Natural Communities
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Historically, the natural communities at Spirit-of-the-Wild
were dominated by wetlands associated with sloughs connecting
the Caloosahatchee River to the Fakahatchee Strand State
Preserve and the Big Cypress National Preserve to the south. To
satisfy the demand for flood protection and dry ranchlands,
ditching and canal construction began in the region in the
late-19th century. At Spirit-of-the-Wild, water flow in portions
of the site was diverted through a series of canals. Pine
flatwoods and other uplands were converted to open pasture. The
disruption of natural fire cycles and planting of cattle forage
and vegetable crops further altered plant communities. Despite
these changes, the existing slough, pastures, pine flatwoods,
cypress swamps, freshwater marshes and hammocks offer excellent
wildlife viewing and other recreational opportunities. As
management restores some of the historical water flow to the
property and replants native species, these opportunities will
increase in scope and variety.
