Monthly Archives: October 2023

National Bat Week works to celebrate and recognize these wonderful animals. There are more than 1,300 species of bats around the world which makes them the second-most common mammal species after rodents with a huge diversity among them. These animals play vital roles in the ecosystem scientists have discovered and need to be protected. Insect-eating bats are reported to eat millions of insects a night and act as a natural insect control for both humans. Nectar-drinking and fruit-eating bats help various types of plants and fruit species. By visiting the plants for food, they help to pollinate which in turn leads to increased production of fruit. This largely impacts the food chain for both humans and animals and can affect the overall health of ecosystems around the world. Pollinators in general are key to food supplies around the world. 

Bat species in general are primarily threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation that is happening around the world. Bats live in and around forests and rely upon trees as shelter and protection in addition to providing food. The insects and fruit that bats need to survive also rely heavily on these ecosystems and without them, the bats lose their food source. These areas are being affected by deforestation because of urban development and agriculture. This is a common story with a lot of different species that rely on forests and trees for food, shelter, and protection. There are ways to help out these bat species that you can do in your backyard. Simple things like keeping up dead trees (when it is safe), placing bat houses in your backyard (houses for bats to rest in), and reducing the use of pesticides can help protect and encourage bat populations.  

Below are more resources available to help educate about bats and their role  

Why are bats important? | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) 

Why bats are the real superheroes of the animal world (nationalgeographic.com) 

Hibernate or Migrate – Bats (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

13 Awesome Facts About Bats | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov) 

The Florida heat and humidity paired with a diversity of habitats provide the perfect environment for reptiles. Here in Florida, there is a large diversity of reptile species that are seen throughout the state. These include the iguanas you see roaming around your neighborhood, the sea turtles that make their nests on the beaches, the snakes that slither across the road, and the alligators that live in the Everglades. The native reptile species you see around (which does not include iguanas) play important roles in the ecosystem that are important for the survival of these areas. While the list above are well-known reptiles, there are many others that are not as easily recognized or talked about. Below is information about some of the lesser-known or protected reptile species that are native in Florida. 

Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus 

The gopher tortoise is a threatened species here in Florida mainly due to habitat loss. Suburban development has fragmented and paved over the land that these animals use to make their burrows which results in less areas for the tortoises to live and reproduce. The gopher tortoise is a keystone species due to the important role it plays in its environment.  The burrows that are created by gopher tortoises house not only themselves, but other animals as well. Over 350 species rely on these burrows which include species of snakes, owls, rodents and mammals. As the gopher tortoises’ populations decrease, so do many of the animals that rely on them for survival. 

Eastern Indigo Snake, Drymarchon couperi 

The eastern indigo snake is another threatened species here in Florida. This is also due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation (the breaking up of habitat) resulting from suburban sprawl. Adult eastern indigo snakes can travel for a span of three miles during warmer seasons to hunt. Therefore large, intact landscapes are essential for their survival. Developments like roads cause issues for these snakes due to their need to travel and hunt. More people mean more cars and vehicle collisions have become a major concern for them now. Here in Florida these snakes tend to inhabit pine flatwoods, hardwood forests, moist hammocks, and areas that surround cypress swamps and can be found throughout Florida and Georgia.  

Green Anole, Anolis carolinensis 

The Green anole is the only native anole species here in Florida. Although we see many other anole species throughout out Florida, they have all been introduced into the environment in different ways. These anoles can be found living in suburban areas with little trouble, but their preferred habitats are large, open areas to help them hunt. The green anole has a wide distribution area and is not considered threatened, but the competition with non-native species may limit resources for our native species. 

We have 5 native owl species that roam around our surrounding natural areas here in Florida. The burrowing owl, barred owl, barn owl, eastern screech owl, and great horned owl are all native to Florida. While most owl species are more active at night, several are common in urban areas so you may spot them around your neighborhood or even in your backyard. Florida’s only diurnal (active during the day) species is the burrowing owl which is often seen in open areas such as sports fields.

Owls are beneficial to our ecosystem and provide many necessary services. The main service they provide is population control, especially rodent species. By helping to control rodent populations, owls help prevent the spread of disease in addition to minimizing the damage they can cause. These rodent species have been known to damage crops, homes, and even land with an overgrowth of their populations. While owls play a vital role in the ecosystem, many owl species are decreasing in population due to a loss of habitat associated with an increase of development activities such as logging, agriculture, and urban sprawl. Owls rely on forested areas to live and hunt so by removing these areas they have fewer options for nesting and their food supply is reduced. You can help declining populations by introducing nesting boxes into their habitats, help protect natural areas where these animals naturally live, remove soccer nets when not in use to prevent entanglement, adopt a poison free stance on pest control and keep your cat indoors or closely monitored when outside.

 Energy impacts our lives every single day. We use it to power electronics, homes, businesses, and even cars. The goal of Energy Efficiency Day is to highlight how to produce and use energy in the most sustainable way and to reduce its negative impacts on our world. This includes energy production and energy waste. While we rely on energy every day, studies have shown that energy production and usage have had a negative impact on the world around us. Energy generation and waste has impacted our air and water quality through the release of particles, pollutants, runoff and contamination. These pollutants and emissions contribute to environmental decline and global warming. By working to reduce energy usage and being more energy efficient we can help reduce the effects that energy production and waste have on the environment and save money too!

Below are ways to be energy smart:

• Wash your clothes in cold water instead of warm water
  • This helps reduce your energy bill, prevents clothes bleeding into each other, and helps clothing last longer
• Change your lightbulbs to LEDs or more energy efficient lighting
  • More efficient lighting uses less energy to generate the same amount of light and saves you money
• Turn off lights and unplug chargers when they are not in use
• Use a smart thermostat
  • This helps to optimize energy efficiency in your home