Category: Misc

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How to ID panthers and tracks

FWC Id panthers

With rainy season around the corner  wildlife tracks will become more visible. Not everyone will see a Florida Panther in their lifetime but they are more likely to come upon their tracks. Though spotting and identifying a track is definitely harder than identifying a Florida Panther itself. Lucky for us FWC came out with a E-Z guide on how to ID panthers and their tracks:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/sets/72157635084221630/

FWC Id panthers
FWC

Some of the information you will find in this online document:

  • Florida Panther identification
  • Florida Panther vs Bobcat
  • General track knowledge
  • Panther tracks vs Bobcat tracks
  • Panther tracks vs Dog tracks
  •  Data on Florida Panther sightings

To help with monitoring the Florida Panther, please send your photos of panthers or their tracks to: MyFWC.com/PantherSightings 

 

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Home for wildlife

Visiting CREW? For directions and information about  the CREW Trails, click here.Barred Owl

The CREW Land and Water Trust is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of the water resources and natural communities in and around the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW).

The CREW Trust assists in land acquisition, land management, and public use of this 60,000-acre watershed with its partners: the South Florida Water Management District, which owns and manages the land; and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, which monitors wildlife and hunting and provides law enforcement on CREW Project lands. CREW is the largest intact watershed in Southwest Florida, straddling Lee and Collier Counties.

 

Red shoulder hawkThe CREW Trails are the perfect place to visit year-round. Each season brings dramatic changes to the plants and animals due to variations in water levels. Come see baby alligators and pine lilies blooming during the fall, hawks and flycatchers nesting in the spring and the swallow-tailed kites soaring overhead each summer.

 

 

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Strolling Science Seminars 2014-2015

We had a great Strolling Science Seminar (SSS) series this season (say that 5 times fast). The SSS series started in 2011-2012 to provide adults with scientific knowledge from local experts. The experts engaged the participants in outdoor scientific study and enabled them to conduct citizen science as part of local, national, and global projects. Each event is filled with laughter, science, and new knowledge.

This year we were lucky to have:

  • Mad Batters of CREW- Kathleen Smith, FWC Biologistbat sss
  • Mosquitoes of the Marsh: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly- Neil Wilkinson, FGCUmosquito
  • Fire & Water: Primal Forces Shaping CREW Wildlife Habitats- Jim Schortemeyer & Joe Bozzo, SFWMD

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  • The Gopher Tortoise: How Protecting One Species Actually Protects Hundreds- Dr. John Herman, FGCUjohn herman and group
  • Birding with the Master- Dr. Bernie Master & Tiffany Thornhill, FWC

Birding with the master 2015

We will start planning the 2015-2016 series of strolling science seminars this summer. If you have any ideas, comments, or contacts that you would like to share  for a SSS event please email Jessi Drummond at education@crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com, or call 239-657-2253. All ideas are welcomed!

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Environmental Education

The CREW Trust welcomes all school groups to explore the CREW Trails with us, and engage in focused environmental education activities that help children learn to love and understand the natural world. We work directly with Collier and Lee County schools as well as many home school groups and private schools in southwest Florida.

Students hike, explore, learn about plants and animals, test water quality, collect data on ecosystem parameters, dip-net, journal, learn about prescribed fires, and more. Each trip is custom designed the group and grade level.

The CREW Trust offers the following field trips for K – 12 students:

  • Walk Through a Watershed Trip (designed with and for Collier County 3rd grade classes)
  • Watershed and Wildlife Walk – adapted for all ages, K-12
  • Middle School – LIFE program (in conjunction with the FL Department of Environmental Protection)
  • High School Watershed Trips – Biodiversity, Wetland Ecology, Fire Ecology, or the Legacy Trip
  • Home school/Specialty Trips – we’ll design for your needs

CREW Trust is proud of its excellent working relationships with local universities and professors that enable us to engage students in field experiences, research projects, and civic engagement/service-learning opportunities on the CREW lands.

FGCU students admire a rat snake.

If you would like to plan a field trip out to CREW please email Julie Motkowicz at education@crewtrust.org or call 239-229-1088. 

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Bike the Loop: Bird Rookery Swamp

Like to bike? Come out to Bird Rookery Swamp on February 27th, 2015 from 9 am- 1pm and  join CREW Trust volunteers Peter Tomlinson and Jan Watson for a guided  tour of the picturesque 12-mile loop. 

View beautiful scenery, great wildlife, and enjoy the company of like-minded souls.

Activity Level: Strenuous-This is a trail ride on uneven, soft, grassy/sandy trails. Ground level with swamp on both sides of the trail.

BRING YOUR OWN BICYCLE: Mountain, hybrid or fat tire bikes are recommended. Not appropriate for road bicycles. CREW does NOT provide bikes for this tour. 

Space is limited to first 20 riders that register, so use the link below and sign up fast:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bird-rookery-swamp-bike-tour-registration-15294104077

 

 

 

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CREW Campfire & S’mores

Become a CREW member  TODAY and RSVP for our Members Only  Campfire & S’mores

This Friday February 20th, 2015 from 6-8

Enjoy a night out and meet other great CREW members. Come share your favorite outdoors memories by a warm fire, and savor some delicious S’mores. All members of the family are welcomed .

To become a CREW member click the link: https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/become-a-member/

2013 members campfire

There are many benefits in becoming a CREW member including: reduced member fees for programs, 2 “members only” socials each year, quarterly newsletters to keep you up to date on all of our CREW news, and knowing you make a difference for a small non-profit who continues to preserve and protect the Corkscrew Watershed.
Help CREW continue their mission, become a member today:

 Become a member today: https://crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com/become-a-member/

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Wild File Q&A: Why do turtles spread their legs and feet out when they rest on logs?

Q: Why do turtles spread their legs and feet out when they rest on logs?

turtle on a log
A Red-bellied Turtle basks in Bird Rookery Swamp.

 

A:      Turtles are cold-blooded animals, so they cannot control their body temperature internally. The only way they have to raise their body temperature is to bask to absorb warmth and vital UV rays. While heat is radiated to their bodies from their shells, they often stretch out their legs to collect additional heat.

Usually, their feet completely widen out at the same time to increase the surface area even more. They are able to engage in thermoregulation and their metabolism functions become elevated. As a result, the efficiency of their immune and digestive systems increases. Another benefit is that they absorb important UVB rays in sunlight. UVB rays become metabolized into vitamin D3 which is necessary to process calcium.

– Dick Brewer

www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html.

 

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Extra Guided Walks at Bird Rookery Swamp

CREW is gearing up for the busiest part of our season by adding an extra guided hike at Bird Rookery Swamp each week during the months of February and March.

Bird Rookery Swamp Trail

In addition to George Luther’s regular Wednesday walks two more CREW volunteers will be leading guided walks on Thursdays…see their schedules below:

Chrissy Podos
1st and 4th Thursdays (9 – 11:30 AM) – February and March

Jack Shine
2nd and 3rd Thursdays (9 – 11:30 AM) – February and March

Chrissy Podos is a resident of Naples and has been a CREW volunteer for 2 years. She has a masters in Botany and Ecology from Michigan State University and has previously worked for The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization. She currently stays home with her two children whom she brings out on the trails whenever possible. Her gentle style will have you feeling right at home at CREW.

Jack Shine is a retired physician who lives most of the year on Cape Cod where he volunteers at the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center. He is also a naturalist and information volunteer at the Appalachian Club’s Highland Center, near Mt Washington. He has been wintering in Southwest Florida for the past 6 years enjoying hiking, biking and kayaking, always learning about the flora, fauna and natural history of Florida.

Thanks to these fabulous volunteers for giving their time and expertise to CREW. Come on out and enjoy a new look at Bird Rookery Swamp with them!

Click here to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-15-bird-rookery-swamp-guided-walks-registration-11872630357

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Flint Pen Clean Up

logoseal_blue_2FWC logo

CREW Logo

 

We need your help… 

Come out and join us for a community wide Flint Pen Clean Up

Friday, February 6th from 8-1pm

Be prepared to get your hands dirty and plan ahead by bringing/wearing the following:

  • leather gloves
  • long-sleeved shirt & long pants
  • closed-toe shoes
  • lunch
  • water
  • Trucks, Mules, and Swamp Buggies are allowed but for the clean up only 

Please RSVP by emailing Jessi Drummond at education@crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com or call 239-657-2253 by February 4th 2015.

 

Flint Pen Picture

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Fire and Water: Primal Forces Shaping CREW Wildlife Habitats

Come out an join us for CREW’s once a month Strolling Science Seminar. For January we are exploring prescribed burns. With  veteran fire expert Jim Schortemeyer and CREW project leader Joe Bozzo .

 

prescribed burn
Brenda Brooks at the CREW Marsh Trails

 

Come and explore the unique interactions of fire and water that have shaped the CREW landscape for thousands of years.  Learn some history, explore fire basics, and view the direct impacts of fire on wildlife habitats.   Experience the basic prescribed fire techniques and how different techniques benefit different species.  See the results of fire exclusion and discuss all the reasons for using prescribed fire on CREW lands.

      Jim Schortemeyer is an experienced prescribed burn manager, fire instructor and wildlife biologist. His stories bring to life the very real impacts and results of working with fire. Joe Bozzo is CREW’s current land manager and project leader and together they have over 6 decades of experience managing South Florida’s wildlife and habitats.

This is an adult only hike.

What to wear/bring: Wear comfortable outdoor walking clothes and closed-toed shoes.

Please bring some water to drink and snacks for the trail walk.

If you would like to purchase tickets click the link below:

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fire-and-water-primal-forces-shaping-crew-wildlife-habitats-a-crew-strolling-science-seminar-tickets-12666408569