Hike #24: Shingle Creek Regional Park


Hike #24, 52 Hike Challenge: Shingle Creek Regional Park, Kissimmee. Although Shingle Creek Regional Creek Park lies just off bustling U.S. 192, it seems worlds away once you take to the hiking trails! Fortunately the weather cleared up and I was able to knock out both the Babb Landing and Steffee Landing sections of the park. In addition, I caught a glimpse of a white-tailed deer on the Babb Landing side and a rare white squirrel on the Steffee Landing side (see if you can spot it in one of the photos above!). According to the Florida State University Coastal Marine Laboratory website, “The white squirrel is actually a genetic anomaly due to a mutated gene from the common Eastern Gray Squirrel. It is called leucism, which is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals caused by a recessive allele. Unlike albinism, it is a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. White squirrels lack red eyes and also tend to have a gray patch on their heads and what is referred to as a ‘dorsal stripe’ down their backs.” Shingle Creek Regional Park is home to The Paddling Center at Shingle CreekWildlife Sightings: White-Tailed Deer, White Squirrel. Distance: 3.1 miles.