RSVP required. Please email pinellasfnps@gmail.com.
We will be accompanied by Manatee County natural resources staff. The wagon tour will take us through several scrub systems, a really lovely creek, and some pine flat woods and an old hammock. We recommend everyone bring field clothes and water, so we can stop at a few places to get out and look at some of the habitats, and people may wish to bring a cushion as the wagon seats are wooden.
The 2-hour tour will start at 9 a.m. sharp. Please be on-site by 8:30 a.m. Afterward we can visit other areas of the park, then gather for lunch. Please bring a brown-bag lunch, drinking water, insect/sun protection including a hat, and comfortable walking shoes.
Learn more about Duette Preserve
At over 21,000 acres, the Duette Preserve is the largest Preserve in Manatee County. It is located in the northeastern part of the County and contains the headwaters of Manatee River.
A wide variety of game and non-game animals can be found at Duette Preserve, including species of special concern such as the burrowing owl, snowy egret, white ibis, gopher tortoise, and at least three endangered/threatened species, the Florida scrub jay, the Florida panther, and the Eastern indigo snake.
Duette Preserve is host to many of the native plant communities throughout Manatee County, providing protection and preservation of pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, xeric oak scrub, depression marsh, and vast dry prairie.