STATE FOREST SPOTLIGHT Tings to Know When Visiting Florida Forest Service Florida Scrub Jay Ross Prairie State Forest Te Florida Scrub Jay makes Ross Prairie State Forest its home. Tis bird was federally listed as a threatened species in 1987 primarily because of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Florida Scrub Jays are picky about habitat, restricted to thickets of oak • Te Florida Park Service’s trailhead and Ross Prairie scrub 3 to 10 feet in height with areas of bare sand campground gates close at 7 P.M. during interspersed. Te habitat needs to be dry and well daylight savings time. State Forest drained. Unfortunately for the Scrub Jay, this same habitat is desirable for urban development because of the well-drained soils. • Pets are welcome but must remain on a leash.

Florida Scrub Jays are ofen confused with the more common Blue Jay because they are similar in size. • Do not create new trails. However, Scrub Jays have no crest, are much duller in overall color, have no bold black markings, and lack white-tipped wings and tail feathers. Te most common • All horses must have proof of current negative Scrub Jay vocalization is a loud scratchy weep. Te Coggins test results when on state lands. principal plant food for the Scrub Jay is the acorn. Te majority of acorns gathered, up to 6,000 per year, are hidden in the sand for future meals. • Take all garbage with you when you leave the forest. Containers are not provided.

Love the state forests? So do we! • For primitive camping information visit FloridaForestService.ReserveAmerica.com. Te Friends of Florida State Forests is a direct- support organization of the Florida Forest Service • Te removal of state forest plants or animals is dedicated to ensuring Florida’s state forests are prohibited (with the exception of legal game available for future generations to enjoy. Make a during scheduled hunts). diference by joining today to help protect Florida’s forests. • We encourage all visitors to check the Wildlife Management Area regulations and season dates Membership dues go to the forests for conservation and improvement projects. To join Friends or for before visiting the forest at www.MyFWC.com more information, visit: www.FloridaStateForests.org For more information, visit: www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DACS-P-01533 Rev. 12-2019 History Natural Resources Tis property was acquired in 1995 under the Ross Prairie State Forest is located on the southern Preservation 2000, Conservation and Recreation end of a wetland known as Ross Prairie. Te main Lands (CARL) program, specifcally, the Longleaf area of the wetland lies north of the forest on Pine Uplands Project. Te Colen Parcel was the properties managed by the Ofce of Greenways primary acquisition consisting of 3,511 acres. Tree and Trails. Tis wetland is a freshwater depression small privately owned lands within the boundary marsh characterized by open areas of wetland of the forest have since been acquired. Te four grasses surrounded by xeric hammocks. Tese parcels were originally managed as part of Goethe prairies will be wet or dry depending on current State Forest but were later reassigned as a separate rainfall levels. Te 150-acre portion of the prairie State Forest, Ross Prairie State Forest, totaling 3,527 located on the forest is made up of depression acres. marshes varying in size from one acre to more than Prairie holding water in depression area 50 acres. Tis state forest is part of a larger project encompassing approximately 13,902 acres in In addition to the depression marshes, the forest’s southwestern Marion County. Prescribed fre diverse ecological communities include sandhill, will be one of the most important tools for the scrubby fatwoods mesic hammock, mesic management of this project. Long-range plans for fatwoods, and scrub. Sandhill is the largest natural this property include the restoration of disturbed community in this state forest. Healthy sandhills areas to as close to the original condition as feature rolling, sandy hills, dominated by londleaf practical. Management activities will also stress pine, turkey oak and wiregrass that feature gopher the enhancement of threatened and endangered tortoises, gopher frogs, and indigo snakes. species. Recreation Recreational opportunities on the forest include hiking, horseback riding, primitive camping, and hunting. Te main trailhead and access point is the Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae female Ross Prairie Trailhead located along State Road 200 Forestry one mile south of County Road 484. Tis trailhead, Te Florida Forest Service consists of dedicated managed by the Ofce of Greenways and Trails, employees with the mission to protect and manage has vehicle and equestrian parking, restrooms, and the forest resources of Florida, ensuring that they picnic pavilions. are available for future generations. Te Florida Forest Service manages more than one million acres Te Holly Hammock Trail is a 2.3 mile hiking trail of state forests for multiple public uses including providing the visitor opportunities for nature study, timber, recreation and wildlife habitat. wildlife viewing and photography. A primitive campsite is located of this hiking trail near one Timber management activities primarily consist of the larger depression marshes for the more of improvement thinning and regeneration adventurous recreationist.For equestrian users, harvests aimed at maintaining and perpetuating the forest has 15 miles of designated trails along forest ecosystems. Prescribed burning is also existing service roads and frelines. Tis is in used in managing the forest. Timber stands will addition to the trails at the Marjorie Harris Carr be managed to maintain a broad diversity of age Cross Florida Greenway property, which borders classes ranging from young stands to areas with old Hiking trail with spur trail to primitive campsite the forest. growth characteristics. Tis will provide habitat for the full spectrum of species that would be found For more information contact: : Hunting (seasons, license requirements, & and in the natural environment. Timber harvesting Ross Prairie State Forest / Ocala Forestry Station quantity limits) is regulated by the Florida Fish and and other silvicultural activities follow the Florida 6675 NE 40th Ave Road, Ocala, FL 34479 Wildlife Conservation Commission in cooperation Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (352) 732-1779 with the Florida Forest Service. Visit MyFWC.com guide to Silviculture Best Management Practices. www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests for more information.