On an overgrown cattle path near Lake Okeechobee, an art teacher, environmental educator, wetland scientist, and a documentary team push through tall grass and sand spurs on their way to the Caloosahatchee River.
It’s their sixth and final day on an expedition called “Strand to Slough,” which started in the Picayune Strand State Forest east of Naples, and ends here at the edges of the Goodno Ranch in Glades County, over 58 miles away.
Trekkers explore the Florida Wildlife Corridor in the Strand to Slough expedition
The trek, organized by the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, aims to bring public awareness to the natural beauty of the Southwestern portion of the Florida Wildlife Corridor: a nearly 18 million-acre contiguous stretch of land and waterway that serves as a safe roaming zone for endangered wildlife like the gopher tortoise, black bear, and Florida panther.
Trekker Kenton Beal described the experience as “Kinda magical in some ways? We’ve experienced vast landscapes on this trek that are seemingly untouched, with little light pollution, with no traffic.”
Beal, who grew up in Fort Myers, says the expedition into these wild spaces made him think about how much the landscape of his home has changed over the years.
“I personally witnessed a lot of development occur. And you know, it seemed like it happened so fast, at such a rapid pace in the span of history, that there's just not much green space left, especially west of 75 and east of 95.”
Scary roads
Em Kless is an environmental educator with the Naples Botanical Garden and frequent hiker. The expedition helped them realize just how dangerous major Florida roadways can be for native wildlife.
“We spent six and a half days encountering water moccasins in tall grass and gators in the water right there with us. And if you're not a nature-y person, that's really scary, right? But we felt super safe in those moments. What felt scary and what got our adrenaline pumping was when we were getting on the roads in between those critical patches of ecosystems and preserved land. I know I'm probably safe, but a panther doesn't know that, a bear doesn't know that. It really drives it home far more than reading an article or seeing some data ever could. You're going from peaceful and calm to extreme alert and just trying to get out of there alive.”
While Beal, Kless, and fellow trekker Laura Foht are new to 60-mile hikes, this isn’t the first expedition that the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation has put on.
In fact, the very concept of a wildlife corridor in Florida didn’t really exist until a statewide trek in 2012. That’s when three conservationists traveled over 1,000 miles on foot in 100 days. Their goal was to draw attention to the diminishing wild stretches of Florida being threatened by a proposed expansion of roads.
An act passed
That expedition, and the media buzz surrounding it, led to the creation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act in 2021, which set aside $300 million to conserve key habitat through purchases and conservation easements.
The nonprofit Wildlife Corridor Foundation continues to organize expeditions into segments of the corridor, each with a different focus. Strand to Slough is the first of seven such treks to focus exclusively on Southwest Florida. The area has seen a nearly 20% increase in its population over the past decade — and corresponding development.
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Trekkers and group leaders look for birds while hiking toward the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. The trekkers were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Trekkers and group leaders walk toward the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. The trekkers were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Trekkers and group leaders walk toward the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. The trekkers were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Kenton Beal, right, looks for roseate spoonbills through his binoculars while on a hike to the Caloosahatchee River near LaBelle on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Trekkers and group leaders walk toward the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. The trekkers were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Cattle graze on a ranch near LaBelle on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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A limpkin flies over trekkers hiking on a cattle ranch near the Caloosahatchee River in LaBelle on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Group leaders look for birds on a hike to the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. Thy were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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A butterfly perches on a milkweed plant on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in LaBelle.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Trekkers and group leaders walk toward the Caloosahatchee River on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, near LaBelle. The trekkers were on an expedition with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation for their Strand to Slough trek.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Kenton Beal, right, looks for roseate spoonbills through his binoculars while on a hike to the Caloosahatchee River near LaBelle on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
Carlton Ward Jr. is a nature photographer with the National Geographic Society, and one of the original trekkers. He says that the foundation focused on Southwest Florida for this trek specifically because of such population growth — and the threat it poses to native wildlife.
“We have four million acres of contiguous public land down here. That's an area twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. It's an amazing, connected, largely public landscape, but its only lifeline that keeps it connected to the north is the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and it switches from mostly public land to mostly private land, ranches, groves, timber, timber farms, and those are the ones that are under threat. Climate change is driving more inland migration of people. There's already 1,000 people a day moving here, but now the people who are already here are going to start moving inland.”
The final crop
While agricultural land like orange groves and ranches may not seem like perfect wildlife habitat, Ward says that the alternative of rapidly developing housing is worse for iconic Florida creatures such as the panther.
“You can go to the edges of Naples or Fort Myers, where you can literally see orange groves converting to rooftops. As some people say in the agricultural community, that's the final crop. That's going to happen in some places, but that's not what we want to see everywhere. If all the orange groves go to rooftops, that's the nail in the coffin for a connected landscape in Florida.”
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Roseate Spoonbill at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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The full beaver moon at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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A barred owl pair at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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A racoon at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers and guide (left to right) Laura Foht, Kenton Beal, Em Kless, and Ryan Young.
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Painted Bunting at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers and guide (front to back) Laura Foht, Kenton Beal, Em Kless, Ryan Young.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Belted Kingfisher in Big Cypress National Preserve
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Racoon at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
sonja pedersen/Sonja Pedersen / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Green Heron in Big Cypress National Preserve
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Clamshell Orchid. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Clamshell Orchid. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough CREW Marsh Trails
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers prepare to paddle board flooded agricultural fields.
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Trekkers paddle board flooded agricultural fields within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Barred Owl at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Florida Panther on working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
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Black crowned night heron on working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
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Crested Caracara on working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
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Trekkers and Days Edge film crew at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors. (left to right) Em Kless, Sara Matasick, Alex Freeze and Laura Foht.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Trekker Em Kless
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Bird watching at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (left to right) Em Kless, Ryan Young. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Trekker Laura Foht
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Strand to Slough Trekkers Kenton Beal
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Biking at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors. (left to right) Laura Foht, Kenton Beal, Em Kless.
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Original trekkers interacting with the Strand to Slough trekkers on private lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. (left to right) Joe Guthrie, Laura Foht, Mallory Dimmitt, Ryan Young.
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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fStop Foundation's William Freund showing the trekkers camera trap photography taken within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. (left to right) William Freund, Em Kless, Ryan Young, Laura Foht, Kenton Beal, and filmmaker Sara Matasick
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Trekkers hiking through the Florida Wildlife Corridor. (left to right) Kenton Beal, Ryan Young, Em Kless and Laura Foht.
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Original trekkers interacting with the Strand to Slough trekkers. (left to right) Kenton Beal, Carlton Ward Jr., Em Kless, Joe Guthrie.
Alex Freeze/Alex Freeze / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Florida Wildlife Corridor sign unveiling at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park unveiled by Mallory Dimmitt, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Chuck Hatcher.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Florida Wildlife Corridor sign unveiling at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park unveiled by Mallory Dimmitt, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Chuck Hatcher in front of the expedition trekkers.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers on private working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. (left to right) David Wells, Kenton Beal, Em Kless, Ryan Young, Laura Foht.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers on private working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. (left to right) Jason Lauritsen, Kenton Beal, Em Kless, Ryan Young and Laura Foht.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Alligator on working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
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Tomato fields within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Working lands act as critical connection points for wildlife within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekker and film crew at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers and Days Edge film crew at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Racoon at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors. (left to right) Ryan Young, Kenton Beal, Laura Foht.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Em Kless at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Keira Gilmore/Keira Gilmore / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough CREW Marsh Trails. Woodpecker.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers paddle boarding on flooded agricultural fields. (left to right) Kenton Beal, Em Kless, Ryan Young, Laura Foht.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers and guide Sally Stein at Corkscrew Swamp Sactuary. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors. (right to left) Sally Stein, Ryan Young, Laura Foht, Kenton Beal.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Strand to Slough Corkscrew Landscapes and Wildlife. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation was given special permission to explore this section of the Sanctuary, which is normally closed to visitors.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
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Trekkers explore working lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Working lands are vital to the connectivity of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Film crew and trekkers transporting paddle boards.
Ethan Coyle/Ethan Coyle / Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
Despite encroaching development, Ward and the trekkers have hope for the future of the corridor.
“When you leave Naples, you leave Fort Myers, and you see the pace and the intensity of development, it could be feeling hopeless, but you get beyond that, and you realize that there are a lot of people who want to save the land like it is,” Ward said.
Kless and Beal say their experiences on this six-day expedition have shown ways that they and others like them can help.
Beal says that experiencing the corridor in its natural beauty was powerful for him.
“We've got some of the most unique ecosystems in the world. When you really talk to someone face to face, and you get them into the field to understand what wild Florida really looks like, it's a whole different experience. And not only does that help with wildlife, but it also really paints the picture of what Florida has been like for so long.”
Kless says it’s the human connections they’ve made that will increase environmental action.
“I've really learned along this journey that it's the people. We are the hope and the connections that we make, the ways that we can find love for nature with each other and understand its value. I would encourage people to get involved. Go outside, find something that lights your spark, and then talk to other people about it. If you can save an acre, 10 acres, it seems small, but in the grand picture, that's how 18 million acres comes together.”
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