Did You Know: Fun Facts About Grassy Waters Preserve

From City of West Palm Beach:

February 4, 2021

As winter descends upon the wetlands of Grassy Waters Preserve of West Palm Beach, visitors are greeted by a changing the seasons, where the dog days of summer are but a distant memory. The stately cypress trees shed their needles, as they slip into their seasonal slumber, and fluctuating water levels now expose drier terrain. The tracks of wildlife are now revealed in the soft soils. Alligators lie in quiet repose to absorb the sun’s nurturing heat, and the canopy of the swamp is unveiled to allow us to truly see the forest through the trees.

The vacancy of shade is most welcome. It is in this time that nature reveals many of her best kept secrets, but only if one knows where to find them.

Look high into the cypress trees. Cradled in the arms of these immovable skyscrapers is one of nature's true great aerial architects: squirrels, and their nests. Squirrel nests, also known as dress, are surprisingly complex.

Carrying twigs, moss, leaves, and pine needles to their preferred construction site, squirrels will frequently strip the bark of cypress trees using their mouths, paws, and body to bend, weave and push the material together. This creates a mostly enclosed dry, warm and protective shelter around the squirrels and a perfect nursery to raise their young. Both males and females work at a fevered pitch and often can complete the project in one day.

Why go to so much trouble and build so high into the canopy?

While the skies above the Preserve are patrolled by a legion of predators including hawks and owls who can stealthy swoop down and catch a squirrel, the terrestrial environment is equally perilous, where snakes, bobcats, and raccoons all include squirrels in their diet. Amazingly, the body of a squirrel was found in the stomach of largemouth bass. Building their nests high in the branches improves a squirrel’s chance of survival, since most ground predators are unable or unwilling to scale a tree in search of a meal. Industrious and relentless to protect their young, if the nest is disturbed by predators or becomes infested with fleas or mites, the squirrel moves on to a different location and builds a new nest.

Squirrels get a bad rap. Often considered a nuisance species for their ability to raid bird feeders, chew through wires, and run in front of our cars, Squirrels do provide some essential ecological services.

Forests and wetlands depend on the squirrel’s habit of collecting and storing seeds. Seed dispersal is vital to maintaining the natural plant communities in Grassy and their ability to perform this function is unrivaled. More than just aerial architects, they are one of nature’s ultimate gardeners.

Grassy Waters Preserve is located at 8264 Northlake Blvd. in the City of West Palm Beach. Grassy Waters serves as the drinking water supply source for West Palm Beach, which provides water to the Town of Palm Beach and the Town of South Palm Beach. For more information on Grassy Waters Preserve public programs available under the COVID-19 safety guidelines, call (561) 804-4895 (TTY: 800-955-8771) or visit: https://www.wpb.org/government/public-utilities/grassy-waters-preserve/public-program-calendar .

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.