While Southwest Florida is famous for its world-class sunsets and sugar-sand beaches, there is a different kind of beauty waiting just a few miles inland. Beyond the sprawl of Sarasota and the bustling streets of Naples lies a vast network of wilderness that many residents drive past every day without a second glance.
To help locals reconnect with these hidden landscapes, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched WildQuest—a gamified outdoor adventure that turns our regional Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) into a massive, interactive scavenger hunt.
A Local Adventure for All Ages
WildQuest is designed to get people off the pavement and into the “real” Florida. Using the Goosechase app, participants join a digital quest where they earn points by completing “missions” at specific conservation sites. These tasks range from photographing a gopher tortoise burrow to identifying native wildflowers or locating specific trail markers.
In Southwest Florida, this isn’t just a walk in the park—it’s an opportunity to see the ecosystems that keep our region thriving, from cypress swamps to pine flatwoods.
Where to Play in Southwest Florida
The beauty of WildQuest is that it highlights some of the most spectacular, yet underrated, public lands in our corner of the state. If you’re looking to start your quest, these local hotspots are often featured:
- Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA (Punta Gorda): One of the oldest and largest WMAs in Florida. This is a premier spot for seeing the rare red-cockaded woodpecker and exploring the vast dry prairies that define the interior of Charlotte County.
- Myakka State Forest (North Port): Not to be confused with the state park, this forest offers a more rugged experience with miles of trails through mesic flatwoods and along the Myakka River.
- Orange Hammock WMA (Sarasota County): A newer addition to the conservation portfolio, this site protects critical wildlife corridors and offers a pristine look at the region’s natural hydrological systems.
- CREW Wildlife and Environmental Area (Naples/Estero): A critical site for water recharge in the region, CREW features famous boardwalks and trails that offer a high chance of spotting local wildlife like swallow-tailed kites or even a shy white-tailed deer.
Why It Matters Locally
In a region where development is moving fast, understanding our local environment is more important than ever. WildQuest teaches participants about:
- Conservation Management: See firsthand how prescribed burns keep our forests healthy and prevent larger wildfires.
- Watershed Protection: Learn how these inland marshes and flatwoods filter the water that eventually flows into our estuaries and the Gulf.
- Wildlife Awareness: Missions often focus on “keystone species” like the gopher tortoise, whose burrows provide homes for hundreds of other animals.
Getting Started
Joining the quest is straightforward and costs nothing more than a small daily use fee at some WMA entrances (typically around $3).
- Check the Dates: Visit FloridaWildQuest.com to see when the next official event window opens (these usually occur during peak outdoor seasons like spring).
- Download Goosechase: Search for the app on your smartphone and enter the WildQuest code found on the FWC website.
- Pack Your Gear: This is the Southwest Florida backcountry—bring plenty of water, polarized sunglasses for better wildlife viewing, and bug spray.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a newcomer to the Suncoast, WildQuest offers a fresh perspective on the land we call home. It turns a standard Saturday hike into a mission to protect and celebrate the wild side of Southwest Florida.
