Friends of the Carlton Reserve 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway Venice, FL 34292

by Jim Bencivenga

Photo Gallery

by Dave Cottrill

Caracara in the Reserve

Photo by Jim Bencivenga

Frog Concert in the Carlton Reserve

video by Terri Roberts

(Sound on)

    Nature Photography Contest for CHNEP 2024 Calendar:

    Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

    https://www.chnep.org/calendar-photo-contest

    entry deadline: July 1, 2023

An Afternoon with Boyce Blackmon--30 year personal history in the Carlton Reserve before public ownership.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Photos by Jean-Louis Dumaine

Newsletter Update April 2023 and photo slideshow

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

Crested Caracara

Photo by Jim Bencivenga

Recent Trail Camera images from before Hurricane Ian

Mesic hammock (central Carton Reserve)

Pine flatwoods (north Carlton Reserve)

Turkey Flock filmed by Harvey Thomas, Feb 2023--turn sound up

Recent Closure of Carlton Reserve 2/9/2023

USDA Feral Swine Eradication Report

Cub Crawl 1/21/2023

ABC7: Mike Modrick interviews Joyce Adams and Sherm Stratton

in the Carlton Reserve

Click here

Friends of the Carlton Summer of 2022 Update

A Day In the Life of a Slough

Carlton Reserve Monday, April 11, 2022

    It's all good:

    9 months after the Memorial Day wildfire set by lightning, wildflowers are springing up within sight of the cabin:

Spring in the Carlton Reserve

Swallow Tail Kites Return and Wildflowers Blooming Today

Photos by Art Smith

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.

Excellent video on Alligators

Sarasota County Play on FaceBook

filmed in the Carlton Reserve

https://fb.watch/7jDfm7ZjgG/

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

    Resilience and Rejuvenation at The Carlton Reserve

    Photos by Jean-Louis Dumaine on reopening day, one month after Memorial Day 2021 fire.

"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

See what's coming to a park near you soon. Preview of coming attractions:

Sarasota County Parks Master Plan (download)

PETS

T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve, protects Sarasota County's water supply and habitat for wildlife. It does not permit pets. Pets are permitted elsewhere on leash in 71 parklands and off leash in 5 others. Click Here for list.

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

Video of Leucistic (half white) Buck in Carlton Reserve.

Darryl Saffer video news:

The Evil Weevil part 3 now airing on the Education Channel, You Tube

Wildlife Photography: second in a web series on You Tube.

Notebook sketch of Oscar Scherer State Park: Florida Field Journal

"Not Long Ago," a FL Field Journal video is being screened Feb. 14, 2016 in Gainesville: Cinema Verde Environmental Film Festival: schedule

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

Dr. Mary Jelks on Myakka River State Park

oral history project Slideshow

Photo by Darryl Saffer: Hummingbird Clearwing

You never know what's waiting for you in the forest. . .Check this out

Carlton Reserve featured in Harbor Style magazine: Seeking Serenity p. 78-88

(Excellent article overall but here are some corrections/clarifications)

Need a natural escape vacation? check out Florida's Coastal Dune Lakes

Teaching Cats To Dog Paddle? or Crossing the Caloosahatchee

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: