MOSI's Backwoods Nature Preserve

Many guests to MOSI love the Butterfly Flight Encounter and accompanying Butterfly Garden, and enjoy strolling through the Historic Tree Grove located nearby. What guests might not realize, though, is MOSI also hosts a small forest oasis right in the middle of one of the most heavily developed areas of Tampa. The 25- acre Backwoods Nature Preserve is home to a surprising number of Central Florida ecosystems, including sandhills, hardwood wetlands, mesic pine flatwoods, and upland hardwood hammock. Each of these ecosystems contains its own variety of wildlife, both flora and fauna, and trails are available throughout the Preserve to allow guests to explore these classic Florida habitats.

Sandhills - Sandhill ecosystems are dry upland areas dominated by Longleaf Pines and kept free of other species by regular low-intensity wildfires. Our sandhill at MOSI is home to a variety of native wildflowers, including Coastalplain Palaflox and Skyblue Lupine. It also hosts several Gopher Tortoise burrows, whose residents can sometimes be seen basking outside on sunny days. When visiting, remember that Gopher Tortoises are listed as Threatened in Florida and both they and their habitat are protected. Stay on the trails and do not try to touch or harass these splendid residents.

Wetlands - A good portion of the Backwoods is wetland, with shallow ponds that may disappear during the drier months. These wetlands play a part in the stormwater drainage system so necessary to keeping Florida's rivers and bays free of litter and pollution. Our wetlands are home to birds, butterflies, turtles, and other wildlife. The Buttonbush Pond is especially popular in spring, when the blooms of the Buttonbushes here bring in butterflies by the hundreds. The wetlands are accessible by shell trail and boardwalk.



Pine Flatwoods - Pine Flatwoods make up over 50% of Florida's ecosystem, and are characterized by the open overstory of pines and the shrubs beneath, including Saw Palmetto and Wax Myrtle. Other native plants grow here too, like Cinnamon Fern and St. John's Wort. A shell trail allows easy access to the Pine Flatwoods in our Backwoods in all seasons.


Upland Hardwood Hammock - In Florida, a "hammock" is a forest habitat that is higher in elevation that the area around it. Our upland hammock area at MOSI is dominated by oaks, including Live Oaks and Turkey Oaks, and provides habitat for wildlife including red foxes, raccoons, and the harmless red ratsnake. The trails through the Hard Hammocks are not paved and guests should use caution when hiking these areas.

If you've visited MOSI's Backwoods Nature Preserve, drop by our Facebook page and or hit the comments below and tell us about your experiences!