Within the forest is the Osceola Research Natural Area, designated a
National Natural Landmark in December 1974. Osceola National Forest has a history of
wildfires, and is susceptible to wildfires with
prescribed burns in place to mitigate this risk and lower tree mortality. An example of a threatening wildfire in the past is in June 1941, in which it took 600 fire fighters to fight a fire that spread along 15 miles. Osceola National Forest is home to many birds as well as mammalian and reptilian species, including the
alligator,
eastern indigo snake, two species of
skunk,
muskrat,
black bear,
coyote,
raccoon,
gopher tortoise,
bobcat, two species of
fox,
opossum,
cougar,
fox squirrel, and
red-cockaded woodpecker an endangered species. Osceola National Forest has also had sightings of
ant leptothorax within its land. ==Activities==