Crooked Lake Prairie
Nestled on the eastern shores of Crooked Lake in Babson Park, the Crooked Lake Prairie Preserve spans 525 acres and features four diverse natural environments: scrub, wet prairie, scrubby flatwoods, and depression marsh. Explore the diverse ecosystems by following two sets of trails that traverse these natural communities, providing opportunities to observe numerous native plants and animals. The trail facing north leads to a viewing area with a scenic vantage point overlooking Crooked Lake. Meanwhile, the other trail winds through scrub to the south and a prairie wetland on the west side of the property.
Throughout the summer, the wet receive enough rain to create a perfect breeding ground for various amphibian species such as oak toads, leopard frogs, and cricket frogs. This environment also serves as an attractive habitat for sandhill cranes and egrets, which forage for small fish in the shallows. Additionally, the wet prairie is adorned with wildflowers like the largeflower rose gentian and pine lily. Along the lake shores, one may encounter pickerel weed, American white waterlily, and buttonbush. Wet areas may host carnivorous plants such as the pink sundew. In the scrub community, Florida scrub oaks and saw palmettos dominate the landscape, accompanied by scattered prickly pear. Three species of pines are found on this preserve: the longleaf, slash and sand pine.
The preserve boasts a diverse array of wildlife, with a particular emphasis on birds, with almost 160 species documented. Among the commonly observed bird species in the scrubby flatwoods are bald eagles, northern bobwhite, sandhill cranes, eastern towhee, Carolina wren, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, and red-bellied woodpeckers. While mammals are rarely spotted during the day, occasional sightings of white-tailed deer or cottontail rabbits occur. However, the nighttime unveils a different narrative, evidenced by numerous tracks on the sandy trails. Nocturnal visitors like opossums, raccoons, bobcats, and coyotes frequent the trails at night in search of food.
Crooked Lake Prairie is also home to a variety of reptile species, including different types of snakes like the black racer, eastern diamondback, eastern coachwhip, coral snake, and garter snake. One may come across other reptiles such as the six-lined racerunner, Florida box turtle,
For an optimal experience hiking the complete trail system, it is recommended to start either early in the morning or during the late afternoon. Ensure you have an ample supply of water and wear closed shoes, as some areas are composed of loose sand – remnants of an era when much of Florida was submerged underwater, forming a chain of islands. It is crucial to stay on the designated trails, as the soil in the scrub is predominantly cryptobiotic, preserving the delicate ecosystem.
