Frequently Asked Questions about Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Question: Does Paynes Prairie really have buffalo?
Answer: Yes. Buffalo (American Bison) were reintroduced to the prairie from Oklahoma in the mid 1970s. The Florida Park Service did this because it is part of our mission to restore Florida’s natural resources to pre-European settler conditions. Bison were found in Florida until the early 1800s.

Question: Where can I see the Buffalo?
Answer: The Bison at Paynes Prairie have about 6,000 acres to hang out in and we don’t try to tell 1,000-pound animals where to go! It’s a rare treat to get a look at them but they are most commonly seen from Cone’s Dike trail.

Question: Why have so many areas of the Preserve been logged recently?
Answer: In the summer of 2001, Paynes Prairie, like so much of the southeast, experienced an explosive outbreak of the Southern Pine Beetle. These beetles kill pine trees (especially Loblolly Pines) and under the right conditions, spread at tremendous rates. In an attempt to reduce the spread of the beetles, infested trees and those trees within a 100 foot radius of the infested ones were cut down and shipped away. Plans are underway to restore deforested areas with Longleaf Pines which were historically present here in much greater numbers than Loblolly Pines, anyway.

Question: Where can I see the Spanish Horses?
Answer: The wild herd of Spanish Horses numbers around eighteen and can commonly be seen from the Observation Tower at the Visitor Center. Bolen Bluff trail is another favorite hang-out of theirs.

Question: When are the Sandhill Cranes here?
Answer: Paynes Prairie is blessed with Sandhill Cranes year-round; however, most are here only for the winter. Typically, their visit lasts approximately from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day.

Question: What’s the best place to see alligators?
Answer: Due to the long-standing drought North Central Florida is in, the alligators are tricky to spot right now. One of the best places to view wildlife in the preserve is off of the viewing platform on US 441. Please watch the gators from a distance and do not feed or throw things at them. Alligators are wild animals and need to remain as such. Feeding or throwing things at gators causes them to lose their natural fear of man and to associate people with food. Once this happens, gators become dangerous and usually end up being killed.

Question: Is it true that Paynes Prairie was once a lake?
Answer: Yes, Paynes Prairie was once known as Alachua Lake! From 1873 to 1891 Paynes Prairie was one huge lake originating at Alachua Sink. This sink funnels water down into the Floridan aquifer. The sink apparently became plugged and in 1873 there was enough water on the prairie for boats to travel. People became used to the 3 to 5 foot deep lake and even employed steamers to haul citrus from Micanopy to Gainesville. Alachua Lake persisted for about eighteen years and then her levels fell, gradually for a couple of years and then, finally, the sink (which was deeper than the rest of lake) drained at the rate of 8 feet in only 10 days! Initially, there were great fish fries which were followed a few days later by tremendous stench as thousands of stranded fish rotted.

Question: What is the Paynes Prairie Ecopassage?
Answer: The Paynes Prairie Ecopassage is a structure on US Highway 441 designed to route the wildlife under the major highway instead of over it. For decades, crossing this 2-mile section of road was tantamount to suicide for an estimated 100,000 critters each year. Eighty species of wildlife, everything from lizards to otters, were killed until the system of culverts and walls (to direct the animals to the culverts) were installed in 2000.

Question: Can I relocate raccoons and other wildlife to Paynes Prairie?
Answer: People frequently catch animals from their backyards and want to set them free in Paynes Prairie. While this may seem like a good idea on the surface, it can actually be harmful overall to the prairie ecosystem. The animal being brought in might be harboring a disease not previously found on the preserve. Also, wildlife populations tend to plateau at levels that the habitat can support. There are already as many raccoons here as the prairie can support!