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Every year thousands of young animals are found by people. Most of these wild animals do not need to be rescued. Humans are always a young wild animal’s last hope for survival; never its best hope. A young animal should be removed from the wild only after you have received direct advice from a Wildlife Rehabber. 

Is the animal an orphan? 

An “orphan” is a young animal that is unable to care for itself and whose parents cannot be found or are known to be dead. It is natural for all young animals to explore the world alone once they leave the nest. If you have found a healthy young animal that is able to walk and is fully furred or feathered, it probably does not need your help. Its parents are usually nearby, even if they are not visible to you. Observe the young animal from a distance for some time before calling for help. 

Is the animal injured or weak?

If the young animal appears weak or injured, you should call a wildlife rehabilitator or nature center for further guidance on assessing the situation. If an animal has been attacked by a cat or dog, assume there is an injury even if it is not visible. 

Should I intervene?

The best way to determine if an animal is in need of your help is to contact a wildlife center BEFORE you intervene. Most times, people that believe they are rescuing baby wild animals are advised to place them back where they found them so their parents can do their jobs. Remember, parent animals will not go for their young while you are around, so don’t panic if you can’t see the mom. 

Questions about an animal you think is in need of help? Contact the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital at 954-752-9453.

Endangered Species Day is recognized annually in May and strives to educate the public about these animals, highlighting the role they play in their native ecosystems. Endangered species are important to study and conserve because all animals play an important role in the ecosystem they live in and that cannot be replaced. This year is special because Endangered Species Day also falls on the 50^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act which is a fundamental piece of legislation in the conservation of not only animals, but their habitats as well. This act established legal protection for fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered. This law helped to set up plans for population conservation and establish funding for the protection of these species. This can include funding and plans for species monitoring, conservation efforts, and/or habitat restoration.  

Partial List of Protected Species in Florida:  

• Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) 

• Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) 
• Florida Panther (Puma concolor) 
• Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) 
• Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) 
• Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) 

While it may seem dire to list all these endangered species, it is important to note the work that has been done to help to help endangered species in general. There are several cases here in Florida of work that has been done to help improve the population and conservation status of species that has been successful thanks to work being done every day. Species like the American Alligator, Florida Panther, and manatee species (among others) have had success stories with reversing population decrease thanks to active study and work being done to educate the public and improving the habitat that these animals live in. The American Alligator specifically has come back so successfully that it was able to have its endangered status removed which has not happened to many animal species. This is thanks to active study and conservation efforts.  

Find local events and celebrations in your area by following the link below: 

Endangered Species Day – Endangered Species Coalition 

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) recognizes migratory birds all around the world, not just here in the Americas. This was brought about by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center to help bring about awareness regarding threats that migratory birds are facing. Some of these threats include loss of habitat and the loss of these species in general. Since the beginning, this educational campaign has continued to spread awareness through community outreach events during World Migratory Bird Day to engage the public. This event stretches across the globe to help bring awareness around the different flyways that are used during the migratory season. These flyways include the Americas Flyway which stretches from Canada all the way down to the southern tip of South America, the African-Eurasian Flyway which stretches from South Africa to the edge of India to Greenland, and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway which stretches from Australia to the northern parts of eastern Russia and the western parts of Canada.  

These flyways are super important for these migratory birds since they rely on these routes to travel to and from their migration grounds. These flyway routes tend follow the topographical features in a north-to-south direction. The main flyway routes listed above are mapped and dependent upon the boundaries on either side- mountain ranges, ocean, etc. These migratory birds tend to travel north in the springtime to have cooler weather and south in the wintertime to have warmer weather. This natural adaptation helps these animals survive throughout the year. Rather than adapting to the environment they live in, they instead have adapted to migrate thousands of miles a year to ensure survival. This provides them with a wider habitat range and more access to necessary resources for survival but also poses issues as well. Migration requires a lot of energy and can be a very vulnerable time for these species. Part of the reason you see migration occurring in big groups for some species is that this adaptation offers protection and motivation for individuals to keep moving. 

To find local events in your area go to the website linked below:  

https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/events-map

Sources Used:  

Water #WMBD2023 | World Migratory Bird Day 

World Migratory Bird Day | in the Americas 

Here in South Florida, sunshine and warm days are commonplace, but as summer is approaching more and more people are going to be spending time outside. Many will be heading to the beaches, camping or hiking all over the country. While communing with nature helps connect us to the natural world, we need to understand the impact we can have on the environment. These outdoor areas are not just ours. The outdoors is home to many other organisms and wildlife and some of the things that we do when outdoors (leaving trash, feeding wildlife) can negatively affect the environment. The overuse of outdoor areas such as trails, campgrounds, and even beaches can cause damage including erosion and pollution. These impacts can lead to severe challenges within the ecosystem and can cause irreversible damage like weathering and cross-contamination. It’s important to connect with nature, but we also want to protect these beautiful areas for use by future generations. So this summer, when exploring these natural areas outside, work to only take photos and leave only footprints. 

When traveling and exploring outdoor areas this summer, try to rethink the ways you interact with nature to achieve this. Everything within the ecosystem serves a purpose and taking something of value out could impact the ecosystem, so be careful when taking items in and out of a natural area. Inspecting items such as your bags, clothes, and shoes when entering or exiting natural areas for any seeds or foreign bodies, helps to stop non-native species from entering an established ecosystem as well as making sure that no necessary items are being taken out from the ecosystem.  Another way to help protect these natural areas is by staying on designated trails. Staying on designated paths and within designated areas ensures the survival of these areas and ensures the safety of ourselves as well by controlling and regulating the interactions between humans and wildlife. The overuse of certain areas contributes to erosion which could lead to weathering effects. These simple things can help prevent us humans from negatively impacting the environment around us.  

When traveling outdoors this summer, please be kind to the environment by being cautious of the areas you are in and keeping the area clean by taking out everything that was brought in. For more information and ways to do this, visit https://lnt.org/.  

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22^nd each year to help raise awareness and advocate for change surrounding issues regarding the planet. The creation of Earth Day was brought about in 1970 as a celebration of the modern environmental movement. Leading up to the creation of Earth Day, Americans had been slowly adding to a growing pollution crisis (both air and water) across the nation. The release of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962 brought about change and awareness around the world. Her book raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment, and the unseen, unbreakable bond between pollution and the ongoing public health crisis. Until this point, individuals worldwide remained largely oblivious to these environmental concerns and how the polluted environment threatens the health of all organisms on the planet.  

The first Earth Day was spurred on by protests started by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin after witnessing a massive oil spill in Santa Barbra, CA. He utilized the energy of students through the anti-war protests and fused it with their growing knowledge and concerns regarding air and water pollution. This growing event created a positive response nationwide bringing together 20 million Americans with demonstrations to help solve these global issues. The impact was seen throughout the nation and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passing of various environmental laws in the following years. These laws have protected millions of individuals from disease and death and have protected hundreds of species from extinction by working to protect the species themselves and the habitats in which they live. 

Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as “the largest secular observance in the world”, marked as a day to create change through global, national, and local movements by millions of individuals worldwide. The social and cultural movements that were seen in 1970 are rising again today with a new generation of young people wanting to help make change. Digital spaces and social media, in addition to in-person events and movements, are being used and are allowing these conversations to reach a global audience. The use of social media unites concerned citizens and is allowing different generations to take on these larger global issues together. This goes to show that these are not issues concerning only our local communities or nations but are instead global problems that need to be addressed to ensure the survival of our planet.   

Sources Used:  

Earth Day: The Official Site | EARTHDAY.ORG 

Bat appreciation day commemorates these wonderful animals that provide such fundamental roles in the ecosystems in which they live. There are more than 1,300 species of bats around the world which makes them the second most common mammal species after rodents. These animals play vital ecological roles in the ecosystem. From acting as pollinators to pest control, and many other roles in between, bats are valuable organisms with a large diversity amongst the species 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 and plants. Nectar-drinking and fruit-eating bats help pollinate various types of plants and fruit species. Here in the US, bat populations are on the decline due to human activities. Bat species in general are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation that is happening around the world. Many bat species live in and around forests and rely upon trees as shelter and protection.  

Another threat includes white-nose syndrome which is a fungal disease that has been killing off many bats here in North America. White-nose syndrome causes high death rates which in turn leads to a rapid population decline among bat species that are affected. White-nose syndrome is a fungal infection that spreads during hibernation months in different ways (physical contact with an affected bat, infected surfaces on caves or mines, or human exposure through cross-contamination on gear or clothing). Hibernating bats affected by this wake up to warm temperatures more frequently, which results in the overuse of fat reserves which can cause starvation before spring arrives. Conservation work to help protect and increase bat populations includes the installation of bat houses which help provide shelter for bat populations. The continuation of bat research which includes population studies hopes to ensure bat populations around the country continue to grow.  

Another way we can help bat populations is by spreading bat awareness. As spring approaches, bat roosting (nesting) occurs which is a very vulnerable time for female bats. April 15^th starts the beginning of roosting season here in Florida, so be aware of roosting bats in your area. Bats tend to roost in more natural areas but can favor man-made structures during this maternity season. This is important to note because during this season it is illegal to exclude bats from structures during this vulnerable time. Due to this, protections for bats in structures are also included in the rule for Taking Nuisance Wildlife. This rule does not allow the use of pesticides or poisons for the purpose of harming, killing, or deterring bats. It is also illegal to touch or interact with bats that are injured, sick, or dead. If you are having issues with roosting bats, please reach out to the FWC (listed below) here in Florida or your local wildlife center for help and other resources.  

Resources Used:  

Bats, facts and photos (nationalgeographic.com) 

Living With Bats | FWC (myfwc.com) 

What Is White-nose Syndrome? (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

World Aquatic Animal Day on April 3^rd is dedicated to raising global awareness about aquatic animals. These fascinating animals play a crucial role in ecosystems around the globe. However, they are also used by the human population for various reasons and are harmed in different ways by human activities such as commercial fishing and entertainment. These types of activities disrupt the natural ecosystem by removing these vital organisms and destroying natural habitats. This has especially become a big issue with commercial fisheries. The practices used in some of these fisheries have caused major damage to the marine ecosystem by damaging marine habitat and removing fish and other organisms at an unsustainable rate leading to population decline. Other things that cause harm within the marine ecosystem include human waste (trash and fecal matter) by affecting the chemistry of the water making it unsafe for these organisms. Below I have highlighted some marine organisms that are used for human research or are at risk because of human practices.  

• Horseshoe Crabs 

• Horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms (around 300 million years old) that play a vital role in the ecosystem where they live. The eggs females lay are a major food source for many shorebirds living and migrating along the coast. You can find these “living fossils” in brackish water along the east coast of the United States. Horseshoe crabs are threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting. They are harvested for their blood which is utilized in medical research and for bait among fisheries. There have been successful efforts made to replace the use of their blood within the medical field by using synthetic blood instead of the blood of a wild animal (which is also more sustainable).  

• Live Fish 

• Fish species all over the world have been exposed to population decline due to commercial fishery practices. These practices include overfishing, meaning these fisheries take more fish out of the ecosystem than can be naturally replaced which leads to a severe population decline. Some fishing practices can also lead to bycatch or the catching of other organisms other than the intended catch. Unfortunately, these organisms are not always able to be put back into the ecosystem. Organizations such as NOAA have been working to help regulate and improve fishing practices nationwide.  

• Sea Turtles 

• Sea turtles have been a large topic of issue with conservation groups since they play such a vital role in the marine environment. Sea turtles help maintain the health of ecosystems including coral reefs and seagrass beds. Many sea turtle species worldwide are at risk of becoming extinct due to many different things. From the hunting of sea turtles for their shells to the harvesting of sea turtle eggs and meat, to the entanglement of many sea turtles within trash, sea turtle populations have been declining. Many efforts worldwide have been made to help save sea turtle populations by working directly with communities to help find other income sources and helping to educate the public about sea turtle conservation.  

March 20^th marked the first day of Spring here in the northern hemisphere. March 20^th is the spring equinox which represents the time when the sun passes over the “celestial” equator. The “celestial” equator represents the point in the sky above the equator as the sun moves north marking the equilibrium of the Earth’s rotation around the sun. During this time, the northern and southern hemispheres receive roughly the same amount of sunlight. To celebrate this time of year, I am here to talk about some of the things that occur around this time of year that you can observe out in nature, possibly in your own backyard.  

• Bee Swarms  
• During the spring and summertime, bee colonies start to grow in numbers with worker bees leaving the need for more room in the hive. Bee swarms represent the movement of one colony of bees into two to help make more room in the hive. While scout bees look for other suitable locations for a new hive, the remaining bees stay in an area together taking care of the queen bee. Once scouts have settled on the new location for their new hive, these bees will make the move to the location.  

• Nesting  
• This time of years brings about a resurgence of nest building and baby animals throughout the animal kingdom. Lots of animals around this time of year will start preparing nests and shelters for both eggs and babies. It’s important to recognize that during this time, the animals that give birth are very vulnerable, but also very protective of their nests and young. You may start noticing signs here of animals nesting (such as alligator’s bellowing) or seeing baby animals start to appear. Spring is a time to be cautious and aware of new life. 

• Migration 
• Like humans, many animals will migrate south in the winter to escape cold temperatures in northern areas. During the springtime, these animals will start making their way north to escape the hot and humid weather in the summertime. This can occur after nesting season for several animals such as whales, turtles, and geese who travel to nesting sites in the wintertime and who take advantage of abundant feeding and breeding grounds in the south.  

Sources Used:  

First Day of Spring 2023: The Spring Equinox| The Old Farmer’s Almanac 

Guide to Bee Swarming – Everything You Should Know – Bees4life 

Buzzards Day, sometimes known as Turkey Vulture Day, is a day to celebrate these scavenging birds of prey that provide a crucial function in the ecosystem. While these words are often interchanged here in the US, other parts of the world recognize buzzards and vultures as two different types of birds. In the UK and other countries, buzzards refer to a type of hawk which are medium- to large-sized raptors that feed on small birds, mammals, and carrion (dead animals). The name, buzzard, started to gain traction among European colonists in North America that saw vultures flying high in the sky and the features reminded them of buzzards back in Europe.  

By the time these settlers recognized the difference between the two birds, the name had already spread throughout North America. Both buzzards and vultures live off dead meat thanks to adaptations that allow them to break down this type of meat in their stomachs. While vultures play a role in decomposing animals, they are scavengers not decomposers. This is a very valuable role because not only do vultures help keep areas clear for humans, but they help prevent the spread of diseases from the carcasses to other animals. To celebrate Buzzards Day, see below why these two unique birds are underrated and essential creatures in the ecosystem.  

• The stomach acid of a vulture is stronger than any other animal which allows them to feed on decomposing carcasses.  
• The Andean Condor (native to South America) has the largest wingspan of any vulture measuring around 10-11 ft. in length.  
• Buzzards tend to be smaller than vultures with buzzards having wingspans of around 4-5ft whereas vultures will have wingspans of around 6-7ft or more.  
• Even though vultures prefer to eat freshly dead animals, they can consume carcasses that would kill or make other animals very sick. 
• It is a myth that vultures circle dying animals. Instead, they rely upon their sight and smell to find a food source. Turkey vultures have excellent sight and smell which helps them locate a food source from a mile or more away. 
• Although vultures eat dead meat, they can attack prey and will predate upon injured, wounded or sick prey. This often happens when food is scarce, and no carcasses are around.  
• Vultures have weak feet and legs which means, instead of carrying their food source back to their nest, they will eat what they need at the site and feed their young leftovers while buzzards have strong feet and carry their prey back to their nests.  
• Buzzards are often solitary animals and hunt independently while vultures tend to hunt in large flocks.  

Sources Used:  

20 Fun Facts About Vultures (thespruce.com) 

Buzzards Day or Turkey Vulture Day, March 15 Holiday. (holidayinsights.com) 

Buzzards vs. Vultures: What’s the Difference? | Mental Floss 

What’s The Difference Between A Vulture And A Buzzard? (birdieexpert.com)