Author: CREW Land & Water Trust

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Celebrate Spring Wildflowers with Special Hikes at CREW

Skyflower
Skyflower

The CREW Trails are spectacular showcases for wildflowers in the springtime. The CREW Marsh Trails and the Cypress Dome Trails are particularly bountiful. We are already seeing a few grass pink orchids (Calapogon tuberosus) popping up along the trail edges, along with sneezeweed, shiny blueberries, marsh pinks, violets, a variety of milkworts, and much more.

To celebrate and help you enjoy these flowers, we have two special wildflower walks scheduled for early April:

glen stacell wf hike
Glen Stacell
Roger Hammer
Roger Hammer
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25th Anniversary Horseback Ride at CREW

HorsesThe CREW Trust is partnering with Caloosa Saddle Club members to offer a first-ever guided horseback ride at CREW on Friday, March 21, 2014. The ride will be approximately 15 miles through parts of Flint Pen Strand and around the Bird Rookery Swamp tram loop. This special ride requires participants to bring their own horses, water, snacks/lunch, and horse and rider to be in good riding condition for a long (15-mile) ride. Coggins papers must be current and presented at the entrance on the day of the ride.

Pre-registration is required before noon on March 20th. Register online at http://goo.gl/gdQXVn 

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New Bird Rookery Swamp Guided Walk added

Due to the high demand for guided walks at Bird Rookery Swamp this month, we are adding some new dates and new volunteers to lead walks…. CREW volunteer Chrissy Podos will lead a hike at Bird Rookery Swamp on Thursday, March 20th at 9 AM for the first 12 people who register at http://goo.gl/LRGyPZ .

As we add future dates, check back here or on our Eventbrite page.Bird Rookery Swamp Boardwalk

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Time to Register for Alligator Strolling Science Seminar

Alligator at Bird Rookery

You’ve seen them. You may have even heard them bellow. But how much do you really know about the science of the American Alligator? Here’s your chance to learn what makes this amazing animal tick, how it helps other species, and what it does to impact the functioning of wetlands in south Florida.

Sign up today for the last CREW Strolling Science Seminar of this season, The American Alligator: Engineers of the Everglades led by Ian Bartoszek, biologist with The Conservancy of SWFL. This walking seminar will be held at the Bird Rookery Swamp Trails on Saturday, March 29th, 9 AM to noon. Registration is required. Register today by clicking here ( http://goo.gl/VTX8lR ).

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Crouching Fawn Surprises Scouts

This past weekend Boy Scout Troop 11 got a real surprise while hiking the CREW Marsh Trails. Here’s what troop leader Jeff Dodd shared:

My group was out at CREW on Saturday backpacking. We stayed at the gate 3 campsite Saturday night. On the way to camp we were hiking along the Pop Ash Slough Trail and we came across a fawn standing in the trail. As it saw us approach it went into “stealth” mode crouching to get as flat as possible to the ground. Of course this little fella was right in the middle of the trail but I’m sure it thought it was hiding.

CrouchingFawn by JeffDodd
CrouchingFawn by JeffDodd

Fawns less than two weeks old usually crouch in place, rather than bolt away. It’s their way of “disappearing in place” because they are not quick enough yet to escape most predators. What a great sighting for this troop of scouts. Thanks to Jeff for sharing the story and the photo with us. And thanks for respecting the fawn and leaving it alone and safe!

If you have CREW wildlife sightings you’d like to share, please let us know so we can post them here for all to see.

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The Life and Death of a Snake

water-moccasin
Water moccasin

Visitors and volunteers to CREW’s Bird Rookery Swamp got a shock on Wednesday, March 5th, when they discovered two resident water moccasins had been killed – heads smashed – and left by the side of the trail.  The two moccasins had been visible sunning themselves on a log or by the base of a tree for weeks in the same spot near the old railroad tie exhibit along the south tram. They had become regular sightings as well as a good teaching tool for guided walks. Then, suddenly, they were dead – killed on purpose by humans.

It is beyond our comprehension that any visitor who cares at all about the environment and the wildlife of Bird Rookery Swamp would think it OK to take the lives of two creatures who make their home there. While snakes are often the objects of fear for many humans, they rarely strike at people who keep their distance and respect their space. These two snakes belonged in Bird Rookery Swamp, maintaining the balance of nature and acting in the role they were born to play. Now, they are gone.

The primary purpose of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) project is to protect the land, water, and wildlife resources within the watershed. Recreation and public access is a secondary goal. Water and wildlife come first – always. So, it is the responsibility of each visitor to be respectful and to give all wildlife (and plants) the space they need to go about their business with the least stress possible. That means giving the alligators a wide berth (and NOT throwing sticks at them), being careful not to step on snakes crossing the trail, keeping dogs on leash and children under control, and taking photographs from a respectful distance. Our personal safety and the safety and well-being of all the animals which reside there is the responsibility of each and and every person who visits the trails. Educate your friends and family. Do your part. Be respectful. Leave the animals to live their lives in relative peace.

FWC law enforcement officers do patrol the CREW trails, but they can’t be there at all times, so it is up to each visitor to honor the place and the animals and show the respect they deserve. If you see anyone harming plants or animals within CREW, please report the violation immediately to the FWC Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). Information leading to an arrest can make you eligible for up to a $1000 reward.

Let’s make sure the trails remain open to the public by protecting the animals that live there and share their space with us!

 

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Turkey Hunting Season Opens March 1st

turkey huntersSpring Turkey Hunting Season at CREW opens tomorrow, March 1st, and runs through March 9th at the CREW Cypress Dome Trails, Caracara Prairie Preserve, and in portions of the Flint Pen Strand unit of CREW. Specific spring turkey season regulations for CREW are listed below. Complete regs can be accessed at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission website.

The Cypress Dome Trails will remain open to other users – hikers, bikers, geocachers – during hunting seasons. However, camping and horseback permits will not be issued during this hunt season. Hikers and bikers are encouraged to wear bright colors (hunter orange) when hiking during hunting seasons. Turkey hunting hours end at 1 PM each day. No hunting is allowed at the CREW Marsh Trails or at the Bird Rookery Swamp Trails.

Spring Turkey Season: March 1-4 and 5-9

Permit, Stamp and License Requirements – Quota permit, hunting license, management area permit and wild turkey permit.

Legal to Hunt – Bearded turkey or gobbler.

Regulations Unique to Spring Turkey Season

  • Legal shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.
  • Hunting other animals is prohibited.
  • Hunting with firearms other than shotguns or using a shot size larger than #2 is prohibited.

The CREW lands are open to a variety of public recreational use activities. One of the most historical and storied recreational uses of CREW is hunting. Hunting is an important wildlife management tool and provides many sportsmen and sportswomen a way to enjoy the outdoors and put food on their tables. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has designated CREW as a Wildlife & Environmental Area (WEA) and regulates the hunting rules and seasons on CREW lands. FWC law enforcement officers patrol CREW lands all year long.

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Support CREW and Bid on These Unique Silent Auction Experiences

Have you ever dreamed of taking a private airplane flight over southwest Florida’s largest watershed? What about sailing the 10,000 Islands with an exert naturalist guide? Your chance to bid on these and other unique experiences and items is next Saturday March 1st at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs during the annual CREW Concert and Silent Eco-Auction. Gates open at 5:00 PM, music starts at 6:00 PM, the auction is open for bidding from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. High bidders walk away with these fabulous and unique prizes:

Beequilt2
Rudbeckia and Bee Quilt Art
  1. Airplane Flight Over CREW #1
  2. Airplane Flight Over CREW #2
  3. Tropic Bird 10,000 Island Sailing Adventure
  4. Big Bear/Little Bear Walking Stick Set
  5. His & Hers Grapevine Walking Stick Set
  6. Quilt Art by artist Judith Reilly
  7. Dinner for 8 at Suzanne’s Pavilion/CREW Marsh Trails
  8. Fossil Hunting Trip for two
  9. Birding Tour on Conservation 20/20 Property with Cathy Olson
  10. Handmade Bag by Braidy Joy + Sarah Hadeka Band CD
  11. Swamp Buggy Ride for 10 at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
  12. “Bubba” – Hand-made driftwood carving
  13. Canopy Climb in CREW’s Oak Hammock
  14. Basket of FL panther goodies
  15. Custom Fishing Rod
  16. 1-hour Massages by Braidy (2 available)
  17. Fakahatchee Swamp Hike w/Mike Owen (3 hr hike for 4)
  18. Artwork by Jim Valentine
  19. FL Master Naturalist Program Scholarships (2)
  20. Hand-made Wood Duck Box by Native Bird Boxes
  21. Hand-made Screech Owl Box by Native Bird Boxes
  22. Save a Tree – Income Tax Preparation/E-file and basket of goodies
  23. Upcycled Neck Purse paired w/Sarah Hadeka CD (2 available)
  24. Private Full Moon hike at Six-Mile Cypress Slough
  25. Private swamp buggy tour for 6 at the FL Panther National Wildlife Refuge
  26. Red-bellied woodpecker box by Bill Helfferich
  27. Number puzzle
  28. 2-Night Stay at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
  29. Private Star-gazing hike at CREW

 

 

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CREW Secures More Concert Sponsors

The CREW Trust wants to thank the following additional businesses and organizations for their generous support of our annual fundraiser, the CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction, coming March 1st to Riverside Park in Bonita Springs, FL. WPL logoPassarella Logo  Oakbrook Properties Tree Logo Nelson.Marine   Gilkey Organization - LogoFL Master Naturalist Logo     Alligator Amblers logo0001  hf law  Haskins Inc Logo myriam colson logo

A complete listing of our sponsors and information about the concert and auction can be found here. We hope to see you there.

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Thank You New Concert Sponsors

The CREW Trust would like to thank the following businesses and organizations which have recently been added to our list of sponsors for the annual CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction. Thanks for your generosity and support!

FGCUlogo(bl)CH2MHILL_Logo_White_BkGrd     Sundstrom logoAnonymous logo  EcoPlanz Logo 2013 ERC logo

KitsonLogo

 

 

 

Our other sponsors are listed in a previous post.

Complete concert and auction information can be found here. We look forward to seeing you at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs on March 1st to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary!

 

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