Spring is an active season for Florida wildlife, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding residents and visitors how to reduce conflicts with them in order to help conserve native species.
As the weather warms, many species begin to migrate, mate, feed and nest. This increased level of wildlife activity means that people are more likely to encounter wildlife and should take precautions to avoid disrupting these natural behaviors and prevent conflicts with wildlife.
Here’s some tips on how to observe, enjoy — and help conserve — Florida wildlife during spring:
Sea Turtles: If you frequent the beach, you’ll see these large marine reptiles nest in spring. Help by keeping beaches dark at night and free of obstacles during the March to October nesting season. Artificial lighting can disturb nesting sea turtles and disorient hatchlings, so avoid using flashlights or cellphones on the beach at night. Clear away boats and beach furniture at the end of the day and fill in holes in the sand that could entrap turtles.
Manatees: Chances of close encounters between manatees and boaters increase in the spring, as manatees seek warmer coastal waterways along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and other inland waters. For boaters, it is a critical time to be on the lookout for manatees to avoid collisions with the large mammals. Boaters should follow posted speed limits as many areas have seasonal zones in spring that reflect manatee migration patterns.
Gopher Tortoises: Spring days are when Florida’s only native tortoise becomes more active, foraging for food and searching for a mate. If you see gopher tortoises or their half-moon shaped burrow entrances, it is best to leave them alone. You can help a gopher tortoise cross a road by picking it up and placing it in a safe location in the direction it was heading, if it is safe for you to do so. The tortoise is a land animal, so never attempt to put it into water.
Nesting Birds: Keep distance from shorebirds and seabirds on the beach and wading birds nesting on mangrove and tree islands. If birds become agitated or leave their nests, you are too close. Disturbance can cause birds to flush from their breeding sites, which exposes their eggs and chicks to predators and extreme heat. Egg temperatures can increase to lethal levels after just a few minutes of direct sun exposure. Shorebirds and seabirds nest in shallow scrapes in the sand and their eggs and chicks are wellcamouflaged, making them vulnerable to being stepped on unless people look out for them and avoid walking though flocks of birds.
Snakes: Watch for snakes in your yard or when hiking. If you do come upon a snake, stand back and observe it. Snakes don’t purposefully position themselves to frighten people. They’d much rather avoid encounters, and usually will flee.
Injured and Orphaned Wildlife: If you find a baby animal, it is best to leave it alone. Baby animals rarely are orphaned; a parent may be nearby searching for food or observing its young. Instead, report wildlife you think may be injured or orphaned to the nearest FWC Regional Office, or to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-FWCC (3922) or *FWC on a cell phone).
