The Head Spring: October 2026
In this edition of The Head Spring, we're sharing upcoming events, updates from Blue Spring and Hontoon Island State Parks, and opportunities to get involved as we head into the final months of the year!
Upcoming Events
We have several exciting events and activities coming up at the parks! Take a look at what's ahead, and we hope you'll join us.
Hontoon Island – A Hidden Piece of Old Florida off the Beaten Path
by Missy Gibbs
The Friends of Blue Spring State Park also supports nearby Hontoon Island State Park, and we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of what Hontoon Island has to offer. Firstly, it IS an island, so you can only get there by boat…either your own, which you can tie up at the park’s network of docks, or take the Hontoon Island Park ferry (follow the signs and park at 2309 River Ridge Road, DeLand). There is no entry fee but there are plenty of amenities, including bathrooms, a picnic pavilion, campground, and a store for buying snacks, souvenirs, and bait.
Yes, the park is a popular fishing spot for anglers of all ages (especially for catfish, sunfish, bass, and speck) and the park recently hosted a fishing event called “Hooked on the Byway: Kids Try Fishing” last month, sponsored by the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor and the Friends of Blue Spring State Park. Over 75 kids and their parents came and had a great time learning how to fish and exploring the park’s aquatic life.
If you want to explore the island’s miles of trails or climb the ancient shell mound, you can hike or rent a bicycle at the park store. Along the way, you will see many of the park’s 14 different ecosystems (e.g. pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, oak hammocks, wetlands). Unlike parks on the mainland, the river water barrier means Hontoon has very few exotic plants or animals. When I was out there with the rangers last week, we saw, among other things, two Bald Eagles in their nest, skinks, Limpkins, and a whole bunch of dung beetles (wow was that cool!). We also saw fields of Blazing Star and Florida Paintbrush and visited the giant Bear Oak. If you want to explore the island by water, you can rent canoes and kayaks from the park store. The Hontoon Dead River is a great paddle with lots of wildlife and very little boat traffic.
You can stay overnight on the island by renting a cabin, a primitive site (bring your own tent), or boat camping at the park’s dock (slips have power and water). There is also a youth primitive camping option for groups.
Hontoon Island State Park is a park without crowds, with lots of wildlife, incredible nature, archeological sites (shell midden and replicas of otter and owl totems recovered from the river) and fun activities (Junior Rangers, fishing, hiking, boating, and photography).
Recently at Hontoon Island State Park
On September 19th the Friends of Blue Spring State Park were at Hontoon Island State Park in support of the Try Fishing event. Volunteers and park staff dedicated the day to encouraging, teaching, and cheering on kids and their families as they tried fishing! Some participants were picking up a fishing rod for the first time, making their first casts and many young participants even caught their first fish! There was also an amazing opportunity for the kids to learn about Florida fish species and waterways by getting a closer look at their catch! The event was a huge success thanks to the combined efforts of our volunteers and the support of local organizations who set up booths for the event.
Recently at Blue Spring State Park
On September 12th, Blue Spring State Park hosted a Girl Scouts Love State Parks event where local troops could learn and participate in various activities to earn patches, get inspired to be outdoors and have fun! The Friends of Blue Spring volunteers along with Park Rangers were there to guide and educate the young scouts on different aspects of Blue Spring. There was a fire station where they learned about prescribed fires and how rangers use them to keep the ecosystem healthy and manatee rescue station which had a mock up manatee rescue that showed what happens when a manatee needs help in the wild.
Junior Ranger Friends
Happy Halloween! Our manatee Junior Ranger plushies have gotten together for a fun Halloween celebration featuring their ballerina and devil costumes. But what is this?! A true ghost-like looking manatee swims into the spring! This manatee may have spent a little too much time in cold water developing signs of cold-stress syndrome which can be dangerous for real-living manatees. As all good Junior Rangers know, when you see a manatee with a white face, white flippers, or lesions on their body, it is best to report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922.
Critter Corner: Antheraea polyphemus The Giant Silk Moth
© Trevor Van Loon. iNaturalist
How many of you have been lucky enough to find a Giant Silk Moth? They are Florida’s 2nd largest moth with a wingspan of 4-6”! Wow! Its species name (polyphemus) is a nod to the large eyespots on its lower wing sections (did you know Polyphemus was the name of the cyclops in Greek mythology?). Moths use those eyespots to make predators think the moth is actually an animal with big eyes (like an owl) that might eat them instead….staring eyes are pretty intimidating, aren’t they? Adult Giant Silk Moths don’t have any mouths and only live about a week!
Caterpillars are always very different looking than the adult form (of butterflies or moths), and the silk moth is no exception. Silk Moth caterpillars are bright green because they spend all their time eating leaves and storing up energy for the pupa (cocoon) stage, which can last a few weeks to a few months. The cocoon structure is where you can see how this species got the name silk moth. The caterpillar spins a silken cocoon around itself that often incorporates a few leaves from the tree the caterpillar is in. After transformation, the moth emerges from the cocoon. Sometimes other species, like tree frogs, might use the leftover cocoon as a refuge.
Photo 1: © Tom Preney, iNaturalist | Photo 2: https://floridawildlifefederation.org/marvelous-moth/
Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth?Compared to butterflies, moths have wider bodies, furrier legs, and brush-like antennae.
© Jason Headley, iNaturalist
Remember that like butterflies, moth wings are covered with tiny feathery scales, and if you handle one, it might have difficulty flying. Take a photo instead and share with your friends. If you want to learn more about the Giant Silk Moth, iNaturalist is a great place to start or maybe to upload your own photos!
Volunteer Opportunities
Whether you enjoy helping at special events, welcoming visitors, or supporting ongoing programs, we'd love to have you join us! Here are some of the ways you can get involved.
Manatee Bingo – Help support our weekly fundraising event.
Manatee Observer Program – Help protect manatees and educate park visitors.
Rolling Hikes – Support our accessible hiking program.
Junior Ranger Programs – Help young visitors learn about Florida's natural environment.
Park Maintenance – Assist with projects that help maintain and improve our parks.
Special Events – Support events and activities throughout the year.
Scrub-Jay Program – Help support educational and conservation activities focused on Florida scrub-jays.
If you’d like to volunteer but just don’t know where to start, please provide your information here, and someone will reach out to you as soon as possible!
Thank you to our members, volunteers, and community supporters for your continued support of our parks. We appreciate all that you do!
The Friends of Blue Spring State Park is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping ensure Blue Spring State Park and Hontoon Island State Park remain fun, interesting, educational, and beautiful places to visit!
For general questions or inquiries, please contact info@friendsofbluespringstatepark.org.
