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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

The Friends of The Largo Nature Parks

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Largo, FL
The Friends of The Largo Nature Parks

We are a non-profit 501(c)3, promoting awareness, appreciation, understanding, education and conservation of Florida's native wild life and habitat.

06/09/2026

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, as we pause to remember the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we also reflect on our mission to support those who returned home.

We are incredibly proud to host the AVA program, which stands for Avian Veteran Alliance. This specialized program pairs injured or rehabilitated birds of prey with veterans to foster a unique bond of mutual healing.

Because of the highly specialized nature of this therapeutic work, the AVA program operates under specific guidelines and partnerships. Please note that this is not a general public program or an open walk-in clinic for any veteran. Instead, we work directly in coordination with the VA hospital, specifically partnering with their dedicated PTSD groups. We also collaborate with a specific brain trauma therapy group, where participants take part in structured walks with our birds as a core component of their ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy.

The birds of prey serve as unique partners in this process. Because raptors are incredibly sensitive to human emotion and tension, veterans utilize a natural biofeedback loop. To keep a bird of prey calm on their glove, the handler must focus on calming themselves first. This powerful, silent connection helps break the cycle of stress and provides an immersive environment for recovery.

On this day of reflection, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our veterans, our therapy partners at the VA, and the incredible birds who help facilitate this vital work right here in Largo.

The park trails and outdoor boardwalks are open today for quiet reflection and family time. Come out to enjoy the sunshine, visit Sarge and our other resident ambassadors, or take a peaceful walk by the water.

We wish all of our park neighbors a meaningful and safe Memorial Day weekend.

Photo is of volunteer Carol holding Sarge

05/23/2026

Time to "Shellebrate" at Turtle Park!
Today, May 23rd, is World Turtle Day, which means it’s practically a major holiday here at George C. McGough Nature Park! There is a reason our community lovingly calls us "Turtle Park", our ponds, trails, and oak hammocks are teeming with these amazing, resilient creatures.

Did you know McGough is home to wild, protected Gopher Tortoises? As a threatened species in Florida, these ancient diggers are incredibly important. Their deep burrows provide shelter for over 350 other wildlife species! Next time you are walking the boardwalk and trails, keep an eye out for our designated Gopher Tortoise Burrow sign to see where these hard-working neighbors live. But don't get too close!

🐢 Head out to the feeding deck! Watch our wild turtles splash around and keep your eyes peeled to see if our wild otter family makes an appearance in the pond!

Take a peaceful stroll past the tortoise burrows and enjoy the beautiful May sunshine.

Be careful as you walk around or drive into the parking lot, local turtles are on the move. If you ever see a turtle trying to cross a busy road, always safely move them in the direction they were already heading otherwise, they’ll just turn right back around!

Come out and enjoy this gorgeous weekend with us. Let's keep our habitats clean and our turtles happy!

Comment Below: Have you ever spotted one of our gopher tortoises hanging out near their burrows? Share your stories or photos below! 📸👇

05/20/2026

There is a whole lot of "buzz" at George C. McGough Nature Park today!

Today, May 20th, is World Bee Day, and we are celebrating some of the hardest-working residents in our entire ecosystem: 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. While our birds and reptiles might get the front-page fame, our tiny pollinators are the ones keeping the park green, vibrant, and beautiful!

🌺 From the wildflowers along our trails to the trees shading the boardwalk, bees are responsible for pollinating the plants that provide food and shelter for our wild birds, squirrels, and insects.A busy bee population means our park's flora is thriving.

Stroll our trails today and see how many native bees you can spot hard at work in the sunshine! You should be able to spot a few hives that have taken over some owl boxes.

After you’ve thanked a bee, head over to the pond to look for the otter family, check on our sun-loving tortoises, or let the kids take a flight on the zipline.

Step into the AC of the Nature Center to visit our parliament of Screech Owls and other small indoor animals!

You can support our local Largo pollinators by planting native Florida wildflowers (like Coreopsis or Purple Coneflower) in your yard and avoiding pesticides. Let's keep our community blooming!

Comment Below: What’s your favorite flower to plant for the bees? 🌸👇

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day! Celebrating all the moms—wild and wonderful—at George C. McGough Nature Park!

It is a beautiful morning to bring Mom out for a stroll and some fresh air. From the turtles basking on the deck to the birds nesting in the canopy, nature is in full bloom today!

Today's a perfect day to take Mom on a peaceful walk around the park.
Watch our resident tortoises in their habitat, soaking up the gorgeous May sunshine.
Stop by and say hello to Sarge (Bald Eagle), our Barred & Great Horned Owls, our 2 hawks, then step inside for our 10 Screech Owls and 2 American Kestrel falcons while enjoying the cool AC of the Nature Center. Get an up close look at our indoor small creatures other than the birds such as the tarantula, reptiles, and amphibians. Then step back outside and enjoy a nice breeze by the pond as you feed our turtles.

Remember the playground is open and the zipline is ready for action! It's a great way to let the kids play while Mom relaxes in the shade.

Whether you're here for the wildlife or just a quiet place to sit and enjoy the birdsong, we hope you have a wonderful day celebrating the special women in your lives.

Speaking of special, here are some photos from a recent volunteer appreciation event where some of our volunteers won some awards!

Comment Below: Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandmas, and nature-lovers in our community! Tag a "Super Mom" who deserves a park day today! 💐☀️

05/03/2026

Our birds had a wonderful time at the Teachers Appreciation Event in beautiful downtown Dunedin, which took place at John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park. The weather couldn’t be more perfect, It was great to see local residents appreciate our birds, we had our screeches Wicket, & Goliath, our Mississippi Kite Twain, Franklin our Great Horned Owl, and Eugene our Barred Owl.
Come see the rest of our birds at the park!

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌿🦦

Every day is Earth Day at George C. McGough Nature Park!

Today, the world celebrates our incredible planet, but here in Largo, we get to see the magic of conservation in action every single morning. We are so proud to provide a protected green space where Florida’s native species can thrive right in the heart of our community.

Why we’re celebrating today:
A Thriving Habitat: 🦦 The recent sightings of our wild otter family in the pond are a beautiful reminder that when we care for our local environment, nature rewards us with amazing moments!

Our Animal Ambassadors: 🦅 From Sarge the Eagle to our Screech Owl crew, our residents help us teach visitors every day why protecting our local ecosystems matters.

Natural Wonders: 🥚 Whether it’s Vlad the vulture showing off her maternal instincts or our tortoises enjoying the spring sun, there is always something to learn from our wild neighbors.

Family Fun: 🎢 Between the zipline and the turtle feeding deck, we are helping the next generation fall in love with the great outdoors.

How you can help the Park today:
Leave No Trace: Make sure all trash finds a bin so our turtles and wildlife stay safe.

Respect the Residents: Keep a polite distance from the animals (especially "Mama" Vlad!) so they feel at home.

Share the Love: Post your favorite photo of the park in the comments below! 📸

Thank you for helping us keep George C. McGough Nature Park a green jewel for everyone to enjoy. Let's keep working together to ensure our wildlife has a safe place to call home!
Comment Below: What is your favorite thing about spending time in nature? 🌳☀️

04/19/2026

Double Trouble! Vlad has laid a SECOND egg!

If you thought the first surprise was big, our favorite resident Black Vulture isn't done yet. Vlad has officially laid egg number two! 🥚🥚

But here is the most heartwarming part: while she wasn't quite sure what to do with the first one, her maternal instincts have officially kicked in with this second arrival. She is now sitting on her second egg and showing us a fiercely protective side of her personality that we haven't seen in the years she's been with us!

🎓 A Little Nature Lesson:
We’ve had a few people ask if we’re expecting chicks. The answer is no. Since Vlad lives solo, these eggs are unfertilized (just like the eggs you buy at the grocery store!). Additionally, McGough is a sanctuary and educational center, not a breeding facility. Even though there won’t be any babies, it is still incredible to watch Vlad’s natural instincts take over!

Stop by the enclosure to see "Mama Vlad." Please be extra respectful and quiet near her home while she’s on "nest duty."

After visiting Vlad, head to the pond to look for the otter family, check on the tortoises in their sun-soaked habitat, or let the kids fly on the zipline.

Visit our indoor residents, from our parliament of Screech Owls to our fierce falcons, snakes, gecko, turtles , and tarantula.

Comment Below: Did you know that vultures could lay eggs without a mate? Biology is pretty wild! 🖤🐣

04/13/2026

A "Large" Surprise from the Vulture Enclosure... and a bit of a late April Fools joke on us! 🥚�

We’ve always said there’s never a dull moment at George C. McGough Nature Park, but yesterday, one of our residents really "laid it on thick."

For many years, we’ve known and loved Vlad (short for Vladimir) as our resident male Black Vulture. Well, Vlad decided to set the record straight yesterday morning by... laying an egg! 🥚😲

It turns out that for all these years, "he" has actually been a "she."
We probably should have stuck with the name Elvira when she first arrived, but she clearly didn't mind keeping us in the dark!

Stop by and congratulate the artist formerly known as Vlad on her big reveal.
Ember (our female❓ Turkey Vulture) is taking the news in stride.

After you've processed the vulture news, head to the pond to look for the otter family, visit the tortoises in their sun-soaked habitat, or let the kids take a turn on the zipline.
Nature always finds a way to keep us on our toes (and apparently, on egg-watch!).

Have you ever had a "gender reveal" surprise with a pet? Help us decide—should we stick with Vlad, or is it officially time for Elvira to take the stage? 🖤🦉

04/05/2026

Sun, Birds, Zipline, Turtles, and... an Otter Family? It’s a beautiful Easter morning!

Happy Easter, Largo! The cold weather is officially behind us, and it is a gorgeous, warm spring day here at George C. McGough Nature Park. We have some "egg-stra" special guests today, making it the perfect morning for a holiday stroll.

What’s happening at the Park today?

Keep an Eye on the Pond: 🦦💦 There have been recent sightings of a wild otter family playing in the pond! Keep your cameras ready—seeing these playful neighbors is the ultimate Easter treat.

Tortoise Time: 🐢🌿 Our resident tortoises are out in their open-air habitat, soaking up the morning sun before they head back inside for their safe-and-sound beauty sleep tonight.

The Active Turtle Deck: 🥗 The warmth is here to stay, and the pond turtles are alert and definitely looking for their snacks today!

Zipline & Playground: 🎢 Need to burn off that Easter candy energy? The playground is open, and the zipline is ready for action!

Visit our Feathered Ambassadors: Visit Sarge (Bald Eagle), Matilda & Eugene (Barred Owls), Franklin & Eleanor (Great Horned Owls), G (Red-Shouldered Hawk), Rogue (Red-Tailed Hawk), and Twain (Mississippi Kite).

Cleanup Crew & Indoor Friends: Give a shout-out to Vlad and Ember (our vultures), then head inside to the AC to see Slasher and Slayer (Kestrels) and our famous parliament of 10 Screech Owls!

Come spend your Easter morning in the fresh air with us. The trails are green, the sun is out, and the wildlife is ready to see you!

Comment Below: If you spot the otters today, let us know where you saw them! 📸🦦

Address

11901 146th Street
Largo, FL
33774

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

(727) 518-3047

Website

http://thenatureparkfriends.org/

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