You are standing on the floor of Paynes Prairie, a 16,000 acre basin formed when many sinkholes coalesced. It is a home to herds of wild cracker horses descendant from the horses brought from Spain in the 16th century. Also roaming the prairie is a herd of American Bison, a native of the area that was hunted out here before the 19th century. With the help of the Friends of Paynes Prairie, the bison were reintroduced after the prairie became the first nature preserve in Florida in 1970.  

At the southeastern side of the prairie on Hickory Ranch is a herd of cracker or Spanish cattle also called scrub cows they descended from herds brought by the Spanish. Other animals present on the prairie are white tail deer, bobcats, raccoons, coyotes, river otters and many others. Snakes are abundant. Many species of fish inhabit the sinkhole lakes and artificial canals. Alligators, the apex predators in this ecosystem, are here in remarkable numbers. And then there are the birds. In addition to the signature Sandhill Crane, the prairie is a winter haven for the extremely rare Whooping Crane. More than 270 other species of other birds have been observed on the preserve. Paynes Prairie is home to the largest collection of Bald Eagles in the United States outside of Alaska. 

For more information, call the ranger station at 466-3397.