Imagine Our Florida, Inc. 

To our new followers, Welcome to Imagine Our Florida. Here you will discover places to go, things to do, and learn science-based facts about our wild friends and the ecosystems we share with them. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Whether you volunteer at an event, contribute to our social media, host a fundraiser, advocate on behalf of Florida wildlife or their wild spaces, or simply share your knowledge with your friends and family, know you are making a difference. Watch for our daily posts. We will explore Natural Florida together and discover the wonders of nature and unique ecosystems right here in our own home state. We are happy to have you on our team. 🙂

------- Injured Bear Relocated ----Recently, what is likely a well-known "neighborhood" bear appeared to have been struck by a vehicle in one of the several Longwood subdivisions in Seminole County near Wekiwa State Park.Biologists were called when the 500-550 pound bear remained in the same spot for 2 days. He was darted and assessed. It was determined he is about 7-8 years old and he had an injured leg. The injury was below the hip so the biologists decided to relocate him to the northern part of the Ocala National Forest.Here, this handsome bear is expected to sleep while his broken leg heals. He will enter a state of torpor where his metabolism will slow down and several body functions will stop working or moderate. This causes energy and resources to focus on the leg that needs healing. (Adult bears cannot be rehabilitated. They will injure themselves as they try to remove whatever healing aid the veterinarian applies.) Imagine Our Florida is grateful for the concerned citizen who cared and called the biologists. We are also grateful to the biologists who assessed this magnificent bear and made the determination to let Nature heal his leg. We are grateful that he was relocated to the forest where he can remain wild. Although he may walk with a limp, he will enjoy much healthier food and we hope he will make the forest his forever home. Keeping humans and animals safe takes everyone's cooperation. Simple things such as securing attractants, safely scaring a bear (learn how - link in comments on originating page), or being vigilant when driving can help us coexist with bears and other wildlife. Let's all make a commitment to better coexist with the wildlife around us.Connect. Respect. Coexist.

---- World Oceans Day ----It's hard to believe that our magnificent, powerful, and vital oceans are so incredibly polluted with plastic. We are to blame. World Oceans Day is the day to commit to eliminating single-use plastics.Keep reusable shopping bags in your car. Carry a metal straw and reusable silverware to restaurants. Get yourself a refillable water bottle. It's the small things that make a big difference.

----When Criminals Disrupt Conservation----Rules are in place for a reason. Limitations of fish catch are established to reduce the chance of species degradation. Some animals, such as the spiny lobster play an excellent role in their ecosystem as a predator. Preventing over fishing of these lobsters ensures there is food for their natural predators who otherwise would begin to consume a larger number of other species. We need to abide by these laws to ensure our ecosystems stay healthy. #spinylobster #lobster #wildlife #illegal https://buff.ly/2spHFRk

Still very soft, the cicada will finish drying before taking flight.

The wings are almost fully formed and beginning to dry.

Still clinging to its old self, the cicada's wings continue to expand.

Completely out of the larval shell. Wings are open and beginning to grow and dry.

Almost all the way out. the head and legs are free.

The rest of the body slowly emerges. The wings are still folded and small.

The cicada pulls its head out of the shell.

The adult cicada begins to emerge. The shell of the larval exoskeleton has cracked and is opening.

This photo is of the larval cicada. It has emerged from the ground and is preparing to molt for the last time.

Show your love of Florida this summer with one of Imagine Our Florida's original bumper stickers.Order yours here: https://imagineourflorida.org/our-products/

Happy Foto Friday everyone! Read to the end to get a teaser on a fun and special photo post for Sunday! Here's a little girl that many people will be quick to recognize. She's a young black and yellow garden spider. These spiders range all across the United States and up into Canada as well as south into Mexico and Central America. The spiderlings emerge in spring from egg sacs laid the prior year.The dense zigzag of silk in the middle of the web is known as the stabilimentum. The true purpose of this structure is in dispute. Some say it is to provide camouflage to the spider resting in the center. Others think it acts as an attractant to insect prey or as a deterrent to birds who could fly into the nest and damage it. Every night, the female eats the center of her web and then rebuilds it in the morning. Their bites are comparable to a bee sting and are harmless to healthy adults and those who are not allergic to their venom. They maintain a clean and orderly web and help remove loads of insects. They are great to have around and are a truly beautiful arachnid. We hope everyone gets a chance to get out this weekend and enjoy the outdoors!So, as I eluded to above, I was able to get a cool series of photos that I will share on Sunday on a very common, often heard, but seldom seen insect. Every single one of us has listened to their calls. So, get ready for Cicada Sunday! This Sunday!

It's Our Anniversary! Two years ago, we came together, United in our cause to Preserve and Protect Florida's wildlife, habitat, and ecosystem.Today is Your Day to Celebrate!If you volunteered at an event, financially supported IOF's science-based education initiatives, are one of our cherished advisors who freely shares your knowledge, if you enjoyed a hike in the forest or around your yard and shared your wonder with a friend or on this page, if you spoke up at a meeting, attended a meeting or advocated by making a public comment, if you showed a child the beauty of a bee or a butterfly, if you reduced your plastic use, recycled or picked up a piece of litter, or if you were one of the people who shared pictures from the 2015 bear hunt that brought an understanding that WE need to stand up for bears, their wild friends, and wild spaces, know that YOU have made a difference. TOGETHER, we have reached thousands of people and showed them how to Connect. Respect. Coexist.WE are only just getting started, IMAGINE what we can do Together.

Imagine Our Florida wants to thank Paleo Enterprises http://paleoenterprises.com/ in Orlando for donating a fossilized leg bone from a Woolly Mammoth which was found in Gilchrist County, Florida. The Woolly Mammoth was a Florida native during the Pleistocene Epoch era which is anywhere from 12,000 to 2.2 million years ago. The extinction of the Woolly Mammoth is presumed to be similar to issues that we have with Florida's current endangered and threatened animals - climate change and over-hunting. The threatened African elephant is a relative of the Woolly Mammoth. #WoollyMammoth #Florida #Extinction #Gilchristcounty

Today, we pause to remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms. These freedoms allow us to continue our quest for knowledge through exploration and science. We are free to have our voices heard and to advocate for what is most important to us. Freedom also brings a responsibility to the land and water they protected. This Memorial Day, honor those who gave it all at your picnic or barbeque. Reduce plastic use, recycle what you can, dispose of trash (and litter) properly, and leave behind only footprints at your beach or park picnic.

Ferns first appeared in the Devonian period but most of todays species began to show up in the Cretacious period. Ferns reproduce by dropping spores from underneath their leaves. These spores will mix together and exchange DNA just like a sperm and an egg in humans. In fact, fern sperm actually have a flagella, a long whip-like tail for moving through water. This makes them quite sucessful. #Florida #reproduction #ferns #sawgrasspark #pinellascounty

---- SCARE THAT BEAR ---- Some Mother Bears are teaching their cubs to forage for food. Other Mother Bears have raised their cubs and have sent them on their way to forage on their own.Will you encourage these young bears to learn to lead a life of crime? Breaking and Entering into refrigerators, cars, porches, or garages? Destroying bird feeders, fences, and pet enclosures? TEACH THEM WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG - There is no food in human neighborhoods. Bears are not welcome in human neighborhoods. Secure your atttractants. When one arrives in your neighborhood, SCARE THAT BEAR ---- KEEP THEM WILD ----Learn how to safely scare a bear here: https://buff.ly/2s6dkqF#blackbears #Florida

---- SCARE THAT BEAR ---- Some Mother Bears are teaching their cubs to forage for food. Other Mother Bears have raised their cubs and have sent them on their way to forage on their own.Will you encourage these young bears to learn to lead a life of crime? Breaking and Entering into refrigerators, cars, porches, or garages? Destroying bird feeders, fences, and pet enclosures? TEACH THEM WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG - There is no food in human neighborhoods. Bears are not welcome in human neighborhoods. Secure your atttractants. When one arrives in your neighborhood, SCARE THAT BEAR ---- KEEP THEM WILD ----Learn how to safely scare a bear here: https://buff.ly/2s6dkqF#blackbears #Florida

Threatened is Serious, Endangered is Dangerous. Extinct is ForeverAccording to the most recent list of Threatened and Endangered species by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 68 Florida animals and 69 Florida plants are now threatened or endangered. That's one more animal and 5 more plants than last year's report. These animals and plants are on the list due to over hunting, over development, over-harvesting, invasive plants and sea level rise. Throughout the U.S. there are currently 1,459 animals that are Threatened or Endangered. Do you want to help? Contact us at Imagine Our Florida. Imagine what we can do together.

Watch your step at the beach!Why? It is sea turtle nesting season from May 1st to October 31st.What can we do to help?Turn out unnecessary beach lights, switch out light bulbs to an amber or red light, or put a shield on the light to project the light down to the ground and not out to the beach.Knockdown sandcastles and fill in sand pits to allow sea turtles a straight path to the water.Keep the beach clean (which we should be doing anyway) This helps both baby and adult sea turtles avoid getting tangled in the garbage and eliminates the need to traverse litter.AND please do not disturb their nests or harass the adults or babies.Simple things like these are what we can do to make a real difference in the health and population of our sea turtles.

----What is "Toilet to Tap"-----Toilet to Tap may not have the most pleasant ring to it but it's the process of filtering water for reuse. This process involves several filtration check points until it's pure enough to be used in nature. This blog explains the ins and outs of "toilet to tap." https://buff.ly/2I8pdX7

----What is "Toilet to Tap"-----Toilet to Tap may not have the most pleasant ring to it but it's the process of filtering water for reuse. This process involves several filtration check points until it's pure enough to be used in nature. This blog explains the ins and outs of "toilet to tap." https://buff.ly/2I8pdX7

This red-shouldered hawk is a local resident of Bloomingdale, FL. Many neighborhoods have hawks who linger about the area. While they mostly prey on small rats, squirrels, and other birds, they will make a meal out of stray animals. If you have a pet, keep them inside or on a leash, secure all holes in your backyard to limit the exposure range, and for extra security ypu can get a raptor proof vest for when you walk your small dog. Making small changes in human behavior helps us coexist with our native critters. It also helps keep them on a diet that may just get rid of the invassive rat species. 😉 #redshoulderedhawk #raptors #florida #floridawildlife #birdsofprey #imagineourflorida

Manatees Deserve Respect They have been here since the Pleistocene period. Keep them safe from boat propellers, fishing hooks, monofilment and other litter. Inlanders, keep storm drains and waterways free of litter and fetilizer runoff. #manatees #cleanwater #Florida #fishing

A young otter was found in a woman's garage. Thanks to her immediate action in calling local officials the displaced otter was rehabilitated and is doing fine. #otter #florida #orangepark #imagineourfloridahttps://buff.ly/2jBVkAs

It's another Foto Friday. There was so much interest in the post about the Lake Wales Ridge a few weeks back that I thought I would share a few other photos from that area. This cool looking plant is Tillandsia utriculata, or the Giant Airplant. Its status in Florida is Endangered (listed as a result of Mexican bromeliad weevil attack).This one was still small, only about 18 inches in height but these can get up to 2 meters long. When they mature, they produce a single flower spike then die. The Lake Wales Ridge is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals. Make sure to get out and explore. Use our state parks, wildlife management areas, and National parks. This shows, to government officials, how valuable natural spaces really are to people. Attendance matters.

Remember, any body of water in Florida can be the home to an alligator. Make sure you always give them space, never feed them, and keep clear of females nesting. #Alligator #Florida

---Thank you to all the Teachers---We appreciate all the hard work that teachers do. We especially appreciate those who share their knowledge about the natural world we live in. Whether you teach children to read about the exciting adventures through the wilderness, create beautiful art that shows an appreciation for natural beauty, emphasize the quantitative importance of data through math, teach the history of our world and the natural and man-made disasters throughout time, or the science that ties into our ecology, we thank you. One way we like to help out is by creating science-based lesson plans that help meet state standards. We supply the information and tools to make life a bit easier. Check out our K-5 lesson plans now. #Nationalteachersday #teachers #science #nature #ecology #Floridahttps://buff.ly/2vOrnX4

This really shows that citizens of #Florida care about #manatees but perhaps a bit of sex education when it comes to wildlife might help us identify those intimate moments and maybe give them a bit of privacy. https://buff.ly/2r0hvo8