Huge Land Tract, Hatchineha Ranch, Now Protected

Hatchineha Ranch, a 5,134-acre tract proposed for a city-sized development at Polk's eastern border, will instead be preserved under a deal brokered by The Nature Conservancy.

Bald eagle, Florida scrub-jay, sand skink, crested caracara, gopher tortoise, Sherman's fox squirrel and Southeastern kestrel are on the long list of rare species that inhabit the site.

"We are grateful to the owner for helping us to implement our primary strategy for the northern Everglades, which is to protect natural landscapes with high biological diversity and opportunities for hydrological restoration." - Jeff Danter, Nature Conservancy FL director