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for prey. They provided all a pest-free entrance.
Natural beings all over the Alligator Creek site
anticipated the return of Charlotte County fourth
grade students on their CHEC environmental field
studies excursions.
A healthy deposit of scat
signaled the bobcat’s recent passing on the shell
path between the boardwalks. Scat tells the ongoing
story here at the Alligator Creek site. Many mammals
and large reptiles leave daily evidence of their
food chain preferences. Bobcat scat decays in the
heat of the sun to leave telltale hair of the hare.
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Students Crossing Bridge |
Further along the path was
the revealing, grass-filled, egg-shaped lump
left by a tidy gopher tortoise. He,
likewise, had been taking care of business
during the twilight hour. We do not clean
away the droppings. Tracks, scat, rubbings
and animal signs all enhance appreciation
for the wildlife that coexists in this
diverse habitat.
Fourth grade students (9-10 year olds) are
as fascinated by scat (ooh, poop!) as they
are by finding snake skins, recently shed.
They learn from the naturalist educators –
Richard Dorken, Martha Clemente, Stephenie
Presseller and Chris Salmonsen - just how to
be animal detectives when they trek the
woods and ride the river |
| on their habitat explorations. You see,
every fourth grade student, attending
Charlotte County schools, participates in
two days of environmental education through
CHEC. |
Each field trip day, half of
the excited class gets dropped off at Punta Gorda
Marina for a trip up the Peace River on the CHEC
Mate pontoon boat, piloted by Boca Grande Captain
Bill Wheeler. On the river they collect samples for
water quality monitoring and perform basic chemical
tests to determine levels of pH, dissolved oxygen,
nitrate+nitrite and salt in the water.
They take the temperature of
the water and study the clarity by lowering a Secchi
disc until they can no longer see the black and
white pattern, then measure the depth. Seagrass beds
rely on the sunlight’s ability to penetrate through
the tannic-acid-stained harbor so the plants can
perform photosynthesis.
The naturalists help the
children learn the importance of water quality to
the overall health of the harbor. They keep data on
what flora and fauna they witness on their river
journey. Snails, clams, fish, shrimp and mussels are
netted for the students to view and then release.
The other half of the group
must ride the big, yellow bus a bit further to the
Alligator Creek preserve on Burnt Store Road. They
spill out and gather on the screen porch for
introductory activities before their trail adventure
ensues. Similar data is kept during the wetland and
pinewoods trek. Plant specimens are collected and
studied. Binoculars are utilized to view raptors,
songbirds, waders and ground feeders. Evidence of
mammal activity in the forest is sought and found.
Reptiles, amphibians and fresh-water fish are
recorded. Ecosystems are discussed along with the
importance of interactions between species and
environmental factors.
Sheet flow, absorption and
percolation of excess precipitation is witnessed
feet first as they slog through wet passages.
Several hours of hands-on, outdoor education occurs
and before they know it, they are back on the bus.
The next day each group remains
with their original nature guide and swaps boat for
land trip or vice versa. After two fun-filled,
intense days, all are awarded a certified naturalist
identification card. Believe me, they’ve earned it! 
Please click here for additional information
or if you would like to contact the
author of this article, Monica Dorken. Thank you!
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