Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-18
QEzEZ2VOKEE IlzzkNO

Prairie Is typical of the so-caed prairies" Of the
swamp. These prairies are essentially marshes
with more or less open water, but practically
filled with luxuriant growth of aquatic plants
These include water lilies, maiden cane, pitcher
plants, arrowhead arrow arum saw grass, fern
paint root and sphagnum. They the favored
resort of waterfowl. Here and there on the
prairies stand picturesque clumps heads OF
cypress and pine. Yet abundant crops of corn
and sweet potatoes are raised in the swamp and
much of it may be waded.
Francis Harper, assistant biologist of the Uni
ted States biological survey contributes an inter-
estng article on "Okeanokee Swamp Reser-
walton" to Natural History. OF its animal and
plant life he says, in part:
There are probably between one and two hun
dred black bears in the swamp and its immediate
envrons; the Florida deer is rather common
and well-distributed species on the islands and in
other parts of the swamp the Florida otter is
a fairly common denizen of this wilderness; sew
eral panthers have been recorded about the bor-
ders within the past few years; Florida wolf
was killed near the edge of the swamp about 1910:
and some animal believed to be wolf was heard
in the swamp several times in 1916 This species
is virtually extinct, and there are only one or
two specimens in the museums of the country.
That curious little animal the Florida water rat
or roundtaled muskrat (Neofber allen), has
lust recently been discovered in the swamp. 1t
is very abundant here in it's only known habitat
in Georgia.
The ivorybill, our greatest and most magnif-
cent wOOdpecker, now the very verge of extinc.
ton has maintained In the Okefnokee one of its
last strOngholds The great pileated wOOdpecker,
scarcely less splendid than the ivorybil is aston
ishingly abundant its numbers here perhaps sur
passing those of any other part of the country.
The American egret, once nearly extermnated
for its plumes, has been found breeding in the
environs of the swamp. 1t also has here safe
winter refuge The Okefnokee is the only place
in Georgia where may find the sand-h crane
and the lmpkin. The former is resident and
quite common Species but only one or two of the
curious and fast-dsappearing limpkins have been
observed in the swamp. which doubtless repre-
sents the northern limit of their breeding range.
The wood duck is q resident species of which
there are probably hundreds of individuals in the
swamp. In the entire country there is perhaps
other equally favorable habitat for this rare
and beautiful little duck.
AS a wintering ground for migratory waterfowl
the OkefnOkee is of very considerable importance
Eleven species of interest to game conservation
lists were found wntering in 1867, in numbers
loosely estimated as follows: hooded merganser
several hundred mallard, several thousand; black
duck; 1000; green-wnged teal, 25; pintail, so ;
wood duck, 500; rng-necked duck, several hun
dred sand-hill crane, 100; woodcock, 100; VIII
sons snpe, 500; killdeer, 100 Altogether about
So species of birds have been recorded from the
swamp in summer, and about 80 in winter. At
the latter season it attracts great numbers Of
berry and fruiteating birds
AT present a considerable amount of hunting
is carried on, chiefly by residents in and about
the swamp Deer, bears and wildcats are hunted
with hounds at virtually all seasons of the year.
Not only the ordinary game birds, but also such
species as the wood ibis Wards heron, sand-hill
crane, and occasionally a cOrmOrant a
water turkey, are killed and eaten. The wood
duck although protected by both state and fed