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From Sea to Shining Sea…

One of the best advantages of living in Florida is that, if we travel far enough in either a Westerly or Easterly direction, we will find…water! And, one really cool thing about that is when the water seems to glow, as if by magic.

On a summer evening in the Indian River lagoon, a natural magic illuminates the wake of a boat, the splash from a paddle, or creates beautiful blue flashes of frenzied schools of mullet. If you run your fingers through the water, you can see it fall in gorgeous blue-green luminescent droplets… What is causing the lagoon to glow? Bioluminescence! Tiny dinoflagellates (Pyrodinium bahamense) – or bioluminescent plankton – create light through biochemical reactions. When excited or stimulated, these plankton become little flashlights in the water, much like fireflies do on land.

This evening, the plankton are lighting our way, as we kayak along the Indian River and into the lagoon. Originally named the “Rio de Ais,” after the Ais tribe of Native Americans who made their home along the East coast of Florida, the lagoon is, in actuality, a grouping of five lagoons, which comprise the most biodiverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere, with over 10,000 species of plants and animals – thirty-five of these threatened or endangered. The lagoon is rife with game fish, such as tarpon or snook, which grow to epic sizes because there are very few predators in the lagoon. It is also host to all three types of mangroves, which provide filtration and nutrition to the ecosystem. We are told by our guide that, due to development, the mangrove population has been reduced by 85%. In addition, the water level in the system is rising due to increased runoff from the city. And there is also the danger from algae blooms, which form as a result of deforestation, pollution and high temperatures. Surely, these things are serious indications of danger to our natural ecosystems. However, they do not detract from the magic we are witnessing this evening; the beautiful blue glow serving as a reminder of the uniqueness and intricacy of this environment, one we must cherish and protect.

If You Go…
If you are looking for an educational, but interesting and fun adventure to share with family or friends, consider taking a bioluminescence tour! BK Adventure offers environmentally-friendly guided eco-tours. For more information, they can be reached at: info@bkadventure.com | www.bkadventure.com | (407) 519-8711

To help ensure an enjoyable experience, we suggest wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and closed shoes, and taking along some mosquito repellent, as well as a change of clothes, as you will likely get wet – but, that’s part of the fun!

*Bioluminescence photo courtesy of BK Adventure*

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The Florida Marsh Rabbit

The Florida Marsh Rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris paludicola, is a cousin of the cottontail rabbit. However, unlike the cottontail, the marsh rabbit has a brown tail and is an excellent swimmer. They are found in brackish and fresh water marshes, in flooded agricultural areas, and in swamps. They are never found far from water. Females can produce 6 litters a year of up to 4 babies. They are most active at night or in the early morning hours. Birds of prey, alligators and fox all are common predators of the marsh rabbit.

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—- Florida Panther 5 Year Review —–

US Fish and Wildlife Service is initiating a 5-year status review of 23 southeastern species, including the Florida Panther, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

At Imagine Our Florida, Inc., we recognize that every species, including apex predators, contribute equally to a balanced ecosystem.

As per the document, you may request more information, submit information or review information received.
Contact David Shindle at the Ecological Services field office in Immokalee by phone or email:
239-657-8013 David_shindle@fws.gov

Read more here: http://www.naplesnews.com/…/u-s-fish-and-wildlif…/443699001/

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—–A Thread in the Web of Life—-

When a thread in the web of life has been woven, its purpose does not wither. It holds together the fibers of many other lives who were impacted by that single thread. On July 2, 2017 a beautiful thread was woven. Dr. Ileana Sisson, has left this world. She left behind strength, kindness, compassion, wisdom, friendship, and love. These traits will radiate from every thread she touched in the web of life. May her light never fade.
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After the 2015 bear hunt, Ileana made herself available for free counseling to all bear monitors who had documented bears as they were brought into check stations to be weighed. Ileana then traveled 4 hours to host an outdoor retreat in central Florida for the bear monitors. With patience and compassion, she listened to our stories. She gave us tools to work through our trauma. She showed us how to turn our grief into strength, our passion into determination, and our defeat into can-do attitudes.

It is because of Ileana’s lessons, that we were able to dry our tears and get on with the business of not only saving our bears, but all of the wildlife and wild spaces they share.

Ileana, your spirit will always be the guiding light for Imagine Our Florida. You are our Angel Warrior. We love you.

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Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone at IOF a fun, safe and memorable holiday!

As we celebrate our independence, let’s remember our wildlife who have given up their freedom to roam about their homeland when we moved in.

Take a few moments today, to teach someone the value of a bug, how we are all an equal and valuable part of the circle of life, how our oceans depend on us to recycle, the difference between a turtle and a tortoise, to appreciate the beauty of a blooming “weed” or what to do if they see a panther or a bear.

Together, we can make a change. One voice at a time. One person at a time.

Imagine the hearts and minds we will collectively change today if we all reach just one person.

Connect. Respect. Coexist.

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Get your IOF’s custom bumper stickers

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. have 2 custom bumper stickers available for sale for $5 each which includes tax and shipping to you. Click here to order yours now.

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Our Gopher Tortoise

It’s really warming up here in Florida and with little rain, animals are on the move trying to access the limited resources available. This includes the gopher tortoise, a species in decline across it range. How can you help them if you see one?

First: you are allowed to move them off the road. Often you will hear people say that it is illegal but you are allowed to move them to the other side of the road in the direction they are traveling.

Second: Never put them in a body of water. They are not aquatic.

If you see a tortoise that will require additional assistance, contact the FWC weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm at 1-850-921-1030 or after hours or on the weekends at 1-888-404-3922

Never attempt to relocate a gopher tortoise on your own. Gopher tortoises have an amazingly strong homing instinct and will try their best to return to their home burrows. This puts them at greater risk for road mortality, predation as they lack the protection of a burrow as they wander, and exposure to the elements.

Let’s all work to protect our amazing animal friends that we are so lucky to share the Earth with!

Be sure to give our page a “Like” to learn more about Florida’s wildlife and wild spaces.

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The Senator & Lady Liberty

Can you imagine being able to look at a tree that was around when Mt. Vesuvius erupted and destroyed Pompeii and Stonehenge was being built? Or a tree that was so tall it was used by the Seminoles, and other Native American tribes, as a landmark? And did you know such a tree grew in Florida?

The Senator, believed to be the oldest and largest Bald Cypress tree in the United States (and eighth oldest tree in the world) was such a tree. At its peak, the Senator reached a height of 165 feet, but was shortened by a hurricane in 1925. Sadly, this magnificent tree was burned down in 2012. But, its charred remains can still be viewed today – its massive 35-foot stump a testament to its former greatness – at Big Tree Park in Longwood, Florida.

Just forty feet away along the same boardwalk, Lady Liberty gracefully towers over the park at a height of approximately 89 feet. She is considerably younger than the Senator and, although we should never ask a lady her age, is believed to be approximately 2000 years old. Her trunk has a circumference measuring approximately 35 feet. When gazing up at her, one wonders what secrets she could tell…

Thankfully, not everything was lost with the Senator’s unfortunate demise. For, DNA had been extracted with the goal of cloning this amazing tree, which possessed extraordinary defenses against disease and capability for quick growth. The Phoenix, derived from one of the Senator’s grafts, is now thriving at the park and evidently taking after its predecessor. Grafts have also been taken from Lady Liberty, so that she, too, may live on in the form of new trees, in the event she does not survive.

Would you like to see and experience these beautiful trees and learn more about their fascinating history? Big Tree Park is located at 761 General Hutchison Pkwy, Longwood, FL 32750. It is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily.

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Congratulations Lourdes Brown

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is proud to announce our first Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Lourdes Brown. Lourdes volunteered at the Thundering Spirit 3-day event where she quickly learned IOF’s Interdependence lesson plan and began perfecting her presentation. She tabled at the Orlando Earth Day event where she was a Lead Educator and then volunteered to be the Educator at an IOF Painting With a Purpose evening. After researching and writing the IOF Panther Lesson Plan, Lourdes has volunteered to research and write the IOF Manatee Lesson Plan.
Lourdes, your commitment and dedication to teaching people of all ages how to reconnect with our natural world and to coexist with our wildlife inspires us all to do more. We are proud to work beside you as together, we fulfill IOF’s mission to preserve and protect Florida’s natural resources, wildlife and land.

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Let’s celebrate IOF’s 1st year anniversary together

play-sharp-fill

Click to start slideshow.

#florida #miami #orlando #love #beach #home #tampa #southflorida #travel

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Last chance to sign up for Miami Painting with a purpose

I’ts the last day to save your seat Miami!
Join Ileana at Painting with a Purpose, take home a one of a kind painting of a beautiful manatee, meet like minded people and have fun all while benefiting Imagine Our Florida, Inc. Bring a friend and double your fun!
http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/events/viewEvent.aspx…

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Welcome Haley

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is proud to announce Haley has joined our Creative Team. After her homework is done, Haley is creating some beautiful, original artwork for IOF. Watch for the debut of Haley’s art.

https://www.imagineourflorida.org/team/haley-kane/

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Don’t Put the Turtle in the Water

until you’re sure it’s not a tortoise.

Message us if you would like the file to print and hang on bulletin boards throughout your community.

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3 Water Part 3

Let’s take a look at what happens when acidic water enters the aquifer.

Acidic water occurs when carbon dioxide and water react to form

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2 Water Part 2

Ways that Watersheds Get Disturbed.

Most people think

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1 Water Part 1

Here’s a great video to explain what groundwater is, how it gets there, and why it’s so important

 

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Special thanks to My Favorite Things

Imagine Our Florida Inc, is grateful to our corporate sponsor, My Favorite Things (MTF Stamps) Take a look at the unique pieces you can create on those summer days when it’s too hot to be outside. Check out their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/MFTStamps/?pnref=about.overview
Click here or on picture to view the website
http://www.mftstamps.com/

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Movement behavior explains genetic differentiation in american black bears

Cushman, S. A., & Lewis, J. S. (2010). Movement behavior explains genetic differentiation in american black bears. Landscape Ecology, 25(10), 1613-1625.

Lauren Zeigler (Understanding of the work above) -IOF Outreach Volunteer

Previous studies were done on landscape resistance to test the ability of animals to maintain good gene dispersal and population of different animals. This study is different in that it compares the data collected from landscape connectivity and genetics using movement behaviors. This method collects multiple forms of study on animal behavior along with migratory patterns as well as landscape changes to analyze the mating process in black bears. The study wants to find the ability of black bears to verify previous landscape maps that were existed by using a path-level movement analysis.
This study used a specific area to study, used previous landscape genetic analysis, black bear telemetry data, path-level analysis, selection of variables that influenced the black bear movement patterns, creation of a map that showed the landscape resistance factors, and finally used conditional logistic regression. This method had a few subsections for each category. The area of study was in the Purcell mountains of Idaho and was about 1500km of study. While this was in place, the researchers used a previous study of the area to use as a comparison to the path level analysis in this study. To avoid biases in the data, the bears were used in a variety of areas within the parameters for a span of two years and in the time of the largest population of black bears being monitored. The path-analysis was coupled with the landscape variables and resistance factors to accurately trace the path of the bears and then the researchers took into consideration the ecological differences for the movement paths of the bears in that time to find the similarity between the previous map and the map that was now being worked on.
The experiment led to the findings that the forest roads were able to be crossed more easily than that of country road or highways. Not only was this proven, but it was found that roads were the most important when considering the movement of black bears with the rate of 95% confidence that the intervals never reached 0. While the relationship between the early seasonal model and the genetic landscape model came out with negative partialling data that led to the similarity or landscape resistance and early seasonal movement.
This research was shown to be important on many different levels. The impact of humans on the movement of bears was to be noted as well as noticing the spring seasons impact on bear movement which was found to be the most important time in the time for bear genetic differentiation.
Genetic differentiation was created from the mating and dispersal in the black bears during the spring time. This fact is important to take into consideration for the life model of a black bear and the importance of the right scale on how the bears can mate and reproduce. Many black bear subspecies are found to be endangered and this model can provide the data on the landscape impact on the population of black bears and the ability of gene difference in the survival of the species.
The other impact this study has on the subject of black bears is to show how humans impact the life of the black bear. The ability of the bears to move freely provides more routes and therefore more survival and chances to reproduce while roads provide a barrier to the travel of black bears and limit the ability of the bears to be in the environment suitable for reproduction.

Image – The Bear Smart Society.

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Dragonfly warming up before getting to work.

Did you know dragonflies inhabited earth before dinosaurs? These amazing arthropods can be found near lakes, ponds, rivers, swamps and marshes. After hatching from eggs, dragonflies spend much of their life as nymphs. In this stage, they breathe through gills located in their anus and feast on tadpoles, worms and small fish. After shedding their skin, the adults crawl onto land. Dragonflies must warm up before setting off to do important work in our ecosystem. You will find them soaking up the sun early in the morning before spending the rest of their day on a search for food. Dragonflies control populations of many insects including those pesky mosquitoes. Known as nature’s helicopter, the wings of a dragonfly work both together and independently. This is why we see incredible aerial feats such as hovering, turns and backward flying. The next time you see a dragonfly, spend a few minutes watching one of nature’s wonderful gifts.

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Making Learning FUN

Engaging people of all ages, encouraging critical thinking, answering questions, and of course it involves poop! At Lake Lily Earth Day/Arbor Day. Sending out a special Thank you to IOF’S Advisor Fred Bohler, Directors Dan and Nancy Kon, and High School Educator Dani. Catalina and Stephanie were set up at the Oxbow Eco-Center in Port St Lucie. — Imagine Our Florida, Inc is a science-based educational non profit organization.

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A Look at the Effects and Projections of Global Warming in Florida

In a study published last year, “Species-specific responses to climate change and community composition determine future calcification rates of Florida Keys reefs” the effects of Global Warming were tested on four common coral species in Florida. Of the four coral species, three demonstrated damage to calcium carbonate. The fourth did not seem sensitive to the affects. The study did not take into consideration the damage associated with coral bleaching, the process of algae abandoning the reefs and depriving the coral of needed glucose. After running several models it’s projected that by 2100 declines in coral could range from 10%-100%. If CO2 levels are reduced coral decline would likely be below 20%. How can you help? Here are some ways you can help reduce your carbon footprint at home, work, or on the road.

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is a drama free, Science-Based Educational Organization

https://archive.epa.gov/…/whatyoucando_reducecarbonpollutio…

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Wekiwa State Park

Wekiwa Springs State Park, which is located in Seminole county, holds a wonderful array of habitats. Many go simply for a swim in the beautiful spring. But there are so many miles of well maintained trails to explore. These are some photos taken today from mainly longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystems as well as scrub ecosystems. Please, do not forget to enjoy the beauty of the small things.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is a drama free, Science-Based Educational Organization

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Earth Day weekend update

This weekend has been busy for all of our teams throughout Florida. Melbourne, St. Petersburg, Ocala, Orlando, Pinecrest and this weekend IOF teams will be in Maitland and St. Lucie  We are looking for more volunteers in towns and cities all over Florida. If you are interested in educating people of all ages about Florida’s wildlife, clean water and natural resources click the contact icon and let us know how you would like to help.

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Earth Day and the FWC

As we celebrated Earth Day and the recent win for the bears, please take a moment to contact the FWC commissioners. Thank them for the 2 year break from bear hunting. Thank them for stepping back and looking at science. Kindness matters. Respect gains respect. Remember, they’re receiving tons of negative responses from the people they angered with their decision.

Thank you all for helping spread a little kindness this Earth Day.

http://myfwc.com/cont…/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/

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NO FLORIDA BEAR HUNT FOR 2017

—–NO BEAR HUNT 2017—-

In an unexpected move the commission voted against a 2017 bear hunt. Let’s keep up the hard work on education and advocating for bear ordinances and preventing attractants. Please contact our FWC commissioners and express your thoughts. One email goes to all of the commissioners here.

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Important Environmental Bills in Committee

The environmental Preservation and Conservation committee will hold it’s last session meeting April 19,2017.

SB 1228 would add additional penalties for anyone possessing marine turtles, hatchlings, eggs, parts of nests, etc.
https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2017/pdf/1228.pdf

SB 1304 would take multiple measures to reduce human-bear conflicts and would focus on regulating bear habitat.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/491/BillText/…/PDF

SB 1278 would allow state funds to be allotted to petroleum storage facilities who claim damages due to biodiesel or ethanol.
https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2017/pdf/1278.pdf

SB 1748 would require on site sewage treatment and disposal systems to be inspected prior to the property being sold. This bill would protect soil quality and water sources.
https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2017/pdf/1278.pdf

We encourage you to contact the committee members to let then know how you feel about these issues. A list of committee members with links to contact them can be found here.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/EP

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The EPA is Seeking Important Input

The EPA has regulating air and water quality since December 2, 1970. Since then they have provided information to the public regarding the air and water quality in their area. They conduct research, regulate chemicals and their disposal, and take legal action to protect the health of the citizens and the environment. Here in Florida they have been tracking sea level rise. They have provided students with scholarships in STEM fields. They have monitored phosphorus levels in the Everglades. In 2015 they helped to charge two individuals with who poisoned wildlife and hunting dogs. This is only a snapshot of what the EPA does.

The EPA is now seeking public input on regulations that threaten to loosen regulations that keep our state safe. One regulation even involves, “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth, directs the EPA to review the Clean Power Plan, related rules and the NSPS for Oil and Gas, and all agencies to review existing regulations, orders, guidance documents and policies that potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources.”

This is counter productive to the goal of the EPA and it’s intended purpose. Please, send your comments to Laws-Regs@epa.gov and share how much you appreciate the hard work the EPA has done. You can also make public comments at this link.

https://www.regulations.gov/comment…

For more information can be found at the link below.

https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulatory-reform

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Our Bears Need Us Again

—Our Bears Need Us Again——

With Bears on the agenda at the upcoming FWC meeting, NOW is the time to raise your voice about a potential Bear Hunt. The following article will help you do just that. There is a special section for speaking at the FWC meeting.
Do what you can:
Attend the meeting and bring your friends and family. https://www.facebook.com/events/1646437622319731/
Email and ask your friends and families to do the same. We all care about our bears.http://myfwc.com/cont…/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/
Call and let the commissioners know how you feel about Bear Hunting: 850-488-4676
Now is not the time to remain silent. Our bears are counting on YOU.

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Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve update

—–Florida Department of Environmental Protection—-

NAPLES, Fla. – Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has unveiled a new, 180-gallon marine life exhibit at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. More than a dozen species of marine animals are now on display and available for guests of all ages to discover during regular visiting hours.

“The opportunity to observe and interact with a pygmy sea cucumber, horseshoe crab or lightning whelk provides guests with an intimate connection to our natural environment,” said Keith Laakkonen, Reserve director. “This hands-on, interpretive tank will provide an immersive experience for thousands of students and visitors.”

The new exhibit features a partitioned, state-of-the-art flow-through system, which improves water quality and enables visitors to interact with animals throughout the day. The imaginative, Florida west coast-themed tank includes live sand on the bottom and view-through windows along the side, adding opportunities for guests to observe the diversity of species in the exhibit from different angles.

The 180-gallon display is designed to look and feel like Rookery Bay Reserve’s natural environment with detailed rock formations and a mangrove-themed overflow box. In addition to self-guided engagement with these animals, docent-led programs will also be scheduled throughout the day.

“As we celebrate 40 years of coastal conservation we remain committed to bringing new and improved opportunities to build local knowledge and respect for our beaches, mangrove forests and estuarine waters. The more engaged our community members and visitors are, the more likely we are to appreciate, enjoy and protect this remarkable ecosystem for future generations,” said Laakkonen.

The Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is also open on Saturdays through the end of April. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth 6 to 12 and free for Friends of Rookery Bay members and children under 6. The Environmental Learning Center is located at 300 Tower Road, off Collier Boulevard between Naples and Marco Island.

About Rookery Bay Research Reserve
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses 110,000 acres of coastal lands and waters and is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Coastal Office in partnership with NOAA. Its mission is to provide a basis for informed stewardship of estuaries in Southwest Florida through research and education. For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal, www.nerrs.noaa.gov or www.rookerybay.org.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/…/bulletins/18fad06

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/…/bulletins/18fad06

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IOF south central team has made IOF official in Highlands County

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is proud to present our library display at Lake Placid Public Library in Highlands county. Be sure to stop by and learn about our bears and how they will regulate their own population as long as humans let them. Thank you Donnalee Hilden for creating this incredible teaching display!
Lake Placid Public Library
205 W Interlake Blvd
Lake Placid, Florida
33852

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Gopherus polyphemus

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is an amazing resident of the state of Florida. Considered a Keystone species, over 400 species use the gopher tortoise burrows. They are a terrestrial (land dwelling) species, occupying dry, well draining land in various habitats. It takes 18-25 years for gopher tortoises to become sexually mature and they can live for more than 60 years. If you find a gopher tortoise crossing the road, it is ok to stop and assist them. Place them off the side of the road in the direction they were traveling. DO NOT RELOCATE A TORTOISE! They have a very strong homing instinct and will wander to find their home range. The survival rate of tortoises relocated is very low. Gopher tortoises also have an amazing ability to heal themselves so if you find an injured tortoise, often the best thing to do is place them near their burrow so they can return home and heal. Keep an eye out or more detailed information on this iconic Florida species in the upcoming months!

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Just another reason IOF educates at events of all kinds

What a beautiful day to connect with the children of Wekiva and show them how they can coexist with our bears! Every single adult was horrified to learn there may be another bear hunt. Be sure to talk to your friends and family about what they can do. Come to the FWC meeting and make your voice heard. (Event in the comments) Can’t make it? As a concerned citizen, let FWC know how you feel about our black bears and black bear hunts. Call 850-488-4676 Be sure to follow up with an email to the commissioners: http://myfwc.com/cont…/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/

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The Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’ is scientifically proven to be good for you

Science proves again why humans need forests. When was the last time you connected with our wild spaces?

https://www.weforum.org/…/the-japanese-practice-of-forest-b…

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Climate Change and The Florida Panther

– Laura Betts B.E.A.R. Monitor Guest Columnist

2016 was the 40th consecutive year with a global temperature above the 20th-century average. Over 97% of scientists agree that climate change is happening, and caused by human activities primarily burning fossil fuels. Threats to Florida include increased hurricane intensity, a temperature increase of nearly 3°F and sea level rise of 1 to 4 feet by 2100.

Florida is home to 50 endangered species. Scientists predict the Florida panther may go extinct because of loss of habitat due to sea level rise if rapid conservation actions are not taken to establish populations to the north. Planning should include wildlife corridors that link wildlife populations throughout Florida and educate people how to live safely with wildlife if we plan on saving our endangered species.

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Imagine Our Florida, Inc. has reached Silver Level with GuideStar

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. received the GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Silver level logo, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability provided by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofits. The logo demonstrates Imagine Our Florida’s deep commitment to nonprofit transparency and accountability.

In order to be awarded the Silver logo, Imagine Our Florida, Inc. had to fill out every required field of our nonprofit profile on www.guidestar.org for that level of participation.

We hope you will check us out and tell us what you think: Imagine Our Florida’s GuideStar Profile

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Florida Panther, A Love Story

With gratitude to Jay for sharing this educational video with IOF. Be sure to check out his website for more images of our beloved state. http://www.jaystatonphotography.com/

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36 Eye-opening Facts about Water

 

 

 

 

 

1. The average human body is made of 50 to 65 percent water.

2. Newborn babies are made up of 78 percent water.

3. A gallon of water weighs

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Department of Environmental Protection does not just make rules

The Department of Environmental Protection does not just make rules. They provide needed funding to communities to protect Florida’s water for all of us.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/…/bulletins/18c170c

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Earth Hour

Earthy hour is this Saturday at 8:30 pm. Please participate if you can! Thank you! https://www.earthhour.org/

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Manatees and their babies

On March 21, 2017 a mother manatee was seen swimming the waters of Pinellas County, Florida. Manatee babies known as calves, will stay with

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It’s Imagine Our Florida Night at Painting With A Twist – Painting with a Purpose

You asked for it and it’s here. Mark Your calendars. Wednesday April 12 at the Altamonte Springs Painting with a Twist. Bring your friends and family. Enjoy a wonderful night with your friends and meet new friends who care about Florida’s natural resources. A portion of the proceeds will benefit IOF. It’s a win – win for you and for our wildlife. Cost $35 each. Ages 10 and up.

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BLACK BEAR HABITAT RESTORATION ACT

The Florida Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act will be heard in the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee on March 28th. If your senator is on the EPC committee, (see link below) tell him/her how you feel about this habitat restoration act. Senators may sponsor bills. To ask your Senator to sponsor SB1304 find your Senator here: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/…/Repre…/myrepresentative.aspx
Read the Bill here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/01304

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Celebrate Spring!

It’s a beautiful day to connect with nature.
Today is the day that begins the season of rebirth, new beginnings, longer days and warmer weather.
Take a walk in your yard or in a park today. What signs of spring do you see? New buds? Nests being prepared?
Our ancestors connected with the sun as their calendar. The spring equinox marked the first day of the season to plant seeds. What will you plant in your garden this summer? An edible garden? A native plant, shrub or tree? Will it offer nectar for the bees and butterflies or food and a place to hide for birds and other wildlife?
No matter what your plans, take some time to reconnect with nature. Imagine the possibilities this day of new beginnings will bring to you!

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Urban Coyotes

Did you know that there are coyotes in Florida? The coyote, a member of the dog family, is not native to the state and once could only be found living in the western area of the United States, but now live in every state except Hawaii. Coyotes were brought to Florida in the 1920’s – to be hunted – and have since spread to every county in the state, except the Florida Keys. Generally, the medium-sized animals present no danger to humans unless provoked. Rather, they prey on smaller animals, such as squirrels, rats, opossum, raccoons, rabbits, and snakes, and also eat fruit, and… neighborhood cats.

You may be wondering how to successfully coexist with these amazing animals. There are some very important habits to put into practice – whether dealing with coyotes, bears, or any other wild animals. These include: 1) securing your trash in animal-proof containers; 2) not letting small pets run free outside, particularly at dawn, dusk, and at night; always making sure the area around bird feeders is clean; and 4) not leaving your pet’s food outside, and 5) making sure there is no fruit lying on the ground in your yard. By following these practices, you should be able to minimize the possibility of attracting a coyote. However, should you see one, just stay calm and be prepared to shoo it away by making lots of noise. Chances are, the coyote will be more frightened of YOU and run away! Be sure to stand your ground until the animal leaves or it may become emboldened and return at a later time.

For information about coyotes in Florida, check out this interesting video series from the University of Florida and the Manatee County Extension Service. http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/FMNP/video.shtml

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Illegal Eagles?

Did you know that it is against federal law to possess an eagle feather, if one is not Native American? Under 16 USCS § 668 (50 CFR 22), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act passed in 1940 (modified in 1962 to include the Golden Eagle), it is illegal to, “knowingly, or with wanton disregard for the consequences of his act take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or in any manner, any bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof of the foregoing eagles, or whoever violates any permit or regulation issued pursuant to this Act…” Eagle feathers vary according to the age and species. For an idea of what these look like, check out the National Eagle Repository site at: https://www.fws.gov/eaglerepository/photos.php

First time violators may face a fine of up to $5,000 or one year in prison. For individuals caught and convicted a second time, the fine increases to $10,000 and not more than two years in prison. So, should you see an eagle feather on the ground, respect its cultural meaning and admire its beauty, while allowing it to remain in its natural setting.

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Meet Rosie

Meet Rosie, IOF’s Education and Event Coordinator for the Ocala area. Rosie brings with her a lifetime of experience and wisdom which she freely shares with all of us. IOF is honored and grateful that Rosie has joined the team. We look forward to advancing our mission together with you Rosie!
https://www.imagineourflorida.org/team/rosie-birnbaum/

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Your voice is important

Don’t ever think your voice is not important. When combined with others, together, you create a roar that’s hard to ignore. This is a recent email sent by Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine. “Citizens Can Win!”

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Oceanic White Tip Sharks

Not long ago the Oceanic White Tip Shark was abundant throughout the world and included waters surrounding Florida. Recently a drastic population reduction has occurred. As the Endangered Species Act petition states, ” an estimated 200,000 to 1,200,000 oceanic whitetips are killed annually to support the international fin trade (Bonfil, et al., 2008 at 7; E-CoP16-Prop-42 at 8; see also Clarke, et al.)” You can help this open ocean shark by making public comments. These sharks may seem scary but cleaner fish rely on them for food. When the sharks come close to reefs small fish like the one in this picture will feed off parasites that may be attached to the shark or other open ocean dwellers. If these cleaner fish don’t get access to these parasites regularly they will start to feed off the flesh of the fish within the reef areas. This can create open wounds and infections and can hurt smaller fish who naturally live in these areas. These sharks help to keep our unique ecosystems in balance and healthy. Please, make public comments at the link below and support the ESA petition to list these sharks.

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Thundering Spirit Pow Wow update

We had the great honor to be granted a space to pitch our tent and reach hundreds of folks at the Thundering Spirit Pow Wow. People of all ages, stopped by our tent and learned that without human intervention, Nature provides our bears with a way to assure their population will never outgrow their available food sources. It is with extreme gratitude that IOF wants to recognize our volunteers who helped table this event. Rosie Birnbaum, Lourdes Brown, Julia Sable, Stephany Gustafson and Alyssa, we couldn’t have done it without you!

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Robinwood Neighborhood gets Bear Resistant Trash Cans

Another win for Seminole County Bears! Thank you to Virginia Oros, ambassador for Wekiva Wild and Scenic and Kate McFall from The Humane Society of the United States,who partnered in this program after being inspired by Commissioner Lee Constantine’s active role in the human-bear conflict issues in Seminole. This is what happens when constituents work with lawmakers. It’s a good day for the people and bears of Seminole County.

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Lake Okeechobee Update from Florida Senate

——–Lake Okeechobee Update from Florida Senate——-

This statement was released March 3, 2017 regarding progress with Lake Okechobee and how to handle the water crisis.

TO: All Senators

FROM: Joe Negron, President

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I had the opportunity to meet in Washington with Senator Rubio, Senator Nelson, Members of Congress, senior budget staff, and high-level representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the best way to reduce and ultimately eliminate the devastating discharges from Lake Okeechobee. After completing these meetings and reviewing related documents, here are five things I know:

1. If Florida advances funds to complete the rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee, the federal government will not repay the money to Florida. We will have simply spent hundreds of millions of dollars of General Revenue funds on what is unquestionably a federal responsibility.

2. As I have consistently advocated from day one, Florida’s best scientists should determine the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS) and not the Army Corps of Engineers. Achieving this goal would take an act of Congress, a highly unlikely outcome.

3. Once the Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation is complete in 2024, the Army Corps of Engineers is not committed to storing one more gallon of water in Lake Okeechobee. The LORS must go through a multi-year review process, with the Corps predicting only negligible modifications to the release schedule. The Corps wants to avoid expected negative impacts it believes would result if the Lake is managed at higher levels than the present.

4. Under both the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), redirecting damaging Lake Okeechobee discharges southward to improve the flow, timing, and distribution of water through the Everglades has already been authorized. The issue is not if we will have additional southern storage, it is when and where.

5. If the Florida Legislature approves and funds additional water storage south of Lake Okeechobee, the Army Corps of Engineers will reevaluate the order of priority in the 2016 Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS). Florida is a partner in Everglades restoration and its decisions influence and impact federal participation in the 50-50 matching program. An example of this reality is the Corps’ recent initiation of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed one year earlier than planned after adverse discharge events.

I look forward to discussing this important issue further when we reconvene in Tallahassee next week.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Media/PressReleases/Show/2658

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Science has proven

Science has proven that a bear population, in the absence of human influence and when only natural food sources are available, will not outgrow its food sources. If food is scarce, bears will have fewer, and in some cases, no cubs.. With all of the conversions, revitalization work and other human disruptions in our forests, IOF believes that we should assess all of these projects and their impact on our Florida Black Bears. Please let your lawmakers know how you feel.
Find Your Senators and Representatives: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Secti
Find a Senate Bill, Committee, watch action on the floor: https://www.flsenate.gov/
https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators

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Occupational Safety

——-Occupational Safety——-

Commercial vehicle drivers have a tough job. Long hours, traffic, and deadlines to meet. Extra caution must be used when to avoid accidents. Wildlife often need to cross roads to avoid dangers and look for food. It’s important to keep a watchful eye. If you have commercial vehicle drivers at your place of business you can feel free to print this reminder to help keep our wildlife and our commercial drivers safe. The file can be downloaded from the following link.

https://drive.google.com/open…

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Think like a Bear

——Think Like a Bear——-

This video by Bear Smart Society puts into perspective why bears take many of the risks they do when interacting with humans. Here in Florida there were 5,132 bear calls last year. Much work has been done in that time including $850,000 in grant money for bear proof trash cans awarded to various areas within bear prone areas. However, Florida has been experiencing a high fluctuation of new residents at an estimated 1,000 people a day. Education is the key to getting these new residents on board. Please, share this video with your community groups, friends, and family so we can work together and coexist peacefully with our majestic wildlife.
https://vimeo.com/71380613

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Mt. Dora Pow Wow update

Last weekend, we had the great honor to be granted a space to pitch our tent and reach hundreds of folks at the Thundering Spirit Pow Wow. People of all ages, stopped by our tent and learned that without human intervention, Nature provides our bears with a way to assure their population will never outgrow their available food sources. It is with extreme gratitude that IOF wants to recognize our volunteers who helped table this event. Rosie Birnbaum, Lourdes Brown, Julia Sable, Stephany Gustafson and Alyssa, we couldn’t have done it without you!

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Update on Mediterranean Blue event

Mediterranean Blue hosted IOF for a night of good food and good company.. Thank you Jen for organizing the event, then inviting your family to celebrate your birthday with us. Thank you Arlene and Stephany for helping meet and greet. Thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed the deliciously wonderful,authentic Greek food and learned about our iconic black bears. When you are in south Orlando, be sure to stop into Mediterranean Blue and show your gratitude by supporting Bob who so generously gave back to our state with his donation to IOF. 🙂 Thank You Bob!

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Pasco County Residents – Critical Feedback Needed

—-Pasco County Residents—-
—Critical Feedback Needed—
It is important to keep recyclables out of our ecosystems for the sake of our wildlife and humans too. Increased recycling will delay an approx cost of 190 million to Pasco County taxpayers. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RecyclePasco2017

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Florida Panther population update Feb. 2017

Florida panther population estimate updated

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have updated the estimated number of endangered Florida panthers in their breeding range south of the Caloosahatchee River.

The updated population estimate is 120 to 230 adult and subadult Florida panthers, according to a February 2017 report from the agencies collaborating on conservation and recovery efforts. The previous Florida panther population estimate was 100 to 180 adult and subadult panthers in 2014. These population estimates do not include kittens, which are still dependent on their mothers.

The panther population report is available on FloridaPantherNet.org.

The report emphasizes both the importance and difficulty in obtaining accurate panther population estimates, which is similar to estimating other puma populations in western states. Currently, Florida scientists are evaluating several methods to refine their ability to estimate the panther population size, including the use of trail cameras and panther road mortality data. The current numbers, developed jointly by USFWS and FWC scientists, use annual counts of panthers primarily conducted on public lands. Density of panthers on these areas is then multiplied across the larger area that makes up the primary breeding range in south Florida. Although there are some panthers outside of this range in south Florida and in areas north of the Caloosahatchee River, they are primarily dispersing males and do not significantly contribute to the breeding population.

“This latest Florida panther population estimate is good news, an indication that conservation efforts are on track in helping recover this endangered animal,” said Kipp Frohlich, FWC’s Deputy Director for the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. “In the 1970s and 1980s, it was estimated only 20 to 30 panthers remained in Florida.”

Larry Williams, the USFWS’s Florida State Supervisor of Ecological Services, believes the new numbers indicate things are trending in the right direction — due in part to a strong partnership with the state of Florida.

“Continued recovery will require a long-term concerted effort by many partners committed to finding common-sense solutions that balance many different and competing interests, yet are grounded in a shared purpose of conserving the lands that support Florida’s native wildlife and its ranching heritage,” Williams said.

The public is encouraged to report sightings of panthers or their tracks, and in particular photos, to MyFWC.com/PantherSightings to help with panther research and management. Biologists are especially interested in pictures of panthers north of the Caloosahatchee River, which runs from Lake Okeechobee to Fort Myers.

Floridians also can help panther conservation efforts by purchasing the “Protect a Panther” vehicle tag from local tax collector’s offices.

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New Life Village and IOF

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. partnered with Florida Skunk Rescue to bring an educational event to the community at New Life Village and educate the kids about animal behavior and to change their outlook on some animals that are typically misunderstood including the majestic bears and lovable skunks.

New Life Village (NLV) is an intergenerational community designed for families raising foster and adopted children. Its mission is to reduce the number of children in foster care by encouraging more families to adopt and by providing these adoptive families a loving, supportive place to call home. NLV residents have either adopted a child or are in the process of doing so. The Village was founded by Sister Claire LeBoeuf, CSC of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross. Sister Claire has spent her entire adult life advocating for abused and neglected children. Several seniors also call NLV home. They serve as surrogate grandparents and volunteers to the children and to the mission. The Village offers a reduced rent incentive to assist these families. The Village also offers several onsite programs to support parents and children

To learn more about the village visit the website at http://newlifevillage.org/

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Mediterranean Blue -Restaurant Fundraiser

Monday, February 27 at 6 PM – 9 PM
at Mediterranean Blue -Fundraiser – https://www.facebook.com/events/136827683503337/
Experience the Best Greek food in Orlando while helping IOF reach folks throughout the state. IOF is on a Mission to preserve and protect our natural resources, wildlife and land via science based education and by showing people how to connect with our natural world. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit IOF. Delight your taste buds while helping reach people of all ages throughout Florida. Bring your family and friends and join us! See you all at Mediterranean Blue

Mon 6-9 PM · 435 E Michigan St, Orlando, FL 32806-4555

Mediterranean Blue has limited parking. (Add’l parking available next door at the insurance company and the lot across the street (brown building). If those are filled, you may park on Jersey Street behind the restaurant.)

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We need your help!

March 3,4,5 Mt Dora Thundering Spirit PowWow
http://thunderingspiritfamily.com
Volunteer tabling opportunity. We still need volunteers for Sat and Sunday.

Educate people of all ages while enjoying the native american spirit.

Contact us at info@imagineourflorida.org to schedule when you can help.

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We don’t have to be SuperHeroes

If each of us gives a little, together we will have
——— SuperHero STRENGTH ————–

Imagine Our Florida has provided several opportunities for you to participate in.
-Volunteer for one of our tabling events and help teach folks of all ages about our iconic black bears. There is a hunt to be voted on and our bears need our voices.
– Enjoy a meal at one of our upcoming IOF nights at Central Florida restaurants.
– Come out to Gandy Beach and let’s get it cleaned up together!
-Attend an FWC meeting and show your support for our bears.
-Keep an eye out for Painting With a Twist opportunities in Miami, Ocala and Orlando
We are exploring a river cleanup in Central Florida too!

Do you have an idea? Would you like to host and event? Contact us. We will work together to protect and preserve our natural resources, wildlife and land 🙂

– In addition to the events below, we need a few volunteers for Earth Day events in the Sunrise/Miami area

LETS PUT ON OUR IMAGINARY CAPES AND DO WHAT WE CAN

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Public Comments Hardrock Mining

The below docket proposes holdoing hardrock miners financially responsible for environmental damage. It states, “EPA expects this proposed rule will, when made final, increase the likelihood that owners and operators will provide funds necessary to address the CERCLA liabilities at their facilities, thus preventing owners or operators from shifting the burden of cleanup to other parties, including the taxpayer. In addition, EPA expects that by adjusting the amount of financial responsibility to account for environmentally safer practices, it would provide an incentive for implementation of sound practices at hardrock mining facilities and thereby decrease the need for future CERCLA actions.’

Feel free to make public comments at the below link.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment…

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Public Comments for Drinking Water

——–Public Comments for Drinking Water——–

The EPA does a review every six years to determine water regulations. Do you have concerns about the safety of your drinking water? Submit your concerns here.

https://www.regulations.gov/document…

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Sandhill Cranes are saying goodbye

Sandhill Cranes are saying goodbye as they begin their early journey north. The effects of Climate Change are revealed all around us, if only we will take time to listen.

“Three subspecies live year-round in Florida, Mississippi, and Cuba. Three other subspecies migrate from northern North America to the southern United States and northern Mexico.” Learn more here:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/gu…/sandhill_crane/lifehistory

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Poaching

This photo was taken by a Florida resident who discovered a poached alligator near Okeechobee, FL. It was left to die while being tied by the neck. Alligator season ended on November 1, 2016. According to FWC it is required that a harvest report is produced for any alligator killed. Their website also states, “Floridians and non-residents who are at least 18 years old to take up to 2 alligators per permit. Applicants who are awarded a permit must pay for two CITES tags and an Alligator Trapping License, or provide proof of possession of an Alligator Trapping License valid through the end of the alligator harvest season.”

FWC officers said they see situations like these occasionally. It’s important to report any poaching within the state. This is necessary to reduce the chance of species being hunted to extinction. To report violations you can do so with the following options.

Phone:1- 888-404-FWCC (3922)
Online: https://publictemp.myfwc.com/LE/WildlifeAlert/AlertMap.aspx
Text: Tip@myFWC.com

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IOF Vice-President Addresses FWC

During public comments and today’s FWC meeting Vice-President Aymee Laurain addresses the commissioners with the following regarding Forest Plan Amendment to reassign Management Areas on the Ocala National Forest (Amendment 12).

“I wanted to thank FWC for backing our request to have the Florida Black Bear incorporated into the Forest Plan Amendment to reassign management areas on the Ocala National Forest (amendment 12.) This amendment focuses on management of 50,000 acres of bear habitat within the Ocala National Forest.

According to information from this report of the estimated 1,084-1,564 black bears in the Ocala and St. John’s population there are approximately 310-400 bears within the Ocala National Forest. Many are females of which future bear populations rely on.

The biological assessment for this project identified the following risks for the bears.

“Pre-burn roller-chopping and maintenance burning without prior roller-chopping occurring during the denning months (January 1 to April 15) would cause denning females within these stands to flee and likely abandon cubs.”

“Abandoned cubs could in turn be killed by chopping or burning activities.”

The assessment also states that while xeric oak scrub would in the long-term produce a better harvest yield, the landscape would decrease available denning habitat.

Both scrub oaks and palmetto would not produce a sufficient mast for 2-7 years after fire or mechanical vegetation removal.

We hope the commission will recognize that while these are necessary projects that would benefit many species long term, the short term effects could have a negative effect on the currently black bear populations and similar projects over the past few years, which also provide benefits to other species as well as important benefits to correct water flow from years of soil and landscape damage, many have already impacted the bear population and could have interfered with population estimates. I hope the commission will recognize the need to further monitor the bear populations and make every attempt to withhold from any population reduction. Thank you.”

 

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FWC Meeting Live

Tune in Wednesday and Thursday for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner meeting. Meetings start at 8:30 a.m. both days.

For the meeting agenda:

http://myfwc.com/…/commission-meet…/2017/february/08/agenda/

Watch at:  http://thefloridachannel.org/

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APHIS

Recently a branch of the USDA in charge of monitoring inspections of facilities, monitoring of animal health and disease, and agricultural inspection of imports and exports to ensure safety from parasites and invasive species removed information about facilities which was previously made available to the public. The branch known as APHIS, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, was an important tool which the public could use to monitor potential facility inspections including wildlife rehabilitation facilities and zoos and aquariums who frequently work with FWC to rehabilitate wildlife. While this is an inconvenience, you can still request this information via the Freedom of Information Act. Here’s a link directly from the APHIS page explaining how you can submit it. Feel free to share.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/ct_how_to_submit_a_foia_request

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Florida Water Problems are not for the Birds

-FloWour coastal waters. We have eutrophication from agricultural drainage ditches and Lake Occechobee washing into estuaries, nuclear power plant leaks in Biscayane Bay, waste water pumping, leaks, and overflow all along our coasts causing various bacterial problems, and ongoing problems that remain from the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. When we know the problems it’s much easier to develop solutions. In the case of Coffee Pot Bayou in St. Petersburg, FL we are still unsure what is causing the death of dozens of brown pelicans. There are several theories out there. The good news is some of these birds were able to be rehabilitated which gives some hope.

St. Pete pelicans released back into the wild after weeks of rehabilitation

 

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FCC Legislative Priorities

From our Friends at the Florida Conservation Coalition

————–FCC Legislative Priorities—————–

Below is a summary of some of the environmental legislation that has been filed thus far in the 2017 Legislative Session. The FCC has agreed to focus on funding for statewide conservation land acquisition and legislation to protect Florida’s waters. We will keep you updated as bills move through the House and Senate and hope you will stay engaged and contact your legislators about the proposed legislation below.
Please feel free to reach out to the FCC and our Member Organizations if you have any questions.
Best,
Gladys
Environmental Appropriations

The FCC will continue to advocate for increased funding for conservation land acquisition in step with the will of the voters who overwhelmingly passed 2014’s Amendment 1, the Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment.

Appropriations will be shaped by last year’s Legacy Florida Act and several other bills discussed below.
Other Environmental Legislation of Interest
Land Acquisition Trust Fund (2014’s Amendment One Dollars)

SB 10 (Sen. Bradley), “Reservoir Project in the Everglades Agricultural Area”: This bill is related to Senator Negron’s proposal to buy land in the Everglades Agricultural Area, south of Lake Okeechobee, for construction of a reservoir to help reduce discharges to coastal estuaries and send water south into Everglades National Park. SB 10 permits all costs associated with the reservoir, including the costs for land acquisition, construction, and operation and maintenance, to be funded out of the Florida Forever program – historically the primary source for statewide conservation land acquisition. The bill authorizes bonding of $1.2 billion to purchase land either through a willing seller or by executing the existing contract with U.S. Sugar. The FCC is still analyzing the bill to determine how it will impact allocations from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and funding for other conservation priorities.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (February 7, 2:00 PM, 412 Knott Building); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

SB 112 (Sen. Brandes), “Flood Hazard Mitigation”: This bill would:
Subject to appropriation, allocate up to $50 million annually from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (2014’s Amendment One dollars) for flood hazard risk reduction policies and projects, including the acquisition of flood-prone property and development of green infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding. Funds would be used for a matching grant program through the Division of Emergency Management.
Require an annual appropriation of a sum not to exceed $820,000 from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to the Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund for nonrecurring administrative costs of implementing the grant program.
Add Flood Mitigation Projects to the list of projects that the Florida Communities Trust program can fund, undertake, and coordinate.

Senate Referrals: Banking and Insurance; Community Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Appropriations

SB 230 (Sen. Artiles), “Nonnative Animals”: This bill would allocate $300,000 annually, for two years, from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (2014’s Amendment One) to implement a pilot program focused on mitigating the impact of tegu lizards and other invasive species on public lands. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, would establish this pilot program with the goal of examining the benefits of using strategically deployed hunting teams to target the invasive species and simultaneously collect information for research purposes. FWC would submit a report of findings and recommendations regarding the pilot program to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2020.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

SB 234 (Sen. Bradley), “Land Acquisition Trust Fund”: This bill would require an annual allocation from (2014’s) Amendment One dollars for the St. Johns River Water Management District to help fund projects dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the St. Johns River and its tributaries or the Keystone Heights Lake Region. The allocation is for $35 million annually.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

HB 551 (Rep. Stone), “Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems”: This bill would require an annual appropriation of $20 million from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (Amendment One dollars). These funds would be used to help property owners retrofit their septic systems or switch to central sewer when DEP finds that their septic systems are contributing excess nutrient pollution to the Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. The funds would also be used for muck dredging and storm-water improvements in the northern Indian River Lagoon.

Additionally, this bill would require the adoption of septic tank remediation plans where DEP determines they’re necessary for meeting pollution reduction goals set by Total Maximum Daily (Pollution) Loads for water bodies. Plans would include options for septic system repair, upgrade, or replacement; drain field modification; the addition of effective nutrient-reducing features; and connection to central sewer.

Water

HB 285 (Rep. Fischer; Rep. Leek; Rep. Massullo), “Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Inspections”: This bill would require septic system inspections at the point of sale for real estate transactions.

House Referrals: Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee; Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee; Commerce Committee

HB 413 (Rep. Antone), “Water Oversight and Planning”: This bill would establish a Water Oversight & Planning Board to oversee regional water supply and water quality planning, flood protection planning, and environmental restoration. The board would include two members appointed by the Governor, several industry-minded members, and one representative from an environmental organization. The stated purposes of this Board are basic functions of the water management districts. The Board would further weaken the autonomy of the water management districts.

SB 532 (Sen. Galvano/Sen. Stewart), “Public Notification of Pollution”: This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to publish a list of substances that would present an immediate and substantial risk to public health, safety, or welfare if released at specified quantities. If these substances are released into the environment, the owner or operator must report the release to DEP within 24 hours. If an owner or operator of an installation fails to comply with this law, they would be subject to up to $10,000 per day of civil penalties for each violation.

The bill would also require to DEP to share each report under this law with the public within 24 hours.

“Fracking”

HB 35 (Rep. Jenne), “Well Stimulation Treatments”: This bill prohibits a person from performing well stimulation treatments for exploration or production of oil or natural gas, including “fracking.”

House Referrals: Natural Resources & Public Lands Subcommittee; Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee

SB 98 (Sen. Farmer), “Stop Fracking Act”: This bill would ban extreme well stimulation techniques, including “fracking,” in Florida. It would prevent a person from performing these operations and DEP from authorizing these operations.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Community Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

SJR 108 (Sen. Farmer), “Extreme Well Stimulation Ban Resolution”: This resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would ban extreme well stimulation techniques, including “fracking,” in Florida.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Community Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

SB 442, (Sen. Young/Sen. Perry/Sen. Farmer/ Sen. Latvala/ Sen. Stewart), “Advanced Well Stimulation Treatment”: This bill would ban “advanced well stimulation” techniques, including “fracking,” in Florida. It makes it clear that a permit for drilling or operating a well doesn’t authorize the performance of “advanced well stimulation treatments.”

An identical bill has been filed in the House by Rep. Miller: HB 451.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations

Environmental Regulation Commission

SB 198 (Sen. Stewart/Sen. Rodriguez), “Environmental Regulation Commission”: This bill would:
Establish a deadline of 90 days for filling vacancies on the Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC)
Require a supermajority of the ERC to approve standards in rules relating to air pollution; water quality standards; regulation of consumptive usage of water; hazardous substance release notification; ambient air quality standards; emission standards for stationary sources; surface water quality standards; ground water classes, standards, and exemptions; and drinking water classes, standards, and exemptions.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Ethics and Elections; Rules

Renewable Energy

SB 90 (Sen. Brandes), “Renewable Energy Source Devices”: This bill would implement 2016’s Amendment 4.

Previously renewable energy source devices were exempt from consideration when assessing the value of residential property. This bill extends this exemption to commercial properties as well.

This bill would also exempt renewable energy source devices from ad valorem taxation until December 31, 2037.

Senate Referrals: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities (February 7th, 2:00 PM, SOB 301); Community Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax; Appropriations

SB 456 (Sen. Rodriguez), “Public Utilities”: This bill would exempt certain producers of renewable solar-based energy from being defined as a public utility. It would allow, for example, apartment complexes who produce solar power to sell power to their tenants without having to go through a utility.

Plastic Bags

SB 162 (Sen. Rodriguez), “Disposable Plastic Bags”: This bill would allow coastal communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 to implement pilot programs testing regulations or bans of disposable plastic bags. The pilot programs would take effect on or after January 1, 2018 and would end on or before June 30, 2020. The pilot regulations or bans cannot include new taxes or fees on the use or distribution of disposable plastic bags. Municipalities that implement such pilot programs would collect data on the impact of their regulations or ban and submit a report by April 1, 2020 with this information to the governing board of their municipality at a public hearing. They would also provide a copy of this report to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Community Affairs; Commerce and Tourism; Rules

www.floridaconservationcoalition.com

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Terracycle has accepted IOF as one of the recycle charities

——–Help us raise money while recycling odd items——-
Do you have odd items around your house that you can’t put in your recycling bin? Items such as snack bags, Bausch + Lomb contact lenses, Earths best baby food pouches, Colgate Oral Care items, cigarette butts, and more can be recycled. Sign up at Terracycle and start collecting. Send them in for points and assign Imagine Our Florida, Inc. as your charity. Help us continue our education outreach efforts while making the planet a greener place.
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US

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Eutrophication

 

 

 

 

 

Eutrophication occurs when excessive nutrients build up in waterways such as rivers, lakes, and streams. This creates high amounts of nutrients for plants and algae. When algae blooms occur,

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Florida scientists are researching Florida’s water issues

Clay Henderson, Executive Director of the Stetson University Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, discusses the water issues facing

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Senator Dana Young of Tampa has filed a bill to ban fracking in Florida

*Breaking News*
Senator Dana Young (R) of Tampa has filed a bill to ban fracking in Florida!

“I believe, and it is the belief of most Floridians, that our fragile limestone geology and fragile environment as a whole is incompatible with fracking of any kind. So it’s a balancing act.”

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Bears bite off their foot pads in the winter

—–Fun Fact—-

Did you know that bears bite off their foot pads in the winter?!
They grow fresh foot pads so they won’t have callouses.
It’s like a mani-pedi for bears!

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Apopka Birdapalooza

So many hearts to touch. So many minds to change. Will you volunteer with us?

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Imperiled Species Management Plan rule changes

Imperiled Species Management Plan rule changes are in effect

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.)
Jan. 18, 2017

Suggested Tweet: Imperiled Species Management Plan rule changes in effect. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/…/bulletins/18133ff #Florida #wildlife

The Imperiled Species Management Plan rule changes are now in effect, including changes in listing status for many species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the groundbreaking plan in an effort to achieve conservation success with dozens of imperiled species throughout the state. The plan outlines the steps to conserve 57 species along with the broader vision of restoring habitats essential to the long-term survival of multiple fish and wildlife species.

“Florida is charting an ambitious new path for wildlife conservation success on a statewide scale,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “Seeing a roseate spoonbill wading in shallow waters, a black skimmer resting on the beach or a Big Cypress fox squirrel sitting in a pine tree is an essential part of the Florida experience. This innovative plan is designed to keep imperiled species like these around for many generations to come.”

Nine rules were revised in support of the ISMP, focusing on changes to listing status, adding authorizations in a management plan or Commission-approved guidelines, preventing possession of species coming off the list, and accomplishing overall rule cleanup and clarification. Among the nine rules, one rule affecting inactive nests of non-listed birds is still pending.

Under the rule change that updates species’ listing status:
Fifteen species will no longer be listed as imperiled species because conservation successes improved their status: eastern chipmunk, Florida mouse, brown pelican, limpkin, snowy egret, white ibis, peninsula ribbon snake (lower Keys population), red rat snake (lower Keys population), striped mud turtle (lower Keys population), Suwannee cooter, gopher frog, Pine Barrens tree frog, Lake Eustis pupfish, mangrove rivulus and Florida tree snail. These species still are included in the plan for guidance in monitoring and conserving them.
Twenty-three species are newly listed as state Threatened species, a change from their former status as Species of Special Concern: Sherman’s short-tailed shrew, Sanibel rice rat, little blue heron, tricolored heron, reddish egret, roseate spoonbill, American oystercatcher, black skimmer, Florida burrowing owl, Marian’s marsh wren, Worthington’s marsh wren, Scott’s seaside sparrow, Wakulla seaside sparrow, Barbour’s map turtle, Florida Keys mole skink, Florida pine snake, Georgia blind salamander, Florida bog frog, bluenose shiner, saltmarsh top minnow, southern tessellated darter, Santa Fe crayfish and Black Creek crayfish. Threatened species have populations that are declining, have a very limited range or are very small.
Fourteen species keep their state Threatened status: Everglades mink, Big Cypress fox squirrel, Florida sandhill crane, snowy plover, least tern, white-crowned pigeon, southeastern American kestrel, Florida brown snake (lower Keys population), Key ringneck snake, short-tailed snake, rim rock crowned snake, Key silverside, blackmouth shiner and crystal darter.
Five species remain Species of Special Concern: Homosassa shrew, Sherman’s fox squirrel, osprey (Monroe County population), alligator snapping turtle and harlequin darter. These species have significant data gaps, and the FWC plans to make a determination on their appropriate listing status in the near future.
Important things to know about the Imperiled Species Management Plan:
It includes one-page summaries for each species, including a map of its range in Florida and online links to Species Action Plans. The 49 Species Action Plans contain specific conservation goals, objectives and actions for all 57 species.
It also has Integrated Conservation Strategies that benefit multiple species and their habitats, and focus implementation of the plan on areas and issues that yield the greatest conservation benefit for the greatest number of species.
Learn more about the plan at MyFWC.com/Imperiled.

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New Sponsor

Imagine Our Florida is more than grateful to our sponsors, Marie and Matthew from SeaLife Aquarium in Apopka. Your friendship and support are valued by all of us at IOF.

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Wildlife Crossing Proposal

Recently, we submitted a proposal to Google with a vision of getting wildlife crossing alerts on the google map app.

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Sabal Trails Gopher Tortoise Turmoil

Sabal Trails Gopher Tortoise Turmoil

by: Aymee Laurain

 

A recently released bi-weekly report on the Sabal Trail pipeline demonstrated some insight on the ecological effects of the gopher tortoise in the area.  The report Docket No. CP15-17-000  stated the following:

●Spread 3, Georgia, a total of 4 burrows were investigated and eliminated and 2 gopher tortoises were captured and excluded from the workspace. 

● Spread 3, Florida, 80 burrows investigated, 43 excavated, and 20 tortoises relocated. 

●Spread 4, 135 burrows were investigated, 103 excavated, and 35 gopher tortoises were captured and excluded from the workspace. 

● Spread 5, 602 burrows were investigated, 369 excavated, and 153 gopher tortoises were captured and excluded from the workspace. 

●Spread 6, excavations continue, 20 burrows were investigated, 15 excavated, and 7 gopher tortoises were excluded or relocated.” Is there a reason the remaining tortoises are not being relocated?

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. contacted FWC regarding the information in the document.  The response was as follows:

“I am happy to answer your question, but would like to know what report you are referring to in your request below since it is not from a FWC report. Knowing the source and dates of your information will be helpful! Also the reports to FWC are not yet submitted, but I am told that the Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent is working on entering the data this week. So we may not have the info you are asking about right now. This information contained in the gopher tortoise permits are viewable/searchable by the public online at http://myfwc.com/gophertortoise/permitting. See attached for an overview of the FWC permit system.

As I noted previously we do not yet have reports from ST about the relocation that has occurred. However, I was able to obtain clarification regarding the data in the FERC report. The burrows investigated included all gopher tortoise burrows that had been documented during any of the previous tortoise burrow surveys.  Some of those burrows had either become abandoned or were no longer intact burrows.  The remainder of the non-excavated burrows ether occurred outside of the pipeline work area corridor or were just at the edge and going off-site;  those burrows were excluded from the corridor work area with silt fencing. They only excavated and relocated tortoises could not be excluded, and were in the right of way, resulting in the difference of numbers of burrows v. excavated v. tortoises.

Once the report is entered into the online permit system, you will be able to access the tortoise data from that system. Please let 

me know if you have any further questions on this project.”

With the numbers previously documented compared to those recently found it would appear there has already been a reduction in the population.  Following the message we asked if there be any follow-up research to determine the actual impact of this project on the tortoises?

“Each tortoise will use multiple burrows over the course of a season or year, but each burrow does not typically host multiple tortoises. The average occupancy rate for gopher tortoise burrows is 50%, but that rate fluctuates per site. On sections of the corridor, the occupancy rate was lower, which is not uncommon, as rates can range from 30%-70% depending on habitat conditions and soils. Therefore the number of burrows does not indicate the population size. There was no evidence of mortality and the population appears healthy.

We partnered with UCF and Sabal Trail on a research project at Halpata Preserve associated with temporary exclusion of tortoises from the right of way corridor, and the UCF researcher will complete this study next fall. We have issued permits for the temporary exclusion (v. permanent relocation to another site) for many years and will learn more about the tortoises re-homing ability back to the corridor once the exclusion fencing is removed. Regardless of the study, temporary displacement is much preferred over permanent relocation as typically done with development projects since the habitat will be available to tortoises again after the pipeline project is completed. This also helps keep the resident population intact and minimizes stress to the animals cause by longer translocations.”

One study identified 31-68% occupancy rates throughout pine forests in Florida. (Ashton, 2008) With survival rates at only 5.8% (Auffenberg, 1969) due to predation.  With odds such as these every effort should be taken to reduce threats to this already threatened species.  Perhaps we need to take a step back and ask ourselves if projects such as these are really even necessary. Given the number of pipeline incidents have increased from 381 in 1996 to 715 in 2015 is would seem we should be using more modern technology and steer clear of these incidents in the future.  On the brighter side, the number of fatalities appears to have dropped from 53 in 1996 to 10 in 2015 with a total of 347 deaths overall in the past 20 years. Add in the overall 1,346 injuries and that is a deal breaker for many of us.   For others, perhaps the average cost of these incidents at the amount of $342,970,468 annually might be a more pressing matter.  Is it really worth the risk to humans, wildlife, or tax payers?

 References:

Auffenberg, W. 1969. Tortoise behavior and survival. Rand McNally, Chicago, IL.

Ashton, Ray E.; Ashton, Patricia Sawyer. 2008. The natural history and management of the gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus (Daudin). Malibar, FL: Krieger Publishing Company. 275 p. [73126]


http://www.fwspubs.org/doi/suppl/10.3996/062015-JFWM-055/suppl_file/062015-jfwm-055.s7.pdf?code=ufws-site

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/reptile/gopo/all.html

https://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/1024/Beauman_Richard_19.pdf?sequence=1

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A big Thank you to all at Paint with a Twist St. Pete

Aymee, a director of IOF, had an amazing turnout at the Painting with a Twist fundraiser in St. Pete. Imagine Our Florida Inc. would love to thank all who attended and had a great time while giving back to an amazing charity who is educating, protecting and preserving Florida’s wildlife, natural resources and land. A big Thank you goes to Painting with a Twist in St Pete. who made this all possible.

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PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity -Sleepy Creek Lands consumptive use permit application-

Sleepy Creek Lands, previously known as Adena Springs Ranch, currently has approval to withdraw 1.46 million gallons per day from our springs. Sleepy Creek is requesting an additional 1.22 million gallons per day for pasture irrigation, crop irrigation, livestock use and commercial/industrial use.

The St. Johns River Management District Governing Board is meeting in Palatka on Tuesday, January 10th to discuss this matter.

Read more in this 2014 article at the Ocala Star Banner: http://www.ocala.com/…/adenasleepy-creek-ruling-a-watershed…

and in this more current Ocala Star Banner article:
http://www.ocala.com/…/st-johns-staff-urges-approval-of-sle…

Make Your Voice Heard.
Click on the link below then under Public input, click to submit your comment.
http://www.sjrwmd.com/facts/AdenaSpringsRanchCUP.html

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Its cold outside – How do our bears stay warm?

—-It’s COLD Outside – How do our Bears Stay Warm?—-

As we know, in the fall, our bears foraged in the forests and some in our trash cans, for foods high in carbohydrates and protein. During this stage of hyperphagia, our bears got fat! Many of our Florida Black Bears, including mother bears who will give birth to cubs next month, are denning. Their deep layer of fat and their fur will keep them warm and snugly in their dens. This warmth allows them to wake easily if disturbed.

There’s more! During this denning period, bears get all the water they need from the break down of fat. Their protein comes from muscle and tissue breakdown. The bear’s bodies miraculously use the nitrogen in urea, which is found in their urine, to make new protein.

During Florida cold snaps, we humans layer our clothes, sit by fires, curl up in blankets, make warm comfort food and sip hot drinks. Our incredible bears simply sleep right through it!

http://www.pbs.org/…/na…/bear-essentials-of-hibernation.html
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/…/Garrison%20et%20al%202012%20black%…

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Black bear day

Take a moment to remember the bears who needlessly lost

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Science Fair and Vegfest

We debuted our new program at St Pete Science Fair and at the Orlando Veg Fest this weekend. It was so incredibly easy. It is approved by Florida Dept of Education. The kids loved it and so did their parents! Who would have thought that it would all begin with bear scat!?!?!
Going forward, we want to get more teaching materials into the hands of teams throughout Florida. aymee-at-st-pete-science-fairvegfest-orlando-1vegfest-orlando-2

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October 2016 B.E.A.R. Monitor Newsletter

 

 



B.E.A.R. Monitor: Bridging Education Advocacy and Research
A Publication of Imagine Our Florida, Inc.

Volume 2016 No.1

Purpose of Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
To bring people together in a shared vision to preserve and protect Florida’s wildlife, habitat and ecosystem. We plan to accomplish this via science- based education and the development of appreciation and respect for the natural world and our place within it.

HELP THE CAUSE!

You can help us safeguard the future of wild Florida; all it takes is a small donation.
IOF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is taxdeductible to the extent allowed by law.

DONATE NOW

In this edition of B.E.A.R. Monitor:

Yankee Candle Fundraiser
Longleaf Pine Ecosystems
Nowhere to Turn: The Plight of the Florida Black Bear
Events Past
Bear-Friendly Ordinances/Resolutions
Upcoming Events
Noteworthy News

Warm Welcome!

Welcome to our very first issue of the IOF newsletter, B.E.A.R. Monitor. It is one year ago to the month that something very profound happened which led to the creation of IOF:  the first Florida black bear hunt in over two decades. The hunt and the events leading up to it irrevocably changed the lives of so many people throughout Florida and beyond, people united by the common goal to attempt to stop the senseless slaughter of our iconic, beautiful black bears.

The failure to stop the hunt in 2015 left so many of us feeling a wide range of emotions. We felt powerless, dejected, depressed, angry, incredulous, and frightened, to name a few. Many of us who were on the front lines counting dead bears as Bear Hunt Monitors continue to suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. We have continued to work tirelessly on behalf of our bears to prevent future hunts from occurring, and although we have splintered and disagreed with each other, we still blaze a trajectory that will never cease until our bears are safe. Together we keep moving forward, whatever the cost.

While the pause button has been pressed for a 2016 bear hunt, thanks to the bear advocates and activists that stormed the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) commissioners meetings, wrote letters and emails, pored over data and documents, protested, and worked around the clock, we all realized that the well-deserved rest must be short-lived. Although so many have worked so long and accomplished so much, we all know there is so much work that lies ahead.

IOF was born out of the anguish, sorrow, and powerlessness that came from being unable to stop the hunt. But the bears that lost their lives that day will not have died in vain. We have awakened, both individually and united, to rise up to the challenge on so many levels. Saving our bears from future hunting, protecting their habitat and the wild spaces that remain, ensuring clean water, these are all necessary and inextricably linked to their well-being as well as our own.

The Florida black bear is our icon, the symbol of the important work to be done, the reason we exist, the face of IOF. We hope you will continue with us on our journey. Welcome.

Imagine Our Florida, Inc.:  Past, Present and Future

 

Dear Florida Habitat Advocates,

Did you know that Imagine Our Florida, Inc. exists because of YOU? If you are reading this, you care about Florida’s black bears and all the wildlife that share the land and water with them. You have volunteered your talents, no matter how big or small, and are part of our mission to preserve and protect Florida’s natural resources, wildlife and land. 

Imagine Our Florida was formed in Jan 2016. In a few short months, together, we have accomplished this: 

Committee for Research:
Imagine Our Florida, Inc. has volumes of research material about the Florida black bears and their habitat. This information has been used and will continue to be used for education.

Committee for Bear Resistant Trash Cans:
We have educated county commissioners, environmental services personnel, and residents on the value of bear-resistant trash containers and bear-friendly ordinances. 

SUCCESS! 7 of 14 targeted counties have committed to working on bear resistant cans and/or Bear- friendly ordinances!! Two more counties are in the works!

Committee for Resolutions:
We have educated people on how to successfully advocate for resolutions against the hunt
and have provided documentation to support the resolutions.

Events:
Volunteers have tabled numerous events at Pow Wows, on Earth Day, EcoFest, and more.

Gandy Beach Cleanup- 10 bags of trash and countless sea creatures and land animals protected from the dangers of human garbage. Adults and children were educated on these dangers as well as the dangers of nitrates and manure in our water.

Joined with environmental groups from around the state to sign the Now or Neverglades proclamation.

MAY -Transition Time

Without a doubt, it became clear that Education was our key word.

While tabling, we learned that many people don’t understand how to live safely with our beautiful black bears. Too many folks don’t even know we have bears in Florida.

Governor Bob Graham and Miss Dot, Trouper the Blind Raccoon’s rehabilitator, both told us that the key to protecting our environment is education for all ages.

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is now its own Florida non-profit organization!

Our Future

Launching an Exploratory Committee for funding and building safe wildlife passages

A UCF intern is working with us to write applications for grants on behalf of IOF

Fundraising – We will be launching fundraising campaigns

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. has only just begun. We are thankful for all you have done and all that you will continue to do. Is there an upcoming event in your area? Would you like to volunteer? Message us!

Our single voice is but a whisper. When each of us becomes educated and we share that knowledge with people of all ages, our collective voices will become a ROAR that can’t be ignored.

Imagine what we can do together!

I’m not an environmentalist.  I’m an Earth warrior.  ~Darryl Cherney, quoted in Smithsonian, April 1990

New Affiliations

We are proud to announce that IOF has partnered with the following organizations:

Bear Smart Society
Keep Pinellas Beautiful
U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce

Read Press Releases:

September 21, 2016
IMAGINE OUR FLORIDA, Inc. JOINS THE BEAR SMART SOCIETY!

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. proudly announces a new affiliation with the Get Bear Smart Society based in B.C., Canada. The two organizations share the common vision of peaceful coexistence between humans and bears by replacing fear and misunderstanding with a healthy respect and appreciation. To these ends, education is paramount!

“I am delighted about our new affiliation with the Get Bear Smart Society,” said Director Arlene Cuellar. “Through this global partnership we will build awareness of our natural species and create a greater understanding of what we need to do to become better environmental stewards.”

The Get Bear Smart Society helps people to safely coexist with bears by changing people’s attitudes and behaviors, fostering an understanding and appreciation of bears and all wildlife. This coincides perfectly with the philosophy and practice of Imagine Our Florida, Inc.

If you haven’t checked out their website, you will be pleasantly surprised by all the useful and interesting information which includes tips on managing bears and also managing people and communities to live in harmony with bears. Included on the website is a list of communities which have succeeded in helping humans and bears coexist. As they say on the website, it is important to share these stories because “success breeds success.”

The formation of this partnership is a very exciting development in the history of Imagine Our Florida, Inc. and we look forward to working with this organization and helping more people get Bear Smart!

For more information, contact info@bearsmart.com or visit their website at

http://www.bearsmart.com/

September 14, 2016
IMAGINE OUR FLORIDA Joins KEEP PINELLAS BEAUTIFUL

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. proudly announces a new affiliation with Keep Pinellas Beautiful (KPB), an organization based in St. Petersburg, FL. KPB empowers organizations and individuals to conserve and beautify our natural environment by means of community engagement and education.

The establishment of this new relationship with KPB will further empower Imagine Our Florida, Inc., by increasing our reach and visibility to better advance our mission to preserve and protect Florida’s wildlife, habitat, and land.

“Helping to clean up Pinellas County is nothing new to me,” said IOF Director Aymee Laurain. “It’s where I grew up and learned about our mangroves and the importance they play as nurseries to our fish and as protection from hurricanes. I’m proud to be a part of an organization that exists to help keep it that way. ”

Keep Pinellas Beautiful represents the voice of hundreds of organizations and individuals who understand that these partnership efforts are the cornerstone for community revitalization, conservation and economic development.
For more information, please contact the KPB at:

https://www.facebook.com/keeppinellasbeautiful/
or
http://www.mykpb.com/
 
Keep Pinellas Beautiful Organization · 1,092 Likes

September 13, 2016
IMAGINE OUR FLORIDA JOINS AS A NON-PROFIT MEMBER OF THE U.S. GREEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Longwood, Florida—Imagine Our Florida, Inc. proudly announces a new affiliation with the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce (USGCC), a non-profit organization based in San Diego, California. The USGCC empowers businesses and communities to create environmentally friendly, sustainable business practices.

The establishment of this new relationship with USGCC will further empower Imagine Our Florida, Inc. through the expansion of our network, thereby increasing our reach and visibility to better advance our mission to preserve and protect Florida’s wildlife, habitat, and land.

“I am pleased that Imagine Our Florida Inc. is joining a nationally recognized organization who is forward thinking in our role as environmental stewards,” said IOF Director Nancy Kon. “We look forward to the valuable connections we will make with like-minded businesses within U.S Green Chamber.”

About the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce represents the voice of hundreds of thousands of businesses and corporations who understand that business success and sustainability go hand-in-hand, and that shareholder value and social consciousness can in fact coexist.

For more information, please contact the Chamber at

http://www.usgreenchamber.com
Their Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/usgreenchamber

Public Survey

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. launches the Wildlife Passage Project

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 200 people are killed each year by animal related accidents and thousands more are injured. Roadkill costs insurance companies $3.9 million a year. Many wildlife passage projects have already proven to reduce accidents by a large percentage:

West Virginia, 87% reduction in elk
Colorado, 78.5% reduction of deer
Wyoming, 90% reduction in mule deer
Sweden, 80% reduction in moose
Massachusetts, 93.5% reduction overall wildlife
Paynes Prairie State Park Florida, 93.5% reduction overall wildlife 

The benefits outweighed the cost of these projects in 12 out of 16 accidents researched by Leonard E. Sielecki in 1999. It is clear that wildlife passages can be a great benefit to the public as well as the animals.

Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is embarking on an educational exploration with FWC, DOT, and various insurance companies to learn about the process of planning, funding, approving, and constructing effective wildlife passages in Florida. This is by no means an overnight job and from the feedback we received about current projects, it can take years or even decades from start to finish.

The biggest challenge is funding. We want to know what these wildlife passages are worth to you. Please, help us by taking part in a quick three question public survey located below and by sharing this survey to expand the data range. This data will be used to develop future planning ideas and represent public support.

Take Survey to Save Wildlife
Statistics of 2015 Bear Hunt

Bearing Witness:  One Bear Monitor’s Story
(Originally published in One Green Planet, March, 2016)

“I hope it stays like this.” We drove down a country road as the sun began its ascent and the fog had settled in, intermingling with the orange sky. The setting seemed surreal. It was a long drive to the check station, a place where hunters bring their kill to be checked in by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials. It was the first Florida black bear hunt after a 21-year hiatus. I think both of us were grateful we didn’t have to do this alone. 

We were part of a large group that had tried unsuccessfully to stop the hunt. When it became apparent that it was actually going to happen, some of us signed up to be bear hunt monitors. It was, to my knowledge, an unprecedented maneuver and surprisingly, the FWC allowed our presence at check stations throughout the state. Our job was to count and document dead bears and to, it was hoped, bring the hunt to a close once quotas were met in each of the bear management units (BMUs) where hunting was allowed.

It is not widely known, but bear hunt monitors are what prevented the hunt from continuing as planned, as a two-day long, unlimited bloodbath. The hunt was to last a week or until quotas were met, with a guaranteed two days of unlimited hunting. However, the bear monitors ensured that the hunt ceased within the first day in two of the four BMUs where quotas were actually exceeded within only 13 hours.

I repeatedly heard FWC officials claim that “bears won’t be out there advertising themselves,” but would be in hiding because they are shy and reclusive. It is hard to fathom that these professionals were that ignorant of the facts. The facts were, these bears had not been hunted in 21 years and were therefore naïve and trusting. It was like shooting a dog, and many brought in that day were about the size of a Labrador retriever. An estimated 78 percent were gunned down on private land, not far from feeding stations set out by hunters. “He just walked right under my tree stand!” was something we heard from several hunters.

Before the hunt, there were an estimated 3,000-3,500 bears left in the entire state of Florida. The hunt directly killed 304 bears (see link below for statistics), but the ramifications of the hunt could not be measured. Lactating mothers and cubs were killed, despite the rules that cubs under 100 pounds were off limits. After the hunt, sightings of bears increased in neighborhoods rather than decreased. Bears were on the move since their world had been turned upside down and territories had been displaced. Some were found dead with injuries from hunters. Others became roadkill on busy highways.

Much to our chagrin, the fog lifted and many lives were lost on that beautiful sunny October day all over the state of Florida. The FWC plans to conduct a black bear hunt annually but hit the pause button for a hunt this year, thanks in large part to the incredible turnout of bear advocates at the June commissioner meeting in Eastpoint.

It is imperative that bear trash ordinances are put in place in all the remaining counties within bear country. Ordinances save lives.

Big Opportunity to Reach Thousands!
Imagine Our Florida, Inc. has a big opportunity coming up soon with a chance to educate 10,000 people, including several classrooms of students, on how to preserve and protect our wildlife, natural resources, and land. Since this is such a big event we will need plenty of educational materials to pass out. Please, consider making a donation by clicking the “Donate Now” button at the top of our website page or by purchasing from our Yankee Candle fundraiser by clicking the link below. Be sure to copy and paste the Group # in the appropriate block to ensure your purchase goes towards our fundraiser. As always, feel free to share!
Click on: https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/home.htm
Copy and Paste Group#: 990100520

Our bears are counting on us!
Call to Action:  Be one of the collective voices that ROAR for our bears
The map above indicates the areas that are undergoing conversion to longleaf pine. While this conversion is taking place, it appears that no studies have been done on how the bears are managing during these massive conversion projects. Be sure to let the commissioners know that we will never stop caring about the survival and well-being of our iconic bears. Contact the commissioners here:
http://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-staff/senior-staff/commissioners/

Nowhere to Turn: The Plight of the Florida Black Bear

Blog post originally published June 2016 https://cecilspride.wordpress.com/

Last year, a minimum of 655 Florida bears lost their lives at the hands of humans: 304 as a direct result of the bear hunt, 243 on roadways, and most of the others killed by FWC for being so-called “nuisance” bears.

Since 2011, when the number of bears killed on roads was 193, that number has exceeded 200 every year thereafter with a record high of 284 killed on roads in 2012. Why might this be the case?

If you were to ask the FWC, they would say with the help of the media that these numbers reflect the “large and growing” Florida black bear population, that there are too many bears, and that they are spilling out into neighborhoods and roadways terrorizing and endangering any human who is hapless enough to cross their path. But can the FWC be trusted? And, given their slow population growth rate, why has the number of bears killed by automobiles escalated so much only within the last five years?

FWC Bear Sightings

The FWC is a hunt club. Many people are incredulous to learn that the agency whose job is to preserve and protect our state’s wildlife is merely a glorified hunting organization whose Facebook page says it all:  HuntFlorida. The seven FWC commissioners consist of hunters, ranchers, and developers, one of which seeks a federal permit to enable her to legally kill the critically endangered Florida panther if seen on her property. This same commissioner also purchased a bear-hunting permit. The lone dissenting vote also came from a hunter, Ron Bergeron, who was quoted as saying something to the effect that one should have all the science in place before holding a hunt of an iconic animal that hasn’t been hunted in 21 years. He was probably referring to the incomplete population estimate numbers.

No doubt as a result of the public backlash that ensued surrounding the hunt, the FWC subsequently released their “Florida black bear abundance study.” Last year before the hunt, the number of bears was estimated to be between 3,000 and 3,500 and they lived in about 18% of their historic range. Because the quota was reached and even exceeded in some Bear Management Units (BMUs) within 12 hours, FWC director Dr. Thomas Eason proclaimed there must be 5,000-6,000 bears roaming throughout Florida.  Not surprisingly, the Florida black bear abundance study later estimated there to be 4,350* individuals, not counting 1,000 to 2,000 cubs. Do you believe that the FWC, a hunting organization, should be the entity entrusted to conduct real scientific studies on bear populations?

The FWC claimed during one of three webinars last March “to discuss bear management activities,” with the public that without hunting, Florida black bears would have a population explosion and unlimited growth leading to increased vehicular accidents and human-bear conflicts, thus endangering the public. This is absurd. Without hunting, the population increased from 300-500 in 1974 to the number we have today. The FWC calls it their “conservation success story,” but it was not their success at all. Hunted to the brink of extinction, their numbers increased once the persecution abated.

When hunters stopped the killing in 1994, bear numbers rebounded. But bear populations will not grow if there is not enough food. They regulate their own population numbers. Due to a phenomenon seen in many mammals which is called embryonic diapause or delayed implantation, bears will skip breeding seasons during lean times until food becomes more plentiful. Bears already have one of the lowest reproductive rates of any animal with a population growth rate between 0-2% per year, normally breeding and producing cubs every two years. However, with embryonic diapause, females may not produce young for 3-4 years. In fact, it is estimated that a mere 12,000 Florida black bears inhabited the state prior to European settlement. If bears cannot regulate their own populations, why were there not millions?

The Florida black bear population is not a population at all. It consists of seven subpopulations which are genetically isolated due to the lack of a contiguous wildlife corridor. At least two of these subpopulations are very small with around 100 individuals or less. In fact, the relic subpopulation in the Chassahowitzka area consists of 11-20 individuals (although the FWC has inflated that number to 30). Nowhere is it more evident that habitat destruction and development have created genetically fragile populations of bears than in the Chassahowitzka/Big Bend area.

Getting back to the question above, why the sudden explosion in numbers of bears being hit by cars within the last five years? The investigative team with Imagine Our Florida, Inc. has unearthed some compelling evidence correlating the habitat conversions to longleaf pine with increased vehicular collisions. Since habitat conversion projects began, an increase in bear sightings has also been observed.

Bear Sightings
FWC Bear Sighting Reports

Studies have shown that frequently burned open pinelands are considered only secondary habitat for the Florida black bear and frequent fires that remove shrubby cover reduce habitat quality. For example, saw palmetto fruit, an extremely important food resource, is highest in palmetto stands that are at least 5 years old. Without old-growth forests and saw palmetto as food and cover, the bears will move on in search of suitable habitat. But what suitable habitat is left in a state with unrelenting human development and encroachment where habitat conversions are occurring in all three national forests as well as state forests?

Why wasn’t a multiple-use module, preserving nodes of old growth forest, including altered fire regimes, considered to help protect habitat for the Florida black bear? In other words, why was the iconic Florida black bear left out of the equation in the quest to reinstate longleaf pine stands in the state of Florida? Perhaps it was planned, or is it possible the largest mammal inhabiting Florida was overlooked in favor of the fox squirrel or the red-cockaded woodpecker, a federally endangered species? Is it coincidental then that the Florida black bear was removed from the Florida list of threatened species around this same timeframe, in 2012? Where were the bears to go, and is this related to the reinstatement of a Florida black bear hunt in 2015?

Florida black bears suffer from climate change, habitat fragmentation, genetic isolation, human encroachment onto their habitat, increasing traffic and the building of more roads leading to vehicular collisions, the harvesting and destruction of their primary food sources (saw palmetto and acorn-producing oak trees), and human violence by killing them when they come into our neighborhoods in search of food as a result of human negligence. What is the reasoning behind adding additional pressures on the already fragile and vulnerable bear subpopulations by hunting them? Perhaps we now have the answer to that question.

*Interestingly, since this article was published, the number was adjusted to 4,030 which accounts for the 320 bear quota for the 2015 hunt. It still does not take into account mortality from roadkill, bears killed by the FWC, poaching, or other causes of death both related and unrelated to the 2015 hunt.

Imagine Our Florida has been on the move across the state!

International Coastal Cleanup, North Gandy Beach 

We removed 305 pounds of trash from a quarter mile stretch of North Gandy Beach. Thank you to the hard-working volunteers!!

This information will be use as part of the International Coastal Cleanup survey which creates an annual worldwide report of garbage. In 2015 the United States produced 3,969,553 lbs of garbage during this annual survey. We had the second most volunteers with 304,022 people. The Philippines came in at number 1 with 256,904 volunteers. Unfortunately this is just a snapshot of the amount of garbage picked up.

Party in the Park, Saturday October 1st at Kit Land Nelson Park in Apopka in support of Debbie’s Cancer Care Center

A huge THANK YOU to Steve Lowe for coming all the way from Flagler to volunteer. And thank you to Marie from Sea Life Aquarium.
Camp Milton Historic Preserve in Jacksonville, September 24th

Joining former U.S. Senator and Governor Bob Graham at Speak Up For Florida Forever, a call to action to preserve and protect Florida’s natural lands brought to you by the Florida Conservation Coalition and Florida Blue in partnership with 1000 Friends of Florida, North Florida Land Trust, Timucuan Parks Foundation, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Defenders of Wildlife, and Florida Wildlife Corridor.

IOF Director Dan Kon (Professor Poo) speaks about the importance of bears to our ecosystem
September 10th

Three of the Directors from Imagine Our Florida spent the entire day at The Florida Wildlife Festival in Umatilla. We learned the details of the two-year Wekiva bear study currently being conducted by Dr. Daniel Smith, attended a panther presentation by Lisa Ostberg, Florida Coexistence Coordinator with Defenders of Wildlife, and participated in a guided tour of bear habitat with bear biologists Walter McCown and Brian Scheick. It was incredibly hot but the education we received was worth every one of the 97 degrees. The look of wonder on the faces of the children poignantly illustrates the deep desire for humans to reconnect with the natural world.

Gandy Beach Cleanup Event a Success!
On Saturday, July 30th, Imagine Our Florida hosted a Gandy Beach Cleanup event, joined by the organization Keep Pinellas Beautiful. Together, 315 pounds of trash was cleared off the beach by volunteers within a mere two hours. Every single piece of trash was sorted and categorized, then graciously taken by Keep Pinellas Beautiful volunteers to dispose of properly. Items included expected trash like plastic bottles and cans but also included such unexpected items as a stinky leather jacket, a gas can, a broken metal chair, and fishing line. Who knows how many lives were saved by the removal of this dangerous fishing line?

Many of the bags of trash collected contained live crabs, which were carefully removed and released safely back into the water. Aymee Laurain took the opportunity to gather the children (and adults) around to teach them about runoff from fertilizer and cow pastures and how it changes the water we all drink. This is a great reminder for us all!

Margaret Sullivan Bundy later posted The Life Cycle of Trash on our Facebook page within the event. This should make us give pause before we head to the trash can. After all, we only get one Earth and this trash has to go somewhere:

The Life Cycle of TRASH!

Glass bottle – Undetermined but estimated at 1 million years
Monofilament fishing line — 600 years
Plastic bottle — 450 years
Disposable diapers — 450 years
Aluminum can – 80 to 200 years
Boot sole – 50 to 80 years
Styrofoam cup — 50 years
Tin can — 50 years
Leather — 50 years
Nylon fabric – 30 to 40 years
Plastic film canister – 20 to 30 years
Plastic bag – 10 to 20 years
Painted wood – 13 years
Cigarette butt – up to 12 years
Cigarette filter (plastic) – 1 to 5 years
Plywood – 1 to 3 years
Waxed milk carton — 3 months
Apple core — 2 months
Cardboard – 2 months
Newspaper — 6 weeks
Orange or banana peel – 2 to 5 weeks
Paper towel – 2 to 4 weeks

Kudos:Since January, Imagine Our Florida Committee Chair Lisa Sapp and her team, Jonathan Litfin and Ileana Rodriguez-Ramirez, have been working extremely hard to educate Floridians about bear resistant trash cans as well as how to be good advocates at their own county commissioner meetings. Lisa has also been working to educate trash haulers and is on a first name basis with Lloyd from Waste Pro. We congratulated Lisa and her team on successfully having commitments from 7 of the 14 counties with the most human/bear conflicts to work on bear-resistant cans and/or bear-friendly ordinances. Today, Imagine Our Florida, Inc. is extremely proud of this committee and grateful for the dedication and patience of Lisa and her team. With enough counties showing interest, FWC has responded in a big way. Education is indeed the key to success!

See the bulletin, “Waste Pro and FWC team up to reduce human-bear conflicts”:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/15da31a

Bear Friendly Ordinances—–Bear Resistant Trash Cans
We still need your help!

In late 2015, Seminole County was the first to enact a bear-friendly ordinance. This happened because of an idea brought forth by Commissioner Lee Constantine for bear resistant trash cans. The citizens of Seminole County presented a petition with over 5000 signatures and attended several meetings before the commissioners unanimously voted to enact the ordinance. Seminole County is applying for financial support as required by FWC to further its efforts in bear/human safety.

If you are interested in helping, please send us a message and we will put you in touch with the resident who is leading those counties in educating their commissioners on the value of bear-friendly ordinances and bear-resistant trash cans.


Fall is the time when our beautiful black bears consume up to 20,000 calories/day! This increased consumption of food in preparation for winter is called hyperphagia. If you are busy cleaning up after Hurricane Matthew, pay particular attention to bear attractants. Be sure to store your trash inside or in a bear-resistant container until the morning of pickup. Remember to clean your grills too. Bears are opportunists. Please don’t tempt them with the smell of yummy left-over hurricane food. -Image courtesy of Bear Smart.

BEAR HUNT BAN RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS:

The following counties and cities have said NO to a Florida black bear hunt. See the numbers for yourself!

Counties: Miami-Dade County, 2.617 million; Volusia County, 500,800; Seminole County, 436,041; Pinellas County (Proclamation), 929,048; Hillsborough County, 1,229,226; Alachua County, 253,451; Lake County*, 308,034
County Total: 6,273,600

*Lake County supported no bear hunt for 2016 only. Silent on future hunts.

Cities: Davie (Broward County), 96,830; Cape Coral (Lee County), 165,831; Ft. Myers (Lee County) 68,190; North Port (Proclamation) (Sarasota County), 59,212
City Total: 390,063
Grand Total: 6,663,663

Cities in counties that have separately passed proclamations/resolutions (not double counted): Deltona (Volusia County), 86,290; Safety Harbor (Pinellas County), 17,139; St. Petersburg (Pinellas County), 249,688; Clermont (Lake County), 30,033; Eustis (Lake County), 19,214. The following cities are located in Miami-Dade County: Palmetto Bay, 25,000+; South Miami, 12,000+; Pinecrest, 19,000+; Cutler Bay, 43,000+; Biscayne Park, 3,000+.

Victory!

Lady Lake passed a unique resolution to support non-lethal forms of human-bear conflict management. The simplicity of this resolution from Lady Lake, Florida is still a powerful tool. It advocates non-lethal means of conflict management while holding FWC to a higher expectation to work with citizens. Perhaps this is what we need to focus on this year as far as resolutions. We certainly need ordinances as well, but with budgets and projections for next year, it will likely be a waiting game until they sort through that. We definitely think it would be beneficial for non-bear counties to support those counties having bear conflicts through resolutions.

Join us at these upcoming events! Get in on the ACTION!

Central Florida VegFest
Saturday, October 22nd  10-6
2911 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803
Central Florida VegFest is an exciting day of colorful and educational exhibits and activities! It will take place at beautiful Orlando Festival Park near downtown Orlando on October 22, 2016 from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Admission is FREE! Veg Fest is a family-friendly, dog-friendly, and smoke-free event. Veg Fest, now in its 10th year, is one of the biggest and best vegetarian festivals in the country!

St. Petersburg Science Festival/MarineQuest
Saturday, October 22nd 10 am to 4 pm at USF St. PetersburgCome learn about Florida black bears and the important role they play in growing and maintaining our forests as well as other fun biological and ecological facts about these amazing animals. There’s plenty else to learn at the Science Festival. You can also get a peek inside FWC’s marine research facility for their annual open house.For more information, visit their website: http://www.stpetescifest.org/

Tampa Bay VegFest
Saturday and Sunday November 12th, 10 am to 5 pm
Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park
601 Old Water St, Tampa, Florida 33602
For more information, visit their website at: http://www.tampabayvegfest.org/

Four Day Event
Year of the Bear at the Native Rhythms Festival
Nov. 10-13
Thursday: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wickham Park Melbourne Florida
2500 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee, Florida 34747The Indian River Flute Circle and Native Heritage Gathering, Inc. proudly present the eighth annual gathering of the Native Rhythms Festival. This three and a half day festival during Native American Heritage Month honors the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Americas through music, and especially the music of the Native American Flute.
http://nativerhythmsfestival.com/

Other Noteworthy News

Sabal Trial Pipeline starts construction
The Sabal Trail Pipeline starts construction after Labor Day. For a list of counties that will be affected with attached maps, follow the link below. If you would like to call and find out when construction starts in your area please call 1-888-596-7732.
http://www.sabaltrailtransmission.com/florida

We at Imagine Our Florida believe that bears have rights too!

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Apple Pie and Hyperphagia

Fall is the time when our beautiful black bears consume up to 20,000 calories/day. This increased

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Take a Quick Exploratory Survey for Wildlife Overpasses

TAKE SURVEY

FWC just released the Florida Panther Mortality Update and it is heartbreaking. (link below) Now, more than ever, we need safe wildlife passages. Public Project Planning Chair Ginger Goepper and Director Aymee Laurain have launched a wildlife planning project for safe wildlife passages. They need your help to show public support to FWC, DOT, insurance companies and other agencies they are working with. Please SIGN and SHARE this survey. The survey is to show interest only and not a request for donations. Let’s all work together to bring wildlife passages to Florida for our panthers, bears and the other furry animals whom we share Florida with.

Florida Panther Mortality Update

TAKE SURVEY HERE

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How to be an advocate for ordinances and resolutions to your county commissioners

Your local officials want to hear from you, their constituents. They are citizens just like you. Whether you are good at public speaking or not, talk to your officials like a friend. Tell them your concerns and offer a solution. You never know when a brainstorming idea will become a law for the safety of all of us and our wildlife. Here is a sample powerpoint presentation.

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This white paper just released

This white paper just released from Dr. Matthew J. Aresco
Director, Nokuse Plantation,  Joseph M. Guthrie, M.S.
Conservation Biologist, and Dr. Joseph Travis
Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University to the FWC has stated everything our research team has been saying along. Click on the picture to read.

norcott_15041401767-Edit-Edit

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Bear With Us

The Florida black bear population actually consists of about eight isolated subpopulations: six core and two remnant subpopulations. These subpopulations have been isolated due to habitat loss and fragmentation  caused by human encroachment onto their habitat. Adult males may range over 120 square miles in search of food and a mate. In the fall, bears require approximately 20,000 calories PER DAY as they prepare for denning in the winter.

Squeezed in by major roadways and development, it is no surprise that human-bear interactions have increased in recent years. The human population in Florida is at an all-time high of approximately 20 million and steadily rising. Forests and woods make way for strip malls and residential subdivisions. Acorn-producing oak trees in the remaining forests are felled to provide timber and to make way for cattle grazing. That’s right, this is happening in our state and national forests. Acorns are a high-calorie food source on which many wildlife species depend, including our Florida black bears.

The primary food source of the Florida black bear, the saw palmetto berry, has been taken from them as well. Truckloads of berries have been harvested on both private and state lands for years to provide for the herbal medicine industry. Forestry officials issued permits for $10 a day of unlimited berry picking between July and November. This practice was temporarily ceased in July of 2015 when the FWC decided to have another bear hunt.

Hunting has not been proven to help the situation of human-bear interactions. In fact, it may actually make the problem worse in some situations where orphaned cubs and juveniles wander in search of easily obtainable food in the form of garbage left out by humans. They haven’t been given enough time to learn from their mothers how to forage for food in the woods.bear2

So, what is the solution?bear3

It is really simple. If a bear cannot access food from human trash, chances are he will stay out of your neighborhood. Bear-resistant trash cans can decrease human-bear conflict by as much as 95% as a study in a Volusia County neighborhood has shown. Such bear-resistant trash cans are successfully being used in many communities throughout the states as well as in Canada. Even with bear-resistant containers, it is good practice and common sense to not put trash out the night before if you live in bear country.

Other bear attractants include pet food, bird seed, and dirty barbecue grills left outdoors or in patios, lanais, and even garages. Keeping barbecue grills cleaned after use and taking these other attractants indoors will keep bears out of your yard. Together with restoring and preserving the bear’s natural habitat and food sources, these measures will help ensure that bears stay in their forest homes.

 

References:

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/florida/explore/florida-tips-for-bear-proofing-your-property.xml

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/florida/newsroom/florida-committing-to-keeping-bears-in-the-woods.xml

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/florida/explore/protecting-floridas-black-bears.xml

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2015/07/08/bear-florida-palmetto-harvest-gillis-chad/29876657/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

http://www.equalvoiceforfamilies.org/florida-berry-pickers-are-left-out-of-talks-affecting-their-lives/

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/black-bear/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-seminole-county-bear-trash-cans-20151011-story.html

 

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The Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is a subspecies of the American black bear.

Did you know…

Florida black bears once historically roamed throughout Florida and into parts of southern Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. In the 1970s, there were 300-500 individuals left due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as over hunting. For 21 years, Florida black bears were protected from hunting and their numbers increased. However, in 2012 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) removed them from the list so they are once again in danger of being hunted to extinction. Even though numbers have rebounded, they now inhabit only about 18% of their historic range.

Source:  University of Florida:  http://franklin.ifas.ufl.edu/blog/2014/04/25/our-recovering-florida-black-bear-population/

bear-map

Did you know…

There are seven Bear Management Units (BMUs) in Florida, each representing a distinct subpopulation of the subspecies of Florida black bear. Hunting was permitted in four of the seven BMUs in 2015. Isolated from each other due to human encroachment on their habitat and lack of a contiguous wildlife corridor, each of the subpopulations of Florida black bear is in danger of inbreeding depression due to genetic isolation, thus weakening the gene pool.

Source: http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/bear/rules/

bear-bmus

Did you know…

Although classified as carnivores, the Florida black bear’s diet consists of 80% plant material, 15% insects, and 5% animal matter. A major source of the bear’s diet, saw palmetto berries, has been harvested by humans for years. The berries are sold as herbal supplements. In July 2015, three months before the hunt, the state of Florida temporarily halted the harvesting of saw palmetto berries on state land. Destruction of acorn-producing oak trees is also taking away food from the bears and other wildlife. Trees are being destroyed for timber and to make way for more cattle-grazing land in our state and national forests.

Did you know…

The perceived threat of bears hurting humans is based on irrational fear. There is no documented case of a human being killed by a Florida black bear…EVER! However, humans kill an alarming number of black bears, even excluding legal hunting. While precise figures are not known, annual roadkill numbers have been close to or exceeding 150 (down from the peak of 282 in 2012). Approximately 100 so-called “nuisance” bears are killed every year, most often due to human carelessness such as leaving trash, pet food, bird seed, and dirty barbecue grills outside or in patios. Within the last few years, the FWC has adopted the “one strike you’re out” policy with regard to so-called “nuisance” bears.

Did you know…

Bears are deemed a “nuisance” merely for going in search of food carelessly left out by humans in residential neighborhoods. In preparation for denning in the winter, bears can consume in excess of 20,000 calories per day. When natural food sources are poor, bears must go in search of food often traveling many miles, which unfortunately puts them in danger of encounters with humans.

Did you know…

There is no science to support the supposition that hunting decreases human-bear conflicts or that bears that habituate to humans are more likely to be aggressive.

Did you know…

3,778 permits were sold to hunt only 320 Florida black bears in 2015, more permits than bears in the state of Florida. The first two days of the hunt, Saturday October 24th and Sunday the 25th, were guaranteed hunting days, no matter how many bears were killed. Since bears had not been hunted in 21 years, they were trusting and naïve, a recipe for disaster.

Did you know…

When the injunction to stop the bear hunt was denied, it was decided that bear monitors would be stationed at each of the hunter check stations to count dead bears. Every hour, each volunteer bear monitor across the state called in to report the number of bears brought in by hunters. It was their effort that helped prevent the Florida black bear from essentially being completely wiped out by hunters in 2015.

Did you know…

There were 28 lactating females killed during the bear hunt of 2015. With 1 to 4 cubs born to each mother, that means that an average of 70 cubs were left orphaned. Bear cubs remain with their mother for 1 ½ to 2 years. With cubs born in January, these cubs were only 9 months old at the time of the hunt in October.

Cubs weighing less than 100 pounds were also killed, although the rules stated by the FWC included that the bear must weigh at least 100 pounds (live weight). For the most part, hunters were not fined for these infractions.

This cub weighed only 76.7 pounds field dressed, which would put it at about 88 pounds intact (add approximately 16 percent of the field dressed weight). The hunter got away without even a warning. Photo by Alex Foxx

dead-bear-cub

Did you know…

The number of bears killed in the hunt was 304. However, that number doesn’t count:

  • The bears who were injured by hunters, ran away, and later died
  • The orphaned cubs that didn’t survive without their mothers
  • The bears illegally poached, including a bear cub later found floating in the Suwannee River

While FWC’s target was 20% including death from means other than hunting, the known death toll was over 21.5% of the total population of Florida black bears. Meanwhile, the human population in Florida continues to grow by more than the entire bear population every week.

Did you know…

Approximately 78% of the bears killed were on private lands. Many hunters bragged that the bears they shot just walked under their tree stands. While baiting was prohibited, many bears killed had corn in their teeth indicating they had recently visited deer feeding stations set up by hunters. According to the rules set forth by the FWC, both the hunter and bear were to be at least 100 yards away from a feeding station to be legally killed. However, there was no way to enforce this rule.

Did you know…

An estimated 75% of Florida residents who voiced their opinion were opposed to the bear hunt. This includes phone calls, letters, and emails to the governor and FWC, as well as media polls. Still, the FWC and Governor Scott ignored public opinion and did not stop the hunt.

Did you know…

Most hunters do not eat the bears that they kill, making this a blood sport, thrill kill, and trophy hunt. Most of the hunters wanted a bear rug or to mount the head of their kill on a wall, and this could be seen by the overwhelming number of bears brought into the hunter check stations unpreserved (not on ice) hours after they had been killed.

monitors

Did you know…

The hunt was supposed to last a week with a guaranteed hunt in the first two days without regard to numbers killed. Within 13 hours of the hunt, quotas were exceeded in the East panhandle and Central regions. The hunt in these two regions was brought to a halt on the first day, thanks to the efforts of Chuck O’Neal, volunteers who took the calls keeping a tally of dead bears, and the monitors themselves who volunteered to count dead bears. By the end of the 2nd day, the hunt was called off completely.

Region      Orig. Est.     Targeted     Actual     % of Target
East               600                 40               112              280%
North            550                100                23                 23%
Central      1,300                100               139               139%
South            700                  80                 21                26%

command-center

Did you know…

Non-lethal solutions exist to prevent human-bear encounters. A 12-month study in a Volusia County neighborhood showed that bear-resistant trash cans reduced such encounters by 95%. Coupled with preservation of the bears’ natural food sources, providing bear-resistant trash cans in every county within bear country is a compassionate, non-lethal solution to the prevention of human-bear conflict.

Did you know…

The last complete census of the Florida black bear population was done in 2002. We don’t really know how many Florida black bears exist, but estimates ranged approximately 3,000-3,500 before the hunt of 2015.

bear-pop-figures

 

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