Keeping up the natural health of our home

In the mid-1980s, Florida’s Natural Growers cultivated 15,000 acres of citrus groves in southwest Florida. Within that vast acreage, nearly 2,700 acres were wetlands areas protected by government mandates. As part of grove development, Florida's Natural GrowersWant to get to know us?
Meet just a few members of our grower family. worked with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the integrity of these natural areas and to preserve the habitats of the region’s thousands of indigenous species. Today these wetlands coexist with acres of beautiful, highly productive citrus groves.

Take a look at some of the species whose homes have been carefully preserved.

Snail Kite

This medium-sized hawk relies on its sight to hunt and feed on a small invertebrate, the applesnail. The snail kite’s ideal habitat is along the shallow surface of freshwater marshes, where it can use its talons to  pluck its prey from the water. Snail kites also require nearby shrubs or trees for nearby perching. The snail kite’s specific diet restricts its habitat to open water areas with sufficient applesnail populations. Water drainage, development, and pollution have all contributed to the depletion of the snail population, and thus to the endangerment of the snail kite as a species.

Florida Panther

The Florida panther is a subspecies of mountain lion, which over time has adapted to the subtropical Florida environment. Dwindling habitats due to agriculture and development have pushed the Florida panther into a small area. Solitary animals that prefer a secluded environment away from people, the panthers are able swimmers who travel up to 20 miles each night in search of deer, hogs, and other prey. The protected wetlands in the Florida’s Natural groves provide an ideal corridor for the Florida panther to move about the landscape. At this time there are approximately 50 adults in this endangered population.

Wood Stork

On the endangered species list since 1984, the wood stork is a wetland bird. Found mostly in swamps, marshes, and ponds in the southern U.S., these birds wade through shallow waters with their bills open, looking for food. Pollution and habitat destruction have caused the wood stork population to drop from 60,000 to 9,000 over the past 60 years. The protected wetland environment in our groves preserves the populations of the stork’s prey, thus protecting the health of the local stork colonies.

Some non-endangered species:

Alligator

Florida’s official state reptile is actually found in many areas of the Southeast. Particularly numerous in our state’s swampy regions, alligators actually play an important role in the delicate balancing act between wildlife and changing environments. Their movements through swamps and marshes clear channels for other animals. They also dig “holes” with their feet and snouts, forming small ponds for fish, turtles, snails, snakes, and frogs. Alligators can grow up to 20 feet long and can weigh more than half a ton.

Pig Frog

The largest frog variety in South Florida, this amphibian gets its name from its loud call, which sounds like the grunting of a pig. Pig frogs in south Florida reside mainly in permanent bodies of water. They consume a number of insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In turn, they fall prey to a variety of wading birds and humans, who harvest them for recreational and commercial use.

The Florida Red-Bellied Turtle

The red-bellied turtle is one of many turtle species native to Florida. Found mainly in quiet freshwater ponds and marshes, a number of this breed can be found in the wetlands surrounding our groves. The red-bellied turtle is marked by an arched shell, which is dark with orange and red bands. It can grow to be 13 inches in length.