On your way in from Aerojet Road (SW 232 Ave.), you'll see where land managers peeled away dense layers of exotic vegetation to reveal a special tropical hammock that supports an array of birdlife. Nearly 160 species of birds are documented at "Lucky Hammock." It's within sight of Ingraham Hwy. and is a popular birding destination. Land managers have replanted this and other sites along Aerojet Road with dozens of species of native plants. This makes for patches of rich, biological diversity in a region that is highly disturbed from farming and exotic plants. Butterflies abound here, too. Lucky Hammock got its name by being one of the last hammocks in the area that was spared.

For bicycling, hiking and horseback riding, consider the 13-mile shellrock "South Dade Greenways Trail" on the C-111 canal. For hiking and bicycling, use the three-mile paved Aerojet Road (SW 232 Ave.) off Ingraham Highway and the 2.5-mile shellrock levee road on the east side of L-31W (park at Glenn Garrett Park and go east over the bridge to the levee). There are large plantings of butterfly-attracting plants along the east side of L-31W. You can picnic at Glenn Garrett.

The Southern Glades area supports 24 plant and animal species listed as either threatened or endangered, according to state and federal listings. It is a critical habitat for two federally endangered species: the Cape Sable seaside sparrow and the American crocodile.

For More Information: SFWMD headquaters at (561) 686-8800, ext. 6635 and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) (954) 746-1789