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Handbook
Hardwood Swamps
- Oaks
- Cypress
- Pop ash
- Maples
- Sweetbays
- Air plants
Hardwood swamps occur along rivers in north Florida and in strands along sloughs in south Florida. Sloughs are broad shallow channels that contain flowing water. They often correspond to linear depressions in the underlying limestone (Florida Natural Area Inventory 1990). In south Florida, hardwood swamps consist of a dense mix of oaks, black gum, willow, cypress, and red maple as well as palms. Within the strand, the soil is very rich, but is usually covered by a few inches to several feet of water. This in combination with the dense forest canopy limits the amount of food available to white-tailed deer. Water also limits the presence of wild hogs in hardwood swamps. Raccoons and a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, and birds are found in hardwood swamps.
Racoon
Raccoons are common in woodlands throughout the state. They are especially abundant in tropical hammocks. They are an important food item of the Florida panther, particularly in areas where large prey are scarce. However, raccoons as a food source for the panther are a concern because they are a potential source of mercury poisoning from the fish and other aquatic organisms they consume.
Raccoons will eat almost anything including frogs, turtles, fish, lizards, snakes, insects, birds, and small mammals as well as fruits, seeds, vegetables, and tubers. They are common around garbage cans and at dumps. During the day they usually sleep in a den in a tree, coming out in the late afternoon.
Characteristic Animals
Birds:
Eastern screech owl, swallow-tail kite, wading birds, yellow-crowned night heron.
Mammals:
Bobcat, mink, raccoon, river otter.
Reptiles and Amphibians:
American alligator, freshwater fish, frogs, snakes.
Characteristic Plants
Dense vegetation of black gum, bromeliads, buttonbush, cabbage palm, cypress, maidencane, oaks, orchids, red maple, rushes, sawgrass, sedges, and willow.