Florida has to be one of the most versatile places to live — 60 degrees at midnight and 90 by noon, and that's during the SPRING! With the different seasons that we live through, especially the heat, it is no surprise that we have all sorts of wildlife, plants, and animals throughout the state in this diverse ecosystem that we call home.

Tampa, FL is home to seven Camden communities across the Bay area. Although all of our Camden communities emphasize our values to any and everyone we interact with, I believe Camden Bay has one of the best perks. This community has direct channel access into Tampa Bay and sits on a 1,000+ acre nature preserve, so we tend to have lots of friends emerge from the shadows of the forest area and multiple bodies of water. With the occasional spotting of a manatee, a myriad of squirrels, and the almost overwhelming presence of different birds, like ducks, we want to ensure that they are kept safe from harm as they traverse through where they, too, call home. Here are a few tips to see how you can help us protect our wildlife!

Photo by Consuelo from Unsplash

Drive with your headlights on when it is dark

It is important to make sure that your headlights are on as you drive through any place once it is dark outside, like late night or early in the morning. While we keep our community illuminated with LED lighting throughout the property, it is still essential to see where you’re driving for the safety of both our wildlife and pedestrians..

Abide by posted speed limit(s) within the community

Just as we are (or try to be) aware of the speed limits on any new road we drive, we ask our residents and visitors to be mindful of the 10 MPH limit within Camden Bay. This speed limit is put in place so that drivers can commute safely as they go to and from their homes. Here at Camden Bay, our residents are our priority, whether that be providing renovated apartment homes with updated kitchens/appliances, or ensuring our roads are kept as safe as possible.

Practice patience with our wildlife

Trust me; I know what it is like to be running late for work or about to miss your appointment at the barbershop; however, our wildlife may not quite relate to the struggles and schedule conflicts we face as adults. We can do our part to adjust our departure times for when we have somewhere to be to avoid having to rush, possibly threatening the safety of others. At times, you may unexpectedly see a brood of ducks attempting to cross the street. Rather than hurry them or interrupt their traffic flow, please give them a couple of minutes to make it to their destination, like across a street. After all, they have places to be, just like we do.

Photo Courtesy of Camden Bay in Tampa, FL

If you have a love for the Camden standard of living amongst the various creations of our preserve, give us a call or stop by and visit Camden Bay today! We would love to have you!

This blog has been written in collaboration with Raeshaun Coonce, an Intern who works are Camden Bay. If you are interested in our Intern program please check out our Careers page.