Another of Andrew’s Victims: the Everglades

Hurricane Andrew, which shredded homes and lives across southern Florida, also caused heavy damage when it churned through one of America’s most fragile ecosystems, Everglades National Park.

The park, a Delaware-size reserve of mangrove swamps, salt marshes, saw-grass plains and hardwood hammocks where 16 endangered species live, has been shut down. It probably will be several months before it opens to visitors again, officials say.

The storm knocked down or uprooted millions of trees in the Everglades. And in Biscayne National Park, 99% of the foliage was ripped away and the majority of trees blown over, said Cameron Shaw of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Superintendent Richard Ring said the damage estimate was in the millions of dollars.

The 50 or so Florida panthers in the swamps appear to have weathered the storm, but officials said they are worried about endangered sea turtles, West Indian manatees, crocodiles, wood storks, southern bald eagles, snail kites and peregrine falcons.

The long-term effect on the ecosystem is more difficult to assess. The total regeneration of the Everglades could take up to 50 years. Scientists say they will be looking in coming years for hurricane-influenced changes in breeding, behavior and feeding patterns.

Biologist Bob Miller said the National Park Service does not necessarily view the hurricane damage as entirely negative.

“It will improve some species and have a negative impact on others,” he said. “There have always been hurricanes going through here.