Wire cordgrass Sawgrass Beakrush Needlegrass

Prairies are expanses of grasses with very few trees. Natural fires occur every 1-4 years and probably limit pines from growing. Ecologists recognize two types of prairies: dry prairies and wet prairies. Dry prairies are only wet after heavy rains. Wet prairies are typically wet from 50-150 days each year. Reptiles and amphibians abound in wet prairies. Both types are found within the panther's range. Dry prairies are home to the threatened Audubon's crested caracara, the endangered grasshopper sparrow, the burrowing owl, and the gopher tortoise. Much of the dry prairie within the panther's range is used for grazing cattle and some has been converted to citrus, vegetation fields and residential development. Improved rangeland is generally excellent deer habitat.

Birds: Threatened Audubon's crested caracara, black vulture, burrowing owl, endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow, turkey vulture. Mammals: cotton rat, eastern spotted skunk, least shrew, white-tailed deer. Reptiles and Amphibians: black racer, box turtle, gopher tortoise, loggerhead shrike. Invertebrates: butterflies.

dwarf blueberry, fetterbush, gallberry, herbs, pawpaw, rushes, saw palmetto, staggerbush, wax myrtle, wiregrass and other grasses, wildflowers: bachelor's button, goldenrod, milkwort, sabatia.