You are hunting an ammo can hidden along the one of the trails
at the Circle B Bar Reserve.
Named after a cattle ranch that once existed on this property,
Circle B Bar Reserve. This property was purchased to protect the
floodplain of the lake and to restore the Banana Creek marsh
system. Much of property was converted to pasture, but remnant
wetland communities can be found along Banana and Saddle creeks.
Largest remnant natural communities are oak hammocks and various
forested wetlands, primarily found in northeast corner of
property.
Ongoing restoration projects for the Banana Creek marsh system,
which runs through the center of the property, and for an area of
scrub on the southern portion of the site will restore much of the
original hydrologic function of the lands. The scrub restoration
will benefit the numerous animals that utilize both wetlands and
uplands during various phases of their life cycles.
While hiking the trails you may see a variety of birds,
including bald eagles, wood storks, great blue herons and many
other wading birds, as well as vistas across Lake Hancock and
Banana Creek Marsh. Take a walk along the banks of Lake Hancock and
you will see many alligators.
Polk’s Nature Discovery Center opened November 1, 2008 and
provides information and discovery opportunities about Polk
County’s unique water, wildlife and wilderness resources, as
well as the associated cultural heritage and nature-based
recreation opportunities on environmental lands in Polk County. The
Nature Discovery Center has several amenities including picnic
pavilions, wildlife observation viewing platforms, boardwalks and
several multi-use trails. The Reserve is open daily, year-round,
from 6:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. Standard Time and until 8:30 P.M.
during Daylight Savings Time. Dogs are no longer allowed in the
preserve because of the number of alligators present. This area may
become wet during the rainy season. Don’t forget the insect
repellent and water. Be careful and enjoy the area. Be advised that
there are always risks associated with visiting nature
preserves.
For anyone not familiar with Letterboxing there is a log in the
box for you to sign and stamp (with your stamp), then you stamp
your own log or paper (with stamp that is in the box). If you do
not have your own stamp, then stickers or handrawn artwork is
acceptable. DO NOT TAKE STAMP WITH YOU; IT IS NOT A TRADE
ITEM!!!
This geocache is a part of the Trek Ten Trails
2012 program. Participation in that program, while a lot of fun, is
not required to log this cache here. Trek Ten Trails 2012
program marks the fifth year of the Friends of the Parks
Foundation’s call to explore the outdoors in Polk County.
Five new nature trails have been added to the program’s first
four years of trail hike locations throughout Polk County. Each
nature trail includes geocaches with a self-inking stamp for
validating your visits to at least ten of the featured trails. To
be eligible for the prize drawings you must find the five new treks
and any other five from the first four years. You can choose which
trails you visit, and of course you may trek them all!
New game cards, which participants stamp and return to be
entered into the year end prize drawings are available at the
Friends of the Parks website, OUTPOST 27 CACHE and LAKE WALES DEPOT CACHE.
Validated game cards must be mailed by mid
October 2012 to be eligible for prize drawings and a
certificate of completion. Trek Ten Trails 2012 program maps, game
cards and other information about each of the featured nature
trails may be downloaded from the Friends of the
Parks website. Check out our
Profile for more details. The Friends of the Parks Foundation
will host our 2012 Trek Ten Trails program Grand Finale Celebration
at Circle B Bar Reserve in November 2012.
Please sign in at the information board in the parking lot near
the trailhead, and note that you're there to geocache. Polk
County's Environmental Lands Program is receptive to caching.
Signing in shows that you appreciate this. Please be respectful of
this property, its vegetation & wildlife. Make sure you grab a
map of the area at the trailhead. Minor bushwhacking may be
required at the cache site, please stay on designated trails until
you reach the search area.
This cache was placed with the assistance of
the
Florida
Geocaching Association