Management

Plant and animal communities at Dinner Island have been modified by past human activities (i.e. drainage, exclusion of fire, conversion of native habitats to improved pasture, sugarcane and citrus groves).

Portions of the property are under contract with previous landowners who have retained leases to continue cattle grazing and citrus production. Revenues generated from these leases are used to fund the restoration and management of the site. Restoration will be phased in as these management leases expire and the long term goal is habitat restoration for Florida panther and other listed species.

In the short term, cattle grazing will be used as a tool to manage plant succession and maintain wildlife habitat diversity. Restoration will begin on the western portion of the site and will proceed at a rate of approximately 500 acres per year. To increase the value of this range for native wildlife, bahia grass sod, or other exotic grasses will be removed, and areas restored with pine flatwoods, wetlands, hardwood hammocks and other native plant communities where appropriate.

Prescribed fire will be used to manage existing desirable plant communities and increase the diversity of native groundcovers on flatwoods and wetland communities. Invasive exotics such as Brazilian pepper, tropical soda apple, wetland nightshade, Australian pine and smutgrass will be controlled through chemical or mechanical means.

Feral hogs exist at moderate to high densities. Though this exotic species causes great harm to vegetation when it uproots plants in search of food, it is a preferred prey of the Florida panther. The level of hog removal will be set to meet the needs of the panther and provide hunting opportunities.

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