Karenia brevis.

Marco Island is currently experiencing a red tide event caused by a harmful algae bloom (HAB) of the algae species, Karenia brevis. Karenia brevis is a microscopic algae species that naturally occurs in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Atlantic Ocean waters. The “bloom”, or a higher than normal amount or concentration of this algae in the water, creates decreased dissolved oxygen in the water, immediately causing fish to die and wash ashore onto the beaches and float in the bays and canals. The higher than normal concentrations of Karenia brevis in the water also has caused mild complaints of upper respiratory irritation by beach goers and islanders. The irritation is a result of the neurotoxins released by Karenia brevis into the air. The neurotoxins, in this case called brevetoxins, if produced at very high concentrations, can cause damage to nerve cells or tissues and can kill a large number of shellfish, fish and other marine animals as well. The concentrations of Karenia brevis offshore Collier County and in the inlets and passes of Marco Island have been in the low to medium ranges which have caused the outcome we are experiencing for the past two weeks. The winds are helping to keep most of the impacts offshore, but unfortunately, the dead shellfish and small fish arrived in high numbers, still lingering in some waterways of the island. In the past couple of weeks, many residents, especially if boating south of Marco Island in the 10,000 Islands, have noted the thousands of Black Vultures circling, hunting and doing their job as the “waste management” of the Everglades by feeding on the fish carcasses.

The effects of Florida’s red tide were first recorded in the logs of Spanish sailors and explorers and is seen in coastal Florida somewhere almost every year. As the population of Florida grows, more awareness and impact (aesthetically, physically and economically) from red tide grows, too. If a bloom lasts for an extensive period of time or it has very high concentration of the algal species, public health is at risk as well as the economy that is dependent on tourism and fisheries. With these impacts in mind, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI) directed $1,000,000 each year between 2007-2009 to find environmentally acceptable technology to control Karenia brevis blooms and the effects they have on Florida. Grants issued with this money, created twelve projects that specifically addressed red tide in Florida, including alleviating human health impacts; economic impact studies; investigating biological, chemical or physical control of blooms and/or their toxins and outreach and education strategies for coastal communities. Though some projects are ongoing, many projects have halted due to budget cuts.

One of the most current and helpful projects that was created is the Beach Conditions Reporting System by Mote Marine Laboratory. It is “real time” reporting of beach conditions by park rangers and volunteers, twice a day. Wind direction, surf status, respiratory irritation, and water color are reported and recorded for beach goers who can access the information in “real time” via a hotline (941-BEACHES) or website (www.mote.org/beaches). This allows beach goers to make informed decisions on which beach to visit with minimal exposure to red tide. Since 2008, on Marco Island, the Collier County Park Rangers give reports at Tigertail Beach, South Beach and Caxambas Pass locations twice a day, 365 days a year.

There are also ongoing, hopeful studies of biological controls regarding the toxicity of Karenia brevis being conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) and by the Smithsonian Institute. The study at GIT has a goal to identify which phytoplankton (microscopic plant organisms naturally present in the waters) can be a natural biological control of Karenia brevis toxicity and whether the phytoplankton could also benefit other marine life. The Smithsonian study is looking at micro parasitic species that could be introduced to red tide blooms to control and shorten the bloom.

As an islander and coastal resident of Florida, one of the most important factors to remember to contribute to the control and mitigation of red tide blooms in the coastal waters is to know what is being applied to your yard and swales. Nutrient introduction to the surface waters from run off from yards and streets can contribute to more intense and longer lasting red tide blooms. Following Florida Friendly Landscape best management practices and principles by planting the right plants in the right place, using minimal fertilizer and chemicals, and conserving water, all contribute to improved water quality in the adjacent water bodies.

Important Information: To report dead fish or red tide symptoms, please call the Collier County Pollution Control and Prevention Dept. at (239) 252-2502. To speak to a health professional anytime, toll free, call the Aquatic Toxins Hotline at 1-888-232-8635. Collier County Red Tide Updates are also available on the Red Tide Hotline at (239) 252-2591. This is an automated recording with the most recent Red Tide information for Collier County available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information on red tide or Florida Friendly Landscape, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com

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NRichie@cityofmarcoisland.com

South Florida Big Cypress Swamp. -SUBMITTED PHOTO

Marco Island is surrounded by a richness of unique natural worlds to explore and enjoy with family and friends. All are a relatively short drive off the Island and can be experienced in any degree – from a day trip to an overnight to many days of camping. By foot or watercraft, get to know the “real” Florida in Marco Island’s own backyard. Here is a list of nine “must-experience” southwest Florida sites. For more information, the phone number and website address has been provided for each.

ROOKERY BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE

239-417-6310 and www.rookerybay.org 

A prime example of a nearly pristine subtropical mangrove forested estuarine ecosystem, Marco Island’s environment benefits from being surrounded by this 110,000 acre Reserve. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, and camping are all activities to enjoy in Rookery Bay. There are designated sites for boat ramps and primitive camping. Guided kayak tours are available. Visit the Learning Center, a 16,500 square foot center with auditorium for hands-on activities, scientific laboratory views, live wildlife displays, trails, observation bridge and daily programs. Many annual events – Dive Into Oceans, Southwest Florida Wildlife Festival and Estuaries Day should not be missed!

Collier-Seminole State Park.

COLLIER-SEMINOLE STATE PARK 

239-394-3397 and www.floridastateparks.org/collierseminole/

This 7,271 acre park has one of three rare stands of native Royal Palms in the state of Florida and is part of one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. Its claim to fame though, is that it is the site of a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the last existing Bay City Walking Dredge. The dredge was built in 1924, and it was used to build the Tamiami Trail Highway (U.S. 41) through the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, linking Tampa and Miami and opening southwest Florida to travelers. It is amazing to look at the Dredge and think what it must have been like for the men who built the Trail! It’s a great spot to spend the day hiking, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, riding the tour boat or stay longer by camping. The annual “Jammin’ in the Hammock” Blue Grass Festival each spring is very popular.

PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST

239-348-5775 and www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/picayune_strand.html

(Restrooms and parking are located at 2121 52nd Avenue, SE, Naples, 34117.) This is a 78,625 acre area in Collier County for birdwatchers, horseback riders, hikers and campers. As the heart of the Big Cypress Water Basin, this mostly hydric forest of slash pine, cypress and palmetto, is underwater most of the time. Land managers have created approximately 22 miles of horse trails for equestrians, which include ten paddocks, non-potable water and equestrian camp sites. If you are a hiker, there is a 3.2 mile hike on which you will encounter Bald Cypress that were not logged in the 1940s, and now are around 100 years old. Birders can check off many species on their list on this hike – Wood storks, Night Herons, Egrets, Owls, Woodpeckers and Hawks, are only a short list of what can be seen.

FAKAHATCHEE STRAND STATE PRESERVE 

239-695-4593 and www.floridastateparks.org/fakahatcheestrand/ 

Known as the “Amazon of North America”, this linear strand is the only place in the world where Bald Cypress and Royal Palms share the same forest canopy, naturally. Orchids, bromeliads and rare and endangered, very diverse, plant life thrives. Panthers, black bears and alligators all find the Fakahatchee Strand habitat suitable for their needs. Take a walk on the wild side and walk the 2,000 foot boardwalk through this capsule of amazing biodiversity. In January 2012, Art in the Preserve – En Plein Air, is an experience not to miss.

10,000 ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE 

239-353-8442 and www.fws.gov/floridapanther/TenThousandIslands/

This 35,000 acre Preserve, known as the “10K”, consists of mangrove habitat, near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest expanses of mangroves in North America. 200 known species of fish and 189 species of birds inhabit this watery world depending on the mangrove and sea grass habitats in the 10K. Many are listed as threatened or endangered such as the Sawfish, Kemps Ridley and Loggerhead sea turtles, Bottled Nose Dolphins, Woodstorks, Manatee, Peregrine Falcon, and Bald Eagles. Boating is the way to see it. Using your own boat, a charter or the tours offered by the Preserve, this is an area not to miss when in Southwest Florida.

FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

239-353-8442 and www.fws.gov/floridapanther/

This refuge is habitat for the Florida Panther but many other species that depend on the same ecosystem of wet prairies, hardwood hammocks and tropical plants depend on the area, too. It is a 26,400 acre refuge with two public pedestrian trails located at the northeast corner of the I-75 and State Road 29 intersection. It is not uncommon to see panther tracks near the trail. Each March, the Refuge hosts “Save the Panther Week” when swamp buggy rides, birding and plant walks and other activities for the public are available.

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

239-695-1201 and www.nps.gov/bicy/

Historically, the Big Cypress is home and refuge for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and early Floridian settlers. Now, getting around Big Cypress is by vehicle, foot, canoe/kayak or bike. While enjoying the scenic car ride along State Road 41, visitors can stop at several boardwalks and lookouts to view endless landscapes and sight wildlife. Panther, Deer, Black Bear, birds of all kinds, all make their home in this Preserve. At the Oasis Visitor Center, American Alligators sun and swim along a boardwalk that puts a visitor only a few feet from these large reptiles. (And don’t miss, just down the road is photographer, Clyde Butcher’s studio, which has displayed his encompassing photos of the Everglades and beyond that will take your breath away!) Non-motorized boat launching is available for paddlers to explore the waters and wildlife under the cypress, Royal Palms and hammocks of this swamp.

CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY

239-348-9151 and www.fl.audubon.org/who_centers_Corkscrew.html

Known as the “Heart of the Everglades”, this 14,000 acre swamp in the western Everglades is owned and managed by National Audubon. A 2.25 mile boardwalk winds through the largest remaining stand of old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. Four types of habitats, as well as, alligator, deer, raccoon, many of the over 200 species of birds can be seen when exploring the Corkscrew Swamp boardwalk. Annually, endangered woodstorks roost and nest along part of the boardwalk. The elusive Ghost Orchid has bloomed along this boardwalk, also. For a quick stop, the Blair Audubon Center located at the boardwalk trailhead is a treasure itself! This is a must see destination for residents and visitors alike.

SHARK VALLEY TRAIL - EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

305-241-7700 and www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/shark-valley-trails.htm 

A 15-mile trail that loops through the “River of Grass” gives you up-close views and encounters with alligators and birds such as Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue Herons, Gallinules and many more. In spring, newly hatched alligators sun in the canal just a few feet from the trail. Ride an open air tram with commentary from a naturalist or get some exercise and ride a bike around the paved looped trail. Bring your bike or rent a comfortable cruiser at the Park. Half way through the 15 mile loop, a two story observation tower is open for visitors to see a panoramic view of the 100 miles of Everglades National Park. The Shark Valley Trail is an adventure for all ages.

When planning your trip, remember to layer clothing, bring plenty of water, pack a lunch or snacks, binoculars, and camera. Be prepared with sun protection (glasses, hats and sunscreen) and bug spray. Get out and explore southwest Florida!

For more information on local wildlife, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. 

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Waterwise landscaping with native species. - PHOTOS BY NANCY RICHIE/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

For a developed, man-made island, Marco Island is fortunate to have a large diversity of wildlife. Once made up of approximately 6,000 acres of mangroves, this island was developed into over 100 miles of dredged “finger” canals that are fortified with seawalls. As the largest of the 10,000 Islands and surrounded by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Marco Island benefits from this natural environs that supports furred, finned, feathered and scaled wildlife.

Just walking to the mailbox, it is not hard to spot a native species in the neighborhood such as a White Ibis, American Kestrel or Burrowing Owl. Or sitting on a dock or in a lanai, one may see a Manatee resting in the canal or Bald Eagle fishing for dinner, dipping and skimming the water surface.

Cognizant of the wildlife that lives on the island and that one day all the properties will be developed, an effort to provide habitat in our own backyards is important to sustain these populations for generations to come. All grass, a ficus hedge and a hibiscus bush does not make a habitat and may even have high costs to maintain. But a sustainable landscape with native plant species and natural features makes an oasis for wildlife in the midst of urban development.

Low maintenance ideas.

For example, our large population of resident Gopher Tortoises requires shrubs for cover, native plants for food, such as, Prickly Pear Cactus, Gopher Apple and Beauty Berry. Song birds, both resident and migratory, require berries and seeds from such plants as Cocoplum, Jamaican Caper and Sea Grape – all of which are excellent native species examples to plant in lieu of a ficus hedge.

Not only more interesting in leaf, flower and seed shapes than that of a ficus hedge, these species grow robustly, can be hedged (or not) to a desirable shape and provide birds, amphibians and reptiles food and cover. An added plus is the roots will not destroy sidewalks, pool decks or foundations as ficus notoriously do.

Lush landscaping.

The native species do provide habitat for native wildlife, but also give the homeowner the opportunity to conserve water, protect water quality, reduce maintenance and chemical use; overall save money. A national EPA study found that homeowners use 30% of potable water on landscape! With the cost of water on our Island, using less water equates to more dollars saved!

There are simple ideas to incorporate in your landscape to enhance and create habitat for native animal species but also save money and protect the island’s natural resources for the future. One of the most important steps is to reduce lawn area. Large areas of sod are like “desert” for our island wildlife. Wildlife require cover from the elements, nooks and crevices to hide and protect offspring, and food and water sources.

Looking good.

Large expanse of lawn does not provide any of these basic needs. Sod also requires irrigation, pesticide and herbicide management and constant maintenance. Removing a quarter to a half of the lawn area in your yard and replacing it with native flowers, groundcovers, shrubs and trees, is a huge step toward enhancing wildlife habitat and in turn gives you a cost savings. Using the principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping, the right plant in the right place, will reduce water consumption, chemical use and maintenance. In these economic times, all dollars saved count!

The City of Marco Island partnered with the South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin and the Water Symposium of Collier County and other sponsors, such as local landscape company, Island Gardeners, owned and operated by Alan Brown, to create a Florida Friendly Landscape demonstration garden. It can be visited at the City Hall Campus, 50 Bald Eagle Drive. Removing irrigation and sod, replacing Fox Tail Palms with native Sable Palms and Coontie with shell groundcover in the approximately 425 square foot area saved the City approximately $3,000 in irrigation and maintenance in less than one year. Not only very attractive and economical, the landscape is habitat for native birds, reptiles and butterflies.

Here are some easy steps to get started in your backyard:

REDUCE LAWN AREA: Replace open turf/lawn areas with “islands” of native plants. Landscapes with native groundcover, shrub and tree species reduce maintenance time and cost, water and chemical use. Landscape that is native doesn’t have to be “messy” – there are many species that can showcase a yard and home without losing street side appeal.

PROVIDE WATER SOURCE: Using a rain barrel for water collection and run off from the roof are easy ways to provide and save water on site. Using a low area in the yard that could provide a seasonal “wet spot” for amphibians, reptiles and birds is beneficial. Creating a “river bed” of rock that can be wet in our rainy months is an aesthetic feature of the landscape as well as habitat for the beneficial insects, amphibians and reptiles in the yard. Space for a pond? A perfect addition in the landscape is to plant the edges with water-loving wetland plant species and create a micro habitat in the yard.

PROVIDE FOOD SOURCES: Using native species that have flowers, seeds and berries provide natural food sources that eliminate the need for the use of harsh chemicals in our yards that ultimately runoff to the canals and Gulf of Mexico.

PROVIDE COVER/SHELTER: Provide bird houses, nest boxes, trees and even a tree log or leaf litter on the ground. Wildlife will find a home in your yard and provide shelter to raise their young. These features can be incorporated into landscape design to provide interest and beauty to a yard. And ultimately, provide the habitat to sustain wildlife for years to come.

For more information on native plant species suitable for Marco Island yards, landscape ideas, local native plant nurseries and local wildlife, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. 

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Have you noticed? There is a change in the way the morning and afternoon light hits Marco Island and in the way the air feels lighter on your skin. It must be fall in southwest Florida. To many, it means time for the first “snow birds” to arrive with the Island roads, restaurants and shops getting pleasantly busier. For regular beach goers and birders, the change means time for a different type of “snow bird” to arrive on the beach – seeing the end of the spring and summer shorebird nesting species, changing to the fall migration and wintering shorebird species arrival to the beautiful Marco Island beach.

Changing Sands 

This past nesting season for shorebirds, specifically the Wilson Plover (Charadrius wilsonia), Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) and Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger), on Marco Island in the Big Marco Pass federal Critical Wildlife Area (CWA), otherwise known locally as Sand Dollar Island, was hugely successful. Successful nesting equated to approximately 800 adult Black Skimmers, 225 Least Terns and a dozen Wilson Plovers nesting, producing high numbers of chicks, even though the entire “island” changed dramatically due to currents, tides and storms. This nesting success makes Marco Island Big Marco Pass CWA the largest nesting site in the State of Florida for Black Skimmers and the second largest for Least Terns.

Sand Dollar Island, the dynamic spit of sand attached to Marco Island since the late 1990’s, has threatened to breach for many years during the stormy summer months. Especially with seasonal higher than average tides, the Gulf of Mexico has rolled over the thinnest part of the “island”, only to rebuild and stay intact after a few tidal cycles. This past July, Sand Dollar Island finally did breach in two, but not at what looked to be the most vulnerable point. Instead it breached approximately a third of the length of the “island” from the most northern tip – almost at the historical point for the opening of Big Marco Pass. In the past two and half months, the breach has widened and deepened creating a “new” island to the north of Sand Dollar Island and a natural pass wide enough for boat traffic to pass through to the Gulf of Mexico. The depth and width of the pass look to be somewhat permanent for near future.

Shorebird Steward Success 

Black Skimmer chicks. - Photo by Audubon biologist Lindsay Addison

This year was the second year for the Collier County Shorebird Steward Program coordinated by the Collier Shorebird Alliance. Shorebird Stewards are trained volunteers who spend a few hours on the beach each weekend during the shorebird nesting season, April through mid-August. Their role is to minimize nest disturbance by educating beach goers about the beach-nesting shorebirds and the posted areas for nesting, doing simple repairs to the postings of the nesting areas and collecting data for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). In Collier County, Collier Audubon, City of Marco Island and FWC have coordinated a successful program with 12-15 trained volunteers, or stewards, on the beach regularly each weekend from April through mid-August to share knowledge on the nesting shorebirds, their characteristics, habitat and natural history, and provide opportunities for beach goers to see the shorebird chicks up close with birding scopes. This past season, 3,300 Marco Island beachgoers were contacted with the information from the Shorebird Stewards. Birding and beaching go hand-in-hand in our beautiful natural environment of Sand Dollar Island. Research has shown ecotourism is on the rise and very valuable for Florida’s economy. The Stewards stats show beachgoers from around the world visited Marco Island, thrilled to view and share the beach with the threatened bird species and their chicks. Shorebird Stewards are committed to educating beachgoers about Big Marco Pass CWA ensuring its status as one of the largest colonies of nesting Black Skimmers and Least Terns in the state of Florida.

Changes for Fall Migration and Wintering Shorebirds 

Least Tern chick. - Photo by Audubon biologist Lindsay Addison

Now that nesting is over and chicks have fledged, the fall brings about migrating species, such as the Ringed-billed and Herring Gulls, Caspian, Royal, Sandwich and Forster’s Terns, Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, Red Knot, Dowitchers, and more. They stop over and feed and rest on their way to South America or winter over. Beach goers can also see White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, Osprey and even a Peregrine Falcon. Big Marco Pass is habitat for over sixty species of sea, shore and water birds. What is truly unique and amazing to the Marco Island beach goer is how many species one can see in a walk and how close one can get without disturbing them. For a developed, urban Island with an extensive recreational beach, Sand Dollar Island is really a natural paradise in Marco Island’s own backyard. Some species will winter, like many “snow birds.”So,as we welcome the “snow birds” from the northern states to our community, let’s do the same for the migrating and wintering shorebirds on the beach. Do not chase or disturb a flock of birds – they are just resting and conserving energy for their global journeys.

What You Can Do to Help 

• Respect posted and closed beach areas and please keep your distance.

• Leave your pet at home – dogs or pets are not allowed on the Marco Island beaches.

• Keep it clean – Litter is not only unsightly but attracts shorebird predators such as fire ants, raccoons and crows.

• Volunteer as a Shorebird Steward – contact Nancy Richie at 239-389- 5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland. com

• Be a part of the expanding knowledge of shorebirds – report your observations to shorebird@myfwc.com. (Please note in the email the date, time, specific as possible location, species or best description, and describe any leg band colors or combinations of bands.)

• Report dogs on the beach or vandalism to the posted area to the Collier County Sheriff non-emergency number 239-252-9300. Be specific with your information, even take a photo. The information will be relayed to the FWC Law Enforcement.

For more information on shorebirds or to volunteer as a Shorebird Steward, visit the websites: www.flshorebirdalliance.org or www.collieraudubon.org And get out there and enjoy the beautiful Marco Island beach! 

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As fellow coastal and island residents, there aren’t many places one can go along the Florida coast without seeing a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). There are seven species of pelicans in the world. Two inhabit North America – the White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. Standing two to four feet tall, with wingspans up to six to seven feet, tip to tip, the Brown Pelicans make their presence known on docks, at marinas and the beach in the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida; along the Atlantic Ocean from Virginia to the mouth of the Amazon River and along the Pacific Ocean coast from central California to south Chile out to the Galapagos Islands. They are the only species of pelican that is dark in color and dives for its food. Like fishermen, all they like to do is catch and eat fish!

Life History

Seeing a pelican at just about every marina was not always the case. In the mid 1970’s, this species range was not so vast. In fact, Brown Pelicans almost became extinct. The decrease in population was directly related to the pesticide DDT. When the pelicans ate fish contaminated by DDT, which was used on crops and washed away to the oceans and Gulf, the pelicans laid eggs with shells so thin, they would break during incubation. It was so dire, that Louisiana had no Brown Pelicans left. Florida, Texas and California all listed the pelican as “endangered’. By 1975, DDT was banned and the first Brown Pelican egg to hatch successfully in captivity was the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Florida. Since then, the overall population rebounded, peaking in the mid 1990’s but decreasing in number of breeding pairs since 1995 until now. There are issues in southwest Florida for this species from habitat loss, food sources and environmental as well as human impacts to the population. The graph depicts data gathered over the past 35 years by Ted Below, noted ornithologist. The population of Brown Pelicans in and around Marco Island, known as the Marco Island Complex, has decreased by approximately half in this period of time.

Habitat

In Florida, Brown Pelicans roost and nest in mangroves, preferably in large groups, or colonies, on small, isolated mangrove islands. Crossing the Jolly Bridge, looking to the south, one can see three mangrove islands or rookeries, known as the ABC Islands that Brown Pelicans have used for decades to roost and nest. The ABC Islands are designated and posted as a Critical Wildlife Area and can not be approached by any boat, including non-motorized boats, such as canoes or kayaks. This ensures no disturbance of the important roosting and nesting site not only for the pelicans but other water birds that use the ABC Islands such as Great White Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Magnificent Frigates, Blue Herons and White Ibis. The pelican nests are built by the female using sticks and grasses. Breeding begins in the late fall or early winter resulting in two to four eggs that are incubated by both the male and female for 30 days. The chicks will be fed fish by both the male and female and by 12 weeks are able to fly and leave the nest. But the “family” will stick together, with the adults teaching the young how to fly and catch the fish. Young pelicans are often seen being fed by the parents even after they can fly on their own. Learning to fish is hard work!

Plumage

The hatched chicks are featherless, but soon covered with white, downy feathers. Bird guano is used on the fair chick to prevent sun burn and heat impacts. By eleven or twelve weeks, the young are ready to fly on their own, but are not sexually mature until they are two and a half to three years in age. At any age, the male and female pelicans are extraordinarily hard to tell apart; the only difference is that the beak of the male is slightly longer. The immature, or 3 years or younger, Brown Pelicans, will be brown with a white belly. In their first year, their neck will be brown with a white belly. In their second year, their neck and upper body will be gray and the belly feathers are still light but will begin to darken. By their third year, the adult plumage will finally show a very dark belly. When you see a group of pelicans flying over – check the bellies! The lighter colored bellies will be the young pelicans.

To complicate plumage identification further, in different locations throughout the Brown Pelicans’ range, plumage changes occur in the adults at different times of the year. Around here, in fall, the neck and head will start to turn white in the pre-breeding season with the head and neck turning dark brown in early winter as the breeding plumage slowly wears through for the rest of the year until it changes white again in the next early fall. If breeding and nesting, both male and female Brown Pelicans will have yellow head feathers. In contrast, just nearby in the Keys, Brown Pelicans breed all year; therefore any kind of plumage can be seen at all times in different birds!

Soaring, Diving and Fishing

With its wingspread of six or seven feet and light body, weighing between five to eight pounds, Brown Pelicans are built to soar and search wide areas of the Gulf of Mexico for fish. They can fly up to 35 miles per hour if the winds are cooperating. The Brown Pelican is the only species of pelican that dives for its food; other species, such as the White Pelican, will swim and “herd” fish, scooping them out of the water. The Brown Pelican, soaring and looking for schools of small fish, will turn downwind and fold its wings, causing the bird to fall straight down to the water’s surface. As it reaches the water, it will fold the wings back further and extend the beak. Once it hits the water, the beak will be open and its pouch will automatically stretch to capacity, filling with water and the small fish it was aiming for – some fish will be in its pouch and others will be stunned, which the pelican quickly scoops up with its long beak and pouch, just like a net. The throat pouch can hold up to three gallons of water and fish, about twice the capacity of its stomach. Water is drained from its bill at the sides of the mouth. If the fish are not eaten on the spot, the fish are never carried in the pouch, rather in the gullet. There is special padding around the head and chest to prevent injury in this repetitive “controlled crash landing”. And contrary to tales of blinded pelicans, the Brown Pelicans’ eyes also have special clear eyelids which protect them like goggles.

Current issues and what can you do?

The decline of the local Brown Pelican population documented from 1974 through today by Ted Below, tells the tale of environmental impacts such as storms and global warming to direct human impacts such as habitat loss, food supply decline, oil spills, feeding pelicans and fishing line and trash in the environment. When roosting and nesting habitats are destroyed or removed by storms, development or pollution, impacts to population are negative. Removing or over trimming mangroves is a double edged sword to a Brown Pelican – roosting and nesting sites disappear as well as the habitat that is needed to produce its diet – fish. Mangroves are vital for south Florida for storm protection, water quality, and habitat for all the wildlife we enjoy and millions of others come to see.

Please don’t kill pelicans with kindness. Pelicans will gather while you fish; please do not give into their persistent begging for bait or small fish that are caught. Pelicans, especially the immature ones, need to hunt and feed by themselves. When cleaning fish, don’t throw the scrap of tail and back bone to a waiting pelican. The fish bones will get caught in the pelican’s throat, scratching or ripping the throat pouch which in turn can get infected and kill the bird. Place fish carcass down a tube so it goes to the bottom for decomposition. It there is no fish deposit tube at the dock, please bag up the fish remains and dispose in the garbage. Please dispose all fishing line properly. Fishing line lost or tossed into the waters end up entangling all marine life and resulting in death. Fishing line, many times with hooks still attached, is found in roosting areas and nests. There are fishing line collection stations located at many marinas and boat launches. If there is not a collection station, please dispose of the line in a garbage receptacle that wildlife can not enter.

If an injured pelican is found, please contact The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Wildlife Rehab Center at 239-262-2273. For more information on pelicans and other shorebirds, go to www.MyFWC.com. To report all wildlife issues please call 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). 

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It’s mid August and that means we are 2/3 through the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting and Hatching Season. Beachfront property managers have been doing a great job with lighting compliance for our sea turtles by shading or turning off lights that shine on the beach by 9 PM nightly and giving constant reminders to their residents and visitors about the lighting and beach equipment rules on the beaches of Marco Island. To date there are 65 nests with 20 hatched. Though the number of nests is higher than the past few years, it has been a season of variables – wet sand due to high tides; hot weather, then very rainy weather causing relocations of nests and varied incubation times. Time will tell what the overall hatchling success will be. With only one out of one thousand hatchlings statistically making it to adulthood – every hatchling counts!

This period of the nesting and hatching season is busy – adult females turtles are still crawling to nest on the Marco Island beaches and there are many more nests yet to hatch. Unfortunately, there have been a few nests that disorientated due to issues that could be prevented easily. All sea turtle conservation rules are in effect and very important for the remainder of the season. Beachfront dwellers please continue to shade windows and turn off all unnecessary lights by 9 PM nightly. Property managers and volunteers will be checking your lighting from the beach – if it causes a shadow, the lights are too bright.

This summer has also brought numerous reports of people using flashlights and lights from cell phones on the beach at night. For sea turtle conservation and protection, on all beaches in Florida, from May 01 through October 31 yearly, after 9 PM, no lights on the beach are allowed. This means shading windows or turning off lights that shine on the beach by 9 PM, which includes flashlights, flash photography, photos and videos with cell phones and lanterns. On a crescent beach such as Marco Island, lights, even flashlights or cell phone lights, can cause disorientation of sea turtles at their location and also to a turtle or hatching nest at the other end of the beach. If you walk the beach at night, your eyes do adjust to the natural lighting the moon and stars provide reflecting off the Gulf of Mexico. Do you part – keep our beaches dark!

A surprising issue has popped up this summer on the beach that would probably not cross many peoples’ minds but has caused a number of hatchling deaths. The issue is holes dug in the sand by beach goers. The holes that are dug and left on the beach are a “trap” for hatchlings as they make their way to the Gulf. Numbers of dead hatchlings, and thankfully some live, have been found in holes on the Marco Island beach. Please remember to “leave no trace behind on the beach except your footprints” – which includes covering up holes that are dug on the beach. Filling holes is obviously a public safety issue for pedestrians and vehicles. Some of the holes left recently are large and deep enough to trip and cause injury to an unsuspecting beach walker and also could stop an ATV or police car.

Sea turtles are one of the many protected species on the Marco Island beaches. This week, the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce has had a concern reported to them from a visitor. She reported seeing two women “dredging up’ sand dollars along the water line and then selling them for a dollar to beach-goers! Marco Island is fortunate to have an abundant population of sand dollars which live in sandy shallows, sea grasses and just off the beach under thin covers of sand. Many of us collect the small and large, white, smooth sand dollars as they wash ashore daily. The white and smooth sand dollars are not alive; they are shells – the exoskeleton of a once live sand dollar. These shells can be collected and enjoyed. But when they are alive, they have a felt-like coating of fine brown to dark purple moveable spines. These spines, or tiny tube feet, gather plankton and carry this food to their mouths, or chewing apparatus in the center of the sand dollar, called Aristotle’s Lantern. The holes or notches in the sand dollar help the live sand dollar to sink into the sand and be covered. If these women were “dredging” or digging into the sand, they were taking live sand dollars. Live shelling is illegal in the State of Florida. For good reason – the more live shells taken, the less we will all have to collect in future years.

Please report any lighting issues, or injured, disoriented and dead sea turtles or live shelling to the City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 or use the FWC Hotline 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). Thank you for doing your part in keeping the Marco Island beaches healthy, beautiful and ours to enjoy for many, many years to come.

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Love them or hate them, the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian Manatee, is in our waters and has been for millions of years. Love them?  Most people do love them and seek them out to view for their unique characteristics – large, gray, sausage-shaped marine mammals with big flippers and a paddle for a tail, slowly moving and grazing through the Florida waters. Hate them? Hate is a strong feeling, but it mostly has been expressed when a slow speed, idle speed or no entry manatee protection zones are established for boating by the state of Florida. Millions of years? Yes, evidence in museums display forty-five-million-year-old animal fossils from the manatee family that were found in Florida. Florida’s native Indians created ceremonial pipes in the form of manatees and manatee bones have been found at refuse sites and in Indian mounds. Writers and explorers from the early nineteenth century commented that West Indian Manatees were “found in large numbers” and were “remarkably abundant”. Pioneers documented killing manatees for meat, oil and hides, but by 1893, Florida passed protection laws that made it illegal to hunt for manatees, even though poaching of these large animals continued throughout the Great Depression and World War II because of a shortage of meat.

Mother Manatee swims away when released.

As Florida developed and became more populated, of course, more coastal construction and boats became part of the landscape. It is not hard to comprehend why Florida has more boats than any other state. The first report of manatee deaths by boat collision was in 1943.  Building on the first protective laws of no hunting, in the early 1980s, speed zones and no entry zones were established by Florida via the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act (Chapter 370.12(2), Florida Statues.) This Act declared Florida to be a refuge or sanctuary for the manatee and declared it as “Florida’s state marine mammal.” This Act authorized the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to adopt rules that regulate speed and operation of motor vessels to protect manatees from death due to collision and from harassment. FWC can also designate habitat, such as sea grass beds, as safe havens for manatees to rest, feed, reproduce, give birth and nurse their young while undisturbed by human activity.

Baby Manatee being prepped for release. Submitted photos

The Florida Manatee is also listed under the 1973 federal Endangered Species Act. This Act provides the mechanism to conserve ecosystems and habitat that support the manatee and further increase protection by making it illegal to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill capture or collect. If you see a manatee or it’s “footprint” on the water surface, a vessel should avoid its path; turn off engine and drift to enjoy the manatee, staying 50 feet from the animal. Any closer is harassment. Manatees do not need to be fed or watered. Being vegetarian, they munch sea grasses and get fresh water from the food they eat. It may be amusing to offer a hose to a manatee for a drink of fresh water, but it does change their natural behavior and puts them in harm’s way of boats and their props.

It takes a community – Last year, FWC brought down a mother and baby manatee for release at the Calusa Marina. The manatees had been at Mote Marine Lab recovering from cold stress. The volunteers used “hammocks” to carry the manatees down the boat ramp and release in the water.

Why all this protection and what is the economic impact of protecting manatees? $1.50 from every registered vessel in the State is transferred to Save the Manatee Trust Fund and is used for specific purposes, such as population census, research and education. Some say this fee and posting the speed zones, maintenance and enforcement of the zones is over the top. But these protected zones have helped stabilize the population numbers and have lowered the number of boat collisions resulting in death. Another benefit that is financially important to Florida is the protected manatee habitats also guarantee a healthy marine habitat for other economically important species such as commercial fish, game fish, crustaceans, sea turtles and other animals. They all depend on sea grasses and good water quality conditions to flourish.

Manatees are unique animals; some would say an irreplaceable national treasure as they are a one of a kind species in North America. It is up to residents and visitors of Florida to ensure that this species and its diverse natural habitat are around for many generations to come. Marco Island has a healthy year round population of manatees. Let’s love them, but not to death.

Please report any sightings of harassment (feeding, touching, circling with vessel), distressed, injured or dead manatees by calling the FWC Wildlife Alert number at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).  For more information, stickers or boat banners, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com.

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Bioluminescence lights the beach. Submitted photos

Bioluminescent. A big word for tiny organisms. Each summer, a few locations in the Marco Island canals glimmer and twinkle in the night. Boat wakes, fish movement and jelly fish paths sparkle as the bioluminescent organisms are agitated in the water. Not just the fireworks were lighting up our Island on the 4th of July, but there was a bloom of bioluminescent algae that doubled the pleasure of the fireworks for a few residents. Studies at Scripps concluded that bioluminescent dinoflagelletes thrive in calm waters which most likely results from their extreme flow sensitivity that triggers luminescence.

These glimmering organisms, vary in size and shape but are generally very small, unicellular phytoplankton (micro algae), called dinoflagelletes, and are found worldwide in warm subtropical and tropical waters. About two thousand species of dinoflagelletes are found in marine waters and it has been estimated that about 30% of these species are bioluminescent. They typically have two “tails” called flagella that are used to propel the single cell algae organism through the water. Dinoflagelletes species are food sources for larger marine animals but they can also live symbiotically with other species. One the best known symbiotic relationship of a dinoflagellete exists with coral in reefs. The zoosanthellae dinoflagellete, a micro algae species, for protection lives within a coral polyp. It symbiotically photosynthesizes food for both themselves and the coral and at the same time gives the coral its beautiful colors.

So how does this single cell algae light up? The light is not absorbed and radiated but is a chemical reaction created within the organism itself. Similar to when a “glow stick” is bent and shaken, a chemical reaction occurs. In the case of dinoflagelletes it is a reaction of a substance called luciferin and the enzyme luciferase in the present of oxygen creates light energy within the dinoflagellete.

Bioluminescence creature.

Bioluminescence is a widely distributed phenomenon in other marine species; from fish to squid, crustaceans, worms, jellyfish, shellfish, and bacteria. Some of this may be due to ingesting the dinoflagelletes, but many times the bioluminescence is creating within the species and used for offensive (illuminate, stun and distract prey) and defensive (startle, distract, use as a “smoke screen” and warn predators) measures.  It could also be used to attract mates.

Marine bacteria species that create bioluminescent show a different display of light. While dinoflagelletes spark and glimmer when agitated by boat wakes, waves crashing or fish movement, the bioluminescent bacteria species, when at very high concentrations, can give a continuous glow causing, what sailors call, a “milky sea”. This situation has been recorded by mariners for centuries.

Bioluminescence creature.

Some species of dinoflagelletes are known to be quite dangerous in the right conditions. Locally, we know Karenia brevis, or Red Tide, a dinoflagellete species that blooms can cause upper respiratory discomfort, fish kills and discolored waters. This species is not bioluminescent. Scientists study these blooms to understand the causes, possible prevention and life cycles of dinoflagelletes. They also study bioluminescent single-cell dinoflagelletes to help explain how all cells can be affected by the complexities of flow in their fluid environment. There are also studies to explore how dinoflagelletes can be used in microscopic flow sensors, which in the future, could be used to develop safer artificial hearts by ensuring the shear of blood flow is not too high or low.

Just look in a canal nearby and you may see the twinkling and glimmering show of bioluminescent dinoflagelletes this summer! Another extraordinary and beautiful reason to live on Marco Island is summed up by resident Burt Robbins the morning after 4th of July as he states, “After the fireworks last night I was really surprised to see an even greater light show. Our canal was packed with bioluminescent organisms. I could not believe how bright and reactive they were.”

If you need additional information or have any questions and/or comments, please contact the City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 (office), 239-825-0579 (mobile) or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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Mary Nelson cordons off the latest turtle nest on Marco Island. Photo by Vickie Kelber

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Florida Coyote. Submitted

Coyotes were introduced in Florida for pursuit by hunting dogs as early as the 1920’s. The coyote’s natural expansion into Florida from then on was inevitable. As coyote numbers increase, concern over their influence on Florida’s indigenous prey species, competing predators, livestock and vegetables has grown. Coyote impact on native wildlife has already been seen in northern Florida where predation on endangered sea turtle eggs is a considerable problem.

Much is still unknown, including whether the coyote will have negative effects on recovery of the Florida panther, or if it will fill the panther’s niche in areas where habitat is not suitable for this endangered species. Coyotes are both carnivores and omnivores and are potential competitors to many indigenous species, like bobcats and foxes. It is not known whether their predation on deer and other species, important to the Florida panther, will have an effect.

Coyotes are larger than foxes and smaller than wolves and are members of the dog family. They vary in color from gray to rusty brown. Vocalizations differ from the expected howl to yips and barks. Their acute senses of smell, hearing and eyesight enable them to hunt and survive. Dens are usually found in abandoned burrows, dense vegetations such as saw palmetto cover and hollow logs. Coyotes, red wolves, and dogs are capable of interbreeding and producing offspring. A female has between 2 and 12 pups. At eight to ten weeks of age, the pups abandon the den and move into new areas where they start a new territory. Their mortality rate is the highest during the first year but the average life span is five to six years old.

So, the answer is YES! There really are coyotes in southwest Florida, but they’re not classified as an invasive species. Coyotes expanded their range since introduction without any human assistance. They simply expanded their range due to their need for habitat and food. Coyotes can thrive in urban environments as they can adapt to eating a wide variety of foods from rodents, rabbits, carrion, livestock, and even vegetation. Watermelon is a favorite! Coyotes are more active at dawn and dusk, but can be seen most anytime. Be particularly careful leaving small pets outdoors after dark or walking your pet at night.

The University of Florida is conducting research on coyotes in South Florida. Information regarding biology such as reproduction and mortality as well as ecology and impacts on cattle operations are being collected. For more information on coyotes, visit your county extension office or visit http://www.wec.ufl.edu/range/coyotes

If you need additional information or have any questions and/or comments, please contact the City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 (office), 239-825-0579 (mobile) or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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Gopher Tortoise sunning. Submitted

Most people know by now that the protected, threatened, Loggerhead sea turtles will be nesting on Florida beaches during the spring months, with hatchlings emerging in late summer. Sea turtles symbolize the health of the oceans and are very charismatic for residents and tourists alike who embrace them with interest and protection. But, there is another turtle that has the same federal and state protection status, threatened, that nests this time of year that populates Marco Island in relatively high numbers which, unlike the Loggerhead Sea Turtles, does not go in the water, but resides in the upland, sandy habitats of the Island. It is the Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus.

The genus name, Gopherus means “burrower” and the species name, polyphemus means “many voiced”. It is the only land turtle, or tortoise species remaining in the southeastern United States.

Background

Noted by the famous American naturalist, William Bartram in 1773, upon his arrival in South Carolina while heading south to survey flora and fauna, he observed gopher tortoises in the “high dry hills” and pasture lands south of the Savannah River. In his writings he clearly described “dens or caverns dug in sand-hills by the great land-tortoise, called here Gopher”. Many historians, residents and visitors of Florida have known about this tortoise, its burrows and behavior, as they have likely seen it along road sides, pastures, and fields. And as development of Florida increases, they are seen commonly in places that humans frequent.

Distribution of this species is dependent on climate but also greatly influenced by the human impacts. These tortoises prefer high and dry, sandy soils with forage materials ranging from grasses, leaves, legumes, cacti and vines. A reptile, dependent on the sun to warm them and incubate their eggs, they thrive in sustained moderate to warm temperatures thus keeping their range throughout Florida and no further north than southern areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. (The sparse populations of gopher tortoises in South Carolina were relocated.) There are many isolated Floridian populations, most likely due to human distribution and development practices in such places as Sanibel, Egmont Key, Cape Sable and Marco Island.

Description

The gopher tortoise is easy to identify with its large, elephant-like hind legs and spade-like front legs. The front legs are covered in scales and end in five strong, nails (claws) which are used for digging burrows that can be up to 40 feet in length. The sturdy hind legs are used for balance and pushing during digging and fighting. The top shell, the carapace, is typically brown in color, smooth and rounded, without ridges or spurs, and flares out over the legs and head. The carapace is covered in thick scutes that have circular rings (annuli) like a tree stump, but do get worn off by moving in the coarse, sandy soils. The bottom bone, plastron, is made of nine to eleven bones. There is a short, fat tail that curves downward. Unlike a sea turtle, the tortoise head, legs and tail can all be tucked within the shell for protection. Growing in length from a one and half inch hatchling to approximately 13-15 inches in adulthood and approximately 9 to 10 pounds; a gopher tortoise can live for approximately 60 years.

Very similar in looks, one can only tell a male and female tortoise apart by looking at the plastron. The male’s plastron will be indented, or concave, giving it the ability to mount the female during mating. Females are generally smaller in size also. Courting between the sexes occurs in early spring, with eggs laid in April through June. An average of nine eggs will be deposited in the sand near the mouth of the burrow opening, allowing the warm sun to incubate for 80 to 100 days. Eggs and hatchlings have a high predation rate – snakes, raccoons, birds, hawks prey upon the eggs and hatchlings easily, so survival rate is very low.

As herbivores and foraging animals, diversity of vegetation species is important for the tortoises’ healthy diet requiring different plants at different stages of life. Eating large variety of plants, such as grasses, leaves and legumes; the juveniles tend to eat more legumes for protein components for growth whereas the adults eat more fibrous plant material. Clearing natural vegetation, specifically groundcovers, grasses, midstory plants and vines, does great harm to the tortoises’ health and could drive them to abandon their burrows in a quest to find more nutrition and cover from predators. Basically, the tortoises don’t live on grass alone.

This tortoise is known as a “key stone” species in Florida due to the fact that their burrows can provide shelter for up to 360 species protecting them from predators, weather and fire events. Examples of the wide range of occupants in a burrow include many insects, reptiles (Black Racer, Rat Snake), amphibians (Gopher Frog, Southern Toad, Greenhouse Frog), mammals (Florida Mouse) and birds (in the burrow – Burrowing Owls and feeding at the burrow – Warblers, Vireos, Redstarts).There are two locations on Marco Island where burrowing owls and tortoises have shared a burrow. The burrow consists of the burrow “apron”, a mound of sand that has been excavated during the digging of the burrow, a burrow “mouth”; a half-moon shape that typically is as wide as the occupying tortoises length; the burrow “tunnel”, that can be up to 40 feet in length and can be at a ten foot depth or more (depending on water table levels in the area); ending in the “chamber.” There is one way in and one way out. A tortoise can have multiple burrows with males having more than females on average.

Island Population

It is estimated that the Florida Gopher Tortoise population has decreased by 30% over the past few years. Marco Island’s population is being surveyed by a graduate student from Florida Gulf Coast University, Julie Ross. She is in her sixth year of studying the Island’s tortoises for their genetics and overall population statistics and has gathered information on over 200 tortoises. She estimates that there may be 300-400 tortoises on the Island. Being an isolated Florida population, this island population is further sub-isolated with large concentrations of tortoises found in the Estates and Sheffield/Dogwood Drive areas, smaller numbers on Spinnaker Drive and west side of Hideaway Beach, on Horr’s Island, and small areas that were previously disturbed such as the Steven’s Landing property. Ms. Ross plans to study the impacts on these isolated populations and examine ideas that can help sustain the current population as development continues.

Protection Status

The gopher tortoise is listed by the federal government and the State of Florida as Threatened. Without proper management this tortoise is likely to become listed and protected as an endangered species in the near future. The primary reason for the decline of this species is habitat destruction. Due to the gopher tortoises’ protected status, it is illegal to take, harm, or harass this species under the Endangered Species Rule, Chapter 39 of the Florida Administrative Code. Additionally, the destruction of gopher tortoise burrows and their habitat constitutes “taking” under this law except when authorized by specific permit. If you are planning the development of a current gopher tortoise habitat or have been notified that tortoises are located on your property, you should be fully aware of your responsibilities and the available management options.

It is important to note that knowing where to look or not for the presence of tortoises can avoid decisions that kill tortoises. Though control burns in long leaf pine forests and roller chopping in saw palmetto habitat are considered management practices for concentrated tortoise populations, it is known now that tangled patches of vegetation, such as Greenbriar (Smilax) patches, fallen limbs and similar vegetation such as Bracken Fern or Wild Grape vines are places that juveniles, subadults and hatchlings are found taking shelter and feeding upon. Often “abandoned” burrows are their shelters and the mats of vines have been found to be brooding areas where hatchlings hide and forage. With the rapid decline of this species, studies have increased knowledge of habitat and population needs prompting consultants and land managers alike reporting to experts and regulators that they have killed many tortoises due to their ignorance on habitat needs.

The following list provided by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers options to develop your property and assist in conserving this species in decline:

• Avoid developing in the area occupied by tortoises. No permit is required.

• Develop so as to avoid gopher tortoise burrows by avoiding concentrations of burrows altogether and/or staying at least 25 feet radius from entrances of individual burrows. No permit is required but the FWC management guidelines are followed.

• Relocate, through permitting options, of on site or off site relocation, those tortoises that would be within the footprint or within 25 feet of development/construction activities. An environmental consultant who has been certified as a Gopher Tortoise Agent must be used to further explore this option. A permit is required from the FWC. For further information on permitting, population and habitat management and the State’s Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, please go to www.MyFWC.com.

What Can You Do?

Slow Down: Gopher Tortoises frequently cross our island roads so use caution and follow the speed limits. Inlet Drive, Ludlow Court, Spinnaker Drive, and State Road 92 are a few roads that have frequent tortoise mortalities due to speeding vehicles. Please be observant and slow down.

Keep it Healthy: If you have tortoises and other wildlife in your neighborhood, use less herbicide and pesticides on your landscape. More than likely they will graze and forage in your yard.

Go Native: Plant native species to conserve water and money but also provide forage areas for the tortoises. As well as providing habitat for native animal species, many native species of plants can add flowers, fruits and interest to your landscape.

Get Help: If you observe destruction or harassment of a tortoise, its burrow or habitat, please call FWC at 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC), a 24 hour, 365 day animal alert hotline. If you come across an injured or distressed tortoise, please call the Conservancy of SW Florida’s Wildlife Rehab Clinic at 239-262-2273.

Enjoy!: Watch at a respectful distance and enjoy the free-ranging population of gopher tortoises of Marco Island!

If you need additional information or have any questions and/or comments, please contact the City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 (office), 239-825-0579 (mobile) or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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Lights out for loggerheads! SUBMITTED PHOTOS

As the Gulf of Mexico water temperatures climb to 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the protected Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) will soon return to the Marco Island beaches. Living year round in the open and near shore waters to feed and rest, the adult female sea turtles will begin nesting on our beaches between May and August. Sixty days after the nests are laid, the hatchlings will emerge and begin the trek to the Gulf of Mexico usually between July and October. So, the next six months – May 01 through October 31 – is a crucial time of year for this threatened marine sea turtle population on the Marco Island beaches.

Only adult female sea turtles emerge from the ocean, and only to dig their nests and to lay eggs. Male sea turtles spend their entire life in the ocean; resting along reefs or on the water surface in the sun. Taking approximately 15 years to reach maturity to reproduce, the female will mate with several males to ensure genetic diversity within the population. Once the water temperature reaches 80°, typically in early May in southwest Florida, she will leave the Gulf and crawl up the beach looking for a high and dry area of the sand, preferably at the dune line, to lay her eggs. Once a location is found, she will turn and face the Gulf and using her two hind flippers to dig an approximately 20 inch in depth nest chamber and lay between 90 to 120 eggs. When the eggs are deposited, she will bury them in the nest chamber, then turn and throw sand with her front flippers in an attempt to camouflage the nest site. (Her tracks to and from the Gulf and body imprint created by the turning and sand throwing, are the tell-tale signs for sea turtle monitors to track and mark newly made nests.) Then the female turtle will crawl back to the Gulf, never to return to her nest. An adult female sea turtle typically only lays eggs once every three years but in the nesting year can lay up to seven nests in one season.

The newly laid eggs take approximately sixty days to incubate in the nest chamber; longer if the sand is cooled by rain storms or sooner if the summer is dry and sand temperature is warm. The hatchling’s sex is determined by temperature variances in the nest chamber during incubation – a hatchling will be female if sand temperatures are warmer and male if sand temperatures are cooler. This temperature-dependent sex determination does skew the population numbers. If a nest is in the shade, cooler temperatures may produce more males and vice versa. (This is also a reason sea turtle species populations are a good indicator for global warming impacts. Studies have shown that it is a real possibility that as ocean temperatures rise, fewer to perhaps no males will be produced.) Once incubated and ready to hatch, it takes about three days for all the eggs in one nest to hatch. The 90 to 120 hatchlings will work together to explode (emerge) from the nest and make their way down the beach collectively to the Gulf of Mexico. The smell and sound of the ocean plus the reflective light from the moon and stars on the water’s surface guides the hatchlings to the Gulf.

Turtle tracks are evident.

Another issue on the beach is the area south of the Tigertail Lagoon to Residents’ Beach. This area is extremely wide thus creating a topography and drainage issue that creates standing water that stagnates, resulting in odor and health concerns and also creates poor conditions for successful sea turtle and shorebird nesting. Groundwater levels are monitored with gauges in this stretch of beach. If water levels are too high, nests are moved so success rates of hatching can occur. If eggs are left in saturated sand or water, they will “drown” and not survive. To improve the condition of the beach and have long term sustainability of the healthy condition, laser grading this area to a positive slope (10:1 ratio) to the Gulf of Mexico will improve water drainage and alleviate the standing water issue, thus remedying the odor and health concerns on this popular recreational beach and important sea turtle and shorebird habitat. Laser grading is done by tractor and grading equipment using a laser to program the exact slope necessary for a healthy beach. A grant application has been submitted by the City to the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee for approval of Tourist Development Council funds to laser grade. Doing the project outside of sea turtle nesting season, a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) field permit will be the necessary permit required.

In the 2010 nesting season, there were 46 nests on Marco Island beaches with 39 of these hatching producing approximately 2995 hatchlings. With only one out of one thousand hatchlings making it to maturity, every hatchling counts to sustain this species’ population. Artificial lights confuse sea turtles and interfere with their natural instincts. Too often this results in discouraging the females from nesting – she emerges from the Gulf ready to lay her eggs, but is confused or disorientated which results in her crawling back to the Gulf without nesting or dropping her eggs as she leaves -  a “false crawl”. Last season, our beach had 90 “false crawls”. Artificial lights also can cause the death of hatchlings due to disorientation – they will travel inland toward the brighter, artificial lights, using the energy they need to swim into the Gulf of Mexico. Last season there were 3 instances of disorientation which caused 236 hatchling mortalities.

Overall, lighting compliance was good last year on the Marco Island beaches! The beachfront properties’ efforts to shade and turn off lighting visible from the beach was important, especially with last summer’s BP oil spill impacts in the Gulf waters. Many Loggerhead sea turtles died due to the oil spill. The spill continues to have negative impacts to the Loggerhead and other species of sea turtles which make all conservation efforts more important for the dwindling population of nesting Loggerhead sea turtles in the Marco Island and surrounding waters.

The beachfront properties once again will be asked to take this special opportunity and the responsibility to ensure protection of these imperiled marine animals, both adults and hatchlings, in our own backyard by shading and turning off lights visible to the beach each night by 9 PM from May 01 to October 31. General “urban glow” – the collective light from a populated area, was the cause of the three disorientations. As our communities, Isles of Capri, Naples and beyond develop, the light that goes along with this development causes the night sky to be lit up, especially on cloudy nights, drawing the newly hatched sea turtles toward the land not the Gulf. So, not only beachfront properties need to be cognizant of lights at night. If you don’t need a light on, please turn it off – save electricity, money and a sea turtle.

Sea turtles and people can easily coexist if actions to preserve and share the common habitat – Marco Island’s beautiful beach! In the effort to support the Collier County Sea Turtle Monitoring Program and to help prevent disorientation from occurring and protect the sea turtles, the City of Marco Island does monitor and ensure compliance with the following ordinances: Ordinance 01-35 (Sea Turtle Protection), Ordinance 99-7 (Lighting Regulations), and Ordinance 98-12 (Beach Ordinance). General lighting requirements for sea turtle nesting and hatching season are the following:

Any lights visible to the beach after 9 PM should be turned off, shielded, or otherwise modified between the dates of May 01 through October 31.

Outside lights that can not be turned off for safety reasons can be temporarily shielded with foil, hoods or painted with black heat resistant oven paint on the beach-facing side.

Low wattage yellow lights (preferably low pressure sodium vapor lights) are less attractive to sea turtles and good replacements for white lights.

Closed blinds and curtains can shield bright interior lights that normally shine onto the beach.

Outside wall and ceiling balcony lights should be off by 9 PM.

To ensure compliance, property managers, beach vendors, and/or residents, please step out on the beach at 9 PM, view the building or vendor area to determine what lights need shading or turned off. If you can see the direct light or your shadow on the beach, the light is too bright!

The sea turtles need a beach free of any barriers that would prevent nesting. Beach furniture, toys, tents, any other equipment and all garbage should be removed from the beach EVERY night.

If you witness a turtle crawling out of the ocean or digging a nest, remain quiet and at a distance and never stop a turtle that is returning to the water. Movements and noises can easily frighten a female sea turtle and prevent nesting.

No flashlights, flash photography or cell phone lights should be used on the beach and lights should never be pointed at sea turtles or light a nest.

To report dead or injured sea turtles or disoriented hatchlings, please immediately call Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC) and the Marco Island Sea Turtle Monitor, Mary Nelson: Mobile # 239-289-9736.

If you need additional information or have any questions and/or comments, please contact the City of Marco Island at 239-389-5003 (office), 239-825-0579 (mobile) or nrichie@cityofmar
coisland.com. Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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Soak the wound area in hot water for at least 20-30 minutes.

It is that time of year to shuffle those feet as you enter the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. If you see beachgoers shuffling along and you wonder if perhaps they need some aid in walking or that they may be doing a funny dance, don’t worry, they are most likely doing the “stingray shuffle”! Frequent beach goers know to shuffle their feet in the sand as they enter the water to warn sting rays of their approach. The vibration of the shuffling sand is usually enough to make a ray move on to avoid getting stepped on.

There are two hundred species of stingrays, but two of the most common in this area are Southern Stingrays (Dasyatis americana) and Spotted Eagle Rays (Aetobatis narinari), which live year-round in the Marco Island waters. As Gulf water temperatures rise, they will move in closer to shore and beaches looking for small crustaceans (shrimp and crabs), worms or small fish to eat. Southern Stingrays are “benthic” (on the bottom) dwelling rays that cover themselves in near shore, shallow sand waiting to catch their next meal. Spotted Eagle Rays are “pelagic” (swimming) and are often seen in large groups “flying” in the water very close to the beach looking for the same type of prey.

Cousins of the cartilaginous sharks, stingrays have characteristics of flattened shapes, with long, spine-bearing tails and pectoral fins fused to their heads creating “wings” that allow them to seem as if they are “flying” through the water.

Southern stingrays are the color of the habitat bottom they live in – brown, tan to olive color with rounded, diamond-shaped bodies with a long, whip of a tail. The Spotted Eagle Ray is kite-shaped, brown in color with white and yellow spots and also has a whip-like tail. Both species have their gill openings and mouth located on the ventral side (or bottom side) of their bodies. The location of the ventral mouth allows easy capture of bottom-dwelling prey as the ray moves along through shallow waters and on the sandy Gulf floor. The spine on the tail is a modified dermal denticle (the type of scale that covers sharks and rays) that has venom-producing tissue. The venom is protein-based and can cause great pain, and rarely (if the ray is large enough) can cause death as it can alter heart rate and respiration in mammals. The sting is purely a defensive weapon, not how rays hunt or kill prey. Located on the tails makes it more effective for “striking” predators – the strike is an involuntary response rather than a conscious “attack”.

If you have the unfortunate luck of stepping on an unsuspecting stingray and do get struck by a spine, or worse, get a spine stuck in your foot, soak the wound area in water as hot as the injured can stand for at least 20-30 minutes (*the venom is protein based so hot temperatures break down the protein in about 15-20 minutes) and do seek medical treatment to clean the wound for any secondary infections that may occur.

So, remember its spring, shuffle those feet and avoid a painful spine in your foot!

Showing a ‘fever’ of stingrays. Photo by Nancy Richie

Strange Stingray Facts:

1. A group of stingrays is called a “fever”
2. Stingrays give birth to live young called “pups” (While a cousin of the stingray, the Skate, reproduces by laying eggs in leathery, black casings sometimes called “mermaid purses”)
3. The tips of the pectoral fins, or “wings” of stingrays, when they break the surface of the water, sometimes are mistaken for shark fins
4. Ancient Greek dentists used venom from stingray spines as an anesthetic
5. Organs behind the eyes are called spiracles and help stingrays breath while hidden, buried in the sand

Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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SPEOTYTO CUNICLARA FLORIDANA

Florida Burrowing Owl. Photo by Victoria Wright

This familiar Marco Island resident is named from the Greek words, “speo” meaning “cave” and “tyto” meaning owl and “cuniclara” derived from the Latin word cuniclarius meaning “little miner”. As the name suggests the Florida Burrowing Owl digs “caves” or burrows and is the only owl species that nests underground.

Background

The Burrowing Owl can be found from Canada to South America, mostly prevalent in the western states with an isolated population in Florida. Though migratory in the west, burrowing owls are year round residents in Florida, most commonly observed during the nesting and hatching season between the months of February and July.

Historically, these owls inhabited treeless grasslands and pastures of central and south Florida. The inland owl population has decreased due to disappearing natural habitat. This has caused the owls to be more innovative in their selection of habitat. Now coastal south Florida areas enjoy the scattered population in partially developed areas such as Broward and Dade counties, the City of Cape Coral and Marco Island. Habitats include golf courses, playgrounds, cultivated lands, such as farms, airport fields or, as we see here on Marco, cleared and mowed lots without trees. They do tend to favor well-drained dry, level open terrain with vegetation at low height. This helps improve their ability to see predators and detect prey. This in turn makes Marco Island’s undeveloped, regularly mowed lots the owls preferred habitat.

Description

Averaging only 9 inches in height on distinctly long legs with a wingspan between 20-24 inches, this owl is one of the smallest owl species. Though it lacks ear tufts and has no facial disc, there is no question it is an owl. Their bright yellow irises with expressive white eyebrows catch your attention immediately. The dorsal plumage of both the male and female is dark to sandy brown, with scattered white bars and spots that blend perfectly in the open sandy habitat the owl prefers. A dark brown collar around the neck, white abdomen, and white chin are common characteristics. The young resemble the adults in size and facial features but have rust colored, downy plumage on their throats and bellies.

Due to similar size and markings, the male and female are difficult to tell apart. However, during nesting season, the male has been observed to be paler or bleached by the sun, due to the amount of time he is sentinel to the nesting female within the burrow. The female appears darker due to the amount of time below ground and the staining of her plumage by the nest’s contents.

The preferred diet of the owls is larger insects, small amphibians and reptiles and occasionally small birds and mammals. They are not strictly nocturnal like all other owls, but hunt both day and night. They hunt by walking, running, and hopping after prey on the ground. Prey is caught with talons and transferred to the bill to carry and feed each other and the young. Indigestible food parts, mainly consisting of bone and fur, are regurgitated as pellets in and around the burrow entrance.

These “little miners” efficiently excavate a 5-12 foot burrow in less than two days using their long almost featherless legs to accomplish this task. The entire burrow structure consists of three parts: an entrance mound of the excavated soils, a curved tunnel that can be 6 inches in height, 8 inches wide, and 5-12 feet in length, and an enlarged nest chamber at the end of the tunnel. Only one entrance per burrow is the norm, but commonly observed on Marco Island, the male may dig a satellite (nearby) burrow during the nesting season that could be an anti-predatory strategy, (i.e. if a predator locates the active nest, a back-up nest is nearby for the chicks’ and female’s safety.) Typical for birds of prey, the same burrow or general location will be used year after year by the same pair of breeding adults.

Courting behavior begins with both male and female adults displaying unique flight patterns, preening each other and rubbing bills. During the courting, the pair will “decorate” the burrow mound with miscellaneous shiny objects and animal feces. This behavior is thought to camouflage the location and smell of the burrow from predators. Once the burrow is decorated, it is considered to be “active” or having a nest, eggs or flightless young present. With courtship successful, eggs are laid and the young are then brooded in the burrow chamber. Clutch sizes average between 5-8 small, round, white eggs that are incubated for 28-30 days. The female solely provides incubation while the male sits above ground guarding the nest and hunting food. During the nesting season, driving down the streets of Marco Island, such as Lamplighter or Goldenrod, you can count the round heads of owls “standing watch”. The adult breeding pairs will mate for life though if one dies, another partner will be quickly taken.

The young hatch in intervals a few days apart. At 10 days to three weeks of age the chicks emerge from the burrow. They are the approximate size of the adult, but fuzzy and copper-colored. Usually awkward and clumsy, they are not yet afraid of much. The owl parents hunt and feed the chicks until they are able to do so themselves. At about 42 days, the young can fly and hunt on their own – they are “fledged”. Once the young are fledged, the burrow is considered “inactive” or not containing a nest, eggs or flightless young. Due to a variety of predators (snakes, opossum, raccoons, osprey, dogs, and cats), food availability, urban development pressure, and flooding of burrows during heavy rains, typically, only 1 or 2 chicks reach maturity per nest. They then are ready to breed in one year’s time.

Burrowing owls do not have the “hooting” call we commonly associate with owls; rather they have a two-note call described as “coo-coooo”. Both male and females when defending the burrow will use a series of clucks, chatters and screams. You will experience these calls if you ever stand too close to an active nest!

Protection and Population

Protected federally by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed by the state of Florida as a “species of special concern”, and also by the City of Marco Island Protected Species Ordinance, the city actively monitors and works with the state and federal authorities to ensure protection of this listed species. The “species of special concern” description means the burrowing owls, the nesting burrow, their eggs and flightless young are all protected by law from harassment and/or disturbance.

The City of Marco Island currently has approximate 89 properties with burrows posted. Last season, only 27 pairs produced young, down from the last season. This season there has been an increase of adult pairs displaying nesting characteristics. To date, 48 pairs have been documented. Staking an approximately 20-30 square foot diameter, the burrows are marked with orange flagging tape and a sign warning “Do Not Disturb”. Posting the nest sites with flagging tape and signage does help reduce disturbance or accidental destruction by lot mowers and other large equipment activity along the roadsides. Construction fencing is used as a barrier if extensive construction is taking place in the vicinity.

Long-time residents and newcomers alike have inquired why the City makes such a concerted effort to identify and protect these birds. Considering the fact that there seem to be so many here in Marco Island, why are these owls listed as protected species? One of the main threats to the owl’s survival is destruction of habitat. Due to agricultural and residential development, once thriving populations of burrowing owls in other parts of Florida have had severe decline and total extermination. Without protective measures, Marco Island’s owl population, a significant portion of the overall Florida population, may face the same fate.

Some people wrongly believe that a property cannot be developed if burrowing owls are present. That is not the case. If the burrow is outside the building footprint and can be roped off or surrounded by a silt fence creating a protection zone of about 6-10 feet, the property can be developed at any time. If maintaining that required protection zone through construction is not possible, the developer can request a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to destroy the nest. This is required prior to receiving a City of Marco Island building permit. FWC will issue a permit if the nest is observed to be inactive. There is no fee for this permit. Collapsing any burrow without the FWC is both a State and City violation. Please contact FWC for the permit application at the following web address: www.myfwc.com.

The purpose of managing this species through permitting is to prevent active nests (containing nest, eggs or flightless young) from being destroyed. The nesting season is February 15 through July 10, and if the burrow is observed to be active, a permit will be on hold status until the young are fledged and carefully monitored to ensure the young owls are flying freely or have left the site. On Marco Island, approximately 50% of the adult owl population is observed year round, so if there is an owl present at the burrow outside nesting season, the burrow is considered inactive. Important to note, on Marco Island, due to warm temperatures, the nesting season starts earlier, mid to late January. Chicks have been seen as early as late February or early March.

What Can You Do?

Anyone interested is strongly urged to construct a “starter burrow” for the owl(s) to relocate when the original burrow is destroyed. It is easily done by simply clearing away about one to two feet of sod, dig an indentation that looks like a beginning of a tunnel or burrow and placing a t-perch next to indentation. To date, this has been successful at 4 out of 5 locations tried on the island. If more residents are interested in the opportunity to play an important (and rewarding!) role in the fate of this Species of Special Concern, it might be the answer to sustain a healthy, productive, bug-eating owl population for the Marco Island ecosystem. Free t-perches are available at City Hall.

For more information on burrowing owls, permitting procedures, and/or starter burrows, please call Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Macro Island, at (239) 389-5003. If destruction or harassment of burrowing owls and/or their burrows is observed, please report to the City of Marco Island (239) 389-5000 and FFWCC Wildlife Alert 1-800-282-8002.

Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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Over the years, one, maybe two, Florida Panther sightings on average per year have been reported on Marco Island.  The excited and surprised observer usually reporting a glimpse of golden fur and a long tail…then an adrenaline rush when the realization just moments later that a panther just dashed through their line of sight!  Stories are told from days past on Marco Island, when houses were sparse and roads were quiet, of panther cubs being raised on Inlet Drive; pairs of cats walking the beaches and panthers seen in the mangrove fringe of Barfield Bay.  Just in the past year, panther sightings have increased.  There have been a couple reports of a panther crossing at the east side of the Jolly Bridge; several sightings by bike riders, dog walkers and drivers on Horr’s Island (Key Marco); residents in the estates area and in Hideaway seeing the cats in their yards or along the road; and most recently, one early morning before the sun had cracked through, a sighting of a panther in Mackle Park.

Florida Panther. Submitted photos

This big carnivorous cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter, so active during the night and early morning hours. This is when one could be most likely seen crossing a road or along the side of a road.  This is when the reports have come in.  (Though, there was one rare report of a mid day sighting in Hideaway.)  Are they dangerous to humans? There has never been a documented attack by a Florida Panther on a human being. These large carnivores are potentially dangerous, but extremely rare and shy – just seeing one is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most people.  The people who have reported seeing panthers on Marco Island have described a sense that the panther is more afraid and cautious of them.  Typical reports include that the panther stops, stares and then runs for cover quickly away from the observer.

The panther sighting reports are not farfetched. Marco Island, as part of the 10,000 Islands, is the Florida Panther’s (Puma concolor coryii) ever-shrinking territory. Historically, the Florida Panthers’, also known as a cougar or mountain lion, territory covered all of Florida, into Georgia and as far north as Arkansas.  Needing large areas of sparsely populated lands with a healthy population of prey, such as white-tailed deer or wild boar, it now has only 5% of this historical range. There is one breeding population of Florida Panthers, with an estimated one hundred adults, living primarily in southwest Florida, from the southern Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp into Lee County. The Caloosahatchee River seems to be a “hard” boundary for this species. A few young male panthers have ventured north of this river, needing approximately 200 square miles of home range but no breeding has occurred in the northern areas, as no females have been found north of the river.

Florida Bobcat.

But have you seen a panther or a bobcat?  Since the Florida Bobcat (Felis rufus) is so abundant throughout North American and have adapted in both rural and urban settings of Florida, this wild cat is not listed for protection, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission licenses are required for hunting.  Bobcats are seen frequently in Marco Island neighborhoods bordering Barfield Bay or dense, wooded areas, and can be easily mistaken for a panther sighting. Since bobcats only sleep two to three hours at a time, it is not uncommon to see a bobcat out during the day.  Weighing only 15 to 35 lbs., their prey is small mammals and mostly birds.  Bobcats attacking a person are extremely rare.  Like all wild animals, they should not be fed or they will associate humans with food and lose their instinctive fear of humans.

If you suspect you have seen a panther, here are some tips to not confuse a sighting with other large mammals such as bobcats, dogs, coyotes and even bears: Visually, the panther is very large in size, ranging from 60 lbs. (juvenile) to over 150 lbs. (adult male) and can be up to seven (7) feet long from nose tip to tail end, is tawny or golden in color, and has a long tail. In contrast, Florida Bobcats typically do not exceed 35 lbs., have a spotted coat and a short “bobbed” tail. Young panthers, kittens, are spotted like bobcats, but the spots disappear within a year and their tails are much longer. Tracks are an easy way to identify if a panther has been around. First and foremost, they are large, measuring 3 inches by 3.5 inches with no claw imprints. Even the young panther just leaving its mother’s den will have paw prints larger than an adult bobcat. If claws are noted in an imprint, it is a telltale sign that the print is from a dog or coyote. If it is large, but has five toes, it is a bear print; panthers have only four toes.

With the habitat loss and reduction to one small breeding population, the Florida Panther is one of the most endangered species in the nation. It is an iconic animal to Florida and North America. Listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s goal is to conserve and recover this species using multi-faceted conservation strategies such as the following:

• Florida Panther Protection Program and the Recovery Plan of 2008.

• Refuge Expansion – The “Dispersal Zone” an area in northern Lee County is a strategic area that needs protection to extend a northern breeding range.

• Key Areas for Road Crossing – Last year there were seventeen (17) panther deaths caused by vehicle collision.

• Science – Continuing population counts, collaring, studying habitat functions. Panthers are “umbrella species” or their habitat is also habitat for many other dwindling species, so conservation of habitat helps other species.

• Conservation Banking – This is a classic “win-win” scenario, creating a free market approach which invests in conservation.

• Relationship building and public perspective.

If you do identify a panther, there is no need to contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) or US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Just consider yourself one of the fortunate few. However, if you do see a dead panther, most likely along a roadside, please call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). For more information or to support conservation of one the most endangered mammals in North American, a true symbol of the remaining wild areas of Florida, please go to www.floridapanther.org.

Nancy Richie is a long time Island resident and Marine Biologist.

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