Native and Invasive Species in Florida

What is a Native Species?

Here in Florida, we are privy to a ton of unique and exciting wildlife due to our proximity to two very important natural features: The Everglades and the ocean. These two exciting ecosystems provide us with animals like Key Deer, the Everglades Snail Kite, and the Florida Panther that may not be found elsewhere in the world.

Any ecosystem or habitat in the world has native species. This means that the species arrived and has evolved in an area by only natural processes.  Other species in the ecosystem often evolved together and adapt to sharing an environment. For example, Florida Panthers and deer have adapted to sharing an environment together despite one being predator and the other being prey. It is a relationship they share and rely on to keep each other’s populations in check.

Unfortunately, not every animal we see in the wild is meant to be here. Take, for example, the Burmese Python in the Everglades.

An introduced species like the Burmese Python could affect the environment is several ways. They could adapt poorly in the new environment and perish, they could live within their new home and cause no major harm, or they could thrive with the lack of natural predators and outcompete native species. That scenario could mean that they could take the food, water, space, and other resources that would typically go to native animals. This would disrupt the natural balance in the ecosystem that has evolved over time. When this happens, the non-native species becomes invasive.

Wildlife hospitals like the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital (SNC) take in and treat native wildlife, but it is illegal for the SNC and anyone else in the State of Florida to release non-native species into the local ecosystem. That means, the SNC can only admit injured or orphaned native animals for rehabilitation and release. Unfortunately, any non-native animal that might come our way would legally have to be euthanized or provided a forever home. Since we cannot always guarantee the space for all non-native animals and do not prefer to euthanize a healthy animal, we encourage finding other places that are specifically meant for taking in and sheltering non-native species.

Welcome

Who is the Sawgrass Nature Center?

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Sawgrass Nature Center, we wanted to provide to you a summary of who we are and what we do.

The Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital (SNC) is a non-profit organization that has been providing environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation for the residents of our community for the past 25 years.  SNC was founded in 1995 on a philosophy of environmental stewardship and the belief that humans were meant to preserve and care for the environment and its wild inhabitants. Our main mission goals are:

  1. Educate the public about Florida’s native and unique wildlife
  2. Rehabilitate and release in-need native wildlife that is brought to our center

With the belief that education and compassion go hand-in-hand, we hope that our educational programs which are designed to entertain and educate both children and adults will lead to respect for our native animals and knowledge of the important roles they play in nature.

Our center also provides care for over 850 in-need native animals annually through our onsite wildlife hospital. Residents of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade County have been bringing injured, orphaned, or sick native wildlife to SNC for the past twenty-five years. We continue to be the only place in northwest Broward County that offers this service.

Unfortunately, not every animal once rehabilitated can be released again. Some suffer from permanent injuries that will prohibit their survival in the wild.  These animals are provided a forever home at the Sawgrass Nature Center. They become “animal ambassadors” that help to educate the public about their species and their importance to Florida’s natural environment. Our animal sanctuary exhibits are open to public viewing.

If you are interested in the events and programs that the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital offers, please consider following us on social media or check out our website, https://box5858.temp.domains/~sawgrass/newsnc/.