The Ridge Rangers Program was founded in 1994 by The Nature Conservancy to encourage citizen champions for the newly-acquired conservation lands in the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem. The first workdays were at The Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Site near Babson Park; and since then the Ridge Rangers Program has expanded to work with 16 agencies at over 90 conservation areas, and Ridge Rangers Volunteers have contributed tens of thousands of hours restoring wildlife habitat for Florida’s endangered species.

In early April we’ll be looking back at the program’s success – and looking forward to where we’re going -- at the Ridge Rangers 25^th Anniversary Celebration.  We hope all current and former Ridge Rangers can join us! 

If you’re a Ridge Ranger and haven’t received your invitation, please send an email to ridgerangers@myfwc.com and let us know.

Saturday, February 9. From 8 am to around noon.

Enhance Scrub Habitat to help Endangered Plants

Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, near Frostproof

Join Florida Forest Service staff in helping to restore an area of sandhill and scrub at the Walk-in-Water tract of Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. The area we will be working in is overgrown with shrubby oak species, crowding out threatened and endangered plant species in the area and preventing fire from successfully carrying into the unit.

We'll be using hand saws, loppers, sawsalls, brushcutters, and chainsaws (for qualified Ridge Rangers)  to cut down the unwanted vegetation.

For full details and to register, please go to https://outreach.myfwc.com/event/FebLWRSF2019 .

The Walk-in-Water tract is part of the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, which consists of four separate tracts that contain outstanding examples of naturally functioning ecosystems. Since 1984, portions of the forest have been purchased with Florida's Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program funds. The forest is managed for multiple uses, including outdoor recreation, protection of endangered and threatened species, and maintenance of natural communities. Lake Wales Ridge State Forest is a unique, beautiful place where many of Florida's rare and endangered plants and animals flourish.

Learn more about the LWRSF at this link.

Saturday, February 16, from 8 am to around noon.

Remove Invasive Plants to Enhance Habitat

Crooked Lake Preserve, near Babson Park

Help restore Polk County’s Crooked Lake Preserve by removing invasive Natal Grass.This grass will out-compete native vegetation and dominate a habitat, taking away food and homes from native wildlife.

This workday will be led by Polk County's Andrew Scarbrough.

Map, details, and signup at https://outreach.myfwc.com/event/CrookedLakeFeb2019 

Owned and managed by Polk County through their Environmental Lands Program, Crooked Lake Preserve was acquired in January 1999 as one of several natural areas purchased to protect important habitat within Polk County. Crooked Lake Sandhill is one of the best remaining examples of the sandhill ecosystem in Polk County. At only 25 acres, this site shelters an impressive number of rare species. The property appears to have escaped logging and is considered "old growth," with some trees thought to be 200 years old.

Prepare Kestrel Nest Sites for Upcoming Surveys

Saturday, February 16, from 8 AM to around 1 PM

Saturday, February 23, from 8 AM to around 1 PM.

Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Venus areas

The Southeastern American Kestrel nesting season will be starting in April, and the nest boxes at the monitoring sites need to be checked & prepared for the upcoming season and surveys. We'll be repairing or replacing any damaged boxes, as well as adding new nesting material. We’ll also be trimming any too-tall vegetation around the nest box poles.

Full details and registration at:

• Saturday, February 16: FWC sites Lake Placid Scrub, Silver Lake, and Tubbs. 
• Saturday, February 23: FWC sites Platt Branch and Clements

The Southeastern American Kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus) is a non-migratory subspecies of kestrel found in open pine savannahs, sandhills, prairies, and pastures in Florida and the southeastern United States. It is listed as threatened in Florida due to a decline in nesting and foraging habitat. In the training you'll learn how biologists are using nest box programs to increase populations of this rare bird.

Tuesday, February 26, from 8 AM to around noon.

Help Restore Prairie Habitat for Rare Species

Avon Park Air Force Range, Near Avon Park.

Avon Park Air Force Range is requesting assistance from the Ridge Rangers to help restore native wet grasslands, scrub and rare plant habitat on the base. Removal of the young pines and shrubs in rare plant habitat will enhance and ensure the long term viability of some of our rarest orchids and other plants in the region.

We’ll be using hand tools to cut down small slash pines and myrtles to help restore the original prairie habitat to help rare and endangered species.

This workday will be led by APAFR's Kateri Tonyan. 

For more details and to register, please see https://outreach.myfwc.com/event/APAFRFeb2019

The Avon Park Air Force Range’s extensive natural and cultural resources are managed to maintain their unique ecological characteristics and to ensure the long term sustainability of the Range’s military training mission.  The program is one of the most extensive in the Air Force and encompasses protecting wetland and endangered species habitats as well as utilizing these resources for numerous benefits.