Oscar Scherer State Park

Osprey, Florida: In a rapidly developing area of central Sarasota County lies a 1,400 acre wildlife habitat that welcomes of 130,000 visitors annually. Oscar Scherer State Park has been in operation since 1956 and is home to many of Florida native wildlife.

In 1955, Elsa Scherer Burrows passed away and left the family’s 460 acre ranch along the South Creek to the state of Florida in the name of her father, Oscar Scherer. One year later the park opened to the public.

The park expanded in 1991 due to an effort to protect the Florida Scrub-Jay by realtor and current Sarasota County commissioner Jon Thaxton. With the efforts of Thaxton and the Nature Conservancy, the park added 922 acres from Palmer Ranch and grew to 1,384 acres. Then in recognition of National Public Lands Day 2008, local developer Lee Wetherington donated 16 acres from the Willowbend subdivision to bring the park to its current day size of 1,400 acres.

Oscar Scherer State Park consist of several Florida landscapes including pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, and hardwood hammock. This provides home to several species of Florida wildlife including:

• Bobcats
• Rabbits
• Foxes
• River Otters
• Alligators
• Snakes
• Gopher Tortoises
• Frogs
• Bald Eagles
• Osprey
• Woodpeckers
• Egrets
• Herons
• Several types of freshwater fish

There are several hiking trails that will take you into the habitats for a closer look at the wildlife that inhabit it. The trails are:

• Yellow Trail; 5 miles explores the remote sections of the park through pine flatwoods, prairies hammocks and scrubby flatwoods.

• Blue Trail; 1 1/2 miles though pine flatwoods and scrubby flatwoods.

• Red Trail; 2 miles through pine flatwoods and scrubby flatwoods along the western boundary of the park.

• Green Trail; 3 miles through scrubby flatwoods and pine flatwoods along with some of the Florida Scrub Jay habitats.

• Lester Finley Trail; 1/2 mile handicap accessible trail through hardwood hammocks along the South Creek.

• South Creek Nature Trail; 1/2 mile one-way trail along the South Creek.

In addition to the trails, Oscar Scherer State Park also houses a nature center, Lake Osprey (3 acre lake for fishing and swimming) and a full service campground. There are also special events throughout the year including a native American festival, music festivals and weekly wildlife conservations events.

For more photos click the picture above of visit my Oscar Scherer State Park photo page.