Cape Coral: Where Waterfront Dreams Meet Wildlife Habitat

Located along the scenic Caloosahatchee River in Southwest Florida, Cape Coral was founded in 1957 by brothers Jack and Leonard Rosen as a bold vision for a master-planned, waterfront city. Branded the “Waterfront Wonderland,” it now boasts over 400 miles of navigable canals—the most of any city in the world.

From 1958 to 1965, developers dug more than 500 miles of canals, reshaping the natural landscape and transforming it into thousands of buildable residential lots. But as sand and coral were dredged and redistributed, something unexpected happened: a new type of wildlife habitat was born.

The city’s soft, sandy soil and open lots created ideal conditions for burrowing owls and gopher tortoises, two species that dig deep underground for shelter. Pushed out of their native Florida prairies by widespread development, these species began adapting to life in Cape Coral’s urban fringe—making this fast-growing city one of the last remaining strongholds for both animals.

Today, Cape Coral is the second largest city in Florida by land area, covering nearly 120 square miles. And while the city has celebrated milestones like its 50th anniversary in 2020, it is now facing a conservation crisis. Rapid growth is consuming the very land that these threatened species rely on for survival.

That’s where our conservation group, Cape Coral Wildlife Trust comes in.

As a nonprofit land trust, we work to acquire and protect undeveloped lots throughout the city—lot by lot, before it’s too late. By turning vacant, buildable parcels into permanent wildlife habitat, we help species like the Florida burrowing owl, gopher tortoise, and Florida scrub jay continue to thrive—even as development accelerates around them.

Each parcel preserved is not just land saved—it’s an entire ecosystem secured for generations to come.

Learn more about Cape Coral’s unique history below, dating back to 800 C.E.