Singletary Lake State Park - Ecology

Ecology

Singletary Lake is one of a series of Carolina bay lakes that stretch from New Jersey to Florida along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Exactly how the lakes were formed remains a mystery. What is known is that Singletary Lake is not fed by any stream but relies entirely upon rain. The land beneath and surrounding the lake is mica-rich sandy clay and sand that is from the Upper Cretaceous era with a thin layer of Pleistocene deposits covering it. This land is lower than the surrounding land and drains very poorly, creating Singletary Lake.

Singletary Lake is surrounded by a bay forest. This forest consists primarily of bay trees such as the loblolly, red bay, pond pine and Atlantic white cedar. The understory consists of huckleberry, leucothoe, gallberry and pepperbush. Turkey Oak, blueberry, holly and Longleaf pine can be found at the higher elevations away from the shoreline.

The forests of Singletary Lake State Park provide a habitat for a variety of animals that are fairly common to an eastern woodland habitat. Wild Turkey, White-tailed deer and rabbits can be spotted on from time to time. Wood Ducks live on the lake. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can be seen in the forest as can Red-tailed Hawks and Pileated Woodpeckers. Singletary Lake State Park is also home to box turtles, fence lizards, southern toads, and Carpenter frogs.

The Tukey Oak Natural Area is a 133 acre (0.54 km²) natural area that was set aside by the Society of American Foresters in the early 1960s. The aim of the natural area is to preserve the forest in a natural state for scientific study and educational opportunities. The Turkey Oak Natural Area is in the southeastern portion of Singletary Lake State Park in a bay bog and along a sand ridge.