Our Resident Barred Owl Did An Impressive Display Today Of How Owls Can Turn Their Heads Up To 270 Degrees.

A Successful Camp During a Pandemic

Spring of 2020 set back many with the realization that COVID-19 was going to affect us for far longer than hoped. Places closed, families went into quarantine, and everyone was left wondering—what happens next?

One of the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital’s main goals was to continue our mission of Environmental Education.  No other program meets that goal like our youth camp, Camp Wild. However, Spring Camp had already been canceled, so there was no precedent for running a successful camp during a pandemic. But the need for a sense of normalcy and a place for children to go have fun and further their education was definitely there.

Camp Wild 2020 – Summer Session continued under new rules and safety regulations. An average camp size of thirty was reduced to a capacity of fifteen. In the open-air outdoor classroom at the Sawgrass Nature Center, assigned seats and spaces were created for campers with a six-foot minimum distance between them. Masks were required and worn at almost all times, apart from food and water breaks. Mandatory hand washing and hand sanitizing were scheduled throughout the day. Regular reminders to keep their hands to themselves, to show care for their friends’ safety by not sharing and the risks involved with breaking the very important safety rules helped campers understand the role they were playing toward a safe and successful camp experience.

The curriculum and activities were also adapted to new safety requirements. Typical toys and games that could not be easily sanitized (playdough, crayons, Legos) were substituted with items that could be kept clean and separate. When it came time for crafts, every camper was preassigned with their own set of supplies and materials. Counselors were then responsible for collecting and cleaning supplies.

One of the most difficult issues of running an outdoor camp during COVID-19 is the requirement of face masks. How do we ensure the campers keep them on and that they are breathing properly in the face of Florida’s unrelenting heat? Fortunately, face masks have proven to be quite breathable.  Campers were told that if they ever felt like they needed a mask break, or that they were breathing too hard, a safe space would be made for them to breathe freely.

With all these safety regulations, Camp Wild attendees were able to participate in typical camp activities like outdoor games, dip netting, slogging, bug hunting, and more. Camp Wild 2020 was a success in the face of a global crisis. Six weeks of successful operation showed us that there is a way to keep our children safe and educated during uncertain times and for them to have a fun summer camp experience.

A rainy but beautiful start to our morning here at SNC!

Decline of the Everglades Snail Kite

The Everglades Snail Kite is a hallmark of Florida wildlife. Found in central and south Florida, this magnificent bird of prey thrives in swampy, wetland habitats (Audubon Society, 2020). Unfortunately the population of this seasoned hunter has dropped at an alarming rate.

The Everglades, a vital habitat to the Snail Kite, has been significantly reduced in size due to expanding infrastructure and construction of surrounding human populations (National Park Service, 2019). Fortuitously, organizations such as the Everglades Foundation have worked tirelessly throughout the years to restore and conserve the Everglades which is home to many of Florida’s unique species. (The Everglades Foundation, 2020).

But habitat loss is not the only struggle the Everglades Snail Kite faces. Their curved beaks are adapted specifically to feed on its namesake: Florida Apple Snails, or Pomacea paludosa. While there are several species of Apple Snails currently located in Florida, Pomacea paludosa is the native species of apple snail to Florida. There is some debate over whether local populations of the Florida Apple Snail may be a separate species from Pomacea paludosa (Schad, 2018), but we will only be referring to Pomacea paludosa for the purpose of this article.

One might think that the addition of new types of apple snails to Florida would mean the expansion of food for the Everglades Snail Kite, but that does not seem to be the case. Their beaks are so specifically adapted to the smaller, curved shells of the Pomacea paludosa, that the Everglades Snail Kite cannot use its beak successfully to feed on larger species of Apple Snails that are invading Florida wetlands. This poses another problem where the larger species of invasive apple snails are outcompeting and displacing the smaller Pomacea paludosa. The Everglades Snail Kite is facing food loss in addition to habitat loss.

But all is not lost. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, located in Fort Pierce, Florida has successfully completed research on the practice of captive breeding the Florida Apple Snail with a long-term goal of finding ways to replenish wild populations of Pomacea paludosa (Garr, Amber, Helen Posch, Margaret McQuillan, Megan Davis, 2012). These practices, if safely regulated and approved, could be used to help replenish the population of the Everglades Snail Kite by providing it with more food. Regulations and controls are needed to ensure that captive populations would not introduce new bacteria, or diseases to wild populations.

The Everglades Snail Kite is not the only endangered species in Florida, but it is a wonderful example of how—when united—people have the chance to improve many environmental problems.

Audubon Society, 2020. The Everglades Snail Kite. Audubon Florida.

[https://fl.audubon.org/birds/everglade-snail-kite]

Schad, Morgan. 2018. The Discovery of a Forgotten Species in an Unexpected Location: Pomaceamiamiensis in Palm Beach County. Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.

The Everglades Foundation, 2020. About. [https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/about]

Garr, Amber. Helen Posch. Margaret McQuillan. Megan Davis. 2012. Development of a captive breeding program for the Florida apple snail, Pomacea paludosa: Relaxation and sex ratio recommendations.

Aquaculture. Volume 370-371, Pages 166-171.

[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848612006163?via%3Dihub]

National Park Service. 2019. Restoration of Everglades National Park. U.S. Department of the Interior.

South Florida Natural Resources Center. Everglades National Park.

[https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/upload/RestorationFactSheet%20Lo%20Secure.pdf]

Slovakia - Malá Studená dolina [OC] [3000x4000] - Author: FlowSnakes on reddit

Fitz was rescued by the SNC a few years ago and is now one of our cutest educational animals. 

Because he is not one of the two types of native wild rabbits found in Florida, he cannot be released. But don't worry, he gets plenty of love and care.

There isn’t a slow season for Nature Centers and Wildlife Hospitals. There is only busy and busier season. Raccoons, squirrels, and opossums are some of the native wildlife in Florida that are most affected by growth in human population and urban expansion. Every time a new building goes up, their homes are disrupted. Every time a new highway is opened, they are the ones that sustain the most injuries. In a normal day, we see a lot of injuries. During baby season, we get many more abandoned babies. 

Injured, sick, or abandoned raccoons legally require the care of a wildlife professional. So if you see one, it is not in their best interest to be raised in your home. The best option is to bring them to a local Wildlife Hospital and Nature Center. 

If you want to learn more about how the SNC takes care of the native wildlife that gets brought to us, or donate to help us keep up with costs of animal care, check out our website here: https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/

We’ll be the first to admit that sometimes trying to lead a zero-waste or organic lifestyle comes with a cost association. But in a year such as this, or any other year you might have a tight budget, there’s no need to feel guilty about not spending more to do more for the environment. In this article we will discuss some easy, affordable ways to reduce your waste footprint on the planet that won’t have you breaking the bank.

https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2021/01/19/zero-waste-on-a-budget/

bees are the best, sorry i don’t make the rules // insta

The SNC crew had a great time last night at the Coral Springs Drive Thru Holiday Experience. Our display even won the Commissioners Award! Thanks to everyone that came out to share the experience with us and celebrate 25 years of wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education!

Last year our buddy Fitz needed emergency surgery for a broken arm. Thanks to some incredible donors, he is fully recovered and looking forward to a better 2021. Here he is trying to sniff out extra treats.