By Amber Prinkey

Ghosts and goblins, jack o’ lanterns and black cats, these are some of the symbols of Halloween. But whoooooo’s the featheriest of them all? The owl! Here at Sawgrass Nature Center, we’ve got several species of owls, all rescued because of injuries. Let’s learn a little about each one so you can pick your favorite then come visit us to see it in person!

Great Horned Owl

Our largest owl here in Florida, the Great Horned Owl is also called “Tiger of the sky” for their ability to use their keen hunting skills to capture prey. This is pretty ironic considering the GHO we have here at the nature center is named “Pollo” (Spanish for chicken)! Pollo was named at his previous facility, Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, FL, for his timid nature. 

Barred Owl

Barred owls get their name from the vertical bars on their abdomen and the horizontal bars on their chest. They make the call that sounds like “Who cooks for you?” We’ve got two Barred owls and we are looking forward to them getting a habitat update soon!

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing owls are a mostly terrestrial species (on the ground). Instead of living in trees they spend time in burrows AND they are diurnal (awake during the day) instead of nocturnal! 

If you can’t make it to SNC to see Spike, our burrowing owl, check out Project Perch for a live webcam of burrowing owls https://www.browardaudubon.org/project-perch.html

Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Screech owls are our smallest owl native to Florida and our most abundant owl here at the nature center. Most of our tiny owls have eye or wing injuries, possibly from being hit by cars. We can help all owls by not throwing trash on the side of the road which attracts mice which then attracts owls.

As we celebrate Halloween this year, we can thank owls big and small for their help controlling our pest populations. Since owls are adorable, I’m sure no one will have a problem with this. But there’s another critter that helps with pest control that some people do not find so adorable. Keep reading our blogs to learn more!

By Amber Prinkey

We have about 200 species of butterflies floating around in Florida and one very rare one is the Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala) which we see in Southeastern Florida and parts of the Caribbean. Having survived a harrowed past including near extinction due to over-harvesting of their host plant, the Atala has made a comeback.

On September 20^th we received a donation of Atala caterpillars which we placed on their host plant, the Coontie (Zamia integrifolia), around our nature center. 

While many of them disappeared and probably ended up being lizard food, (despite the fact that they are considered poisonous, who read last week’s Non-native lizard post?) we kept a few and raised them inside to ensure their survival.

They got very dark inside their chrysalises. Did you know they make a sound known as stridulation 10 days after their last “instar” (caterpillar stage of growth) which may coordinate their emergence with other pupates? 

Then emerged in all their glory!

Have you ever thought of creating a habitat for butterflies? The University of Florida can tell you how to do it at https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/butterfly-gardens.html.  But if you are just interested in helping our native fluttery friends, avoiding pesticides in your yard is one way you can make a positive difference. 

If you don’t live in an area with a lot of butterflies, come to Sawgrass Nature Center where we’ve seen many different species of these beautiful insects. We are open Tuesday through Friday 9-5 and weekends 10-3.

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital has been selected to be the media partner for TAPinto Coral Springs, an original daily news website that covers Coral Springs.

Our center is part of the company’s new “TAPinto Gives Back” program that provides a local nonprofit free advertising and marketing services worth $6,000 per year. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to tell our story to a Coral Springs community,” said Robin Reccasina, executive director of Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital. “We’re grateful to TAPinto Coral Springs for allowing us to promote our activities and further educate the community about our services. We look forward to the partnership.”

Leon Fooksman, editor and publisher of TAPinto Coral Springs, said when it comes to giving back to the community of Coral Springs, there are many nonprofits that make such an incredible difference in all of our lives and it is incredibly difficult to select just one. 

“We are excited to select Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital because of how much impact the organization has in Coral Springs and surrounding cities  – including the fact that over 1,100 animals are brought to wildlife hospital every year and the center’s staff and volunteers provide educational presentations to nearly 7,000 students,” Fooksman said. “We look forward to working with them.”

To receive TAPinto Coral Springs’ free daily newsletter, click here. (select Coral Springs).  To learn more about marketing your business or organization on TAPinto Coral Springs, click here.  And to read independent, unbiased news about Coral Springs 24/7, visit TAPintoCoralSprings.net.

By Amber Prinkey

Here at Sawgrass Nature Center, we see our share of non-native species. Some, like the Green Iguana, are considered invasive which means they are causing harm to our native species. In fact, Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) recently placed these reptiles on the “prohibited” list, meaning it is now illegal to breed, sell, or own them without a permit.

Green Iguana

 Others, like the Brown Basilisk, Northern Curly Tailed Lizard, and Giant Ameiva are smaller than iguanas but also don’t belong here. The Curly Tails were brought to Florida in the 1930s to control sugarcane pests but now may eat our native anoles.

Northern Curly tailed Lizard

Brown Basilisk

Giant Ameiva

You may wonder, how did all these non-native lizards get here? Although some animals were brought here by well-meaning farmers trying to control their field pests, FWC reports that many species end up here from the pet trade. But you can help! Before committing to a new pet, do your research to be sure you can take care of it. Also, never release unwanted pets into the wild. And since these wild lizards are already here, come check them out at our Nature Center! You may see them scrambling through our Orchid Garden which is where most of these photos were taken.

By Amber Prinkey

If you love birds like we do here at Sawgrass Nature Center (I know, we say that all the time but it’s true!) then maybe you’ve heard about “Big Days.” These are citizen science days for birders all over the world to report the birds they see which then helps scientists track which birds are moving and where. Cornell Lab began involving us normal folk (if birders can be called “normal” Ha ha!) just a few years ago in 2015 with the release of the app eBird, which allows you to enter data on the birds you’ve seen and look up which birds were seen in other places. Since its release, hundreds of thousands of birders from around the world have recorded more than a BILLION observations! The app is FREE, so go ahead and download it and get in on the fun. You will be amazed at the number and variety of birds all around you.
There are now two Big Days each year, one in May and one in October. This month’s happens this weekend, on October 9th. Gathering this information is so important in a time when birds are threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, and human intervention such as skyscrapers and other window collisions. The numbers are staggering, if you don’t believe me check out this article from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and also to see how you can help.

This Yellow-Crowned Night Heron showed up at Sawgrass Nature Center’s wetland area at an unusual time, according to eBird!

By Amber Prinkey

It’s probably not surprising that we love animals here at Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital! So when we saw that this Monday, October 4, is World Animal Day we decided to tell you some of our favorite Florida animals…. In riddles! Answers are at the bottom, but don’t peek!

1. Fish, berries, and honey are the foods that we like

And unless you bother a cub, we’re unlikely to strike

We’re very large so you should still leave us alone

And don’t leave food out or we’ll show up at your home!

2. Out all night, I’m foraging on your lawn

By the time the fawns finish it is nearly dawn

Prancing and jumping, I leap in the air

My cousins know Santa but not me, it’s not fair!

3.    Night-time hunters, quiet as can be.

Special fringed feathers mean no one can hear me

I am found all over, but I am hard to spot,

Especially by the mice before they are caught!

4. So cunning and cute but predators we are

One swipe of a furry foot would leave you with a scar

You may be seeing more of us as humans move closer to our home

But most are not dangerous and can be left free to roam

5. Crafty and clever are words to describe me

Black as the night and cawing from a tree

A group of my friends is known as a murder

How to tell us from ravens? Just ask an avid birder

Highlight the text below to see the answers!

1. Black Bears 2. White Tailed Deer 3. Owls 4. Foxes 5. Crows

Now that you’ve solved the riddles, come join us at a special celebration for World Animal Day on October 3rd! Watch our social media pages for more details or check out the World Animal Day website: https://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/events

By Amber Prinkey

 Falling leaves, pumpkin-flavored treats, cooler temperatures…. Uhhh sort of.  While we don’t enjoy ALL that Fall has to offer here in the south, we do see some changes with our local wildlife.

Reptiles

Since reptiles are cold-blooded, they rely on the sun’s heat to give them energy. On cooler days you may not see many reptiles darting about because they are conserving their energy by bedding down in mulch, bushes, tree bark, under houses, or underground.

 Mammals

Most mammals carry on during our cooler times, they just might have to work a little harder to find food. Some may put on a little extra weight or stash food for these situations, including our native fuzzy terrors, squirrels! Recent data shows that squirrels find their hidden stash of food (perhaps even organized by type of nut, some evidence shows) by memory, not just smell. They can remember where our bird feeders are, that’s for sure!

Our state marine mammal and resident floaty potato, the Manatee, may move toward warmer rivers and springs when the water temperature drops to about 68 degrees. Some, however, may stick around in man-made warm spots such as power plants and water treatment outfalls. In fact, a two-story observation tower is scheduled to open next month at Secret Woods Nature Center in Dania Beach.

 Birds

Many birds are here in Florida year-round, but others visit us just during migration, which is the seasonal movement from one area to another.  For birds, their supply of bugs, seeds, and plants isn’t as plentiful when the weather turns colder so they move south. Before they begin their journey, they need to fatten up, with some birds doubling their body weight! Equally important is leaving at the right time so that there are still enough resources during rest periods to get the bird to their destination. It can be a long and arduous journey for birds, but you can help! Download the eBird app and input your bird sightings which help scientists learn more about bird migration patterns. Once we know more, we are better able to protect the birds visiting our area.

 Whatever our animals decide to do as our temperatures drop… by a few degrees, anyway, we can help by planting native plants, putting stickers on our windows so birds don’t fly into them, and by calling upon your friends at Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital if you happen to find an animal in need of help.

By Sadie Branson

As a teenager, school is always supposed to be a number one priority, but sometimes you wonder what happens when school is no longer the main focal point in your life. Where should I work? What do I want to do with my life? School is supposed to help prepare you for what comes next. However, a school’s classroom can only show you so much. How do I know if I am good with animals? Do I work well with people? In many ways, volunteering teaches you what school can’t. By venturing out into the real world, you learn not only about yourself and your strengths,  but you get a taste of what it’s like to work. You understand what is expected of you and what you can expect in return. Volunteering is an excellent step before finding a real job. You gain experience, knowledge and can hopefully find your passion. There are so many choices and paths for every unique individual to try out. I personally found out through volunteering that I love animals and nature. Therefore, I chose a job that fits both of my wants. But volunteering is not just for teens! Many people benefit from the experience volunteering gives because it’s just fun! Volunteering allows me to get outside, feel the satisfaction of learning how to work, and feel good about what I’m doing.

By Amber Prinkey

 Awareness days are a great way to bring attention to environmental concerns. So, we wanted to wish you a Happy International Day of Clean Air! This year’s theme is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet” which emphasizes the health aspects of air pollution and is very relevant considering the current Covid-19 crisis.

Air quality affects us in many ways and even affects our wildlife. Birth defects, diseases, and lower reproductive rates have all been attributed to air pollution. Plants also suffer as air pollution has a negative effect on their growth.

How can we make a difference? Since emissions from our cars create air pollution we can drive less by carpooling, walking, or biking to our destination. Energy production also emits pollution so we can look for ways to reduce our energy use at home by adjusting our thermostat a degree or two, turning lights out when we leave the room, and unplugging electronics when not in use.

 Other upcoming “clean planet” events this month include International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on September 16^th and National Clean-Up Day on September 18^th which focuses on keeping our outdoors clean. To find a clean up near you go to https://www.nationalcleanupday.org/

Sulfur butterflies enjoy the clean air and a sweet treat outside our Nature Center.

As we move into the Fall season, have you ever wondered what happens to the overripe fruit that falls from the trees? Or the dead leaves and branches that drift to the ground? Or wild animals that have passed away? Well, we have scavengers to thank for taking care of nature’s trash (and sometimes ours, too)! We have several scavengers that live here at Sawgrass Nature Center including opossums, raccoons, and vultures.

Opossums get a bad rap, but DID YOU KNOW…. that it is extremely rare for an opossum to carry rabies? That’s because their body temperature is lower than many other mammals. DID YOU ALSO KNOW that they eat up to 5,000 ticks (which can carry Lyme disease) per season? Thank you, opossums!

There are many myths about raccoons, but DID YOU KNOW…. that raccoons that are out during the day are not necessarily sick or dangerous? They may just be hungry and are often seen dipping their food in water? Although raccoons are clean animals (it’s true!), they are not actually washing their food but just manipulating it instead.

And vultures, those are some crazy critters! DID YOU KNOW…if they feel threatened, they will vomit up their food (remember that they mostly eat dead stuff) to scare other animals away? Wait, we were trying to convince you to LIKE scavengers…. so how about the fact that they cool themselves down by pooping on their legs? No, still gross? Just remember that fun fact the next time you think you are sweating too much ?

Interested in learning more fun facts about native Florida wildlife? Schedule a program for your group today! Email us at education@sawgrassnaturecenter.org.

A wild raccoon visits the dumpster at Sawgrass Nature Center…. And inspires this blog post!