Nature & Science
The nature trail winds through the shady coolness of the maritime forest. NPS Photo Nature at Fort Matanzas National Monument The original national monument site consisted of only the fort on Rattlesnake Island. Through the years, however, the National Park Service has acquired additional land on both Rattlesnake and Anastasia Islands and has been able to preserve a slice of an intact barrier island ecosystem. The river and ocean beaches as well as the .6 mile nature trail offer visitors the opportunity to view a variety of plants and wildlife native to this ecosystem. 
NPS Photo A Diverse Ecosystem Fort Matanzas National Monument protects a variety of habitats for many different species of plants and animals. Click HERE to explore the different habitats of Fort Matanzas. 
Critter of the Month Click on the star to read about the Matanzas Critter of the Month, one of the many animals who calls Fort Matanzas National Monument its home. Come back next month and discover a different Matanzas Critter. Natural Resource Management The park's natural resource department is participating in several Upcoming Nature Programs at Fort Matanzas Please contact the park for more information 
The chicks the day before first flight. NPS Photo Great Horned Owls Call Fort Matanzas Their Home! Click HERE for general information about Great Horned Owls. Take a look at some owl photos from the nesting: (Pictures used by permission and all rights reserved by the photographer.) 
The Matanzas Great Horned Owls in Mating Mode, Nov. 26, 2011 
K. Krysko -- Used by Permission Snakes and Turtles and Frogs, Oh My! During 1998 and 1999, Dr. F. Wayne King from the University of Florida conducted an extensive survey of the reptiles and amphibians found at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Click HERE for the results of his study complete with information on each species' ecology and habitat and photographs like this one of a red rat snake (corn snake), one of the beautiful, non-poisonous snakes at Fort Matanzas. 
GTMNERR The area around Fort Matanzas National Monument is also part of the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), one of 25 such reserves in the United States. Designated in 1999, GTMNERR is a federal/state partnership administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. |
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Did You Know?
Did you know that the only source of fresh water for the soldiers at Fort Matanzas was rain water caught in a cistern under the gun deck. Ft Matanzas National Monument, Florida