Circle B Bar Reserve
| Circle B Bar Reserve | |
|---|---|
  Location within Florida | |
| Location | Polk County, Florida |
| Nearest city | Lakeland |
| Coordinates | 27°59′24″N 81°52′00″W / 27.9899°N 81.8668°WCoordinates: 27°59′24″N 81°52′00″W / 27.9899°N 81.8668°W |
| Area | 1,267 acres (5.13 km2) |
| http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/circlebbarreserve.html | |
The Circle B Bar Reserve is an area of protected lands in Polk County, Florida. Comprising 1,267 acres (5.13 km2) at 4399 Winter Lake Road (SR 540) near Lakeland, Florida, the area is managed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). It is jointly owned by the BOCC and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Polk's Nature Discovery Center, completed in 2008, features interactive displays about the plants, animals and ecosystems of the reserve. The center serves as the focus of environmental education programs and explorations for families, school groups, teachers, adults and other visitors.
Circle B Bar Reserve is named after the cattle ranch that once occupied the site. It was purchased to help maintain the Banana Creek marsh area. The preserve is home to an impressive array of birds such as white ibis, roseate spoonbills, sandhill cranes and bald eagles along with other wildlife like alligators, bobcats, snakes, gray squirrels, river otters and wild hogs. It underwent a wetland restoration effort.[1]
The preserve has been designated as a Great Florida Birding Trail (GFBT) site, a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sites are selected for their excellent birdwatching, wildlife viewing or educational opportunities.
References
- ↑ Circle B Bar Reserve Southwest Florida Water Management District
External links
- Circle B Bar Reserve page at Polk County website
- Circle B Bar Reserve page at the Great Florida Birding Trail website