FLORIDA WILDLIFE

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reported 118 endangered, threatened, and special concern species statewide.  This total includes birds, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles.  Some of these imperiled species historically had a large range; others are endemic or found in a very localized area. 

While natural diseases can affect wildlife populations, much of the rapid decline in health and numbers has been due to human impact, including:

• New housing developments and transportation systems that reduce, fragment, and isolate wildlife habitats
• Introduction of invasive exotic plant and animal species that multiply faster than native ones
• Automobile-related fatalities
• Airborne pollutants and pesticide application with its runoffs.

Audubon of Florida and the Broward County Audubon Society are seeking to help protect birds and other wildlife through advocacy and community education.  With your help, we can reverse the plight of at-risk species and give them the same opportunity for recovery as that of our national symbol, the Bald Eagle, which was removed recently from the list of threatened and endangered species.

Future of Birds and Wildlife

Two reports are predictive of the future of birds and other wildlife if changes are not made.  Click on the title of each one to access PDF formatted copies of each: (1)  Bird and Climate Change Report, and (2) Wildlife 2060.  If you need the Adobe Reader to view pdf files, go to our Index-Links page.

SFAS Annual Report on Wildlife

Click here to see the South Florida Audubon Society Annual Report on Wildlife Policy.

Blog Updates

For monthly updates on wildlife issues, visit Grant Campbell's Blogspot.  Click here.

AUDUBON WILDLIFE PRIORITIES 2009

• Stabilize and/or increase populations of at-risk and declining common birds
• Advocate for public acquisition of key imperiled wildlife habitat
• Improve management and restoration of key habitats and systems
• Improve containment and eradication of invasive exotic species
• Reduce recreational disturbance of imperiled wildlife and habitats
• Strengthen state and federal protected species rules to increase emphasis on appropriate designation and protection of species and critical habitat
• Broaden selection of innovative programs to support conservation on private lands
• Improve enforcement of existing nongame wildlife protections
• Increase consideration for wildlife protection in permitting and rule-making across state and federal agencies
• Increase consideration for the effects of disturbance in decisions about recreational uses of our public conservation lands
• Expand consideration of critical for wildlife in the federal, state and local growth management transportation planning processes
• Improve legislative awareness of nongame wildlife conservation needs and funding issues
• Heighten visibility of wildlife viewing and nongame wildlife conservation constituencies
• Engage new and traditional audiences for the purposes of building field capacity, influencing decisionmakers and building our financial capacity for the purpose of conserving birds.

DOG PARKS AND AUDUBON POLICY

Although South Florida Audubon Society is not against dog parks in general, we take any threat to protected wildlife seriously, and believe that certain guidelines should be followed in choosing a location that is beneficial to the animals, their owners and to all wildlife, whether resident or transient.  Several risk factors must be considered in locating a dog park, not the least of which is the effect on the regional biota.

Burrowing owls, gopher tortoise, wading birds and other protected species may be at risk by introducing a dog park.  We recommend that some environmental review be performed by recognized environmental professionals to determine the presence or potential presence of these protected species before introducing dogs and their owners to the habitat.  A conscientious effort should be made to locate any dog park so as to isolate it from potential harm to avian, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.

We further recommend that dog parks be fully fenced with a separate entrance, integral parking and dedicated restroom facilities and that rules and regulations governing the use of and conduct within the park be posted conspicuously.

Dog feces do not absorb into the ground like cow manure does and the danger does not end when the feces gets picked up.  Eggs of certain parasites and roundworms found in dog feces can remain in the soil for years.  A strict regimen for clean-up and disinfecting the park area must be maintained.

The danger of polluting waterways, ponds, streams and reservoirs through runoff from pesticides, germicides, rodenticides and cleaning chemicals presents a threat to foraging wildlife as well as to domestic animals which use these bodies of water for feeding, drinking and nesting.  There is also the possibility of chemicals leaching into the aquifer.  When locating a dog park in proximity of any body of water, necessary steps must be taken to prevent such contamination.

South Florida Audubon Society suggests that these factors be taken into consideration in locating dog parks.  In brief, avoid locations where there are regional wildlife especially endangered and special concern species, other domestic animals, and other recreational purposes.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Volunteer -- Give back to your community with a few hours of volunteer work doing invasive species removal, cleanups, trail maintenance and other projects to conserve and protect wildlife habitat.

Create a backyard habitat -- Remove non-native species from your landscape and replace them with native plantings.  The shelter and food source will provide rest and nourishment to resident and migratory wildlife, and create pockets of suitable habitat.  Convince other homeowners and/or your Homeowners Association to implement native landscape projects.  You will help create large-scale habitats, one neighbor at a time.

Vote with your wallet -- When traveling to nature-based destinations for birding and outdoor recreation, tell local businesses why you are there.  Tell hotels and restaurants that local nature destinations are the reason for your business.  Use birder calling cards to promote the economic benefit of healthy habitats.

Keep cats indoors -- There may be more than 5 million cats in Florida, many of which spend at least part of their time outdoors.  Introduced to North America in the 19th century, cats are instinctive hunters and will attack birds and other wildlife even when not hungry.  Controlling cat populations and keeping them indoors reduces unnecessary kills and helps wildlife populations to thrive.  Click here for a video related to this.

Avoid feeding wildlife -- Feeding of wildlife accustoms them to humans and leads to death when bears, alligators, and other species in search of new habitats invade human developments.  Keep critters away from trash cans by using rubber straps on lids.

Learn about wildlife habitat protection -- Attend Audubon meetings and read articles and the recent report: Florida 2060: A Population Distribution Scenario for the State of Florida.  This publication predicts loss of 7 million acres of land due to development if continued at the current pace.  Click here to access the pdf file.   Read about Seagrass and its importance to the Manatees.

Make your voice heard --  Wildlife species protection requires us to preserve the things that humans also require:  Clean air and water, open space, and healthy ecosystems.  Use your vote and your voice to alert public officials to the importance of land management, water conservation, and other critical environmental issues.