Come on a Ranger-guided Tram Tour
At Highlands Hammock State Park, Park Rangers provide a wide variety of interpretive programs. One of the most popular ones is the hour-long Ranger-guided tram tour. This tour affords visitors an introduction of areas of the park that they normally don't get to experience, plus they are sure to see lots of wildlife. Come along and join us as Park Ranger Rick Sanchez begins the tour.
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Photo #1 Park Ranger Rick Sanchez, formally of Everglades National Park, has been working at Highlands Hammock State Park for nearly two years. Rick says, “Giving tours is the favorite part of my job.” |
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Photo #2 After offering the group some pointers on seeing wildlife, we begin our journey this afternoon. Most of the group has binoculars and cameras ready for the adventure! |
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Photo #3 Ranger Rick tells us about the many varieties of trees that make up this shady forest, or hammock. As he explains how the tree canopy forms a “roof” over our heads, we take note of the many varieties of air plants. |
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Photo #4 One of these airplants is commonly called a “wild pineapple” (Tillandsia fasciculata), and is just beginning to bloom this spring season. Rick explains how these airplants thrive on the air and moisture of the hammock. “It’s as though they are covered with sponges and just simply absorb all the nutrients that they need to survive.” What an amazing plant! |
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Photo #5 As we enter an open clearing, Ranger Rick tells us about the first settlers to the hammock years ago. We can imagine the one room cabin, and life in the wilds of the hammock. Rick tells us about early efforts to preserve the hammock and turn it into a park. |
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Photo #6 and #7 Moving ahead, Rick stops in front of a huge old tree with chunks of concrete hanging from it. He says, “this is one of three trees that had tree surgery back in the 1930’s.” He tells us about the Roebling family and their dedicated efforts to work with the local community in creating a park here. “The tree surgery was done to preserve this oak, which has been estimated to have been a seedling in 970 AD, or halfway back to the time of Christ.” We are simply amazed. |
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Photo #8 Further into the hammock, Ranger Rick points out poison ivy, so we will know what to watch out for while hiking. Soon we are passing the Cypress Swamp catwalk trail and are ready to get off the beaten path. |
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Photo #9 & #10 As we pull onto a bridge, Ranger Rick stops to tell us more about the dark swamp waters. “The dark tea color is not pollutants, but rather dissolved nutrients in the water.” Also in the water we notice floating plants, which Rick identifies as duckweed and salvina. |
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Photo #11 “Oh my, what do I see over there, He cries” We all strain for a better look and Ranger Rick makes a special exception today to allow us to disembark and take a closer look at his finding. |
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Photo #12 This large alligator is sunning itself just beneath the bridge and provides an excellent photo opportunity. As Rick encourages us to re-board, he reminds us, “more ‘gators are up ahead!” |
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Photo #13 Moving forward, Rick tells us more about the Cypress “knees” that jut out of the soft swamp mud. “These knees are an extension of the trees root system, not a young cypress tree, says Rick.” |
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Photo #14 As we move slowly along, the plant community around us is drastically changing. “We are now entering the pine flatwoods of the park, says Rick.” “This community requires fire in order to stay healthy.” |
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Photo #15 Ranger Rick stops and tells us more about the fire dependency of the pine trees and palmettos that we find here. |
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Photo #16 He is always ready to answer any questions we have, and even passes the pinecones around for further inspection by the group. |
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Photo #17 As we pull away, the fire charring on the pines is easy to see, now that Ranger Rick has pointed it out to us. |
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Photo #18 “Look,” someone shouts as Ranger Rick directs our attention to a young fawn feeding in an area recently brush cut. We are all excited to see this young White-tailed deer, and Rick informs us that this resource management work is reducing the palmetto cover and providing better forage for these animals. |
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| Photo #19 We take a sharp turn and the pine forest fades as a waterway comes into view. “This is the historic South Canal, says Ranger Rick.” “This used to be the park boundary many years ago, but now the park is over 9,000-acres.” We almost immediately see our next alligator, and this one has babies near it. |
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Photo #20 As Ranger Rick tells us more about these fascinating reptiles, we observe a small one swimming away from our noisy intrusion. |
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Photo #21, #22, #23, and #24 A bit further ahead, Ranger Rick points out various flowering plants and the insects we are beginning to notice. |
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Photo #25 and #26 While Rick is trying to tell us more about these insects, the silence is broken by the cry of a large bird. “That, says Rick, is a Red Shouldered Hawk.” This magnificent bird flies near and perches just above us. Rick tells us that they like to eat snakes, lizards, and frogs; one of which we notice on an adjacent lily pad. |
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Photo #27 We drive slowly away as not to disturb this beautiful predator bird’s lunch and some of us take note of the beautiful butterflies we are seeing. |
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Photo #28 Ranger Rick identifies some of these fragrant flowering plants that they are feeding on. “This is a Virginia Tea, he says.” “Look at how many different species of butterflies we can see!” |
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Photo #29 Now Ranger Rick stops again and gets out to point out a long line of turtles sunning themselves in the warm afternoon sun. He explains how reptiles must use external methods to adjust their body temperature. We are delighted to see these creatures, and we laugh at their splayed out feet” |
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Photo #30 Soon we are back on the move again, and as Rick drives forward, he directs our attention to many other alligators. Upon seeing another mother alligator with babies, we desperately attempt to count them all. “Their camouflage is quite good, says Rick, notice how the yellow stripes on their bodies help them blend right into the dark water.” |
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| Before we know it, our tour is ending and Ranger Rick reminds us of safety while we visit. “Please don’t ever feed an alligator, or any other animal for that matter, says Rick.” He encourages us to visit the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum and the Friendship Lodge restaurant for some refreshments following our tour. We all clap and say thank you, as Rick remains to answer any individual questions we might have. This has been a wonderful natural experience and a fun learning adventure all in one.
Thank you Ranger Rick! |
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