Staff Spotlight, Tony Sutera
Park Ranger, Tony Sutera
Price's Scrub State Park
Tony’s passion for the outdoors stemmed from childhood where working and playing outside were his preferred pastimes. He has spent countless hours in the north Georgia woods, Nevada high desert and of course Florida’s beautiful beaches and back county.
Working as a park ranger had always been a dream, and when he returned to his home state he was able to actualize this aspiration.
He started with the Florida Park Service as a park ranger at Bahia Honda State Park in 2002. In 2005, he transferred to Paynes Prairie, where he has been ever since.
Tony is part of the team at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park who also manage Price's Scrub and the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. As a ranger, Tony is accustomed to the variable nature of the job, doing anything from vehicle maintenance to resource management to controlling the feral hog population on any given day.
To truly understand Tony’s passion for his work, you must visit Price’s Scrub. He cherishes this park primarily for its seclusion.
“You can truly feel alone with nature as you journey through many miles of diverse ecosystems. If you use all your senses and patience, you’re likely to see a variety of wildlife.”
Tony highly recommends visiting this park during spring or fall when flowers are blooming, birds are migrating, and you can enjoy some of the finest weather in the country.