video

Friends of the Carlton Reserve

Trail camera team: Donna Day, Ernie Winn, Martin Siesta funded by Friends of the Carlton Reserve

Click on picture or here for video

MacroPhotography Gallery

by Randy Stapleton

Who knew?

The lowly palmetto (serenoa repens) may be as much as 10,000 years old!

Click here to read Florida Native Plant Society "Palmettos" issue 

E.O. Wilson explains why parks and nature are really good for your brain: Washington Post

So when the Washington Post asked Wilson what he thought about the mechanism by which these environments relax, rejuvenate and restore people. His answer was simple but pretty sweeping at the same time.

“Instinctively, without understanding what’s happening, they know that in certain wild environments, they have come home.” 

Click here for latest additions to 

The Florida Field Journal

by Darryl Saffer

Darryl Saffer has given voice to one of our own-- Grandmother Oak located in the Carlton Reserve

 CLICK HERE

Darryl Saffer video essay on MRSP

 Not Long Ago

     We are a 501(C)3 community support organization whose mission is to support the parks and natural lands of Sarasota County, Florida.

      With 24,565 acres  on the state protected "wild and scenic" Myakka River, the Carlton Reserve has over 90 miles of trails and nearly 40 square miles for wilderness recreation:

• hiking
• biking
• paddling
• horseback riding
• reserved camping on a limited basis at designated sites.

The Carlton Reserve is wilderness habitat/environmentally sensitive land:  

No pets     No hunting 

Ordinances, Resolutions and State Laws Protecting the Carlton