Something to Think About

Found two thought provoking web sites this morning for your consideration and while both make critical observations on the condition of our planet,

neither offers opinions intended for the faint of heart or mind.

The first is from the Center for Biological Diversity who wonders out loud, as have others forever, just how many more people this already over burdened planet can support:

7 Billion and Counting

The second is from NPR and asks you to consider the pros and cons of the Paleo-Diet, an uprising or movement of sorts, that has found some strong support for its so-called prehistoric or primal lifestyle agenda:

The Paleo-Diet: Not the Way to a Healthy Future

And, what does all of this have to do with Endangered Wildlife Species you might ask?

They both bring into focus the fact that human overpopulation and wide spread animal consumption, are absolutely affecting the wildlife on this Planet and not in a good way.

Get 'em!

See a crime in the wild, there are now multiple ways for concerned

Florida citizens to report violators: call it, email it, online it, or text it!

FWC has become techno savvy with new ideas to keep Florida wildlife safe

and making it easier to get those who harm our wildlife and/or environment.

Now we can all work together to keep Florida wild and free~

To Report a crime in the wild:

To Call:  888-404-3922 or *FWC/#FWC

To Email: fwcnews@myfwc.com

To Text:  Tip@MyFWC.com

Go Online : Wildlife Alert Program

It Is Finally October

The weather is the reason for the season now in Florida.

It is crisp and cool and the air is clean and pure.

Being able to throw open the windows every morning now is a joy.

No air conditioning, just fresh air.

Wait, I can actually hear the Sand Hill Cranes just above the roof.

Fall in Florida has finally arrived.

Time to get out and see what makes this state so beautiful.

From the East Atlantic Coast beaches and lighthouses,

to the West Coast and the snow white sandy Gulf Shores,

all along the panhandle, south to magical Miami
or way down to the Keys,

it is all there and beckoning you to come.

The weather is perfect right now for a drive to anywhere.

Ahhh Florida.........

The Horror of Selfish Humans

For those of you who do not live in Florida, the story in Ohio this week may not have been quite as painful for you, as it was for those here who have had to deal with the out of control, turned loose wherever, wild exotics found all around us.

For some reason, only the idiots who buy/acquire these wild animals can explain, these people try to bring them into an average neighborhood without a thought to the consequences.

And as was the case in Ohio, when these selfish owners can no longer care for them, they just turn them loose, wherever it suits them.

It is hard to understand, harder still to accept.

What happened in Ohio this week is clearly an example of why exotic animals need to be forbidden from being sold or owned, anywhere, ever.

I feel the saddest for little children who had to witness the horror of the ongoing coverage of this story and do not know how each parent managed to explain to their child how or why this all happened.

The whole point is this, exotic animals are not pets, they are wild animals and can never be anyone's pet.

They are wild and should remain so, forever.

Please let us not forget the images we all witnessed this week, for the sake of all those who died, please never forget.

But, we can help change this.

Help to pass the legislation where you live, to outlaw the ownership and sale of exotic animals, like we in Florida are trying so desperately to do.

The forces on the other side are well funded, so it is an uphill battle, at least here in Florida.

No links are given for this story because not one could be found without any pictures.

God Bless them and may they all now rest in peace.

Will the Everglades Ever Be Cleaned Up?

If you read any of the stories below, you may begin to understand why so many years after they were first ordered to do so, the state of Florida has still not done what it has been given $100 million to do, get the toxins out of the Everglades.

Everyone involved has their own excuse, or agenda, but the bottom line is this, no one wants to spend big money on the Everglades.
Cleaning up the Everglades, will find no supporters among the Sugar companies, even though the phosphorus that is its main pollutant, comes from them, nor our own elected officials like Rooney and Mica, who together have helped to set clean water in this state back 40 years.

Checks have been written, delivered and accepted for the single purpose of getting the job done, but someone in Tallahassee will have to commit to it and so far, no one is willing.

And, if you think our new Governor will finally be the one, think again.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas is watching with a heavy heart and wondering who will do the right thing for her beloved Everglades.

Scott's Everglades Plan

Clean Water for Florida, Nutrient Pollution Standards
Dirty Money for Dirty Water

A Clean Win For the Everglades

Federal Judge Questions Results of Everglades Clean Up

Don't Make Us Clean Up the Everglades, But.....

Florida Asks For More Time to Clean Up Everglades

One Tiny Butterfly With One Big Problem

Most of you have probably never heard of the Miami Blue Butterfly.

It is not even as big as your thumb and survives in only one place in the world, the Florida Keys.

The factors leading to the impending demise of the Blue include the usual habitat loss by development and invasive species, but another huge contributor has been the endless chemical spraying in the area for mosquitoes, which has negatively impacted not only the Miami Blue Butterfly, but other species as well.

The biggest problem for the Blue is that to date, its predicament has received little attention, because the agencies responsible for protecting it, have dragged their feet until the last possible minute and now it could be too late.

Enter a group of students from Duke who may be the Miami's last best hope:

Clinic Students Pursue Protection for Endangered Butterfly

Two Out of Three is Good!

Nest counts for Florida Sea Turtles are up.

The Green and Leatherbacks are doing well and the third, the Loggerhead, is at about the same place that it was a year ago, which is still better than the recent past.

But any good news for Sea Turtles, makes those who have been worried for years about their future, breathe just a little better.

All of the hard work done by just regular people and Florida Wildlife Agencies is beginning to pay off and makes the extra efforts worthwhile.

Besides, most coastal dwellers have adjusted to turning their lights off early at night during nesting season to help out~

Storm Brings End to Sea Turtle Season

Greens, Leatherbacks Show High Nest Counts

Sea Turtles Multiply

Do You Know If the Food That You Just Ate Was Real or Memorex?

Do you want Human Growth Hormones (HGH) in your milk?

Do you want to eat fish that has been created, (GMO) or is as the

press and food safety groups like to call it, Frankenfish?

Do you know how much Mercury you eat?

Please take a look at the stories below and ask yourself this question:

Should the former lawyer for Monsanto, Michael Taylor, be in charge of the regulations for food product safety at the FDA?

How stupid do they think the American public is and how long do they think that they can get away with this?

Want an answer, take a look at Wall Street today.

It's time for all of us to ask questions and demand answers.

Americans must demand that our food be safe, free of toxins and chemicals and not genetically modified, (GMO).

Neither we, nor our children, nor our pets, should be eating these potentially dangerous foods.

The American Public is not a Lab experiment for big Corporations, the FDA and/or any Government Agency.

We all have the right to know what we are eating.

This group has a petition that you may wish to read and/or sign:

Just Label It

Please, educate yourself and learn more about real food safety:

Unsafe by Definition: Frankenfish

Frankenfish

"Natural" Food Products with Toxic Chemicals

This Much Mercury

Thanks to the FDA, You Really Have No Idea What's in Your Food

USDA Gives Taxpayer Money to Fund Company's Efforts to Genetically Engineer Salmon

Why is the Government Funneling Money to a Company Trying to Feed Us Frankenfish?

Today is a Terrific Twofer!

Two stories on our local news this morning gave cause for celebration.

The City of Ocala says that they have found a way to "rid " themselves of their duck "problem" without killing the ducks.

They will be sending the ducks to a place where they cannot escape they say and that they will not be killed.

And the second joyous story, the Airboat business so determined to set up shop on Lake Toho, has decided to go elsewhere to run his 20 tourist trips a day.

He gave no reason for his decision, but with all of the negative press and sizable numbers of those against him at each of the previous meetings, I think he got the message.

So, two small victories for Florida Wildlife today.

Yes, we can and do make a difference when we get involved and stand up for what is right for Wildlife.

Ocala's New Plan for Ducks

Calling All Parrot Heads

Last week we took a long drive to Indiana for a family reunion.

It had been nearly 12 years since my last one and it was fun being there, but when we got home it was still hot and muggy here, leaving us missing the nice cool weather of the Midwest.

But yesterday, we finally got the break from the 90's Floridians wait seven long months for, our sort of Fall, southern style!

With the morning temperatures yesterday and today in the low 50's, many Floridians are now yearning for the one place where we can really get away from it all, the Keys.

If you have never been down to the Keys, what on earth are you waiting for?

The seemingly endless road work appears to be finished and it's all just waiting there, to take you away.

I can hear Jimmy Buffet calling my name......

Stretch Project Finally Finished