affiliated with the national wildlife federation …...page 3 “fireﬂy skies” numbered prints...

Florida Fish&Wildlife News

President’s Message Page 4

Gardening forWildlife Page 7

Southwest Florida Report Page 8

AwardsBanquetPage 3

“Firefly Skies”Numbered PrintsAvailable

Volume 33, Issue 3

Summer 2019

Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation

FWF 1008 - Newsletter Summer 2019 v5.qxp_FWF 1008 - Newsletter Summer 2019 v5# 8/1/19 2:19 PM

Chair’s MessageJay Exum

Hello Florida Wildlife FederationMembers and Supporters!

President and

Chief Executive Officer

Preston Robertson

Operations Manager

Michelle Forman

Southwest Florida Field

Representative, Naples

Meredith Budd

Development Director

Jay Liles

Membership & Database

Coordinator

Lynn Jones

Marketing Director

Danny Shapiro

Information Technology

Consultant

Cole Sousa

Administrative Assistant

Susan Williams

Environmental Education

Coordinator

Marney Richards

Northwest Region: Regional Director:

To Be Appointed District I Director:

To Be Appointed District II Director:

Pepper Uchino

Northeast Region: Regional Director:

Jim SchuetteDistrict III Director:

John JoplingDistrict IV Director:

Anna Hamilton

Central Region: Regional Director:

Billy CauseyDistrict V Director:

To Be Appointed District VI Director:

Jay Bushnell

Southern Region: Regional Director:

Martha MusgroveDistrict VII Director:

Linda StanleyDistrict VIII Director:

Franklin Adams

At Large DirectorsRay CarthyTerry GibsonGeorge JonesBobbie Lindsay

Youth ConservationDirectorsTasman RosenfeldClaire Chisholm

FWF Board

FWF Staff

Chair: Jay ExumVice Chair: Marilu Morgan

Vice Chair: Dave PrestonVice Chair: Joe Atterbury

The Florida Fish & Wildlife News is published quarterly by the Florida Wildlife Federation

2545 Blairstone Pines Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

ISSN: 1520-8214Editors

Danny Shapiro & Preston T. Robertson

If you would prefer to receive this publication only via emailinstead of print, contact [email protected]. Please include yourname and address with your request.

Contact Us at: [email protected]

No original material may be reproduced without written consent from the publisher.

“Firefly Skies” © 2019 Peter R. Gerbert, Acrylics

Tallahassee Mailing Address

PO Box 6870Tallahassee, Florida [email protected]

Tallahassee Street Address

2545 Blairstone Pines DrTallahassee, Florida 32301850-656-7113

Naples Office

2590 Golden Gate Parkway, Ste 105Naples, Florida [email protected]

Contact Information


I’m extremely fortunate. I alluded tothis in my last message in this

newsletter, but I live in a wildlifehaven. I can walk out my back doorand see white-tailed deer, wildturkeys, American alligators, aplethora of resident and migratorybirds and, occasionally a black bear,bobcat, coyote, or river otter. Thiswildlife is ever-present at my homebecause I live adjacent to a largeconservation area that was acquiredby numerous state land acquisitionefforts over the course of about 20years.

I reside at the edge of some of thehighest quality black bear habitatremaining in Florida. Throughfocused research and effectivemanagement, cooperatingresearchers and agency biologistsimplemented a management plan thathas expanded the population of blackbears substantially in the last coupleof decades. Granted, this has causedproblems in neighborhoods like mine,but we have participated in thesolution through the development of abear-wise management plan.

There are other examples of therestoration of wildlife populationsacross the state; consider theincreases in the numbers of theAmerican alligator, West Indianmanatee, bald eagle and, until therecent devastation associated withred tide, the resurrection of aharvestable redfish population. As awildlife biologist, I’m proud to saythat the advancement of ourprofession’s understanding of ways toeffectively manage species andhabitat allows us to celebrate some ofthese successes.

As we bask in the good fortunesof these successes, we should reflecton how they came to be, and makesure we continue the good work withspecies that are still in peril, and lesshigh-profile species, especially in the

context of ecosystems. These futureefforts will be complicated, costly,and require a degree of partnershipcommensurate with the difficulttasks. It requires a collectiveagreement that protection of naturalsystems is imperative, even forobscure, or poorly understoodspecies or habitats.

I ask that you please help toeducate those people who don’tunderstand why it is important tocontinue to focus on the protection ofbig, wild and connected linkages offish and wildlife habitat. Ask them to

join an organization like ours and

encourage them to participate in a

meaningful way. Imagine the impactif everyone receiving this newsletterexpressed their commitment byinfluencing their circle of friends andcolleagues to contribute to anorganization like FWF, advocated forconservation on policy issuesaffecting wildlife and habitats, orhelped spread the message to

younger generations.Let’s celebrate the great

accomplishments of pastconservation initiatives and re-doubleour efforts to make even moreprogress in the future.

American black bear by Jay Exum.

Cover photo information on page 5


Florida Wildlife Federation’s Celebration of theWild and Annual Conservation Awards Banquet

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE NEWS • Summer 2019 3

FWF held its Annual Conservation Awards Banqueton June 22 at Mission Inn Resort and Spa in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Seven outstanding Floridaconservationists were recognized for theirachievements. The Federation’s annual selection ofconservation awards winners is one of the oldest inthe state, with winners being chosen fromnominations made to the Federation’s Board of

Directors based on a nominees’ accomplishmentson behalf of Florida’s fish, wildlife and naturalresources. The special evening began with a cocktailreception. Preston Robertson, FWF President andCEO, was the award presenter at the banquet. Briefremarks were made by Jay Exum, FWF Board Chair,and Senator Lee Constantine. Keynote speaker wasrenowned wildlife photographer Mac Stone.

Water Conservationists of the Year: Captains for Clean Water, Ft. Myers

Volunteers of the Year: Claude and April Ward, Hudson

Land Conservationists of the Year: Sam and Betty Shine, New Albany, Indiana

Forest Stewards of the Year: Ben and Louann Williams, Palatka

Environmental Educator of the Year: Jim Schortemeyer, Naples

Conservation Organization of the Year: Alachua Conservation Trust, Gainesville

Hall of Fame: Franklin Adams, Naples

2019 FWF Award Winners


4 FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE NEWS • Summer 2019

President’s MessagePreston Robertson, President and CEO

Our annual awards banquet atHowey-in-the-Hills was a

delight and we were very pleased torecognize those citizens who have

made progress in saving natural

Florida. Award winners haveprotected lands, educated thepublic on environmental mattersand proper habitat management, aswell as acted to clean our estuariesand promote the Federation. Wewere also very pleased to haveinternationally recognized naturephotographer Mac Stone as ourkeynote speaker!

The banquet also offered aspecial opportunity to name FWFBoard member Franklin Adams asan inductee into our Hall of Fame.Franklin has served on our boardfor over 30 years and has been aninspiration for his continuousefforts to protect SouthwestFlorida, and particularly the BigCypress region. He has been, andcontinues to be, a stellar advocatefor FWF and a true friend.

FWF continues to work withour allies to move marine fisheriesmanagement to a more wholisticapproach that ensures the viabilityof the entire food chain, which willalso benefit game species such asredfish and sea trout. By makingsure forage species such asmenhaden are abundant and well-managed, we help to keep themarine ecosystem vibrant. We alsoare continuing our efforts toinvigorate the planting of our

native longleaf pine, especially inareas hit by Hurricane Michael lastfall. The longleaf is a diseaseresistant species that is acclimated

to fire, and, along with nativegroundcover such as wiregrass,provides a home for a widediversity of animals.

This past Legislative Sessionwas again one of working againstentrenched interests. While wewere thankful that $33 million was

appropriated to the Florida Foreverprogram, that is a far cry from whatthe voters wanted by the passage ofAmendment 1 in 2014 (the Waterand Land Legacy Amendment). Our

lawsuit as to Amendment 1

spending went to oral argument inthe court of appeal on July 16 and,as of this writing, we await theresult. Growth management tookanother hit when House Bill 7103was signed by the Governor. Thisbill requires those members of thepublic who challenge developmentprojects as conflicting with thecomprehensive plan to pay allattorneys’ fees and costs if they losein court. The other bill we foughtwas Senate Bill 7068, the toll roadsbill, which sets in motion the

creation of three new massiveroadways in the last remaining ruralareas of the Peninsula.Unfortunately, this bill was alsosigned into law by the Governor.

Many thanks to all whoparticipated in the Legislativeprocess. We must continue the

fight to preserve what makes

Florida special.

I was pleased to participate inthe filming of an educational videoon the benefits of sea grass beds offthe Nature Coast, particularly theareas around Crystal River in CitrusCounty. These watery grasslandsare the marine nurseries not only ofFlorida waters, but the Gulf ofMexico. The conservation of landsaround these seagrasses hasprotected them from many of thenegative impacts of pollution, butboaters still need to be cautious

in not scarring the beds with

their propellers. Blue-green algae continues to

haunt Lake Okeechobee, with thePort Mayaca Lock reporting abloom with a toxicity level threetimes too toxic to even touch.Thankfully, as Lake O is at a lowlevel, there will be no polluteddischarges to the St. Lucie River, atleast in the near term. The algaehave been known to cause nausea,vomiting, rashes, and is even linkedto liver disease. What this situationhas done to aquatic life cannot begood. It is past time for thegovernment to get a handle on

this ongoing disaster to our

waters, and regulate nitrogen andphosphorus inflows in our rivers,creeks and lakes.

Dear Federation Members and Supporters:

Animal: American Alligator Photographer:

Bob Luce Location: Hillsborough River


Lastly, but importantly, it’s hotout there! I am hopeful even thedoubters will finally realize climatechange is real and is certainly nojoke. Europe has sizzled. Francerecently recorded its highesttemperature on record, at 113degrees. Paris activated its heatemergency plan, and approximately4,000 schools were closed to keepstudents out of the heat. In Spain,manure self-ignited, causing a10,000-acre wildfire. Germany,Poland the Czech Republic allrecorded record-breakingtemperatures. This is not normaland heat indices have been

creeping up over the last few

years. 2015-2019 were the hottestfive years in history worldwide andthe World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO) has stated thatthese extreme temperatures are

“absolutely consistent” with

patterns linked to climate

change fueled by the impact of

greenhouse gas emissions. Thescientists at the WMO have beenstudying planetary climate for manyyears.

In our country, late May saw theSouth experiencing record highs,with temperatures breaking 105degrees in Gainesville, Florida and102 in Savannah, Georgia. Tripledigits were recorded in Macon,Augusta, Charleston, Wilmingtonand Jacksonville, Florida. Theseheat waves are 10-20 degrees abovenormal and the number of very hotdays has significantly increasedsince the 1960’s. Increased averageheat means more wildfires, moresevere storms, rising seas, floodingand more devastating weather.

As we continue our efforts,many thanks to all members andsupporters of the Federation. Wecould not do it without yourgenerosity.


“Fire

actu

come

my b

Luck

inter

them

My c

them

fallen

Art Collectors Sandra Johnson, Dr. Forest W. Redding, Jr. (Research Assistant), and

Terri Creighton (who commissioned "Firefly Skies").

Cover Image

“Firefly Skies” © 2019 Peter R. Gerbert, Acrylics

The Florida Wildlife Federation is proud to offer prints of this imaginative new painting from Wildlife Artist Peter R. Gerbert. "Firefly Skies" is now available as a signed and numbered canvas print, limited to 200. Image size 12 by 18 inches, UV coated, framed (ready to hang) and unframed. Your print will come with a Certificate of Endorsement from FWF. A portion of the proceeds will directly benefit wildlife conservation efforts in Florida. To order please visit – www.PeterRGerbert.com or www.PeterRGerbert.com/firefly_skies.htm.

“Fireflies, also known as Lightning Bugs, are not flies or bugs, they are actually beetles (order Coleoptera). The blinking light from a firefly comes from a chemical reaction called bioluminescence. They appear in my backyard every year in the Spring and always fascinate me. Luckily, I was able to temporarily capture a few to be able to study their interesting detail, or I couldn’t have done this painting showing some of them up close!

My concept here is that this inquisitive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) runs into them and wonders about their luminescence . . . are they stars that have fallen to Earth?” – Peter R. Gerbert


Featured AnimalFlorida Native –

Sandhill Crane

(Antigone canadensis)

“Eight District Directors (one for eachdistrict) shall be elected by the IndividualAssociate and Corporate or Business members.Nominations for those eight District Directorsshall be published to the Individual Associateand Corporate or Business members in the formof a ballot at least 30 days prior to the annualmeeting. Such ballots shall be received by theFederation’s principal place of business no laterthan fifteen days prior to the annual meeting;otherwise, the votes on such ballots shall not becounted. The ballots shall be tabulated by theFederation’s employees, verified by theOrganizational Affairs Committee, andannounced at the conclusion of the otherelections. The eight District Directors so electedshall be the nominees who received the mostvotes and neither declined their nomination norwere elected to another office or directorship.”

FWF Bylaws, article XI, section B –

as amended September, 2005.

Nominees for District Directors

NORTHWEST REGION

District 1

Laurie Hood

District 2

Pepper Uchino

NORTHEAST REGION

District 3

Ray Carthy

District 4

Anna Hamilton

CENTRAL REGION

District 5

Cary Lightsey

District 6

Jay Bushnell

SOUTHERN REGION

District 7

Linda Stanley

District 8

Ana Meira

Please vote online at www.fwfonline.org/site/Ballot

Only current members may vote.

Voting ends September 13, 2019.

Animal: Sandhill Crane Photographer: Libbey LeFils

Location: Osteen, Florida

The large, high-flying sandhill craneforages for grains and invertebrates inFlorida’s prairies, grasslands and marshes.Growing up to four feet tall, and with awingspan of over six feet, cranes soar overthe landscape with its feet dangling behindand its neck stretched out. During thebreeding season, the crane will dance andleap in an elaborate courtship display.Generally laying two eggs per year, cranesnest in wet areas to ward off predators.While present populations are currentlystable, it is only by protecting necessaryhabitats that we will continue to hear therattling “karoo” call of these majestic birds.


F



Gardening for WildlifeMarney Richards, Environmental Education Coordinator

The Everyday Environmentalist

We share a common interest –helping to preserve Florida’s

native wildlife. We work to protectnatural habitats for water andwildlife. We look to provide kidswith opportunities to learn aboutand enjoy the environment, andhope they grow up with a strongsense of stewardship for the land.

Have you ever thought of therole your garden or yard can play inhelping wildlife? The spaces in ouryards, neighborhoods, local parksand schools can become preservesthat will help sustain plants andanimals. Even a small area can

provide the elements needed by

wildlife.

Gardening for wildlife meansproviding food, water, cover andplaces to raise young and, ofcourse, using sustainable practices.You can have a beautiful landscapeand provide these critical elementsfor pollinators, birds and otheranimals by using a variety of nativeplants for diversity, havingvegetation of different heights,providing water sources and maybeeven keeping a brush or rock pile.

Native plants are an

essential part of the equation.

They are the base of the food weband provide flowers, seeds and

fruits used by native pollinators,birds and other animals. Did youknow that most of our nativeinsects, which are a huge part of thewildlife food web, can’t use plantsthat evolved outside of their region?And that our beloved birds needabout 70% native plants and trees intheir habitats to sustain theirpopulations? It just makes sense

when we remember that native

plants and wildlife evolved

together.

If you’re just getting started orwant to start small, you mightconsider creating a pollinatorgarden. In a small space you canplant native flowers like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans,sunflowers and bee balm for nectarfor adults, and plants likemilkweed, parsley, fennel, commonrue and passion vine, for food forbutterfly larvae. Butterflies andother pollinators like native beeswill gladly share some of the sameplants. Add water and they will

come! An active pollinator gardencan be a wonderful place forwildlife viewing for kids. You canuse it to help them learn about lifecycles and how providing a healthyhabitat can make a difference forbirds, pollinators and other animals.

With a small pollinator gardenor larger yard planted for wildlife,you can choose to certify yourspace as a Certified WildlifeHabitat. As an affiliate of NationalWildlife Federation, Florida WildlifeFederation participates in thiscertified habitat program. You cango to the FWF website home page,select Programs tab, then selectCreate a Florida Wildlife Habitat.From here, selecting Certify YourHabitat will take you to the pagewith all the information on theCertified Habitat Program. You cancertify your habitat and choose topurchase a sign for your yard orgarden. This can be a goodconversation starter with interestedneighbors about how urbangardeners are helping pollinators,birds and other animals. And itdoesn’t hurt to mention that nativeplants, once established, requireless water and maintenance.

If you take a great picture ofyour new or existing habitat garden,please share it with us. We areupdating our Florida WildlifeHabitat page and would love toshowcase pictures of our members’gardens on the site. You can emailpictures, with a short description,to me at [email protected].

Animal: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Photographer: Charles Littlewood

Location: Paynes Prairie State Preserve

Animal: Southern Dogface Photographer:

Myrna Erler-Bradshaw Location: Citrus

Wildlife Management Area



Southwest Florida ReportMeredith Budd, Southwest Florida Field Representative

Panther Mom and Kittens Captured on CameraCapturing images of

panthers onwildlife cameras is notout of the ordinary,especially when thecameras arestrategically placed tostudy panthermovement. However,seeing a mother

panther followed by

three spotted

panther kittens is

rare. For this reason,the Federation wasthrilled to discoverpanther mom andkitten video footagecaptured by one of our wildlifecameras in Hendry County.

In 2017, FWF contracted with atransportation ecologist, Dr. DanielSmith, to conduct an assessment ofwildlife habitat and the travelcorridors used by Florida panthers,black bears, and other nativewildlife in Southwest Florida. Thereare two major roadways beingstudied as a part of this project,Keri Road and Corkscrew Road.Keri Road is in Hendry County andthe panther and kitten footage wascaptured along this corridor. This

road is being studied between StateRoad 29 and County Road 833 andis the only major east/west roadbetween Collier County and theCaloosahatchee River that has notpreviously been studied for wildlifecrossings.

The portion of Corkscrew Roadbeing analyzed extends from theexisting Lee County wildlifecrossing on the road eastward tothe intersection with State Road 82in Collier County. This past Spring,Dr. Smith finalized all theassociated field work and data

collection for boththese roadways andrecommendations forwildlife crossingneeds will be releasedthis summer.

The Keri Roadand Corkscrew Roadstudies complementthe previousFederation-fundedEastern CollierWildlife MovementStudy from 2006.Together, the studiesprovide a regional

strategy to ensure safewildlife movement

across Southwest Florida. It is very encouraging to see

kittens on our wildlife cameras.Seeing footage of youngsters

means that there are new litters

being born and inspires hope for

an increasing panther

population. The Federation has anongoing campaign to secure wildlifecrossings and enhance habitatconnectivity to help better protectthe Florida panther and ensurethere is substantial habitat toenable the recovery of thisendangered species.

The Lee County Board of CountyCommissioners (BOCC)

recently approved changes to theirexisting Comprehensive Plan (Plan)pertaining to lime rock mining. Theplan previously limited new andexpanded lime rock mines only to

those areas identified on a map(known as Map 14). This ensuredthat lime rock resources located inor near existing mines and/ordisturbed areas would be more fullyutilized and therefore limited thespread of lime rock mining impacts

to more disturbed areas of thecounty. This was essential fornatural resource and wildlifeprotection.

Lime rock mining is unlike anyother land use. It is extremelyintensive, impactful, and by its very

Check out the panther footage here: www.youtube.com/FlWildFed

Lee County Loosens Regulations on Mining


Featured Natural AreaTimucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Consisting of a patchwork of landsand waters between Amelia Islandand Jacksonville, the TimucuanPreserve contains a wealth of bothecological and historical treasures.At 46,000 acres, the Preserveprotects saltwater marshes, streamsand uplands and provides habitatfor white-tailed deer, foxes, gophertortoises and a suite of nativeplants. Recreation includeskayaking, hiking, fishing and thesimple enjoyment of getting out ofthe city and into nature. Containingthe remains of Ft. Caroline andKingsley Plantation, visitors canalso learn about Florida’s storiedpast. The Preserve is named afterthe Timucuan Indians, whopreviously inhabited this area.Interestingly, archeologistsdiscovered pottery dating back to2500 BC on the Preserve’s BlackOak Island. Location: 12713 Ft.Caroline Dr., Jacksonville, FL32225, phone (904) 641-7155.

nature, forever changes thelandscape. In layman’s terms, limerock mining blows up the earth andonce the earth is blown up, there isno turning back. The Countyinitially created Map 14 to minimizenegative impacts on valuable waterresources, natural systems,residential areas, and road systems.Clearly, Lee County understood thegravity of the intrusive nature ofmining during the creation of Map14, and so it is unclear why LeeCounty no longer seems to thinkthese mining regulations arenecessary. In fact, the Countypreviously felt so strongly aboutMap 14’s necessity that when thepolicies were legally challenged

shortly after their initial adoption,the County spent taxpayer dollarsto defend the policies. FWF stoodalongside Lee County in this caseand funded legal representation onbehalf of the County. TheAdministrative Judge ruled in ourfavor, but the County has nowrepealed the very policies theJudge’s ruling upheld.

Deleting Map 14

fundamentally eliminates

protective measures that were

in place to determine whether

and where new mines could be

approved. This certainly weakensthe County’s protections againstsuch a destructive land-use and willundoubtably result in greater

impacts to remaining naturalresources.

Additionally, without Map 14,most of the areas that will now beavailable for potential mining arelocated along Corkscrew Road. TheCorkscrew Road corridor has beenthe focus of a Federation-fundedwildlife movement study. Thechanges Lee County made in Juneseriously undermines our campaignfor habitat connectivity across thiscorridor. That said, we remain

committed to engaging with Lee

County and all stakeholders to

ensure panthers and other

native wildlife can freely cross

the roadway and have suitable

habitat to thrive.

Photographer: Will Dickey Location: Theodore Roosevelt Area at Timucuan Preserve

Website: www.willdickey.com

This 600-acre natural area within the Timucuan Preserve has over five

miles of hiking trails winding through one of North Florida’s most

pristine areas.



Jay Liles, Development Director

Policy Report

From time to time I like to giveover this column to a young

person who loves the outdoors asmuch as we do. In that regard,please be introduced to BrennanReyes, a Leon High School seniorfrom Tallahassee who lovessaltwater fishing. In both picturesand words, Brennan takes us alongon his trip, as described below.

Early this summer, I wasgiven the opportunity to embarkon a tuna fishing trip, sailing outof New Smyrna Beach aboard afamily friend’s new Freeman 42.(For more on this beautiful boatgo to www.freemanboat

works.com.)Growing up near the Gulf, I

had become accustomed tobottom fishing for grouper,snapper, and amberjack, buttuna fishing was a newexperience for me. We woke upat the crack of dawn, loaded theboat, and began our 110-milejourney offshore. With us was

Captain Cory Schiedel, a chartercaptain based out of NewSmyrna, who has lots of tunafishing experience. Using histechniques, we were able tospot flocks of birds, use radar,and then troll over the schoolsof fish below.

Once we started trolling, Inoticed that you could almostcalculate the timing betweendropping lines and having a fishon. After a few loops aroundflocks of birds, we finallyhooked a fish and got it into theboat. Although we didn’t catchthe giant yellowfin we were

looking for, we were able to fillthe fish box with plenty of nice-sized yellowfin, blackfin, andeven a mahi. The only thingbetter than the fishing waseating tuna three different wayswith friends and family.

There couldn’t have been amuch better trip!

— Brennan

Editor’s note: Recreationalfishing in the Atlantic or the Gulf istruly a part of the Floridaexperience. To ensure that futuregenerations can enjoy the sea’sbounty, we must tackle the issue ofwater pollution and thedegradation of saltwater habitats.

Dinner is served

Brennan works the lines

Brennan with his prized tunaPhotos courtesy of @fullsendoffshore

Putting Food on the Table,Florida Style!




FWF Visits Bay County Master Gardeners

Marney Richards was invited by an FWF memberto talk to the Bay County Master Gardeners

meeting in Panama City. Hurricane Michael wreakedhavoc in the area in October. In addition to damage totheir homes, many residents lost trees and plants, andare concerned about the loss of habitat for urban

wildlife. Marney introduced them to FWF’s history andconservation work and talked about planting forwildlife using native plants. Master Gardeners are aknowledgeable group, so several shared informationabout native plants for the region!

FWF Scholarship Update

SCHOLARSHIP

FUND

To make an online donation to the FWF Scholarship Fund,

please go to: https://www.uff.ufl.edu/OnlineGiving/FundDetail.asp?FundCode=013403

You may also send your donation to the FWF office. P.O. Box 6870, Tallahassee, Florida 32314. Attn. Michelle

FWF

The Wildlife Ecology andConservation Department at the

University of Florida has awarded$4,000 from FWF ScholarshipFunds at the UF Foundation to thefollowing graduates andundergraduates:

• Meghan Beatty studies the effectof land management andconservation strategies in NorthCentral Florida on populations ofthe southeastern Americankestrel. She plans to remain inFlorida for her doctoral program.

• Don Hardeman, Jr. has spentthe past four years contributing tomulti-faceted research projectsrelated to the ecology andmanagement of Florida blackbears. His graduate research isfocused on addressing knowledgegaps concerning black bearbehavior in human-dominatedlandscapes.

• Adrian Dougherty, a senior, isinterested in wetlandmanagement and restoration,having grown up in the FortMyers area. She plans to studyabroad with UF in theQuito/Ecuador program this fall.

• Rick Lassiter, a senior andaspiring wildlife biologist, plansto work with the Florida public toteach preservation of naturalresources in the state.

From left to right are Don Hardeman, Jr. (WEC MS student), Meghan Beatty (WEC MS

student), Adrian Dougherty (WEC senior) and Rick Lassiter (WEC senior).



F L O R I D A W I L D L I F E F E D E R A T I O N ’ S L O U K E L L E N B E R G E R

The Florida Wildlife Federation ispleased to announce the fifth

year of the Lou Kellenberger FWF

Photo Contest. The Contestcelebrates the enjoyment of takingphotos in Florida’s great outdoors,and promotes FWF’s mission toencourage citizens to participate insustainable outdoor recreation. Notethat there are several categorieswhich may be entered.

Members, supporters andfriends of FWF are encouraged toenter, noting anyone may enter thecontest with the exception of FWF

staff. Entrants have an opportunityto win $300 in cash or a Kindle Firetablet! It has never been easier tocapture images in Florida’s outdoors– use your camera, smartphone, ortablet to document the wild worldaround you. Enter your mostcompelling nature images andphotos of Florida today atwww.snappiephoto.com.

Entries will be taken from nowuntil December 31, 2019. Entrydonations are $5 for one photo, $10for 3 photos, and $25 for 7 photos.One Overall Contest winner will be

selected for the First Prize of $300, aSecond Prize winner will receive aKindle Fire tablet, and the kids’contest winner will receive anoutdoor backpack. Only digitallyuploaded images may be entered.Judging will follow the closing dateof December 31, 2019.

Visit www.snappiephoto.com

to get started. Contact FWF at

(850) 656-7113 for more

information.

2018 Runner Up - Rattlesnake by

Kristian Bell

2O19 PHOTO CONTESTCategories for Kids and Big Prizes!

Trash TransformationThe Kids’ Quiz is on summer

vacation. In its place, here’s acool story about using plasticbottles and all kinds ofunrecyclable plastic for buildingmaterials.

Bottle bricks or ecobricks, area new building material that ishelping keep plastics out oflandfills and waterways. In manyplaces around the world“ecobricking” has already becomean important way of recycling andreusing waste products to buildeverything from benches tobuildings.

Ecobricks are building blockscreated by stuffing clean, dry usedplastic into a plastic bottle to a setweight. It is amazing to see howmuch plastic waste can fit into asingle plastic bottle. Here’s aglimpse of some of the projectshappening around the world:

• Students in Malaysia makeecobricks to be used to makegarden benches and tables.

• A woman in Indonesia teachesneighbors to build bricks with

plastic she collected and storedover 3 years to keep it out of theirlocal river.

• A young artist in New Mexicoorganizes volunteers to collect

A school built by Hug It Forward. All photos thanks to www.hugitforward.org.



SWEEPSTAKES

2O19

Wild Florida SweepstakesF L O R I D A W I L D L I F E F E D E R A T I O N ’ S

Play the Wild Florida SweepstakesToday and Win $20,000 in Cash!

Five second prize winners will receive a

$50 Bass Pro Shop gift card.

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligibleAmazonSmile purchases to Florida WildlifeFederation whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.

When you Start With a Smile, we can facilitate wildlife crossings statewide whichprotect wildlife and humans.

Visit https://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1398265 to sign up!

How to Enter: Ticket contributions are $5 each. Six tickets for $25, 15for $50, 35 for $100, and 50 for $125 (the best value). Watch for yoursweepstakes tickets in the mail.

For more information, readthe Wild Florida Flyer and theOfficial Rules at our website,www.fwfonline.org. To enter, clickthe Programs icon at the top ofour webpage. If you would like aset of tickets mailed to you, sendan email to FWF [email protected] or call ourtoll-free number (800) 656-3014.Please provide your full name and complete mailing address to receive apacket of tickets.

By playing the sweepstakes you help FWF advocate in critical areassuch as Clean Water, the preservation of the Florida panther and thesustainability of species like the Florida black bear.

Thanks for supporting the Florida Wildlife Federation!

Animal: Black bear

Photographer: Jonah Parker Hanson

Photographer: Christy Draper Location: Wakulla Springs

plastic litter and make ecobricksto build educational structures.

• In Scotland, ecobrick projectsare popping up all over, alongwith ecobrick drop off andcollection points.

Ready to try your hand atmaking ecobricks? You can finddirections for making the bestbricks and see great pictures ofecobrick projects at ecobricks.org.

Ecobricks continued



Robert MurtaghWhere There’s a Will, There’s a Way . . . For Wildlife

Alifelong outdoorenthusiast, Bob

Murtagh’s leisure timetook him to Yellowstone,diving in the Cayman andHawaiian Islands, andhiking in Canada, Irelandand Midway Islands. Hewas particularly amazedby the unique wildlife heencountered, including thebagaboos (elk) in Canada,Midway’s gooney birdsand the canaries leftbehind when the US Navydeparted the island inWorld War II. But his true love has been the sea turtlesof Hawaii.

Bob’s conservation philanthropy began locally inPalm Beach County where he supported loggerheadturtle rehabilitation and research, and educationprograms at the Grassy Waters area where he ledcanoe trips for urban kids on their first forays beyondthe inner city.

Robert Murtagh joined FWF in 1994 and has had acontinuous history of giving to the organization overthe years. Born in Long Island, New York, it is inFlorida where he decided to support FWF “while I stillcan.” He admits that his exposure to wildlife aroundthe world has “soaked in” over time and he wants tomake a positive difference.

Through acharitable gift annuity,Mr. Murtagh found away to sustain FWFover the long haul, geta guaranteed incomefor the rest of his life,and lessen taxation onsecurities he owned—awin-win-win formulathat fully embraces hislifelong love for theenvironment. Thankyou, Bob, for yourgenerosity andthoughtfulness to the

Florida Wildlife Federation. Please join with Bob and help make sure

current and future residents can enjoy a

healthy, clean and abundant Florida, which

helps not only our environment, but also our

economy.

A charitable trust or bequest benefitting the

Florida Wildlife Federation, or a charitable gift

annuity similar to Bob’s, is relatively easy to

arrange, makes creative use of assets and can

benefit your family as well as help the

Federation.

For more information on how estate planning canbenefit both you and wildlife, please contact PrestonRobertson at (850) 656-7113.

Robert Murtagh

Animal: Tricolored Heron Photographer: Patricia Ann Wright

Location: Amberjack Park, Placida

Animal: Hooded Merganser Photographer: Janet Fikar

Location: Choctawhatchee Bay



New Life Members:

Richard Bradley, Kissimmee

Gary C. Wendt, Ft. Lauderdale

William Weller, Tierra Verde

Gary Renfrow, St. Pete Beach

The Federation thanks you for

your thoughtful contributions.

We express our sympathy to

family and friends of those who

have passed away.

Thank You to Our Donors

Thank You for Your Generous Support!

*Legacy Club Members are those

who have donated $5,000 or more

in a single gift. Eagle Club

Members are $2,500 donors and

Life Members are $1,000 donors.

William Leon Eagan

by Murray and Nancy Pardue

by Walter and Karin Taylor

by The Austin Caruso Family

by Pamela Dikeou

by John and Geanne Erwin

by Carol and Ernest Heina

by Mr. & Mrs. G. Dean Davidson

Robert and Ruth

Finney

by Kathryn Georgiou

IN MEMORIAMDonations have been received

in memory of:

Animal: Bobcat Photographer: Robyn Churchill Location: Lake Apopka



Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation

www.FWFonline.org

www.facebook.com/FlWildFed

www.instagram.com/FlWildFed

Official Publication of the

Florida Wildlife Federation P.O. Box 6870Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6870www.FWFonline.org

www.youtube.com/FlWildFed

We’re Social!

www.twitter.com/FlWildFed


Volume 33, Issue 3

Summer 2019

Photographer: Steve daPonte Website: www.dapontephotography.com Location: Wekiwa Springs This photo was shot while

swimming with the camera partially submerged.


affiliated with the national wildlife federation …...page 3 “fireﬂy skies” numbered prints...

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