Scrub Habitat

Scrub habitat was formed on ancient dunes and is the oldest land habitat in Florida. Unfortunately, it is well-suited for development and agricultural use, so over two-thirds of the original scrub land in Florida has already disappeared. The excellent University of Florida Florida 4-H Forest Ecology site that I treasure for habitat information explains that Scrub ecosystems are a valuable natural resource, not only because they are an important habitat for wildlife but because they act as recharge areas for the water table.

Scrub habitat is dependent on fire to keep from too getting overgrown for the animals that use it. Lightning is the natural way for fire to start in scrub habitat, but these days, prescribed burns are frequently used. This being Florida, it does not take long for the plants to start new growth. This is scrub vegetation three weeks after a prescribed burn.

This photo of Jim's shows a gopher tortoise in front of the tunnel it has dug in the white sand characteristic of this habitat. Their tunnels are 15 - 20 feet in length, with a chamber at the end large enough for the reptile to turn around. Other critters often use the gopher tortoise tunnels for shelter.

Scrub lizards are common in some areas of scrub habitat. They can climb, but are more often found on the ground in search of their favorite food - ants! Scrub lizards are about six inches long. Males can be distinguished by the bright blue markings on their neck, sides, and abdomen. These lizards hunt insects in leaf litter, where they are cryptic (camouflaged). If they are not moving around, it's easy to miss them. Skinks, indigo snakes, and Florida mice live here, too, although you may not see them.

In a field trip post about the Cruickshank Sanctuary, we'll talk about the scrub jays that make this habitat home. Other birds include the rufous-sided towhee, ground doves, mourning doves, woodpeckers, and screech owls. Critters that make their home in the scrub include raccoons, wild hog, cottontail rabbits, and deer.

Take another look at that first photo - not what you typically see on a Florida postcard. Who would have thought that all these wonderful critters could be found in something called scrub!

(Photos by Jim Angy. Click to enlarge.)