Old Florida—As It Used To Be
The Gore Nature Education Center (originally named Naithloriendun Wildlife Sanctuary by Dr. Gore) was conceived in order to acquire a substantial amount of acreage within the Lucky Lake-Stumpy Strand area of central eastern Collier County. The two strands are vegetationally complex, mixed cypress and hardwood forests that retain much of the character and most of the wildlife once found throughout Collier County, Florida. With the exception of Corkscrew Swamp and a small portion of Winchester Strand to the north, this is the last remaining, relatively undisturbed strand system west of the Fakahatchee and north of Alligator Alley.
A strand is simply a densely forested vegetational ecosystem that has developed and evolved in a low area of the land created by erosional forces. In this case, the erosional force was water. Strands come in to existence through the interplay of geological, climatic, and biological forces. They develop, grow, expand and are maintained by the latter two factors, at least until man intervenes.
Located in the southeastern corner of north Golden Gate Estates, the Center lies directly in the path of what Dr. Gore predicted would be inevitable residential development. The Center preserves a nearly pristine example of a vegetational ecosystem that he feared would ultimately be eliminated elsewhere “as checkerboard land development continues in the area”. Dr. Gore described his Sanctuary as an “island” in what would soon become a residentially-developed “sea”.
Zoogeographically, Dr. Gore saw the property serving as a critical ecological corridor, a forever-wild, unaltered stepping stone for animal and plant life between Corkscrew Sanctuary to the north and the Fakahatchee Strand to the east. He saw it functioning as an undisturbed gene pool for plant and animal species found therein, allowing continued genetic diversity to be made available through interbreeding and recolonization with other natural areas outside its boundaries. Today, as under Dr. Gore’s stewardship, all native species of plant and animal life within the Center’s boundaries are protected.
The focus of this Center is on nature study “in the wild”. The philosophy behind the development of this Center is simple: leave it be. Since its inception, it was deemed more desirable to have a nearly undeveloped parcel of land easily accessible and available to that segment of the general public which desires a true communion with Nature, than to offer modern amenities that both characterize and detract from many county, state and national parks.
Projections for the future are simple: acquire as much land as possible adjacent to the Center to increase its holdings and form a larger ecological base for the plant and animal systems within.
A strand is simply a densely forested vegetational ecosystem that has developed and evolved in a low area of the land created by erosional forces. In this case, the erosional force was water. Strands come in to existence through the interplay of geological, climatic, and biological forces. They develop, grow, expand and are maintained by the latter two factors, at least until man intervenes.
Located in the southeastern corner of north Golden Gate Estates, the Center lies directly in the path of what Dr. Gore predicted would be inevitable residential development. The Center preserves a nearly pristine example of a vegetational ecosystem that he feared would ultimately be eliminated elsewhere “as checkerboard land development continues in the area”. Dr. Gore described his Sanctuary as an “island” in what would soon become a residentially-developed “sea”.
Zoogeographically, Dr. Gore saw the property serving as a critical ecological corridor, a forever-wild, unaltered stepping stone for animal and plant life between Corkscrew Sanctuary to the north and the Fakahatchee Strand to the east. He saw it functioning as an undisturbed gene pool for plant and animal species found therein, allowing continued genetic diversity to be made available through interbreeding and recolonization with other natural areas outside its boundaries. Today, as under Dr. Gore’s stewardship, all native species of plant and animal life within the Center’s boundaries are protected.
The focus of this Center is on nature study “in the wild”. The philosophy behind the development of this Center is simple: leave it be. Since its inception, it was deemed more desirable to have a nearly undeveloped parcel of land easily accessible and available to that segment of the general public which desires a true communion with Nature, than to offer modern amenities that both characterize and detract from many county, state and national parks.
Projections for the future are simple: acquire as much land as possible adjacent to the Center to increase its holdings and form a larger ecological base for the plant and animal systems within.
Florida Panthers are usually found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mixed swamp forest. Adult males may range over an area of 200 square miles, while females range over a 70-80 square mile area. Panthers are very solitary animals. This kitten's survival depends on no net loss of existing habitat. This summer alone, our trail cameras and guests have spotted multiple Panthers, including 3 kittens at Cypress Cove Sanctuary. The video above is the kittens with their mother, est. 5 months old.
