Possum Long Nature Center And Sanctuary
621 SE Palm Beach Road
Stuart, FL 34994
772-288-2637.
Directions To Possum Long Nature Center
Bev Poppke
772-286-0061
PLNC@AudubonMartinCounty.org
Audubon of Martin County is based at the Possum Long Nature Center. The Center houses our office, an extensive natural history library, bird art and collection of taxidermy specimens. The Sanctuary lies behind the Center and includes almost 5 acres of urban forest that the Friends of Possum Long volunteers are slowly rehabilitating after the ravages of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. In 2010 we completed construction of a Stormwater Retrofit project, which added a pond and sloughs carefully engineered to mimic the wet/dry cycles of natural wetlands. These areas are already attracting wading birds and ducks.
If you haven't enjoyed this green sanctuary we invite you to stop by, walk the trails, enjoy the butterfly garden, have a picnic or just spend a quiet hour looking for the many birds who stop by for food and rest. (How to find us.) Henry David Thoreau, the naturalist, wrote in his journal on October 15, 1859, that every "town should have a park, or rather a primitive forest, where a stick should never be cut for fuel, a common possession forever, for instruction and recreation." Possum Long is Stuart's answer to this statement from long ago.
The grounds are open to the public at no charge every day from dawn to dusk.
Dogs on leashes are welcome but owners are asked to bring a baggie!
Who was "Possum Long"?
Possum was a science and agriculture teacher at Stuart's high school in the 1940's. Several versions of how Possum got his nickname have been circulated over the years. The most popular and oft repeated tale is that he played "possum" in order to catch his students at mischief. We all know that opossums, when threatened, will pretend to be dead and when this strategy is used, predators soon lose interest and leave the animal alone. Around 1950, he built a house on the foundation of an old barn where local children once stabled their horses. He operated a plant nursery and for years Stuart newlyweds received a plant to grow in their yards as a wedding gift from him.
The house, now known as the "Possum Long House," has long been used as a meeting place for the Garden Club of Stuart which maintains the grounds around it and has created a memory lane to honor some of its members.
Nesting Refuge
Despite the fact that the sanctuary is located in the midst of the most densely developed region of Martin County, wildlife seem strangely attracted to the preserve. Since 2002, two pairs of Yellow-crowned Night Herons have successfully nested in the mature slash pines on the property. One would be hard put to find better validation of the fact that even small-scale land rehabilitation can provide a viable habitat for wildlife. Another Pair
In March, 2009 a pair of osprey began building a brand new nest in a slash pine snag. The dead snag looked precarious, and was replaced by a telephone pole during the 2010 Stormwater Retrofit Project. We have a separate article about relocating the Osprey nest, and more photos of the Ospreys.
- Possum Long Nature Center Bird List
- Friends of Possum Long Summer Schedule
- Master Plan (image)
- Landscaping Audubon of Martin County Office (image)
- Our Mission Statement
The Friends of Possum Long Nature Center
The Friends is a volunteer group that works to maintain and improve Possum Long Nature Center and Sanctuary. Some people work regularly in one of the weekly morning or afternoon outdoor sessions, some work on projects in their own time, others will undertake one off projects. They water, weed, prune, plant, cut down, repair equipment, undertake small carpentry projects, fundraise, provide hospitality for events, photograph, ebay donated items, scrap book our history, run the library, tidy the office, etc.; everything and anything that is required to bring Possum Long Nature Center closer to its goal. Whatever your constellation of skills, interests, time and resources may be, we have a job for you. Possum Long Nature Center is a great adventure and it needs your help.
Audubon of Martin County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the protection of native birds and their habitat. A copy of the official registration and financial information for Audubon of Martin County tax exemption can be accessed here. It may also be obtained from the division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state, 800-435-7352. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.
