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Fort Caroline National Memorial (Theodore Roosevelt Hiking Area) - Jacksonville, Florida |
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 The
Fort Caroline National Memorial
and adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Hiking Area, located near the
intersection of Ft. Caroline and Mt. Pleasant Roads in the St. Johns
Bluff area of southeast Jacksonville, offers four nature trails
totaling about five miles. The area has an interesting
history which dates to 1562 when French explorers led by Jean Ribault
first surveyed the area. The French subsequently established
"La Caroline" in 1564. In 1565,
five-hundred Spanish troops led by Admiral Pedro Menendez marched north
from what is now St. Augustine and captured the French installation -
ultimately killing most of its inhabitants. Menendez and his troops are
believed to have camped at a freshwater pond nearby which is now known
as "Spanish Pond"
from which one of the trails derives its
name. |
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Discussion: The Ft. Caroline/St. Johns bluff area, like most areas of Duval County, is fast being over-run by urban development. Fortunately for those of us interested in terrestrial mollusks, 30 of the 89 species thus far recorded from northeast Florida have been found at Ft. Caroline. However, this fast encroaching development may ultimately have an impact on this molluscan community. A list of the species found at Ft. Caroline is presented below. This listing is the result of two surveys conducted in 1976 (10/31/76 and 11/28/76), two surveys in March, 2005, one survey in September, 2006, and multiple surveys in October-November, 2007. Those species preceded by "+" were found both in 1976 and 2005. The survey is continuing and the listing will be updated as is appropriate. |
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