The Fun is in the Swamp

“It felt like I won the lottery,” states Mike Owen when he recounts getting a job at the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. He recently retired this summer after thirty years of serving as park biologist for Florida's biggest state park by land size. 

Owen is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and gladly shares his knowledge and passion with all that are interested. I had the unique pleasure of working for Mike on endangered Ghost Orchids and vascular plant research in the Everglades since 2019. “That’s where the fun is, out in the swamp where all the tropical epiphytes hang out, working on conservation collaboration,” said Owen. “Most of the good, rare, interesting stuff is located far away from easy. As it is in life, to get to the good stuff it takes effort and time to get to the intellectual rewards, feeling of well-being and making a contribution.” 

While at the Preserve, Owen worked on many conservation projects including the collection of wildlife surveys. He worked on endangered plant monitoring, bird counts, hydrology projects, invasive plant projects, prescribed burns and other biology projects. He provided swamp walks and even traveled to Cuba for the Preserve as part of a conservation effort on orchid research funded by Friends of the Fakahatchee.

Owen met his wife of many years, Donna, on one of the swamp walks he gave to a Master Naturalist class. He was fascinated that she identified Ghost Orchids on the walk. This is exceptionally hard when they are out of bloom as they just look like roots on the side of trees without leaves.

He has worked with many educational institutions, including Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida International University. “Facilitating others’ research saves time with logistics and increases the efficiency of others' research knowledge,” said Owen. Some of his research has been incorporated into scientific studies and white papers. 

Instrumental in several conservation collaboration projects, Owen has worked with many conservation groups and botanical gardens, such as the Naples Botanical Gardens and Selby Gardens. 

Owen is respected by many as evidenced by attendance at the December surprise retirement party at the Naples Botanical Garden that celebrated his accomplishments and contributions to conservation efforts for Florida. Speeches were given by many including the Garden’s President and CEO, Donna McGinnis, President and CEO, and Director of Conservation and Education Chad Washburn.

Owen is humble about the admiration that many have for him. He has given many talks including at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. and to a full house at the Rose Auditorium on Marco Island. He has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, YouTube videos, a National Geographic video, and many magazine articles. He was described in The Orchid Thief, the best seller by Susan Orleans. After a Zoom presentation to a national AARP audience, the Horticulturist at the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo, Jon Dancho commented; “Mike Owen is a David Attenborough with a Florida accent.”

Future plans for Owen include continued conservation projects like data gathering in natural environments since “that’s where the fun is.”

Dennis Giardina former park manager and current FWC Everglades Region Biologist said “I applied for the job and accepted the job at the Fakahatchee as park manager in 2005 merely because I would get to work with Mike Owen because of his knowledge and fun-loving nature. We’ve been able to work together since leaving the park on many conservation projects and field work.”

Tom Trotta, Secretary of the Friends of Fakahatchee and past President of Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge said, “Mike is an integral part of the Preserve such as the ethereal Ghost Orchid, a true spirit of the strand swamp that he has been so impactful on with his conservation efforts and meaningful observations.”