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Caladesi Island | Caladesi Nature & Shells | Caladesi Ferry |
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Nature on Caladesi IslandEven before you arrive on the island, nature catches your attention. Dolphins play around the ferry, mullet school near the docks, pelicans and ospreys dive for fish nearby, cormorants sit atop pilings drying their feathers, and who knows what else will appear. On Caladesi you may see few animals other than birds during the hottest part of the day on the beach and around the picnic area, but venture into the cool pine forest or oak / palm hammock and you may see a rabbit, an armadillo, a wild turkey, a hawk hunting for birds, or a black snake may cross your path. An owl may call out. Enjoy the transition from thick dry brush and deep sand to shady forest, tall pines, and knarled oaks as you walk the loop trail.
Caladesi has always been a quiet place. Only a handful of people have ever lived here, and most of them only stayed a couple of years. The early settlers were fishermen and grew their own vegetables, selling both fish and produce in town. They had a few chickens and hogs for meat and eggs, and used sailboats and rowboats to travel back and forth to the mainland. There is no camping allowed on Caladesi, but if you have a boat you can dock at the marina and sleep on your boat. Alcohol is not allowed in the park or on the beach, and pets are not allowed on the beach. Fishing is permitted, but be sure to observe Florida law regarding saltwater fishing license requirements. During the cooler months you can arrange a nature tour on the island by one of the rangers. If you have an interest in nature and/or the island's history I highly recommend a guided tour. There is no extra cost for a tour. Call the island administrative office in advance and arrange the tour. You simply will not believe how much the rangers know about the island wildlife and the island's history--information that you could never get from a book or website. Some of the rangers have lived on the island for years and they do have stories to tell. Summers are really too hot to enjoy the tours, but from about November through March/April the temperature on the nature trail is quite comfortable. During winter days when the beach is too windy and cold, spend your day poking around on the nature trails. |
With
3 miles of undeveloped beach, you won't run out of shoreline to
explore. Walk north to Hurricane Pass, where
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| Above: Shells on Caladesi beach during the summer (left) and winter (right). Winter winds and surf usually bring in more shells than the relatively calm summer weather. If you want to find the best shells on Caladesi, come when the tide is low, and come after a period of strong onshore winds. Myrtle Scharrer, one of the few permanent residents of Caladesi in the late 1800's and early 1900's loved to walk the beach after a storm. She was always excited about what she might find. |
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| Above: This live whelk was easily visible in less than two inches of water at low tide. It is a beautiful shell. Live shells are protected in the park and must be left unharmed. That includes sand dollars. |
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| Above: Mullet schooling in the shallow waters near Caladesi Island. Florida fishermen, including Native Americans, have depended on this fish as a food staple. Years ago, fishermen from as far as Cuba regularly sailed to Florida to fish for mullet, which they salted and took back home. |
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| Above: An armadillo roots for food at my feet. They have very poor eyesight, and if you stand really still and quiet, they often don't even notice you are there. If they smell you, they'll take off running, crashing through the bushes like a little tank. They are gentle creatures. |
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Above: A video from YouTube of an armadillo hunting for food on Caladesi Island. |
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