Additional Information for Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Wildlife
Rare and endangered species find sanctuary here, delighting thousands of nature lovers each year. Anclote Key is home to at least 43 species of birds, including the American oystercatcher, bald eagle, and piping plover. Perched in towering pine snags that pepper the island are the nests of ospreys. Endangered loggerhead and green turtles are occasionally seen.
The remoteness of this unique island is the key to respecting its fragile beauty and character. The lighthouse at the island's southern end served as a beacon to ships for years after President Grover Cleveland declared Anclote Key a lighthouse reservation in 1886 and the lighthouse and two houses for its keepers were built. In 1984 the lighthouse was decommissioned after modern navigation technology made the lighthouse obsolete.
Resources
Are you interested in learning more about the State Parks in Southwest Florida?
District 4’s biology staff continually monitors the biological aspects of our State Parks. Their effort includes scientific reports on flora and fauna found in our area and impacts on the environment from "civilization".
The reports are an excellent source of scientific information for school projects, or more advanced studies.
You can access all of the District 4 reports via the following link:
District 4 Biology Reports
Once there the reports are listed by year. After selecting the year group the reports are listed by title. Example: Select 1997 Annual Reports. Then select a report (they are titled by park and subject). Example: Anclote Key SP –Gopher Tortoise Burrow Survey.
Then open the attached report.
Pets
Please see our General Parks Pet Policy for more information.
Links
Florida Division of Recreation and Parks neither endorses links nor approves of links to external sources. External links are made available to assist the Internet user in his or her search. The Florida Division of Recreation and Parks takes no responsibility a link's operation or content. The links that are shown are not an exclusive listing of organizations available within the State.
