Guided tours of CLT’s Wigert/ Barron Preserve start Dec. 4
Many are familiar with the Calusa Land Trust, Pine Island’s all-volunteer land conservancy, and its mission to acquire, preserve, steward and protect island lands in perpetuity. Most of its 2,400-plus acres inventory is in the form of pedestrian inaccessible mangrove forests. However, several of its lands were obtained, planned and are managed as parks for human interaction. Perhaps the most popular is the Wigert/Barron Preserve located at the corner of Barrancas Avenue and Aura Lane in Bokeelia.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, beginning at 10 a.m., free guided tours of this preserve will be offered to the public. Highlights of the tour of this once planned RV park will include the three distinct habitats (rare coastal scrub, transitional pine uplands and mangrove forest), kiosks/interpretative signs, the Nancy Rogers Nature Trail looping through the preserve with its thriving gopher tortoise colony, Rubye’s Pond (freshwater with native birds and amphibians) and the Sara Schwandt bench overlooking this subtropical jewel.
No reservations are necessary; just show up with some walking shoes and enjoy. Those with questions may contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175.