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I have $24 to last me til Friday, what should I buy with it?

WAIT: Does that animal really need help?

Every year thousands of young animals are found by people. Most of these wild animals do not need to be rescued. Humans are always a young wild animal’s last hope for survival; never its best hope. A young animal should be removed from the wild only after you have received direct advice from a Wildlife Rehabber. 

Is the animal an orphan? 

An “orphan” is a young animal that is unable to care for itself and whose parents cannot be found or are known to be dead. It is natural for all young animals to explore the world alone once they leave the nest. If you have found a healthy young animal that is able to walk and is fully furred or feathered, it probably does not need your help. Its parents are usually nearby, even if they are not visible to you. Observe the young animal from a distance for some time before calling for help. 

Is the animal injured or weak?

If the young animal appears weak or injured, you should call a wildlife rehabilitator or nature center for further guidance on assessing the situation. If an animal has been attacked by a cat or dog, assume there is an injury even if it is not visible. 

Should I intervene?

The best way to determine if an animal is in need of your help is to contact a wildlife center BEFORE you intervene. Most times, people that believe they are rescuing baby wild animals are advised to place them back where they found them so their parents can do their jobs. Remember, parent animals will not go for their young while you are around, so don’t panic if you can’t see the mom. 

Questions about an animal you think is in need of help? Contact the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital at 954-752-9453.

Conservation: Bridge of hope for world's rarest primate

An artificial rope bridge across a divided forest could help save the ape, a type of gibbon, from extinction. from BBC News - Science & Environment https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54557877

Today the SNC donated dish and appliance sets to FLITE Center. FLITE’s mission is to “guide those aging out of foster care and other vulnerable youth for a successful transition to independence.” 

The SNC is very happy we got the opportunity to give back to our community this way. Kids that have grown up through the foster care system are more vulnerable as they start their adult life and many of them do not have support systems to help them get started on the right foot.

Remember, as a community, there is no issue we can’t tackle together. 

The Big Stump Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado is centered around an Eocene aged lake in Colorado – making it 34 million years old. Because CO2 contents in the atmosphere were higher in the Eocene, the climate was warmer globally and the plants at this site record the difference.

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Women In STEM

To all the women out there that need some inspiration today: here is a page on historical women in STEM. Starting with Puerto Rican Scientist and Educator, Ana Roqué de Duprey

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women-in-stem

This little guy is an Eastern Screech Owl. Although small, he is considered fully grown. An eye injury sustained from a car collision keeps him from thriving in the wild on his own, so he will remain with the SNC as a permanent resident and educational ambassador. 

The Eastern Screech Owl is considered a bird of prey. So its sharp talons and curved beak have adapted to ripping and tearing prey as opposed to the straight and long beak of something like a heron that has been adapted for fishing. 

natgeotravel

Video by @bertiegregory | A harp seal pup takes a swimming lesson with its mother in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada. This species has an extraordinary breeding cycle. Females give birth to pups on moving ice floes. They suckle the pup for just 10 to 14 days. During the last few days of this short period, they encourage the pup into the water to help them learn to swim. After the swimming lessons, they abandon the pup. The females then mate with the males who have been waiting nearby before heading north to their feeding grounds. The pups at two weeks old are left alone with nothing to eat.

This year the SNC has rescued and rehabilitated over 900 wild animals in South Florida. Help us continue our mission by donating here https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/ this #GivingTueday. 

There is a lot of slime in nature and so many animals that use slime in different ways. One of my favorite activities to do with students when learning about these animals is to make Oobleck! It is an easy, fun craft that gets kids immersed into the experience of using slime in their own way. It gives them a hands-on example of how this sticky substance can be useful in nature.

Learn more here: https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2021/02/16/slime/