The Gopher
Tortoise is an herbivore that can be seen wherever fresh green
vegetation is available for munching. With elephant like hind feet
and front legs designed to dig, this ancient species is one of the
most important residents in the park. It digs burrows that go as
deep as the groundwater table with a huge sandy entrance mound.
Gopher tortoises have many burrows and each one can be a virtual
condominium, a hiding place from predators and a fire refuge for
all sorts of other creatures who are smaller, skinnier or longer
than the tortoise. Three dozen species use the burrows of gopher
tortoises. The gopher frog, gopher cricket, Florida mouse and
indigo snake are threatened and endangered species that depend on
the burrows. Birds fly into the burrows to hide from hawks and
several blind beetles and flies are adapted to life in the dark
corridors. Salamanders, lizards, frogs, snakes, skunks, rabbits and
opossums share these burrows with their builders. North
America’s largest tick species has a long standing
relationship with this ancient symbiotic species.
This geocache is
placed in Highlands Hammock State Park with the permission of park
management. All locations must be approved by the Volunteer
Geocache Coordinator Sarah Straub (DTISarah@gmail.com) and adhere
to the guidelines set by the park for geocache
placement.
Vehicles are not
permitted to park on any roadway within the park boundary. All
vehicles must park within designated parking areas. The park is
open from 8:00AM until sundown, 365 days a year. The admission fees
are as follows: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra
passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual
Entrance Pass. Camping is available in the park as well.
Highlands
Hammock State Park's Website
For more
information about accessing cache locations please visit the ranger
station to view a copy of Essential Eligibility Criteria for
Geocaching at Highlands Hammock State Park.
Please remember
to cache responsibly and stay on designated trails.