The wildlife values of the tract are high. The numerous 

 cavities supplied by the old-growth cypress provide important 

 denning and nesting sites for mammals and many species of 

 cavity-nesting birds. Black bears use the area as evidenced 

 by common scratch marks on the cypress trunks and by scat 

 deposits. Other common game mammals include eastern gray 

 squirrel and white-tailed deer. The tract plays an increasingly 

 important role as escape cover and refuge for many wildlife 

 species as more acreage is continually cleared for agriculture. 

 The tract is presently connected via a disturbed but still 

 wooded buffer strip to the Alligator River Swamp Forest natural 

 area. Because of its small size (300 acres) , its significance 

 as wildlife habitat will decline markedly if it is severed 

 from the nearby natural area. Unfortunately, it appears 

 likely that the adjacent connecting corridor will soon be 

 converted to agriculture. 



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