If you're a squirrel or a duck you may have thought
you were safely hiding in this little small area in
Leon County. But the few of us who have
found this little jewel, can really
appreciate its closeness to town mixed in with
the abundant wildlife. Granted it's only
squirrel and ducks, but if you don't mind
gettin' your feet wet, it's a sight to behold.
Rumor has it that some additional property
has been purchased. Those whitetailed deer
that you happen to jump up on in those little hammocks when you're
out there walking the swamp, may one day in the
future be on the menu.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says that the 692-acre L. Kirk Edwards Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) in eastern Leon County, encompasses the eastern two-thirds of Lower Lake Lafayette and its associated wetlands and uplands. The swamps and marshes that comprise the majority of the property help to cleanse the water that flows into the lake, the wetlands that connect to the St. Marks River and the aquifer. The WEA is a regionally significant resource for fish and wildlife, and helps to sustain the largest colony of endangered wood storks in northwest Florida.
Birdwatching is excellent and a variety of wading birds and waterfowl are reliably spotted. Seasonal waterfowl and gray squirrel hunting is available on limited days in the fall and winter. Anglers can cast their lines in Lake Lafayette or in the adjacent Piney Z Lake, specifically managed for productive fishing. The Lafayette Passage Paddling Trail meanders through mature cypress and hardwood swamps. Trails on adjacent conservation lands cater to hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders.
