Big Cypress National Preserve

History

Archaeology at Platt Island in the preserve shows humans settled there more than two thousand years ago. The Calusa people had an extensive presence in the area when Europeans arrived. Big Cypress was historically occupied by various cultures of Native Americans; the last were the Seminole of the nineteenth century. Their descendants include the federally recognized Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Early European-American settlers hunted herons and egrets, whose feathers were popular with 19th and 20th century hat-makers in New York and Paris. Poachers hunted American alligators and American crocodiles to near extinction. When the timber industry began to operate in the area, it built railroads, and cut and hauled out most of the cypress ecosystem's old growth trees.

An area of approximately 1400 acre along and west of State Road 29 in the western part of the Big Cypress, now known as the Green Heart of the Everglades, was commercially farmed for winter vegetables from the late 1920s until the 1960s.

The search for oil in Florida began in 1901 with no success. After almost 80 dry holes had been drilled throughout the state, on September 26, 1943, Humble Oil Company (at the time partly owned by and later merged into Standard Oil of New Jersey) discovered Florida's first producing oil well in the northwest portion of what is now Big Cypress National Preserve. When Everglades National Park was established in 1947, Big Cypress was originally intended to be included; however, because the land had not been purchased from its private owners, Big Cypress was ultimately released from the park system.

In the 1960s, the site was proposed to become the Miami Jetport, a massive new airport intended to replace Miami International Airport. Construction began in 1968, but due to efforts of Native Americans, hunters, and conservationists, construction was halted in 1970 after only one of the proposed six runways was completed. They followed up with a campaign to have Big Cypress included in the National Park System. The single completed runway is now known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport; in 2025, it became the site of Alligator Alcatraz, a rapid-build immigration detention facility.

Big Cypress National Preserve differs from Everglades National Park in that, when it was established by law in 1974, the Miccosukee, Seminole and Traditional people were provided with permanent rights to occupy and use the land in traditional ways; in addition, they have first rights to develop income-producing businesses related to the resources and use of the preserve, such as guided tours. They and other hunters may use off-road vehicles, and home and business owners have been permitted to keep their properties in the preserve. As in Everglades National Park, petroleum exploration was permitted within Big Cypress in the authorizing legislation, but plans are under way for the government to buy out the remaining petroleum leases in order to shut down non-governmental commercial access to the environment.

In 2016, Big Cypress National Preserve became the first national preserve to be designated as a Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International park in 2016.

Climate

Big Cypress has a tropical monsoon climate (Am according to Köppen climate classification), bordering on tropical savanna climate (Aw). Days are some of the hottest in Florida. January has an average high of 78.0 F and August has an average high of 93.6 F. However, nights cool down into the 50s °F (low 10s °C) in winter. Means range from 66.5 F in January to 84.7 F in August. Highs exceed 90 F on 154 days per year, while they fall below 70 F on just 8 days. Hardiness zone is 10b, with an average annual minimum of 35 F. The lowest recorded daily high was 48 F in 2010, while the highest low on record was 89 F in 2005.

|Jan avg record high F = 86.4 |Feb avg record high F = 87.6 |Mar avg record high F = 89.8 |Apr avg record high F = 92.1 |May avg record high F = 96.4 |Jun avg record high F = 97.6 |Jul avg record high F = 97.6 |Aug avg record high F = 98.0 |Sep avg record high F = 96.9 |Oct avg record high F = 93.9 |Nov avg record high F = 90.1 |Dec avg record high F = 87.1 |year avg record high F = 98.8

|Jan avg record low F = 36.1 |Feb avg record low F = 38.8 |Mar avg record low F = 43.4 |Apr avg record low F = 48.1 |May avg record low F = 56.4 |Jun avg record low F = 65.8 |Jul avg record low F = 69.9 |Aug avg record low F = 71.3 |Sep avg record low F = 70.7 |Oct avg record low F = 60.0 |Nov avg record low F = 50.2 |Dec avg record low F = 41.1 |year avg record low F = 33.6

|Jan record high F = 90 |Feb record high F = 91 |Mar record high F = 94 |Apr record high F = 97 |May record high F = 100 |Jun record high F = 103 |Jul record high F = 101 |Aug record high F = 101 |Sep record high F = 101 |Oct record high F = 98 |Nov record high F = 96 |Dec record high F = 91 |year record high F = |Jan record low F = 26 |Feb record low F = 26 |Mar record low F = 32 |Apr record low F = 41 |May record low F = 50 |Jun record low F = 57 |Jul record low F = 62 |Aug record low F = 62 |Sep record low F = 63 |Oct record low F = 48 |Nov record low F = 39 |Dec record low F = 26 |year record low F = | archive-date = May 20, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230520212446/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mfl | url-status = dead

Flora and fauna

The preserve is biologically highly diverse. It is dominated by a wet cypress forest, but while "few giant cypress remain...one third of the swamp is covered with dwarf pond cypress." It is host to an array of flora and fauna, including mangroves, orchids, alligators, crocodiles, venomous snakes like the cottonmouth and eastern diamondback rattlesnake, a variety of birds, river otter, deer, bobcat, coyote, black bear and cougar.

The preserve is also home to federally listed endangered species including the eastern indigo snake and the Florida sandhill crane.

Tourism

Twelve campgrounds in Big Cypress are tailored to motor vehicles, where tourists planning overnight stays can park their vehicles and off-road vehicles in designated areas. The southern terminus of the Florida National Scenic Trail is located in Big Cypress, and provides hiking opportunities during the winter months. Hiking throughout Big Cypress is enjoyable in all seasons, with most of the cypress country more hospitable to hikers than the dense sawgrass prairies of the central Everglades. Some of the most beautiful wading and walking can be found in cypress strands and prairies between the Loop Road and the Tamiami Trail.

Wildlife is abundant in the preserve. Most notable and regularly seen, the American alligators can be up to around 12 ft in length. Another notable and endangered animal, the Florida panther calls the Preserve home. Though both generally relatively timid, wading through the cypress country requires constant alertness. Before going out, visit one of the preserve's visitor centers for information on the current conditions and local trails. The visitor centers offer an educational video about the surroundings, also viewable on the Big Cypress YouTube channel. Rangers often lead swamp walk hikes in the dry winter months, as well as canoe trips, and boardwalk talks.

Hunting is a long-established recreational activity in the area and is protected in the designation of the area as a Preserve. Hunters were instrumental in protecting this corner of remote, wild Florida. Hunting activities continue today and include seasons for archery, muzzle loading and general gun. Typical game species are white-tailed deer, turkey and hogs. Alligator hunting is not allowed within the national preserve. Hunting within the preserve is managed cooperatively between the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Controversy over off-road vehicles

Touted as a "recreational paradise" by the Department of the Interior, Big Cypress was created in part to accommodate access with off-road vehicles (ORVs) by the hunters and the Miccosukee and Seminole people who had worked to protect Big Cypress from drainage and development. However, scientists and conservationists have noted an increase in ORV recreation that prompted the National Park Service in 2001 to proactively manage ORV recreation and to reduce 400 mi of primary trails within the preserve, despite persistent calls for more from hunters and ORV enthusiasts.

According to a 2001 study conducted by the United States Geological Survey,

Given these conclusions, environmental groups opposed the announcement by park officials in 2006 of a new study to determine whether the recreational benefit of more trails is worth the risk of additional damage to the ecosystem.

Controversy over "emergency" detention center

In June 2025, Florida declared a state of emergency to seize the county-owned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport within Big Cypress National Preserve and fast-track construction of a detention camp without standard environmental reviews or coordination with local officials.

On June 27, a coalition led by Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians filed suit in federal court seeking to halt the project pending a full environmental review and public comment period. The plaintiffs argued the project threatened endangered species habitat, including the Florida panther and Florida bonneted bat, and violated the National Environmental Policy Act and tribal cultural-resource protections.

At an August 7 hearing, witnesses testified that approximately 20 acres (8 hectares) had been paved and that temporary tents, trailers, and heavy equipment were already on site.

By August 29, the state had incurred an estimated $218 million in sunk construction costs. Opponents also raised concerns about potential water, traffic, and light pollution from camp infrastructure and sewage systems.

On August 21, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered removal of temporary fencing, lighting, generators, sewage, and waste receptacles within 60 days. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit later stayed the injunction in a 2–1 ruling pending appeal.

Gallery

File:Big Cypress National Preserve SR 94 - Cypresses.jpg|Cypresses growing along SR 94 (Loop Road) File:Big Cypress National Preserve SR 94 Loop Road.jpg|State Road 94 (Loop Road) in Big Cypress File:Big Cypress National Preserve SR 94 - Loop Road.jpg|Cypresses growing along Loop Road SR 94 File:Big Cypress National Preserve SR 100.jpg|Prairie in Big Cypress N. P. File:Big Cypress National Preserve - Camping Trail.jpg File:Big Cypress National Preserve SR 101.jpg|Prairie in Big Cypress N. P. File:Brown water snake at Big Cypress National Preserve.jpg|A brown water snake rests on a branch above the water. File:Double-crested cormorant at BCNP.jpg|Double-crested cormorant cruises through the water. File:An anhinga perches among the branches at BCNP.jpg|An anhinga perches among the branches above the water. File:Alligator cruises through water at BCNP.jpg|An American alligator swims through the water.

References

References

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2. {{NPS Visitation
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6. Gillis, Chad (September 23, 2025) [https://eu.naplesnews.com/story/news/environment/2025/09/23/reknowned-artist-speaks-about-his-craft-alligator-alcatraz/86180414007/ "Images of the Everglades speak loudly, as does advocate photographer Clyde Butcher".] ''Naples Daily News.'' Retrieved September 27, 2025.
7. Widmer, Randolph J.. (1988). "Evolution of the Calusa: a Stratified Non-Agricultural Chiefdom on the Southwest Florida Coast". University of Alabama Press.
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10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120114065553/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/bicy/miccosukee_seminole_indians.pdf National Park Service, James A. Goss, ''Usual and Customary Use by the Miccosukee and Seminole Indians in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida''], National Park Service, 1995, pp. 4-5
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12. Chesnes, Max. (July 18, 2025) [https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2025/07/09/alligator-alcatraz-light-pollution-florida-everglades-big-cypress/ Darkness is crucial to Everglades habitat. Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it? Artificial light in a world-renowned “dark sky” preserve is just one of the environmental and human health concerns surrounding the facility.] ''Tampa Bay Times'' Retrieved September 27, 2025.
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24. (August 29, 2025). "Florida may lose $218 million on empty 'Alligator Alcatraz' as judge orders shutdown".
25. (21 August 2025). "Judge blocks transfer of new detainees to Alligator Alcatraz". ABC News.
26. "Appeals court allows Alligator Alcatraz to continue immigrant detention center operations".