Conservation: Bridge Of Hope For World's Rarest Primate

This ultra-black fish has evolved to be practically invisible in the darkest depths of the ocean, and the way it sucks in light could be useful for engineers.

Molly, the Loggerhead Musk Turtle

Today is #NationalWildlifeDay and we want to celebrate the amazing biodiversity of your #WildSanctuaries! How many different species can you identify? (Image description: Collage of different species seen around the sanctuary system.)

Anyone can turn their backyard into a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat by providing some important features like food, water, and shelter! Learn more by checking out this website: https://www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife/certify

This video displays perfectly how some fun backyard features can be wildlife friendly! 

“A variety of wild animals visiting a water fountain”

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What is Climate?

Climate is a long-term state that helps us predict our weather. For example, Florida’s climate isn’t going to be anything like Alaska’s. We know, as Floridians, that our climate here is sub-tropical. Our proximity to the equator and the fact that we are almost completely surrounded by water means that we typically have warmer, wetter weather. Climate is long-term and weather is short-term. Even though Florida can get the occasional cold front and thus cold weather, we know that it will eventually give way to warmer weather. Our tropical climate here in Florida is the reason we can go swimming in December.

What is climate change?

Climate change typically refers to the Earth’s total climate. Since climate is such a long-term, broad concept, it can take a lot of things and a really long time to drastically change it. However, the effects of climate change can be felt as they gradually increase overtime. For example, there were more named storms in 2020 than in any previous recorded year.

What is causing climate change?

Historically, Earth’s climate has always gradually changed over time. What’s new is the rate at which our climate is changing. Climate scientists believe this rapid change is due to the massive increase in burning fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. Burning fossil fuels for energy to power our homes, jobs, and cars releases gas into the atmosphere. The same atmosphere that traps air for us to breathe has been trapping the increased amounts of fossil fuels which is causing a massive shift in how we experience climate and weather.

What can I do?

Learning is always the first step. Making educated decisions for yourself and your family is the best way to move forward in any given scenario. Climate change is no different. Take the time to learn more and share the knowledge. Pasted below is a list of reliable resources on climate change.

NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-climate-change-k4.html

United Nations (UN): https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts

Check out part 1 of our Climate Change interview with Coral Springs Commissioner Nancy Metayer https://anchor.fm/snc-wild/episodes/Interview-with-Commissioner-Metayer-Part--I-eqtv93

Our volunteers loved adding this to their background study noise! 

The Landscape of Capitol Reef National Park. Gently dipping sedimentary rocks of the Waterpocket fold.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: WILDLIFE REHABBERS ROCK! This nestling hawk was found on the ground at my work, we scooped him/her up, and got him to a rehabber in about an hour. The dedication to wild critters is remarkable, and it’s pretty impressive how people make themselves immediately available for the sake of animals.

Make one of our wildlife friends your valentine this Valentines Day! For a $5 donation, we will deliver a yummy box of worms from you to them. Photos of the deliveries will be updated on Valentines Day. Donate here to get started: https://www.facebook.com/sncwild/posts/4168465543165140

Our resident turkey vulture is a little cheeky. Notice how he poops whenever he sees our caretakers. It’s almost like he knows we’re coming to clean up the place! 

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.