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Wildlife Corridor Expedition Crosses Underneath I-4

Members of the emerged from a swamp south of Interstate 4 late Thursday and crossed underneath the busy highway.

There, they spotted tracks of wild pigs and deer and looked at photos of bobcats, otters and raccoons taken by remote-control cameras set up at the crossing.

https://youtu.be/OwFlxEXxhVA

As cars zipped by overhead, expedition member Joe Guthrie said it was tough traversing the preserved stretch of land between Tampa and Orlando.

Tracks of a variety of animals are visible in the area where Reedy Creek passes under I-4, including possum and raccoons
Credit Mark Schreiner / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Tracks of a variety of animals are visible in the area where Reedy Creek passes under I-4, including possum and raccoons

"We've made 13 miles in five days, four days, sometimes you couldn't see five feet in front of you and just had this wall, just a mass of vegetation," he said.

While they've encountered tracks and evidence of a number of animals, they've seen more than their share of snakes.

"A lot of cottonmouths," Guthrie said. "Every step, you've got to be conscious of where you're putting your foot."

Reedy Creek crosses underneath I-4 in Celebration, FL. Wildlife cameras underneath the road have captured bobcats, otters & raccoons. The Florida Wildlife Corridor expedition canoed this section of the river Thursday. #KeepFLWild #Heartland2Headwaters - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

A 360 degree look at Reedy Creek as it passes under I-4.

Expedition members are doing the week-long mini-trek to bring attention to the narrow swaths of land wildlife use to migrate through Florida. They're continuing to paddle along Reedy Creek Friday, passing in the shadow of Walt Disney World.

They'll speak at an event Friday afternoon at Lake Louisa State Park in Lake County.

To see WUSF's coverage of this and past Florida Wildlife Corridor Expeditions, click here.

The sun peeks through the trees along Reedy Creek in Celebration.
Credit Mark Schreiner / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
The sun peeks through the trees along Reedy Creek in Celebration.

Copyright 2020 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7. To see more, visit .

Wildlife biologist Dr. Jennifer Korn (front) talks to expedition members Joe Guthrie (back, from l-r), Mallory Lykes Dimmitt and Carlton Ward Jr. about wildlife that crosses under I-4.
Mark Schreiner / WUSF Public Media
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WUSF Public Media
Wildlife biologist Dr. Jennifer Korn (front) talks to expedition members Joe Guthrie (back, from l-r), Mallory Lykes Dimmitt and Carlton Ward Jr. about wildlife that crosses under I-4.

Cameras along where Reedy Creek passes under I-4 catch images of wildlife, including a bobcat.
Mark Schreiner / WUSF Public Media
/
WUSF Public Media
Cameras along where Reedy Creek passes under I-4 catch images of wildlife, including a bobcat.

Reedy Creek crosses under I-4 in Celebration, just outside of Disney World.
Mark Schreiner / WUSF Public Media
/
WUSF Public Media
Reedy Creek crosses under I-4 in Celebration, just outside of Disney World.

Steve Newborn is WUSF's assistant news director as well as a reporter and producer at WUSF covering environmental issues and politics in the Tampa Bay area.
Mark Schreiner has been the producer and reporter for "University Beat" on WUSF 89.7 FM since 2001 and on WUSF TV from 2007-2017.
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