Friends of the Carlton Reserve
1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway
Venice, FL 34292
The Carlton Reserve is currently OPEN, as of March 23, 2020
Check here to view changes in response to COVID 19 virus:
https://www.scgov.net/a-z/dnd/built-in-components/news-list
Spotted this week, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes
Mating and spring time--ride and tread carefully.
Photos by Sherm Stratton ad Dave Schaefer
Who's watching whom in the woods?
This sequence of trail camera pictures was captured
by Debbie Blanco in the Carlton Reserve
Florida Forever funds approved for purchase of 5700+ acre site in Sarasota County to be managed by the Florida Wildlife Commission.
Located near the Longino Ranch and Griffin Preserve, Orange Hammock will further protect wildlife habitat and water quality for the Myakka River and Peace River Regional Water Authority. Additional funding pledged by Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Fire Fest 2020 Slideshow
YouTube Music Video--click here
Carlton Reserve
Photos by Jean-Louis Dumaine
click photo to pause or expand to full screen
Young bobcats napping. Pretending to be tigers? (note trail name)
Photo by Debbie Blanco
(click to enlarge)
In the
Carlton Reserve Today
Photo by Art
Smith
Bald eagles develop a white head and tail when they reach breeding age at 4-5 years.
Happy Holidays from Friends of the Carlton Reserve
Trail camera team: Donna Day, Ernie Winn, Martin Siesta with a little help from other Friends of the Carlton Reserve
Click on picture or here for video
In the Carlton Reserve today
Photo by Jim Cranston
"You are here"
Visitors to the Carlton Reserve have 6 new maps to assist them at remote locations, thanks to the efforts of Art Smith, Russ Johnson, Debbie Blanco and the the Friends of the Carlton.
Swallow Tail Kite Update Sept. 27, 2019
"Sarasota" the swallow tail kite has made his way to Nicaragua
for more information and map, click here
"Sarasota" (AKA swallow tail kite) is headed south for the season again.
Gina Kent,ARCI(Avian Research and Conservation Institute):
"We've been watching "Sarasota" through the breading season where he successfully nested. He spent all his pre-migratory preparation time right on the TM Carlton Reserve quite close to his nesting area. He's just started to move south on 6 August. I would bet he'll cross the Gulf of Mexico any day (if he's not already over the water by the time I write this).
Carlton Reserve Update
1. Volunteers in the Save Our Native Florida Bromeliads Program relocated a fourth cage in which to sequester select plants to protect them from an invasive Mexican weevil until they can produce seeds.
2. Ten wildlife monitoring trail cameras remain in service 24/7. Since 2001, over 14,000 images of animals have been entered into a database. Click here to view gallery
3. Sarasota, the name given to a swallow tail kite from the Carlton, was outfitted with a satellite tracking device and departed for Brazil in August and returned to the Reserve in March.
4. New YOU ARE HERE maps are being readied to assist bikers, hikers and riders. They will be located at key locations as soon as conditions permit placement.
5. Volunteers and Friends who contributed during the Patterson Giving Challenge earned the Friends of the Carlton an extra $675.
New Carlton Reserve history pages:
Have you seen trees marked like this in the Carlton Reserve?
New photo gallery on turpentine and pine tar production: part of the Carlton Reserve's history.
Surviving Fire: in Florida Scrub
16 min. film from Archbold Biological Research Station
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
Latest and last of Darryl Saffer's Florida Field Journal films for the Education channel.
A Place To Call Home: Carlton Reserve
Debbie Blanco, Steve Christian, Randy Hurley
interviewed on WWSB Ch. 7, June 12, 2017
See what's coming to a park near you soon. Preview of coming attractions:
Sarasota County Parks Master Plan (download)
Debbie Blanco interview at Carlton Reserve cabin on WTSP:
Female Panther & kittens sighted north of Caloosahatchee River
Click Bike Venice Florida for great regional biking information!
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.
The FWC believes a female panther has crossed the Caloosahatchee River, the first in more than 40 years--great news for the long term prospects for the endangered animal's survival.
Need a Wilderness Break?--check out Darryl Saffer's new Field Journal episode: Wyoming Wild
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.”
The images below were captured by a trail camera before, during and after a prescribed burn to reduce fire load--note the immediate return of wildlife.
Carlton Reserve Featured in Sun Gondolier June 2016. Article by Beth Donofrio.
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
Saving the Giant Air Plant
Bromeliad Weevil Report to Florida Council of Bromeliad Society
by Dr. Teresa Cooper, UF Entomologist
February 2016 more info
Darryl Saffer has given voice to one of our own-- Grandmother Oak located in the Carlton Reserve
Darryl Saffer video essay on MRSP
Guess who turned up for the first time (confirmed) in the history of the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve ? CLICK HERE
Groups move to protect state parks
Petition: PARKS IN PERIL video:Payne's Prairie
Evil, The Weevil! part 2
Mexican invasive insect threatens bromeliads
see Darryl Saffer's latest FL Field Journal filmed in the Carlton Reserve
Starring Donna Day, Dr. Theresa Cooper and Mike Owen, click here
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
Drone "Overview" of Piggy's Revenge Biking Event 2015
Debbie Blanco on recent panther sighting in Carlton--TV 10 news
Friends of Carlton members and staff recently attended a Symposium on the Florida panther hosted by UF College of Law Conservation Clinic, GreenLaw, Florida Sierra Club and the Center For Biological Diversity.
Florida Panthers May Move Farther North in State
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
NEWS
Economic Benefits of Wilderness: US Fish&Wildlife Service
$4.87 economic benefit for each tax dollar spent on wilderness Click here
75% from passive recreation: hiking, biking, picnicking Click here
Global Forest Change Map: zoom in to view Florida and Carlton
Threatened Native Bromeliad Found in Carlton Reserve Picture here
Friends of the Carlton receive Microsoft grant Click here
VOLUNTEER WEDNESDAYS RESUME Click here.
Guide and Maps of Invasive Species Click here.
VIDEOS, OTHER RESOURCES
Florida Field Journal: Crowley Museum and Nature Center: video
Florida Field Journal: Selby Gardens 1, by Darryl Saffer video
FL Field Journal: Fire and Flood, Myakka RSP by Darryl Saffer video
Recommended streaming video: Great Plains Episode 1 Episode 2
Monitor Poaching in Africa, Sri Lanka on iPhone:Instant Wild
Photo of the Month: Stewards of the Land, the Next Generation
Leucistic Buck caught on cameras in Carlton over 5 years: click here
Sierra Club lawsuit to protect panther habitat from Off Road Vehicles
Nature Conservancy Buys Critical Panther Corridor: Click here.
Florida Field Journal: Baby Birds, Save Our Seabirds,by Darryl Saffer:video
Florida Field Journal: Celery Fields-Jeanne Dubi: by Darryl Saffer:video
Gators Gather at Deep Hole: video
Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 17, 2013. View here
Cornell Ornithology Lab Project Preview: BIRDS OF PARADISE
World Heritage Sites 360˚ aerial views
PantherTalk and Natural Lands
Panther Breeding Territory Expanding Northward? Herald Tribune, Oct.12
Panthers May be Moving North St. Pete Times Jan.04
Panther Habitat Facts Tampa Tribune
Panther Habitat Protection in Florida Sierra Club
Lawsuit Over Panther Habitat Protection Sierra Club
Friends of the Fakahatchee Trail Camera Gallery
The Wanderer, Panther No. 62 Craig Pittman
Paving Paradise Craig Pittman
Use top bar to navigate this site.
Membership:
President:
Information & Website
Park Naturalist:
Debbie Blanco
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Sarasota County
Field Guide
to Conservation Lands
(download 64pp. PDF)
Counter set 03/24/2015
