Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Clean bird feeders to help protect cardinals and other birds

Posted on

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has received reports of sick and dead cardinals in north Florida from concerned residents who have bird feeders. Artificial feeding stations, such as bird feeders, can draw large numbers of birds into one area. Cleaning bird feeders can decrease the potential for spreading diseases.
Initial reports via the online wild bird mortality surveillance system came in from northwest Florida (Santa Rosa, Bay and Holmes counties). Three to four weeks later, reports came in from north central Florida (Dixie, Marion, Flagler and Duval counties). Observations of other dead songbird species were rare in these reports.
Sick cardinals appear to move slowly, often hiding in ground vegetation with limited ability to fly. They seem capable of only short flight distances a few feet off the ground.
The FWC collected two cardinal carcasses and submitted them to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, where laboratory evaluation confirmed the birds were infected with salmonella species. These bacteria are transmitted by ingestion of contaminated feces. For this reason it is very important to clean bird feeders regularly, especially during disease outbreaks.
If you have bird feeders, take the time to follow the guidelines below to minimize the risk of disease transmission:

  • Use a diluted bleach solution to clean your bird feeders every two to three weeks. First, discard old feed. Then, while wearing gloves, use a scrub brush and soapy water to remove crusted material from the feeder. Next, soak the feeder in a 1:10 bleach solution for 10 minutes. Rinse the feeder with water and place in a sunny area to dry thoroughly before use.
  • Clean birdbaths in a similar fashion.
  • Minimize crowding at feeders. Provide enough feeders spaced far enough apart so birds do not have to jostle each other for space at a feeder.
  • Rake clean any debris (feed and bird feces) that accumulates around the feeder area.
  • Do not clean bird feeders and birdbaths near human living and eating areas. Salmonella can cause illness in people, so it is best to take precautions such as wearing rubber gloves and washing hands thoroughly.

If you observe dead cardinals or other dead songbirds in your yard, remove your bird feeders for a period of at least two weeks. Report your observations to the wild bird mortality surveillance system at MyFWC.com/Bird.
Additional information on salmonella in songbirds can be found at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center.

Share your marine fisheries comments on new saltwater commenting webpage

Posted on

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Marine Fisheries Management wants to hear from you. In an effort to keep stakeholders informed and to gather public input on upcoming issues, a new webpage has been created: MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
Keep track of items expected to be discussed by the Commission in future meetings and provide your thoughts on fishery management in state waters (shore to 3 nautical miles in the Atlantic and shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf) by visiting the new webpage.
Currently, staff are collecting comments on the statewide management of cobia, sheepshead and tripletail, as well as goliath grouper, flounder, spotted seatrout, trap fisheries and shrimp. Staff are also collecting comments on gray triggerfish and gag grouper in Gulf state waters. To comment, fill out the form at the bottom of the commenting page. Comments can also be emailed to [email protected] or submitted over the phone at 850-487-0554.
Have a question instead of a comment? Email [email protected], call 850-487-0554 or send your question in via Ask FWC.

2017 Gulf recreational red snapper state season opens weekends starting May 6

Posted on

The 78-day 2017 recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico state waters opens Saturdays and Sundays in May starting May 6. On May 27, the season will open daily through July 9. The season will also reopen for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, and on Labor Day.
This season will maintain fishing opportunities for recreational anglers in state waters and provide spring, summer and fall fishing options.
The Gulf federal season was recently announced by NOAA Fisheries and will be June 1-3 for private recreational anglers and June 1 through July 19 for federally-permitted charter boats and head boats.
If you plan to fish for red snapper in Gulf state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a Gulf Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Reef Fish Survey” under “Reef Fish.” Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Learn more about red snapper at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snappers.”

Snook to close in Gulf state and federal waters

Posted on

Snook will close to all harvest in Gulf state, federal and inland waters, including all of Monroe County and Everglades National Park, starting May 1. Seasonal harvest closures conserve Florida’s valuable snook populations and help sustain and improve the fishery for the future.
Snook is open to harvest in Atlantic state, federal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, through May 31, closing June 1.
Both the Atlantic and Gulf will reopen for recreational snook harvest Sept. 1.
Snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World. While snook may be caught and released during the closed season, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to handle their catch carefully to help the fish survive upon release. Proper handling methods can help ensure the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about fish handling, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Fish Handling.”
Anglers can report their catch on the Snook & Gamefish Foundation’s website at SnookFoundation.org by clicking on the “Angler Action Program” link in the bar at the top of the page.
Learn more about recreational fishing at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing” and “Recreational Regulations.”

Grouper fishing reopens May 1 in Atlantic, Monroe County waters

Posted on

Anglers targeting grouper in Florida state and federal waters of the Atlantic, including state waters off Monroe County, will be able to take home some of their catch starting May 1, when the season for several species reopens to recreational and commercial harvest. The following species will reopen to harvest May 1: gag, black, red, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby.
The harvest of these species of grouper will remain open until Jan. 1, 2018. These species are closed annually from Jan. 1 through April 30 each year as a measure to ensure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic grouper species. State waters in the Atlantic are from shore to 3 nautical miles out.
Recreational anglers targeting these species may not take more than three groupers per person, per day. Within this three-fish limit, anglers may possess only one gag or black grouper (not both).
Dehooking tools must be aboard commercial and recreational vessels for use as needed to remove hooks from reef fish, including Atlantic grouper.
More information about grouper bag and size limits, gear restrictions and fishing seasons, including a map of the Atlantic and Gulf grouper fishing boundaries, is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing; select “Saltwater Fishing” then “Recreational Regulations” and “Groupers.”

Join a bioblitz to survey species on wildlife management areas

Posted on

What’s a bioblitz? Think of it as a wildlife adventure where you get a chance to find, identify and catalogue all the plants and animals you see while exploring Florida’s wildlife management areas.
During this year’s 75th anniversary of the Florida WMA system, for the first time bioblitzes are happening around the state, guided by biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The first bioblitz was held at Chassahowitzka WMA on April 1, with about 20 people going out with biologists to look for reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects. More bioblitzes are coming up: May 6 at the Aucilla WMA; Sept. 23 at Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area; and Oct. 21 at J.W. Corbett WMA.
“Many people on the Chassahowitzka WMA bioblitz were experiencing the beauty of this wild place for the first time. The group on this trek spotted over 80 species, including an alligator hiding in a gopher tortoise burrow, and 43 plants and animals were scientifically verified based on their photos, ” said Peter Kleinhenz, who helped organize the FWC bioblitzes.
Anyone can be a citizen scientist by signing up for a bioblitz. Just go to MyFWC.com/WMA 75 and click on the calendar. If you miss going on a bioblitz, you can go out on your own and have a similar experience.
The FWC asks bioblitz participants to upload photos of the plants and animals they encounter in wildlife management areas into the iNaturalist app, using a cellphone or other digital device. Biologists with iNaturalist identify the species – sometimes within minutes or several hours, though it may take a day or longer. Sightings of Florida species then are being gathered on the newly created iNaturalist platform known as the Florida Nature Trackers Program. 
“Anyone joining a bioblitz and helping catalogue wildlife sightings on the iNaturalist app is building a better inventory of the plants and animals living on Florida’s wildlife management areas,” Kleinhenz said. “Just imagine how this digital collection of Florida-specific wildlife data will make a difference in monitoring and conserving imperiled species and wildlife habitats.”
More than 30,000 sightings already have been submitted to Florida Nature Trackers, which went live in late February. This program includes a series of projects people can join. There are now 15 projects, including eight WMA projects. One project is on the Chassahowitzka bioblitz and others are on Florida birds, mammals, herps (reptiles and amphibians), insects, spiders and plant pollinators. In the bird project as of mid-April, more than 1,400 people had shared over 24,000 observations that included sightings of 446 species. Eventually each WMA where the FWC is the lead manager will have its own project on Florida Nature Trackers.
Texas, which has used iNaturalist since 2014, has had good results, including the uploading of over 40,000 sightings of reptiles and amphibians in the state.
The WMAs’ 75th anniversary celebration is ongoing throughout 2017, with the public invited to join activities such as a photo contest, geocaching contest, birding tours and volunteer days. It’s your chance to discover some of the nearly 6 million acres of wild and scenic lands in Florida’s WMA system. While conserving wildlife and habitats, WMAs also offer many opportunities for outdoor recreation for people who want to boat, fish, hunt, hike, bike, view wildlife or go camping. Go to MyFWC.com/WMA 75 to find a WMA near you.

FWC making it easier, more rewarding to remove pythons

Posted on

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is launching new programs to encourage people to help remove nonnative Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem and surrounding area. Two new programs and a new Executive Order will provide people with incentives and expanded opportunities to remove these invasive constrictors.
The Python Pickup Program is a new program designed to encourage the public to remove and report wild Burmese pythons by rewarding participants with valuable prizes. Starting now, anyone can participate in this innovative new program. People who remove pythons simply need to submit photographic evidence of the snake as well as the location from which it was removed. Anyone who submits this information will receive a free Python Pickup T-shirt for submitting their first entry. For every submission received, participants will be entered into a monthly prize drawing as well as a grand prize drawing to be held next year. Monthly prizes include snake hooks, custom engraved Yeti tumblers, Plano sportsman’s trunks, GoPro cameras and Badlands backpacks. The grand prize is a Florida Lifetime Sportsman’s License. The first drawing will take place in May 2017.
As part of the Python Pickup, people can submit pythons removed from any property in Florida where they have authorization to do so from the property owner or land manager.
A recent Executive Order allows people to remove pythons year-round from 22 public lands with no hunting license or wildlife management area permit required. 
“We know many Florida residents and visitors want to help tackle this tough conservation challenge by going after pythons in the wild and removing any they can find,” said FWC Executive Director, Nick Wiley.  “We want to continue to encourage and support this important citizen conservation effort. This Executive Order clarifies regulatory questions and makes it easier than ever for people to remove Burmese pythons from the wild.”
 Earlier this month, the FWC also launched a Python Contractor Program which pays participants for efforts to remove Burmese pythons from the wild. The FWC selected 22 contractors already experienced with capturing wild Burmese pythons. Contractors are paid an hourly wage for their efforts to remove Burmese pythons. The FWC will also pay contractors for each snake removed. The program is similar to one recently implemented by the South Florida Water Management District.
People interested in training on how to identify and safely remove pythons can take part in a Python Patrol Training. For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Python and click on “Python Patrol.”
The FWC will continue to work with the public and partners to explore other projects aimed at removing pythons and other nonnative species in Florida. 
People can also help with efforts to manage Burmese pythons and other nonnative species by reporting sightings to the FWC’s Exotic Species Reporting Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681), online at IveGot1.org, or by downloading the free “IveGot1” smartphone app.
For more information on Burmese pythons in Florida and the various management programs, visit MyFWC.com/Python.

Gulf greater amberjack state waters to close April 2

Posted on

At its April 20 meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved closing Gulf state waters to recreational harvest of greater amberjack for the remainder of 2017, starting April 22. This is consistent with the amberjack closure in Gulf federal waters that went into effect March 24, 2017. Both state and federal waters will reopen Jan. 1, 2018.
“While there are not a lot of amberjack caught in state waters, this is a chance to take a step back and see what is happening with the fishery and help ensure future fishing opportunities,” said Commissioner Chuck Roberts.
 These closures were put into place because NOAA Fisheries estimates that the annual federal recreational quota was met. The quota is the amount of fish that can be caught each year while maintaining a sustainable fishery. Closing state waters for the rest of 2017 will help minimize chances of a quota overage. Federal rules require that any harvest in excess of the amberjack quota must be deducted from the next year’s quota, which can result in a shortened federal season.

FWC updates management efforts as number of nesting eagles continues to increase

Posted on

The bald eagle is one of the great conservation success stories. The bald eagle was removed from state listing in 2008 and since that time, the number of nesting eagles in Florida has continued to increase. With a healthy eagle population, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is updating management efforts and conservation actions.
Historically, bald eagles have faced many challenges. Habitat destruction, shooting, poisoning and pesticides greatly reduced eagle numbers in the United States. The Florida eagle population has soared since the FWC began conducting nest surveys in 1972.
“That first year there were only 88 bald eagle nests documented in the state,” said Dr. Brad Gruver, leader of the FWC’s Species Conservation Planning Section. “Thanks to conservation efforts of the FWC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners, there are now an estimated 1,500 nesting pairs in Florida. Florida has more nesting eagles than any other state except Alaska and Minnesota.”
At its April 20 meeting, FWC staff presented the Commission with an update on the status of bald eagles in Florida as well as recommendations for revisions to Florida’s rule and management plan for bald eagles.
Staff recommended eliminating the redundancy of obtaining both state and federal permits for activities with the potential to disturb or “take” bald eagles or their nests. Under the recommendations, a state permit will not be needed as conservation will be ensured by the recently established federal permitting process.
The FWC will now focus on completing a new Species Action Plan to replace the management plan. The Species Action Plan will reflect the FWC’s continued commitment to the conservation of bald eagles in Florida. The FWC will work with stakeholders on the draft plan later this year.
“The FWC remains committed to the conservation of this magnificent bird,” said Gruver. “We will continue our efforts to educate the public about bald eagles, provide law enforcement protections and monitor the status of the eagle population to ensure it remains stable or increasing.”
For more information on how the FWC is working to conserve eagles, visit MyFWC.com/Eagle. To learn more about Species Action Plans, go to MyFWC.com/Imperiled and click on “Species Action Plans” on the left side of the page.

FWC approves 78-day recreational red snapper 2017 season in Gulf waters

Posted on

At its April meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2017 Gulf state waters recreational red snapper season.
The 78-day Gulf recreational red snapper season will be as follows:

  • Open Saturdays and Sundays in May starting the first Saturday in May.
  • Open daily starting the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 27) through Sunday following Independence Day (July 9).
  • Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, plus Labor Day (Sept. 4).

“We are once again able to provide and maintain fishing opportunities for Gulf recreational anglers and provide stakeholders with spring, summer and fall fishing options for this economically important species,” said Commissioner Chuck Roberts.
The federal seasons for private recreational anglers and federally-permitted charter boats and head boats in Gulf federal waters have not yet been announced by NOAA Fisheries.
Learn more about red snapper at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snappers.”