| Gator Hole Preserve (GHP) is located in southeastern Lee County on the north side of Corkscrew Road, 0.8 miles west of Alico Road and 3.8 miles east of I-75. The 175 acre Preserve was acquired in 2000 through the C20/20 Program.
Gator Hole Preserve consists primarily of mesic flatwoods (72%); other natural plant communities include dome swamp, wet flatwoods, depression marsh and wet prairie. There are also disturbed communities related to historical farming on the Preserve. Fire will be a critical management tool for the Preserve with the dominance of flatwoods. Over 150 plant and 70 animal species have been documented at the Preserve.
The Preserve lies along the edge of a 60,000-acre wildlife corridor that includes Flint Pen Strand, Imperial Marsh and Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed lands. The seasonal wetlands, surrounded by intact upland communities are of particular importance to amphibians and wading birds residing at the Preserve.
The southwest corner of the Preserve has been temporarily fenced off to accommodate several gopher tortoises that needed to be relocated for a Lee County Department of Transportation road widening project. Many of the restoration activities at the Preserve will be concentrated in this relocation area for the first few years with the tortoises in mind. This area is permitted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to accept up to 40 tortoises. Future tortoise relocations from Lee County infrastructure projects may take place in this initial area, however staff may decide to utilize additional flatwoods communities as they are restored if it is determined that they contain more suitable conditions.
Currently, GHP is classified as a Category 4 Resource Protection & Restoration Preserve. As with all designated Category 4 preserves, if there is a public interest, staff may provide guided field trips when there are no safety concerns and it is compatible with protecting the animals and plant communities found at the specific preserve. |
