Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation …Kennedy (inspired by Rachel Carson’s Silent...

Florida Fish&Wildlife News

President’s Message Page 4

The EverydayEnvironmentalistPage 7

Southwest Florida Report Page 8

Special GuestSpeakerPage 3

AnnualConservationAwards BanquetJune 22

Volume 33, Issue 2

Spring 2019

Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation

FWF 1007 - Newsletter Spring 2019 v6.qxp_FWF 1007 - Newsletter Spring 2019 v6# 5/3/19 3:09 PM

2 FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE NEWS • Spring 2019

Chair’s MessageJay Exum

Earlier this week, three friends of

mine and I paddled the “red trail” of

the Okefenokee Wilderness Area in

southeast Georgia. The last day and a

half of our canoe trip was spent at the

extreme headwaters of the Suwannee

River as it transitions from an expansive

swamp to a defined flow-way. In part

because of limited permits for access to

the trail, the trip was, as billed, a great

wilderness experience.

Two weeks earlier, I paddledmuch of Black Water Creek in theSeminole State Forest in Lake County,Florida. This creek is a part of theWekiva Wild and Scenic River systemin the St. Johns River basin, and theexperience was just as compelling.Both canoe trips provided me with aglorious spring-time paddle throughrelatively pristine, well-protectedwatersheds.

The Osceola National Forest inFlorida lies adjacent to theOkefenokee National Wildlife Refugeand the Seminole State Forest liesadjacent to the Ocala National Forestin North Central Florida. These largenational forests protect ground and

surface waters for the SuwanneeRiver and Black Water Creek andprovide habitat for stable populationsof black bears. I am proud to say thatthe Federation has taken part in theexpansion of all these outstandingproperties.

The Florida Forever program andother land conservation initiativesstrongly supported by the FloridaWildlife Federation have consistentlysought to assure protection of naturallands between the Ocala and OsceolaNational Forests. Protection of theselands, through various mechanisms,would assure that black bears mayroam across Central Florida toCentral Georgia, and promote theprotection of watersheds andrecreational benefits of waterwayslike the Suwannee River and BlackWater Creek.

FWF’s 2019 Strategic Planprioritizes actions to protect diverselinkages of natural habitats for waterand wildlife. We would love to haveyou be involved! Join or renew your

membership in the Florida

Wildlife Federation today and

help us achieve these

conservation objectives.Feel free to contact me with

advice or suggestions as to how FWFcan leverage your passion for thenatural environment.

Hello Florida Wildlife FederationMembers and Supporters!

Cover Photo

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 GibsonBobbie LindsayGeorge JonesJoe AtterburyJacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

Youth ConservationDirectorsTasman RosenfeldClaire Chisholm

FWF Board

FWF Staff

Chair: Jay ExumVice Chair: Marilu Morgan

Vice Chair: Dave Preston

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.

Cover Photo by: Ruth Pannunzio

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


Photographer: Ruth Pannunzio

Location: Riverbend Park, Jupiter

These Swallow-tailed kites (Elanoides forficatus) were flying aroundshortly before they left the area. The one on the bottom is upside down andhas prey in its talons. They are truly grace in motion.

Suwannee River by Jay Exum


Mac Stone is an internationally acclaimed conservation photographer.His images help tell the complex stories of wetlands and wilderness throughthe wildlife and people who rely upon them. Photographing on assignmentfor magazines and organizations around the world, Stone's roots come fromthe swamps, estuaries, springs and Everglades of his home state. His imageshave been widely published and awarded and his TED talk has been viewedover a million times. An award-winning author, speaker, and fellow with theInternational League of Conservation Photographers and Sea Legacy, hestrives to expose the dynamic relationship between mankind and the naturalworld to drive conservation initiatives.

Special Guest Speaker – Mac Stone

Annual Conservation Awards Banquet June 22

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE NEWS • Spring 2019 3

Just 35 minutes from Orlando, Mission Inn offers you an escape to a spectacular Central

Florida golf vacation, a dream wedding, a romantic couples getaway, or your next

corporate event.

There are countless ways to enjoy amemorable stay with us.Conveniently central to CentralFlorida’s world-famous themeparks, wineries, shopping and localattractions, Mission Inn Resort &

Club also provides a refined homebase for guests wishing to explorethe Lake County area. Renownedfor its picturesque rolling hills,orange groves, and shimmering

lakes, the area draws golfenthusiasts, fishermen and eco-tourists who enjoy beingsurrounded by the region’sexpansive natural beauty.

COME JOIN US! Florida Wildlife Federation is holding its annual Awards Banquet on Saturday

evening, June 22 in Howey-in-the-Hills northeast of Orlando! Keynote speaker is

internationally-renowned nature photographer Mac Stone! Go to www.fwfonline.org fortickets to this exciting event.



President’s MessagePreston Robertson, President and CEO

In years past, the conservation ofour remaining natural resources

was a bi-partisan issue, one thatcrossed party lines and was notused to divide us. Our mostenvironmentally ambitiousPresident, Teddy Roosevelt,permanently protected 230 millionacres of land across the nation.Another president, Richard Nixon,was in office when the Clean Airand Clean Water acts were passedand became law, and when theCross Florida Barge Canal tragedywas finally stopped. John F.Kennedy (inspired by RachelCarson’s Silent Spring) acted tostop chemical pollution, andFranklin D. Roosevelt created theCivilian Conservation Corps toreplant thousands of acres. Theseelected leaders may have beenregistered in different politicalparties, but they acted asAmericans to save our unitedheritage. We need that sense ofbipartisanship on the environmentnow more than ever, and especiallyin Florida. I am hopeful that the tideis now finally turning in Tallahasseeamongst all elected officialstowards awareness that unless weact now to protect our waters andour lands, we will lose the Floridathat many of us have enjoyed; wewill leave our children andgrandchildren a much poorer placeto live, one without the springs,wildlife and natural treasures thatmake our state so special.

The Florida Wildlife Federation,as a non-profit organization, doesnot involve itself in political races.

We represent people from all walksof life and political affiliation whocare about keeping our home awonderful place to live. That said,we do advocate in the FloridaLegislature for policies that benefitnatural resources. We are againconcentrating on fully funding theFlorida Forever program whichhistorically provided $300 milliontowards land, and thereby water,protection and was the largest sucheffort not only in the nation, but theworld. As of this writing, theLegislature has not yet provided fullfunding in the budget, but we arehopeful.

Speaking of Florida Forever,adequate funding for that programwas to have come from

Constitutional Amendment 1 whichwas passed by 75% of voters inNovember 2014. Unfortunately, theLegislature has not provided thatmoney to date, and that is why theFederation has been in litigationover this important issue. Weprevailed at trial, but the case isnow before the appellate court, andwe will likely have oral argumentthis summer. We intend to fight forthe will of the people all the way.

We continue to help in therestoration of native habitats,especially our native longleaf pineforests. The longleaf ecosystemused to cover almost the entirety ofthe Southern United States but isnow down to 3% of its originalrange. In order to help spread the

Dear Federation Members and Supporters:

Photographer: Mark Emery Location: Ocala Animal: American alligator


species, we are working withprivate landowners, especiallythose impacted by the devastatingHurricane Michael, whichdestroyed approximately 300,000acres of pine forest in thePanhandle.

A big thank you to the FloridaPanthers Hockey Team for having aPanther Conservation Night at arecent game against the BostonBruins!

We are delighted to partnerwith these good folks and their fansto support our long-standing effortto secure a sustainable future forour state animal. Our Southwestoffice continues its work to makesure sufficient habitat is availablefor this rare species, and thatwildlife crossings are created to

provide safe passage for thepanthers and all native wildlife. OurSouthwest Florida Representative,Meredith Budd, coordinated thissuccessful event. Well done,Meredith!

FWF is augmenting itseducation work with the assistanceof Marney Richards, our “EverydayEnvironmentalist.” Marney isconcentrating on educating schoolchildren on the real world outsideof their cell phones and tablets. Wemust make sure that we pass on thepassion and commitment to our

life-sustaining state and planet tofuture citizens.

Lastly, our new Sweepstakes,Wild Florida, has commenced.Please consider donating to thiseffort online or if you receivetickets in the mail. The success ofthe Sweepstakes is very importantto the Federation.

Go to www.fwfonline.org toparticipate.


“ I am hopeful that the

tide is now finally

turning in Tallahassee

amongst all elected

officials towards

(environmental)

awareness . . .”

For the millions of resident and tourist anglers who fish off ourcoasts and from the beach, the game fish they seek rely on a healthypopulation of forage fish. Forage fish, such as menhaden, make up acritical link in the marine food chain, connecting microorganisms toredfish, sea trout and snook. Forage fish also feed pelicans and manyspecies of shore birds. We need to ensure that our forage fishpopulations are managed for long-term viability.

Please go to floridaforagefish.org and sign the forage fish pledge.

Conserve Our Forage Fish!

Photographer: Kay Wells Location: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Insect: Honey bee


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By the time you receive this Fish

and Wildlife News, the 2019Florida Legislative Session willlikely be over. We have steadfastlysupported full funding for theFlorida Forever land protectionprogram, which conserves vitalhabitat and water recharge areasacross the state. Full funding forland conservation was the goal ofAmendment 1 which passed in 2014with 75% voter support. TheLegislature has yet to abide by thewill of the voters, and that is whywe continue to push for full fundingwith our elected officials and incourt. As of this writing, bothHouse and Senate budget proposalsfall far short of full funding.

FWF has opposed theexpansion of major roadways in

what remain of rural parts ofFlorida, and supported a ban on allfracking (hydraulic fracturing),including acid matrixing. Moremajor roads simply mean moresprawl, more long commutes andmore degradation of natural areasand water supply. We must growsmarter. Fracking has no place inFlorida as it uses chemicals thatcan leach into our groundwater dueto the karstic nature of our geology.

FWF has also participated inbills that deal with sewagetreatment and disposal,environmental permitting andbiosolids management.

The Session ends on May 7,2019, and thanks to all who took thetime to voice opinions to ourSenators and Representatives.

Some good news: The Governorand the Cabinet recently approvedthe acquisition of 5,534 acres inHendry County as part of the Devil’sGarden Florida Forever project.This land is critical as pantherhabitat and has long beenadvocated for by FWF, especiallyour Southwest Florida office. TheCabinet also approved acquisitionof 160 acres in Columbia County tohelp protect the springshed offabled Ichetucknee Springs. Whilethese actions are definitely a stepforward, there are a multitude ofwonderful places on the FloridaForever list, all with willing sellersand all having been heavily vettedfor environmental quality, thatshould be preserved for futuregenerations.

2019 Legislative Session and Florida Cabinet

One of our most beautiful amphibians, marbledsalamanders live in North Florida and only grow toabout 4 inches as adults. Preferred habitats includedamp woods and areas with soft, wet soil. Livingmostly in their burrows under downed trees andleaf litter, these salamanders mature in only twomonths from the larval stage and can live as long as10 years. As an adult, these black and whitesecretive creatures feed on many invertebrates,including centipedes, and will also eat worms,snails and slugs. Next time you flip over a log, takea look for these colorful little predators. Thencarefully cover them back up.

Featured AnimalFlorida Native – Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)

Preston Robertson, President and CEO

Legislative Report



One Simple ThingMarney Richards, Environmental Education Coordinator

The Everyday Environmentalist

Earth Day 2019 will becelebrated on April 22. It’s a

good time to look at some of thesimple things we can do every dayto help make our environment alittle cleaner. Recycling is one suchthing. With the huge problem of

trash accumulation world-wide,

recycling every day makes

sense. After all, we’ve been doingit forever, and had lots of educationon it, many cities have curbsidepickup and single stream recycling– it should be second nature. Stillthe question, “can this be recycled?”continues to pop up.

According to Marpan Recyclingof Tallahassee, everything can berecycled. But there are onlymarkets for certain recycledmaterials; markets differ around thestate, and what they pay formaterial fluctuates. Marpan workswith regional businesses, shippingrecyclable materials to businesswithin a 250-mile radius. Thosebusinesses will turn the materialinto usable products. Unfortunately,in some areas the cost of recyclingglass is prohibitive, so facilities arenot accepting it. Marpan is able toaccept all our recycled glass bottlesand sell them to a business thatturns them into sandblastingmaterials.

Most single or dual-familyresidences in Tallahassee havesingle stream recycling, with all therecyclables going into one bin. Therecovered material includes about8-9% non-recyclable items (calledcontamination). That sounds prettygood – but the contamination ratemay significantly affect the price

received for the material.A look at a couple other

medium-sized cities around thestate shows similarities and somedifferences. The City of Gainesvilletransports residential recyclables toa facility owned by Alachua County.Gainesville has about a 40%residential recycling rate, with acontamination rate of only 3-5%.This low rate is possible becauseGainesville residents use separate

bins for paper and all otherrecyclables. Indeed, bins with toomany contaminants might be left atthe curb with a notice for theresident. The City’s recyclingwebsite has a cool chart – “WhatHappens To Recycle Material AfterIt Leaves the Curb” – showing thesteps from how recovered materialis processed into useful products tohow much energy is saved byrecycling.

The City of Hollywoodcontracts with a private company to

pick up recycling from single anddual-family residential customers.Residents put all recyclable items ina single cart, picked up weekly.Hollywood provides an incentivefor people to recycle by partneringwith a company called RecyclingPerks. Residents receive pointseach week their bins are placed atthe curb for pickup and the pointscan be redeemed for goods andservices from local businesses.

Is there one important thing wecan do as individuals to makerecycling work better? The answersfrom recycling managers in all threelocations were very similar –please put only the materials

accepted by your city into the

recycling containers! The rightmaterials are much easier to sell,and much less likely to clog up theprocessing machinery at therecycling facility. Read your city’swebsite and call with any questions.And please, no plastic bags of any

kind in the bins – ever! Why is recycling important? It

makes us more energy-efficient andhelps reduce global warming. Itreduces the need for more landfillsand helps improve the quality of ourgroundwater. It reduces airpollution and helps conserve ournatural resources. Remember thephrase: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.

Buying just what we need, findingways to reuse items and recyclingefficiently will go a long waytoward making the earth a littlecleaner.

Baled recycled materials ready for

shipping to businesses that will turn them

into products.



Southwest Florida ReportMeredith Budd, Southwest Florida Field Representative

Florida Wildlife Federation Honored at NHL Panther Hockey Game

The Florida Panthers hockeyteam recently teamed up with

FWF for its 2019 PantherConservation Night. We were alsohonored to accept a graciousdonation to support our pantherconservation work.

The Florida panther is thestate’s official animal and has beenlisted as a federally endangeredspecies since 1967. Historically, theFlorida panther roamed across thesoutheastern portion of the UnitedStates, from Florida through the

Gulf states and Arkansas. Today,the only place wild Florida

panthers exist is the

southwestern tip of Florida.

While panthers utilize Florida’swide variety of warm climatehabitats, they are also wide-ranging,solitary, and territorial animals; onemale can require up to 240 squaremiles just for its own territory.Roadways, which bisect habitat, arelethal barriers to wildlife andwildlife movement. Roads not onlysignificantly contribute to habitatloss and fragmentation, which are

the greatest threats to establishingand maintaining sustainablepopulations of the panther andother native species, but vehiclestrikes on roads are actually theleading cause of death for this bigcat. In the few short months of

2019, there have been eight

panther road deaths.

FWF’s Southwest Florida office

has an ongoing campaign to securewildlife crossings to ensure safepassage for wildlife acrossroadways. The grant from theFlorida Panthers will help to fund acomprehensive initiative to developa wildlife crossings guidance

manual. The Federation iscoordinating with our long-timetransportation ecologist, Dr. DanielSmith, University of CentralFlorida, for this project. The manualwill enhance land use planning andprotect threatened wildlife asdevelopment continues to spreadand intensify throughout South andCentral Florida.

As the state’s population andtourism industry continue to grow,the demand for more and largerhighways may well increase. This isespecially troubling for SouthFlorida, since it is identified asexisting panther habitat. In thatregard, the Federation is pleased tohave been selected as the PanthersHockey team’s 2019 CommunityChampion and to have been giventhe opportunity to take on thisproject to further protect wildlife.

Supporting Florida Gulf CoastUniversity’s Wings ofHope/Panther Posse Program

FWF continues to supportbringing wildlife education tothousands of elementary schoolchildren in Collier and Lee counties.The Florida Gulf Coast University’s

Meredith Budd accepting a $25,000

donation through the Florida Panthers'

Foundation's Community Champions

Grant Program.

FWF at the Panthers' fourth-annual

Panther Conservation Night.

Photographer: Robert H. Schaefer Animal:

Florida panther

Meredith Budd joins in on the fun as the

group crouches like a panther in front of the

Panther Posse CREW wildlife camera.



Featured Natural AreaWekiwa Springs State Park

(FGCU) Wings of Hope/PantherPosse program brings children tothe 60,000-acre CorkscrewRegional Ecosystem Watershed(CREW), which provides a veryfitting learning place for studentsand increases their awareness ofthe Florida panther, Florida blackbear, other native wildlife and theirhabitats. Students hike trailsthrough pine flat woods, marshesand oak hammocks all whilelearning about the life history ofthe Florida panther.

Funding school bustransportation has alwayspresented a challenge for the Wingsof Hope program and theFederation is proud to fund this

crucial aspect of the program. Tofollow up on my in-classroom visitduring the fall semester in 2018, Ijoined Ricky Pires and a group ofjunior biologists out in CREW forthe field component of the training.This is an essential part of theeducational experience as it helpsthe children make a tangibleconnection from their in-classroomwork at FGCU to the natural world.As we hiked the trails, the childrenwere engaged in nature-basedcritical thinking activities. Thisprogram teaches the skillsnecessary to address complexenvironmental issues andempowers the children to becomefuture conservationists and leaders.

You Can Help Save thePanther, too!

The Federation’s missiondepends on generous membershipand foundation support. Pleasedonate today to our pantherconservation efforts!1. Go to www.fwfonline.org, look

for the red “Donate” button inupper right

2. Select a donation amount orenter your own

3. Scroll down to “If you have aspecial purpose for yourdonation, please let us know.”

4. Select “Florida Panther –Southwest Office” and

5. Fill out payment details andclick “Process Payment” Thank you very much for your

support!

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Orlando area lies the green oasisof Wekiwa Springs State Park. At 7,000 acres, this protectedfreshwater spring and forested buffer provides a welcome relief forcity dwellers. Forty-two million gallons of water flow each day fromthe spring, helping to create the Wekiva River. Wekiwa is CreekIndian for “spring of water” and Wekiva means “flowing water.”Once promoted as having medicinal properties, the springs actuallyprovides visitors with a pleasant 68-72 degree bathing andswimming experience. Deer, turkeys, alligators and a wide range ofnative animals abound. Camping, canoeing, kayaking and hiking arealso available. Wekiwa Springs is northeast of Apopka and servesas the training center for State Park Rangers. Location: 1800Wekiwa Cir., Apopka, FL 32712, phone (407) 533-4383.

Meredith follows along with the Panther

Posse CREW journal.

Helping students with their compass

challenge.

The ‘Rattlesnake’ group from Poinciana

Elementary School.


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Policy ReportJay Liles, Development Director

As the sun rose on a cool, NorthFlorida morning this past

February, FWF President PrestonRobertson and I found ourselvesstanding in what was previously apeanut field. Now it is home to avast solar array, one of severalbeing constructed by FloridaPower and Light (FPL). Locatedin Columbia County and visiblefrom the I-10/ I-75 interchange,this “solar farm” is a sight manywill see as they arrive in Floridafrom Georgia or travel towardthe Panhandle. It serves as a greatintroduction to visitors, especiallyif one embraces the fact thatFlorida, as the Sunshine State,should be fully supporting solarpower!

Dubbed the Sunshine GatewaySolar Energy Center, this is one ofsix such farms already in theworks. In fact, another solar farm isplanned for a site only a few milesfrom the one where we werestanding. At more than 330,000individual solar panels, Sunshine

Gateway produces enough powerto light 15,000 homes. It is part ofwhat FPL envisions as the “30-by-30Plan” - 30 million solar panels by2030.

The Florida Wildlife Federationhas long been a leading advocatefor solar power, both at thecommercial level and for individualhomeowners. Solar power is free

energy that does not produce

greenhouse gases that are

warming our planet. Recognizingthe need to balance solarinstallations with wildlife habitat,FWF continues to work to ensurethat solar plants are compatiblewith wildlife needs.

FWF has provided design

recommendations at otherlocations, including fencing thatallows wildlife, ranging from themajestic Florida panther to rabbitsand opossums, to move freelythrough their natural range. Wehope to combine clean power withhabitat and areas that serve aswater recharge to our aquifer.

The Federation looks forwardto continuing to advocate for theexpansion of the use of solar powerand the construction of future solarfacilities. By engaging withstakeholders early on we canensure that power production doesnot come at the expense of wildlife.

Florida Wildlife Federation CommendsCommitment to Solar Power

“ . . . Florida, as the

Sunshine State, should

be fully supporting

solar power!”

A beautiful day and sun-fueled power.

Press at the grand opening of the Sunshine

Gateway.

Sunshine Gateway Solar Energy Center



Call for 2019 Board Director Nominations

Interested in joining the Board of Directors of theFlorida Wildlife Federation or nominating someone

else? If interested, please write to the Florida WildlifeFederation Nominating Committee, P.O. Box 6870,Tallahassee, FL 32314-6870 or email Michelle Formanat [email protected]. Nominations must be

submitted by May 11, 2019.

To be eligible, a candidate must be a resident ofFlorida and a member in good standing of the FloridaWildlife Federation. District and Regional Directorsmust reside in the region or district for which theywould serve. Officers and At-Large Directors mayreside anywhere within the state.

FWF Directors are expected to regularly attendFederation meetings, participate in Federationactivities, assist in building Federation membership, beactively involved in fund-raising efforts, attend publicworkshops, act as a liaison with other conservationorganizations, and generally promote and lead state-wide conservation activities through the FloridaWildlife Federation. Being an FWF Director requires asubstantial commitment of time and resources but willgive the individual an opportunity to be a conservationleader in Florida.

FWF Meeting in Naples

Florida Wildlife Federation held its Board meetingin Naples April 26 - 28, 2019. Naples is a growing

urban center and home to many snow birds (folks whowinter in South Florida). That said, Collier County,where Naples is located, still possesses manyoutstanding natural areas, and FWF has long beeninvolved in trying to protect them for critical wildlifehabitat and water recharge. Eastern Collier Countycontains hundreds of thousands of acres of ranchlandand working landscapes, as well as wetlands andprairies. These are the lands that are used by ourendangered Florida panther and other native animals.The vast majority of this property is privately owned,and we have been working with these entities toconserve as much of this habitat as possible, even inthe face of a growing population. We concentrate onensuring wetlands and upland wildlife corridors aresufficiently protected and that linkages are createdwith existing conservation properties.

Two juvenile alligators cuddle up at the Corkscrew Regional

Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) – photo by Christina Robertson

FWF Board members and staff participate in a tour of the land

proposed for perpetual conservation in eastern Collier County –

photo by Meredith Budd



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 Federationis pleased 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.Note that there are severalcategories which may be entered.

Members, supporters andfriends of FWF are encouraged toenter, noting anyone may enter thecontest with the exception of FWFstaff. Entrants have an opportunity

to win $300 in cash or a KindleFire tablet! It has never beeneasier to capture images inFlorida’s outdoors – use yourcamera, smartphone, or tablet todocument the wild world aroundyou. Enter your most compellingnature images and photos ofFlorida today atwww.snappiephoto.com.

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

First Prize of $300, a Second Prizewinner will receive a Kindle Firetablet, and the kids’ contest winnerwill receive an outdoor backpack.Only digitally uploaded imagesmay be entered. Judging willfollow the closing date ofDecember 31, 2019.

Visit www.snappiephoto.com

to get started. Contact FWF at

(850) 656-7113 for more

information.

2018 Overall Winner– Yawner byMichael Johnson

2O19 PHOTO CONTESTCategories for Kids and Big Prizes!

Photographer: Lindsay Abraben Location: Lake City Animal: Dragonfly



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

Kids’QuizF L O R I D AW I L D L I F E

2.When do tomatoes

grow in Florida?

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!

1.What bird can hover in

mid-air and fly

backward, upward and

even upside down?

See page 14 for answers

and more information.

by Marney Richards

Can some rabbits swim?

3.

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!

Photographer: Jonah Parker Hanson

Animal: Black bear

Photographer: Christy Draper Location: Wakulla Springs


Let me introduce myself. Myname is Rick Abbott. I am a

hunter, fisherman, explorer,kayaker, financial advisor, FWFboard member, boater, but mostimportantly, I am a husband and afather. In these difficult andchanging times it is verychallenging to raise a family withproper values. This task is madeeasier by enjoying Florida’soutdoors together as a family.Whether it is boating and exploringthe Chattahoochee River, fishingoff the beach at St. George IslandState Park or spending a coldDecember morning in a deer stand,these are activities that are crucialto teaching my children about life.

Preserving Florida’s naturalhabitats is crucial for current andfuture generations. I know thatwhile I am working my 8-5 job,FWF is constantly pursuing ways tokeep the environment healthy andnatural for all of Florida’s citizens.

I have included FWF in my will.I want to make sure that my

children and their children canenjoy the same Florida that theirparents and grandparentsexperienced. Please consider

FWF in your financial planning. Please join with Rick and

help make sure we and future

residents can enjoy a healthy,

clean and abundant Florida,

which helps not only our

environment, but also our

economy.

A charitable trust

benefitting the Florida Wildlife

Federation or a bequest like

Rick’s is easy to arrange,

makes creative use of assets

and can benefit your family as

well as help the Federation.

For more information on howestate planning can benefit bothyou and wildlife, please contactPreston Robertson at (850) 656-7113.


1. The hummingbird! It has wings with a uniquedesign that allows free movement in manydirections. Hummingbirds visit North and CentralFlorida from early spring to fall, and SouthFlorida mostly in winter. These tiny birds havebig appetites and eat every 10-15 minutes fromdawn to dusk. Ruby-throated are our mostcommon hummingbirds.

2. Delicious tomatoes grow year-round inFlorida, in different parts of the state. In NorthFlorida, you can plant tomatoes in early March,and they’ll be ready to eat by early summer. InSouth Florida, plant in November-February forspring and August-September for fall tomatoes.You can grow cherry tomatoes in large containersand eat them right off the plant! Check with yourlocal county extension office (UF/IFAS Extension)for growing tips.

3. Yes, the marsh rabbit is a strong swimmer.This small, native rabbit is found throughoutFlorida in marshes, wet prairies and floodedagricultural fields. They eat a variety of plantsaround wetlands, and feed mostly from dusk todawn. They need to be quick and stealthybecause owls, foxes, bobcats and alligators areactive then, too.

Answers to FLORIDA WILDLIFE Kids’ Quiz

Past President, Rick Abbott

Rick Abbott with his family

How Did You Do, Florida Kid?

Rick AbbottWhere There’s a Will, There’s a Way . . . For Wildlife



New Life Member:Ann Forster, Pensacola

New Legacy Member:Marsha Carson, St. Petersburg

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.

Ross Barnard

by Nancy Anne Payton

Daniel Shawn Flanagin

by Tops Market

IN MEMORIAMDonations have been received

in memory of:

Photographer: Doug Alderson Location: Ochlockonee River



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 2

Spring 2019

Photographer: Travis Marques Location: Crystal River Animal: Scallop

A blue-eyed scallop in a pile of fellow scallops in Crystal River is almost too pretty to eat! Notice the rarer specimen with the orange shell.


Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation …Kennedy (inspired by Rachel Carson’s Silent...

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