Latest Posts by sawgrassnaturecenter - Page 2

Ever wanted to know more about an animal? Curious about the nature that's all around you? The SNC's environmental experts have conversations with researchers from all over the field of environmental science to bring you fun facts and topics about the science that is happening around you every day!

Listen to our newest episode an interview on Beekeeping with Dr. Leo Gosser here: 

https://anchor.fm/snc-wild/episodes/Beekeeping-with-Dr--Gosser-e1080m1

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.

Caution: Habitat Improvement Ahead! 

For those of you that know us, you know that the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital is dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing native Florida wildlife. Or, in other words, nursing in-need wildlife back to health, so that they have a second chance at life in the wild. Sometimes we get animals that cannot be released back into the wild. Whether it’s because they have a permanent injury that keeps them from properly defending themselves in the wild or because they are considered an exotic/invasive species (not naturally from Florida) we legally are not allowed to release it. These animals, instead, are provided a permanent home in our Wildlife Sanctuary.

This brings us to the second part of the SNC’s mission. The animals we provide permanent sanctuary to become educational ambassadors for their species. Their role is to provide the public with education on why their species is important and what their species niche (job) is in the environment.

In order to make sure we are giving our permanent residents the best care possible, we need to make sure they have the best habitats possible. For a non-profit that runs almost entirely on donations, this can sometimes be hard to do. This year though, thanks to an incredible grant opportunity from The Batchelor Foundation, the SNC is able to reconstruct newer, better habitats for some of our residents.

Please be sure to keep an eye out for construction during visiting hours. The areas will be marked off with yellow caution tape. Please do not let children climb over this.

We hope you guys are as excited about the improvements happening around the SNC as we are!

Report from a Wildlife Rehabber: 

On February 19 a female opossum was caught in a car engine. The auto repair shop that found her called the Coral Springs Humane Unit to come help. After a long struggle, they were able to remove her. She suffered from several facial lacerations and was very thin. 

Since we have a developed community partnership, they brought her to us at the Sawgrass Nature Center. Once in our care, she was treated for the facial wounds, parasites, and her weight was monitored. She healed well, but the weight gain was slow moving. Eventually, she recovered to what would be considered a healthy weight. Only one thing was left - release. 

After almost a month in care, on March 13, the female opossum was released back to the wild. Now back out in the wild, she can continue to live out her life in her natural habitat. 

Does that bird really need help? 

Located in Coral Springs, Florida, and operating for the past twenty-six years, the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital (and its staff) have handled many wildlife encounters over the years. One of the incidents we and other nature centers see a lot of in the Spring are (not-so) abandoned baby birds. However, most times the bird calls we receive are not actually for birds that require assistance.

Baby birds have a natural part of their life cycle where mom prepares them to leave the nest. This means they spend a lot of time at the bottom of a tree outside of the nest. Now, because of the size and lack of developed feathers on these birds, many people see this as a sign for concern. But again, we assure you, this is entirely natural.

The last thing anyone should do when they see a baby bird is put it in a box and take it to a nature center. We know that it might seem scary to think that mom is not nearby, but parental birds are really good at hiding when they do not want to be seen. The baby that seems alone, may not actually be alone. Our best advice is to assess the situation from afar if you think there is cause for concern and call your local nature center. Your local wildlife rehabber will be best at determining whether or not the little guy is truly abandoned and needs to be brought in.

Birdnapping is more common than you might think. The Sawgrass Nature Center and many other nature centers like us, have received baby birds that did not need to be taken out of the wild. We never want to take a baby bird out of the wild for doing exactly what it is they should be doing at that point in their lifecycle. Again, as scary or unnatural it may seem to us for a baby bird to be on its own, it’s just as scary for them to be put in a box and brought in by humans.

What is Baby Season?

Here at the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital, we see babies year-round. Part of this is due to Florida’s subtropical climate, another part is that some animals (such as raccoons) have babies all year long. 

So what is so special about the Spring at the SNC? 

Regardless of what specific time of year animal species have babies, a majority of them seem to coincide with the Spring. That means many animal species are having babies all at once in the Springtime. Nature Centers just like ours are flooded with baby birds, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and more. 

For the most part, these are all animals that have many babies at once. The reason they do this is to increase the chances that at least one of those babies will survive to adulthood. For the many of us that have seen abandoned baby animals, we know that the trials of infancy in the animal kingdom can be quite challenging indeed. 

This season reminds us why it is so important that we have community resources like wildlife rehabilitators to ensure that these animals are given the highest chance of success possible. 

With that in mind, there are some very important things to remember as we March into baby season. If you see a potentially abandoned baby animal, please do not touch it. Rescue is not always the best first step for these animals. Many baby animals are mistaken for being orphaned, when in reality, mom is usually close by watching. 

For example, baby birds experience a natural part of their life cycle on the ground by a tree as they develop necessary skills for independence and flight. While mom might not be immediately identifiable, most times, these baby birds are doing exactly what they should be doing. 

The best thing to keep in mind is that before you intervene with nature, always call your local nature center first for advice. What may seem like an emergency situation, may actually just be a natural part of an animal’s life cycle. 

With Easter closing in, the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital feels it’s important to put out a reminder to not buy a bunny as a gift for your families. A majority of the bunnies bought as gifts around Easter time are abandoned shortly after the Holiday passes.

Bunnies are adorable animals and they can be charming companions, but most people do not realize the amount of love and care that goes into these guys. Bunnies are long-time commitments. They can live longer than dogs and cats if given the right amount of care. Bunny vets can also be very expensive because they are not considered a “common” pet. It is also important to know that their nails and teeth are growing constantly. That means their nails are going to need trimmings, which is not a fun experience for any animal, especially an animal that is used to being prey.

Because bunny teeth are constantly growing, they are going to need a healthy stream of hay in a day in addition to their regular diet. This means their cost of food can get pretty expensive for those who weren’t expecting to need a bunny budget. Bunnies are commonly mistaken as low-cost, beginner pets. The truth is that they are not. Like all animals, bunnies require research and forethought prior to committing to one.

Chip, the Florida Box Turtle, is aptly named due to the chip in his shell. Florida Box Turtles are known for their unique ability to fold the bottom plate of their shell up to the top part of their shell to turn their shell into a protective box from predators. This is probably what saved Chip’s life from the predator that took a chunk out of his shell. 

Chip was brought to the SNC by a Florida resident that found him injured in a park. We do not know what caused this injury, but because it prevents him from living safely out in the wild, the SNC provides him permanent sanctuary. It doesn’t hurt that he is also a total sweetie. 

Who was Marjory Stoneman Douglas? 

It is Women’s History Month and we would be remiss if we did not discuss one of the most iconic women in the environmental sciences: Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Marjory’s work in conservation was so impactful she was inducted into several halls of fame, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and has several institutions now named after her. But just what did Marjory do to earn these honors?

Born in 1890, Marjory Stoneman was a suffragette and an environmental advocate. She became a Miami resident in 1915 when there were under 5,000 people there. From there she would dabble in several different careers in The Miami Herald, the Navy, and as a freelance writer. All of these experiences would cumulate to her writing her book: The Everglades:River of Grass. This book was a pivoting point for the way people viewed the Florida Everglades and its importance. The impact of this book is often compared to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.

Her research and writing motivated people like never before to not just see the value in the Everglades, but to protect it from impending real estate development. She is part of the reason the Everglades is now a national park. Her work to protect the Everglades and its conservation continued well into her later years until she died at the age of 108 in 1998.

Two South Florida public schools are named in her honor: Broward County Public Schools’ Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Marjory Stoneman Douglas Elementary School.

His name is Bumper for a reason! Bumper is a Greek Tortoise that is native to Europe and many surrounding areas. Due to his exotic species status, Bumper will not be released by the SNC into the wild. Instead, he will remain a permanent resident. 

Greek tortoises is one of the longest living species of tortoise in existence. They can live anywhere from 20-100 years. 

March is Women’s History Month and therefore the perfect time to share the accomplishments of amazing women like Nzambi Matee from Nairobi, Kenya. Nzambi is one of seven winners of The Young Champions of the Earth prize.  Announced in December 2020, this United Nations Environment Program initiative engages youth in tackling the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Tired of seeing plastic waste littering the streets of Nairobi, Nzambi was determined to make a difference. She developed a mix of sand and plastic that when heated and compressed could produce bricks that are harder than cement. The building applications are enormous but as of the filming of this video she is currently only producing pavers. She hopes to scale the production and expand the use of her bricks.

Plastic waste is an environmental concern the world over. Our reliance on petrochemicals, single use plastics and cheap manufacturing materials has made plastics an increasingly dangerous threat to our biosphere.

You can read more about her work here: Building Blocks for a Greener Nairobi

References:

Roland Geyer, Jenna R. Jambeck and Kara Lavender,’Production, use and fate of all plastics ever made’,(Science Advances  19 Jul 2017: Vol. 3, no. 7, e1700782)

Hayden K. Webb, Jaimys Arnott, Russell J. Crawford and Elena P. Ivanova, ‘Plastic Degradation and Its Environmental Implications with Special Reference to Poly(ethylene terephthalate),’, (Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 28 December 2012)

It is officially baby season at the Sawgrass Nature Center! This week alone we have taken in 36 baby opossums with the goal to release them back into the wild once they are old enough to fend for themselves. 

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

Luckily there was a quack in the ice

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.

Ewok, the eastern screech owl, is a permanent resident at the SNC due to an eye injury that would prevent him from thriving in the wild. He is a fully grown eastern screech owl, even though their small size leads many to believe that they are juveniles. 

The interesting coloring of their feathers is camouflage adapted to blend in with the base of trees. 

And yes, we name all of the Eastern Screech Owls we care for after Star Wars. 

Want to Save the Bees and eat cheese? 

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to entertain ourselves within the safety of our own home. Recreating some social favorites isn’t always easy, but here’s one thing that is: a wine tasting. Pair some of your favorite wines with a homemade charcuterie board!

Read more: https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2021/02/24/charcuterie-and-save-the-bees/

Interview with Commissioner Metayer Part. I by Weird and Wild with the Sawgrass Nature Center • A podcast on Anchor

Dive into the topic of climate change with environmental educators Shelbey and Abby as we interview environmental scientist and Coral Springs Commissioner, Nancy Metayer.

Join SNC staff in our discussion on Climate Change! 

Here's one for the reptile lovers out there. Our Bearded Dragon, Leonidas, eating his Valentines Day box of worms! Thank you to everyone who donated, we surpassed our goal!

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/

This is Molly, our loggerhead musk turtle, receiving her first Valentine’s Day worm! Her incredibly strong beak is perfectly adapted to crushing through the tough exoskeletons of her prey. If you are interested in sending Molly a box of worms this Valentine’s Day, consider donating here: https://www.facebook.com/sncwild/posts/4168465543165140

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

Alika the Laysan albatross with today’s reminder that birds are dinosaurs—sound on!

Thanks to Staffer and Aviculturist Extraordinaire Susan for sending along this video of rescued Alika playing with her aviary-mate Makana!

Black voices are important and need to be empowered. Pasted below is a link to a list of resources put together by HelloAlice for black owned businesses. You will find grants, content builders, and more! 

https://blackbiz.helloalice.com/?mc_cid=51366c913b&mc_eid=60b4bb1101

While cute and small now, adult American Alligators can grow up to fifteen feet long! Their massive size is not only a deterrent to predators, but also helps them accomplish a very important role in the environment. 

American Alligators are known as Keystone Species. That fun vocab term means they are a species capable of establishing a new ecosystem for a bunch of other animals in addition to themselves. They dig for water to create Gator Holes. These gator holes become homes for fish, amphibians, and water birds. Without gators, the Florida Everglades would be a much drier place. 

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/

Acrobatic hooded crow really, really wanted that pine cone! Taken in Victoria Park, East Belfast.

Squirrels play an important part in seed dispersal, which is responsible for the planting of many trees. Their environmental niche is why it's so important to rehabilitate them properly and release them back into the wild.

Squirrels do not make good pets and should not be kept without a proper license. When they go through the squirrel equivalent of puberty, they become very aggressive, or nutty, if you will. 

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.