The Back Woods
Fact Sheet

Synopsis: Originally opened in 1992, The Back Woods at MOSI contain an unusually large variety of plant and animal communities for its limited acreage in it urban setting. Included are a sink hole and populations of protected gopher tortoises among communities of pine flatwoods, turkey oak sandhills, oak hammoks, and wetlands. In conjunction with its $35 million expansion in 1995, The Back Woods were renovated with $150,000 funded using a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the "Save the Manatee" and Florida panther license plates to enhance the existing nature trails.

Size: 20 acres, @ 1-mile nature trails

Location: South end of the MOSI property.

Number of native plants: 1,000 varieties

Highlights:

• An access trail for multi-able accessibility
• Native plants have been used to enhance the trails, exotics were removed
• Enhanced habitat and preservation of gopher tortoise populations
• Informative signs identifying animals and plants of The Back Woods
• An authentic Seminole Indian Chickee shelter / nature classroom that acts as a window to the wetlands
• A brochure available in English, Spanish, and German
• Cassette players and an audio tour
• "Ecology to Go" tool boxes containing head sets, binoculars, microscopic viewers, field guides and identification cards

Major donors:
Blockbuster Entertainment, Inc.
Florida Advisory Council on Environmental Education