Conservation and Wildlife News
With more than 6 million acres of state-managed conservation lands, options for experiencing wild Florida can be difficult to narrow down. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proud to announce the WMA Recreation Finder, an interactive virtual map for Florida residents and visitors looking to find their perfect outdoor experience on public lands. Click this story to read more.
Help biologists learn more about Florida’s wild turkey populations by reporting all wild turkeys you see during your normal daily activities from June 1 to Aug. 31.
We’re interested in sightings of hens with and without poults (young wild turkeys), and male birds (jakes and gobblers) from all regions of the state, including rural and developed areas. When reporting numbers of poults, be sure to look carefully because young birds may be difficult to see in tall grass or brush.
The Sunshine State is home to healthy wild turkey populations. They occur throughout Florida and prefer open forests and forest edges and openings. Our biologists conduct this survey each year to learn more about annual nesting success, brood survival, and distribution and abundance of wild turkeys.
Learn more about the FWC’s summer wild turkey survey.
Report your wild turkey sightings online: bit.ly/3qtVbVF OR by using the Survey123ArcGIS app: bit.ly/3OVVP8n
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sent this bulletin at 11/17/2021 12:59 PM EST
For Immediate release: Nov. 17, 2021
Contact: Carli Segelson, 772-215-9459, Carli.Segelson@MyFWC.com
Michelle Kerr, 727-282-7642, Michelle.Kerr@MyFWC.com
Suggested Tweet: To modernize, align with @FishWildlife best management practices, @MyFWC is evaluating trapping rules. Public feedback welcome. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/2fca46b #Florida
FWC evaluates trapping rules, seeks public input
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking public feedback as staff begin to evaluate rules addressing regulated wildlife trapping. Staff are exploring possible changes to modernize trapping rules to align with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ best management practices in support of species-specific and humane trapping methods.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched a new community science project aimed at learning more about Florida’s skunk populations.
The Sunshine State is home to two species of skunks, the striped skunk and the smaller eastern spotted skunk. Both are thought to be found throughout the state and biologists are hoping to involve the public in collecting observations to learn more about the distribution of both species and the types of habitats in which they are found.
Anybody that breathes air, drinks water, swims, fishes, hunts, enjoys wildlife watching or just visiting state and national parks should be concerned about the environmental setbacks that have occurred during the last few years. Wildlife and fish populations will likely decline from increased pollution and habitat destruction resulting from reduced protection for our waterways and public lands.
Harvard Law School’s Environmental and Energy Law Program (EELP) staff succinctly describe the history of more than 80 critically important environmental rollbacks, including current status on EELP's website: https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/regulatory-rollback-tracker/.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to know the attitude of the public regarding the possession and management of venomous reptiles by zoos, as well as individual residents in their homes. FWC Captive Wildlife staff was directed by the Commission in November 2015 to evaluate existing regulations and develop a range of regulatory options for the Commission’s consideration. In order to effectively receive information and direction from the public, the agency has developed an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/VR-Rule, and will be accepting survey responses and recommendations through July 27, 2016.
Gainesville, Fla., Jan. 14, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 115 high-impact projects across all 50 states, including Florida, will receive more than $370 million as part of the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service .
The program’s public-private partnership enables companies, communities and other non-government entities to further conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of soil, water, wildlife on a regional scale. Partners provide matching funding, with the total budget to be spent in five years.
The House passed a bill (H.R.5069) in November that would increase the price of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps-better known as Ducks Stamps-from $15 to $25. Duck Stamps are permits required to hunt waterfowl in the United States, and the revenue collected from their sale goes straight to wetland conservation through land purchases and easements. Many National Wildlife Refuges were funded in part or in full by Duck Stamp revenue.
“Be a Hero!” by getting decals that help with the research, rescue, rehabilitation and management of Florida’s endangered manatees and sea turtles.
People can receive a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee or sea turtle decal, and show their support for saving these iconic Florida species, with a donation of $5.
Rescues of manatees and sea turtles that are injured, ill or otherwise in distress are one of the many FWC conservation activities supported by decal donations.
The new editions of the decals are originally designed works of art, and available now at local tax collectors’ offices across the state and at MyFWC.com.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved an investment to protect nearly 28,000 acres of Florida’s natural lands and link existing conservation areas. Today’s actions also mark the first acquisition within the Caloosahatchee-Big Cypress Corridor, an important Everglades and panther habitat.
Click this news item to read more.