FWC strives
to maintain and restore a diversity of habitats on Half Moon
Wildlife Management Area for the benefit of a wide array of
wildlife species and the people of Florida.
Prior to FWC
acquiring Half Moon, many of the previous land management
practices had a negative impact on wildlife and native habitats,
including ditching, poor timber management, and converting much
of the uplands to bahia pastures. Righting many of these past
wrongs has become a primary focus of FWC and area managers.
Some of the
many techniques area personnel use to aid in the management and
restoration process include prescribed burning, mowing, roller
chopping, and disking. Native plants and seeds as well as
longleaf pines are planted on Half Moon to help expedite the
restoration process. Grain crops like sorghum and millet are
planted in disturbed areas as supplemental food and cover for
wildlife in an otherwise barren pasture.
Longleaf pine was the original dominant tree on the uplands and
is thus the species used in reforestation on Half Moon. Past logging
removed much of the old-growth longleaf pine, leaving slash, loblolly,
and pond pine in the wetter, more inaccessible sites to which
they were normally confined by fire. Aggressive fire-fighting
efforts beginning in the late 1920s, inhibited the germination
of longleaf pine and encouraged the spread of these species.
In cattle-grazed areas, flatwoods restoration is a challenge
since cattle can trample and destroy seedlings and small trees.
Cattle grazing, especially at the very low stocking rate of 24
acres per cow/calf unit found on Half Moon, does have some management
advantages, however. Grazing sets back ecological succession to
an earlier stage and reduces fuel in a way similar to prescribed
burning. Cattle grazing also produces revenue and provides for
the multiple use of public land.
Plant and
animal monitoring and surveys are frequently conducted on
Half Moon to assist area personnel in the management and
hunt harvest recommendation process. These surveys help us
understand if our management actions are producing the
desired results.
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