Be Croc Smart!

If you plan on swimming in any of the

A Florida Crocodile

canals in the Keys in South Florida, 
better watch out for the Crocs!

In a turnaround something like that of the

nearly eradicated Bald Eagle years ago,

the Florida Crocodile has made a remarkable comeback.

So, from now on, the FWC says, before you swim,

anywhere in this area, know exactly who or what,
is in the water with you.

Or in other words:

"Be CROC aware and swim only if you dare!"

FWC: Crocs Aren't Going Anywhere, Get Used To It

Panthers Get Some Room to Breathe

Much of the recent news about the Florida Panther

has been either sad or bad, their tragic deaths resulting



The Florida Panther

from humans, machines or other Panthers.

But today it is all much better, even downright good.

A large chunk, nearly 1,300 acres, of prime real estate

in South West Florida has just been purchased and set

aside to become a "travel corridor" for the Florida Panther.

The land could have resulted in housing, but thankfully a

down market and pesky regulations, paved the way for the nearly

 $7 million sale that was paid for by Environmental groups,

Florida Fish and Wildlife and shut my mouth, Wal Mart.

If it had gone into auction, who knows what would have become of this priceless piece of land

that will now become a breath of new life for one of the worlds most Endangered animals.

It all sounds good, but still it bothers me that the property is now owned by a cattleman.

What happens when nature takes it course and some cattle are lost, as is to be expected?

Will this new owner understand this, or react as most cattle people have in the recent past

and demand punishment for the Panther?

Will this be the beginning of a good partnership?

We shall see.

Land Crucial To Future Of Florida Panthers

Land Deal in Glades County

The News From The Keys Is Good

         

It would seem, that with the exception of the Miami Blue Butterfly, many of the
Endangered Species in the Florida Keys are doing pretty well.

The Key Deer, Wood Stork, Crocodile, Green Sea Turtle and Manatee are the winners
in this latest report, "On Time, On Target" from the Center for Biological Diversity.

Executive Director Kiernan Suckling says, "some of Florida's signature species are on

their way to recovery, thanks to the Endangered Species ACT, (ESA)."

Maybe it's like they say, "Everything is just better in the Keys!"

Some Keys Endangered Species On The Road To Recovery

Why Not Start The Week With A Smile?

             

After just celebrating Endangered Species Day Friday, this is such a great follow up.
There are some sweet success stories to be found in the world of Endangered Species,

and I can't think of a better way to start off a week or a Monday.

The list below includes several from Florida, e.g., a bird, a fish and a croc,

so we are thankful for the existence of the ESA, the Endangered Species ACT,

which has had leagues of doubters and critics since its inception in 1973.

These stories have regional data and maps and make the point that in most cases,

a 90% success rate is considered overwhelmingly to be a success!

Endangered Species On Track To Recovery Success

110 Success Stories For Endangered Species Day 2012

Today Is Endangered Species Day!

                       

It is a good day to find an event near you and learn more about the beautiful
Wildlife who are depending on all of us to make sure that next year they

will still be around to help celebrate this day too.

These web sites will give you lots of good ideas:

National Wildlife Federation - Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day Events

The Timucuan People

The Native People who once lived in Florida are not
an Endangered Species, they are today mostly

A Timucuan Village

considered to be extinct. 

Before the invasion of this place now called Florida
hundreds of years ago, there were many Tribes

of Native People all over this state.

One of those Tribes was the Timucuans
and they once lived where I do now.

Sometimes when I look out in the early morning when it is still and

there are no noises to interrupt, I think of them and wonder how they lived
and what this place called the Ocala Forest must have meant to them.

We moved here in 2004 and the most important factor in choosing this

particular place, was the lack of humans and abundance of wildlife here.

Did they choose it for the same reasons?

I am sure that they must have loved it here just as much as we do and probably
for the very same reasons.

I wish I could have met you, there are so many questions.

There are a multitude of web sites to learn more about them, this is only one:

The Timucuan Indians of Florida

Simple Surprises Make Life So Sweet

       

Photo credits: Noel Lee (Male) and Dick Daniels (Female)

I had something else chosen to write about this early morning,

but as my computer was warming up and I was getting ready to write,

an intruder, make that intruders, barged into the tranquil silence here in the forest

and changed everything.

For no apparent reason, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, flew up and started

checking out the nest box on an old dead tree right in front of the window where I write.

They clucked and squawked quite loudly the entire time that they were there.

Poking, picking and looking all around the nest box/birdhouse at the top of the tree,

which by the way was intended for much smaller birds.

This bird normally makes its home in old dead trees in the forest,

so there was no chance this was a house hunting expedition.

No, the Pileated is not endangered, but they are so captivating, being,

with the exception of the presumed extinct Ivory Billed,

the largest Woodpecker in North America.

It was just such a gift to see them up so close and together.

They were simply stunning to watch and I just felt like you should know.

Thankful for having eyes this early Saturday morning.......

An Introduction, Of Sorts!

Come say hello to the newest creature
to join Gator-Woman.com, the Seahorse.

A Dwarf Seahorse
 Photo graciously lent by:
J. Jeffords/Dive Gallery

To be exact, the Dwarf Seahorse,
whose page is here: Dwarf Seahorse

At the present time, neither this Seahorse,
nor as far as I know, any other Seahorse,

is listed as an Endangered Species, but after
receiving a press release this week from

the Center for Biological Diversity about
the situation with the Dwarf Seahorse here in Florida,
I did some checking and decided to make them a page
in anticipation of what sadly may become Florida's

newest member on the Endangered Species List.

I sincerely hope that as was the case with the
Miami Blue Butterfly,  those in charge do not
wait until none can be found to finally list them.

Meet the fascinating Dwarf Seahorse

Manatees Will Get New Safe Passage In Flagler

At a recent meeting in Crystal River,

Manatees Headed For A Disaster

the Florida Fish and Wildlife decided to give 

Manatees a little more room for safe passage

in the Intracoastal Waterways of Flagler Beach;

still all totalled, it is less than three miles long.

This new Manatee speed zone law does not go into
effect until May of 2013 and will only be enacted
between the months of May and September.

The fine for failure to adhere is $60.

For the moment, it would seem that wildlife advocates
and area Boaters are at peace.

How long it will last depends on whether or not the Manatees continue to be safe.

Slow Speed Zones Approved For Intracoastal In Flagler

Today Is A Marine Life Threefer

                  

First, May 1st is the beginning of Sea Turtle Nesting Season for several Counties on Florida's Atlantic Coast and from now until October 31st, the lights of residents must be off at night on the beach.
This is to help avoid confusion and/or death for the babies of the four species of sea turtles who will be hatching and heading out to sea for the first time during this period.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Starts Today In Volusia and Flagler

Second, there is now serious concern that Global Warming may be helping to speed up the

demise of the already critically Endangered Right Whale.

Scientists Worry That Warming Seas May be Harming The Endangered Right Whale

And third, high noise levels due to seismic testing in the waters off of the Atlantic Coast

are drowning out the normal everyday activities of marine life, both dolphins and whales.

There is a petition here for you to read and hopefully sign:

Don't Drown Out Dolphins' Voices

Manatees Are Managing The Best That They Can, For Now

As if they didn't already have enough challenges

in their daily lives, now the Manatees on Florida's

A Manatee Mother and Calf

Gulf Coast will have yet another human created 

hazard to threaten their safety; oil drilling.

Recent approvals in Congress will give the big oil
companies a green light to drill away in the fragile
Manatee habitats of the pristine waters of the
Gulf Coast of Florida.

Sierra Club News

Congress Deserves an F

Orlando's New Turtle Trek Brings You Face to Face With Turtles

A Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Yes, this is the land of magic and SeaWorld Orlando
will be making a lot of it for the lucky visitors to their Park.

Their newest attraction which opens today has everything
any turtle lover could ever want, including a 3D 360-degree dome,
to experience their video/film in a setting something like a
theater-in-the-round.

Learn more about this exciting new way to enjoy our wildlife:

SeaWorld's Turtle Trek: Keeping It Hyper-Real

Turtle Trek Opens Today

Turtle Trek At SeaWorld Orlando: YouTube

Today Is Another Twofer

The Rodman Dam

First, the damn dam may finally, thankfully, be coming down.

Nearly fifty years later, the biggest mistake in the history of
Florida's natural environment is about to become ancient history.

The Rodman Dam is facing the final hoop to be jumped through

and wiser/cooler heads in this state may indeed prevail at last.

Can you hear the sighs of wildlife up and down the Ocklawaha River?

After 44 Years, Dam To Be Razed

The Babies Are Headed North

After a tumultuous winter in the South, the fledgling
Whooping Cranes have left Alabama and are headed
North to Wisconsin for the summer.

One female left early and is already up there.

Hopefully next winters trip to Florida will be unfettered
by beaurcratic red tape and human interference.

Safe journey little ones, see you this winter~

Endangered Whooping Cranes End Winter Stay In Alabama

Young Whoopers Take Flight

In Honor of Earth Day Tomorrow

        
 

Please consider these things in your reflections about what this

very important day means to you personally:

Two years after the greatest environmental disaster in this country,

Wildlife in the Gulf are still dying.

For Earth Day: 9 films that will change the way you think about the World.

Court Rules Against Habitat for Florida's critically Endangered Panthers.

In spite of the massive outcries from all over America,

the ugly Keystone Pipeline is still not dead.

April 28th is the Fourth Annual Save the Frogs Day.

And lastly, somewhere in an Ocean near you today,

a whale may respond to some military sonar testing

and become confused, or disoriented and beach itself causing its death.

Please remember on this Earth Day, that we share this entire Planet

with those who have no voice, other than ours, to speak for them.

Please make your voice heard for them on Earth Day and every day.

God Bless.

Is Florida HB 1117 Really Dead or Not?

If you don't read the St. Pete Times, or the Daily Commercial, you could be missing

out on the best Environmental reporter in this or any other state,

his name is Bill Maxwell and he always goes for the jugular.

Case in point, Bill's story today on the true status of the

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my bill,

a subject written about on this Blog on March 15, 2012. (See Blog below)

Only a few short days ago, it looked like Governor Scott was sending this

nasty bill to the junk pile, (See Blog below) but not so fast, Bill says.

As Mr. Maxwell so accurately points out today, nothing is ever really over,

not when it comes to politicians.

They are always looking out for number one and that would be themselves.

So, will this bill really stay dead?

We shall see.

Don't blink, turn your back or close your eyes.

Politicians are counting on you having a short attention span and a bad memory.

But, please do read Bill Maxwell's great story:

Ecological Shortsidedness Alive in Florida

Why Would You Want to Save a Tiny Lizard, When You Could Have Another Car Dealership?

In a world where money is king, animals

have to do the best that they can to survive.

A Florida Sand Skink

Here in Lake County, we have a perfect

arrangement for businesses to get around

those annoying Environmental protective laws

and deal with Endangered Species interference,

they simply donate a sum of money to go towards another area where this particular endangered animal is found and then they are free to build and kill at will.

Does anyone actually oversee this donating process or do we assume it will be done as specified?

God knows that we do not have enough Car Dealerships in Central Florida,

and we certainly should not let an animal stand in the way of new business.

I feel so bad, but not as bad as these tiny lizards who do not know that they are

about to be bulldozed to their deaths, so that a new Car Dealership can be built.

Can you say Boycott?

Until April 23rd, you can send FWS your thoughts at:
 northflorida@fws.gov     SUBJECT:  "Attn: permit number TE65123A-0"

New Nissan Dealership Could Harm Sand Skink

Sand Skinks Have Turned Up in Eight Lake County Projects

There Is So Much Good to Say Today.......

                    

First, the Governor has intelligently rejected the Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my, bill....

Next, the Miami Blue Butterfly has been granted Federal protection, now that no one can seem to find one anymore!

The American Crocodile has not only survived human interference, but has actually blossomed in South Florida.

If you are concerned about the possibility of hunting beginning in the only Panther Habitat in the Big Cypress Preserve, the deadline for comment has been extended, please make your thoughts known to the Parks Department.

And finally, protection for wild turtles in this country from being caught and sold by the millions worldwide may become a reality.

This has been a good, busy week for Endangered Wildlife.

Time to celebrate!

Mighty Marjory, the Mother of the Everglades

Yesterday was the birthday of a remarkable woman,
Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Marjory Stoneman Douglas with a
Miccosukee Tribe member in 1965

She would have been 122 years young and

we could really use her help right now,

because the place that she loved nearly all

of her adult life, is still in trouble.

Today her beloved Everglades is still being

polluted by the big Sugar companies and robbed
of its life giving water supply by the greedy
in south Florida.

This vital Ecosystem has improved very little

since she died in 1998 and it is sad because she

fought so hard, for so long to change the selfish

thinking that put this natural treasure and those

that call it home, in such serious jeopardy.

Well educated and well bred, Marjory was the

daughter of a wealthy father and could have had an

easier life working at his newspaper, the Miami Herald.

But instead, she chose to fight for causes that very few others
at the time embraced, like women's rights, racism, preserving the
environment and saving a wild wilderness called the Everglades.

She was truly a mighty woman and we should honor her lifetime
of struggles, by finishing what was most important to her,

by saving the Everglades.

They're Finally Back!

A few mornings ago when I took our Airedale

A female green treefrog

out in the early darkness, a friend was waiting 
for us on the front porch,
a tiny female green treefrog.

It had been so long since we saw them last,

that we were wondering if we had lost them all over the winter,

but there she was telling us that it was finally warm enough

for them to come out for the summer.

Welcome back little ones and happy hunting.

Right Whales Births

One of the most Endangered mammals on Earth,

the Right Whale, has apparently recorded very low

A Right Whale mother and calf

birth numbers this year.

After two trips and six days last Spring to Flagler Beach,

which normally has frequent sightings and seeing none,

we are not surprised.

Locals there who often see them just off shore at this time, said that there had been few reports of any that year.

Academic thinking is perhaps a lack of food, but we have another thought.

The US Navy, who is now and has been for years very active along the Atlantic Coast, has just begun a new offshore training range in the pathway that the whales use to travel up and down the Coast to give birth here in Florida and Georgia.

It seems like Endangered Wildlife just can't get a break.

We stopped the hunting of these whales in the 1930's,

but now our Military has become their biggest enemy.

Poor Calving Season for Right Whales