Gregory Holder, assistant executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is retiring after a distinguished 33-year career with the state agency. During its public proceedings today in Lakeland, the Commission formally recognized his retirement and dedicated, lifelong commitment to conservation.

“Greg has been a big part of the FWC family and he will be missed. All Floridians who enjoy our wildlife resources have benefitted from his career with the Commission,” said FWC Chairman Ken Wright.

Holder began his government career in 1980 as a biologist with the then-Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC), managing alligators and aiding private landowners with conservation planning. Holder earned a B.S. degree in Forestry Resources Management and an M.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology at Mississippi State University before his employment.

A series of agency promotions were in store for Holder throughout his career. In 1988, he became the first coordinator for the GFC’s new Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program. From that position he was promoted to regional biological supervisor in the West Palm Beach regional office.

Another promotion in 1992 moved Holder back to Lakeland as regional director. Arguably, it was from this post as that Holder made some of his most significant contributions to the conservation of Florida’s native fish and wildlife. Holder’s leadership role in three critical areas was instrumental in helping shape the FWC’s business model and its conservation efforts for imperiled species:

• The merger of the GFC with the Marine Fisheries Commission and elements of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to create the FWC in 1999.
• Gopher Tortoise Team 2, which developed Florida’s first comprehensive Gopher Tortoise management plan in 2007.
• Imperiled Species Management System leadership team that created a new way of conserving Florida’s threatened species.

In 2009, Holder was promoted to the agency’s assistant executive director. For his lifetime of significant contributions to conservation, Holder was recognized in April 2013 with the Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award, the highest honor the FWC bestows.

“How quickly some 30-odd years have passed, and in that time, it has been my honor to serve with and for my co-workers and all the agency’s Commissioners. It’s amazing that in that time, how much good the agency has accomplished for conservation and the people of Florida, and of that I am very proud,” said Holder.

Holder will officially retire at the end of August. He and his wife, Melinda, will continue to reside in the Tallahassee area in his retirement, where he is considering doing volunteer work for a nonprofit conservation organization.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners released two rehabilitated manatees rescued during the recent red tide bloom Thursday in Boca Grande in southwest Florida. These are the first rescued manatees affected by the recent red tide to be released.

“Our staff and partners worked tirelessly on response efforts throughout the red tide event,” said Leslie Ward-Geiger, the FWC’s Marine Mammal Research Program leader. “It is gratifying to see those efforts pay off with the release of these rehabilitated animals.”

Through extensive response efforts, the FWC and partners rescued 16 manatees suffering from the effects of a red tide bloom that was documented from late last September to April. Fifteen manatees survived after they were initially taken to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for treatment.

Once rescued manatees are rehabilitated, marine mammal researchers aim to release them near their rescue location, due to the manatees’ familiarity with the area. As harmful effects of the recent bloom have waned, FWC biologists have determined these rehabilitated manatees can now be released safely. More manatee releases are planned in the next two months.

The larger male released Thursday was the first rescued suffering from red tide effects during the recent bloom in October. That manatee was moved from the zoo to SeaWorld Orlando earlier this year for care until its release to ensure the zoo had space for critical care cases. The FWC and partners rescued the smaller female manatee in March, and it remained at the zoo until Thursday’s release.

Red tide is the preliminary cause of death for 270 manatees in 2013, a single-year record. Manatees are mainly exposed to the red tide toxin through ingestion of food such as seagrass with accumulated toxin levels.

Response efforts are aided by citizen observers. The public is asked to report distressed or dead manatees by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone, or texting Tip@MyFWC.com.

Florida residents can support manatee research and conservation through the purchase of the Save the Manatee license plate. For more information, visit www.buyaplate.com. To learn more about manatee conservation, go to MyFWC.com/Manatee.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct regional workshops to present information on the revised management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises.

The goal of these workshops is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species. In addition, the FWC will discuss financial incentives available for local governments.

A July 16 workshop is scheduled in Charlotte County. Representatives from nearby counties in southwest Florida are encouraged to attend. The workshop is free, but registration is required, as space is limited.

To register, please send your name and the name of your organization to Alexandra.Perryman@MyFWC.com.

Charlotte County
Tuesday, July 16, 1-4 p.m.
Charlotte County Government Center
Building and Construction Services Building
18400 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Workshops will be held in additional counties in upcoming weeks. For more information, and to download the new Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise and click on “Management Plan.”

A marsh planting Tuesday morning near Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach marked a significant habitat-restoration milestone in the Tampa Bay watershed.

More than 1 million plugs of marsh grass have been harvested and replanted from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Stock Enhancement Research Facility in Port Manatee since the creation of its donor marsh in 1997.

“We are excited to celebrate the contributions of our donor marsh by using plugs grown there to improve this new donor marsh in Apollo Beach,” said Chris Young, manager of the FWC hatchery.

Tuesday’s planting enhances the new donor marsh at the future home of a conservation and technology park - a partnership between Tampa Electric, the Florida Aquarium and the FWC. This site will soon be home to the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network’s (FYCCN) first marine-focused Youth Conservation Center.     

The new marsh will feature multiple grass species that will aid in coastal and inland habitat restoration. Those grasses will also filter seawater used in a future hatchery facility on the site. The grass at the Port Manatee marsh filters seawater discharged by the current hatchery’s fish-rearing operations; leaving it cleaner than before it was used.

Several partner organizations, including Tampa Bay Watch and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, have collaborated with the FWC to plant marsh grass plugs throughout the Tampa Bay watershed to restore habitats.

“One million salt marsh plugs represents an outstanding level of achievement in the health and restoration of Tampa Bay,” said Peter Clark, president of Tampa Bay Watch. “Our community is truly fortunate to have such a wide variety of organizations all working together to ensure critical environments are protected and restored for future generations.”

Marsh grasses stabilize coastal shorelines and provide food sources and protection to fish, birds and marine mammals. Every 5,000 plugs replanted at 3-foot intervals equals one acre of restored habitat.

Summer camp participants from FYCCN partner YMCA Camp Cristina participated in the June 11 planting. “This activity is an example of the network’s efforts to encourage and empower kids to participate in traditional outdoor recreation and conservation stewardship activities,” said Rae Waddell, director of FYCCN.

For information on the Stock Enhancement Research Facility, visit MyFWC.com/Research. For information on the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, visit FYCCN.org.

“Florida black bears are normally shy creatures that avoid people. Fortunately, the avoidance behavior that bears typically exhibit helps both bears and people coexist without much fanfare,” said Chad Allison, district biologist and bear specialist with the FWC.

Black bears are protected by law in Florida. According to the FWC, the bear population along the west coast, from Hernando County north, is the smallest subpopulation area in the state and most vulnerable to habitat loss – less space in which to forage and roam.

“If you come face to face with a bear, don’t panic, don’t look it in the eye, don’t turn your back and run. Just move away slowly on an angle, making sure that the animal has an escape route. Bears are pretty calm animals and not looking to cause trouble,” Allison added.

Florida black bears are active year-round, opportunistically foraging wherever they can find food.

“However,” Allison warned, “the normal behavior of bears can be short-circuited if people provide these animals with the opportunity to forage in and around their neighborhood.”

When a bear learns there is easy access to food in a human neighborhood, often in unsecured trash, bird feeders or pet food left outside, it is apt to return repeatedly. In fact, once a successful pattern of securing regular meals in a neighborhood has been established, the bear may learn that humans are not to be feared and that being near them has its rewards.

A bear that chronically returns to homes is not typically relocated because chances are high that the animal will continue to repeat the behavior no matter where it is. Worse, when cubs learn these feeding habits from their mother, they too, sadly, become victims of feeding opportunities they should not have – opportunities that put their lives in danger when human-bear conflicts arise.

The FWC cautions residents to eliminate feeding opportunities by storing garbage in a manner that denies bears access to it, or bears will repeatedly visit that neighborhood to obtain food.

The FWC recommends the following steps to prevent human-bear conflicts:

• Feed your pets indoors, or bring in dishes after feeding.
• Secure household garbage in a shed, garage or a wildlife-resistant container.
• Put household garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
• Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters consisting of metal lids or metal-reinforced plastic lids and lock bars.
• Clean barbecue grills and store them in a locked, secure place.
• Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.
• Protect gardens, apiaries, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
• Pick ripe fruit from trees, and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
• Encourage your homeowners association or local government to institute ordinances on keeping foods secure that would attract wildlife.

Ignoring these recommendations also greatly increases the chances that a bear and/or a motorist will be injured as the animal crosses neighborhood streets, looking for food.

Bears seen foraging in trash, pet food or other attractants, or bears that exhibit other destructive behavior, should be reported immediately to the FWC by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or, during regular working hours, the FWC’s Lakeland Regional office at 863-648-3200.

If you would like more information on avoiding conflicts with bears, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on the video titled “Living with Florida Black Bears.”

Participants will not only be able to take home a lifelong hobby, they could leave with a new appreciation for the marine environment. They will learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills, safety and the vulnerability of Florida’s marine ecosystems in a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

The free, day-long clinic is from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Weedon Island Preserve, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Advance registration is required, and the event is capped at 20 participants.

Lessons include knot tying, cast netting, rod and reel rigging, boating safety, how to be a responsible marine resource steward, marine fish and habitat identification, catch-and-release techniques and more.

If conditions allow, women will have the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills by fishing from the shore. This event is a catch-and-release activity. All participants must have a valid recreational saltwater fishing license unless exempt. Saltwater fishing licenses can be purchased at tackle shops and departments or online. Learn more by visiting MyFWC.com/License.

Fishing equipment and bait will be provided during the clinic, but participants are encouraged to bring their own gear.

To register or get more information, please email Jennifer Saranzak at Jennifer.Saranzak@MyFWC.com, or call 352-543-9219, ext. 216.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office want residents to know what to do if they see a bear and how to avoid creating problems with one.

“Florida black bears are normally shy creatures that avoid people. Fortunately, the avoidance behavior that bears typically exhibit helps both bears and people coexist without much fanfare,” said Chad Allison, district biologist and bear specialist with the FWC.

Black bears are protected by law in Florida. According to the FWC, the bear population along the west coast, from Hernando County north, is the smallest subpopulation area in the state and most vulnerable to habitat loss – less space in which to forage and roam.

“If you come face to face with a bear, don’t panic, don’t look it in the eye, don’t turn your back and run. Just move away slowly on an angle, making sure that the animal has an escape route. Bears are pretty calm animals and not looking to cause trouble,” Allison added.

Florida black bears are active year-round, opportunistically foraging wherever they can find food.

“However,” Allison warned, “the normal behavior of bears can be short-circuited if people provide these animals with the opportunity to forage in and around their neighborhood.”

When a bear learns there is easy access to food in a human neighborhood, often in unsecured trash, bird feeders or pet food left outside, it is apt to return repeatedly. In fact, once a successful pattern of securing regular meals in a human neighborhood has been established, the bear may learn that humans are not to be feared and that being near them has its rewards.

A bear that chronically returns to homes is not typically relocated because chances are high that the animal will continue to repeat the behavior no matter where it is. Worse, when cubs learn these feeding habits from their mother, they too, sadly, become victims of feeding opportunities they should not have – opportunities that put their lives in danger when human-bear conflicts arise.

The FWC cautions residents to eliminate feeding opportunities by storing garbage in a manner that denies bears access to it, or bears will repeatedly visit that neighborhood to obtain food.

The FWC recommends the following steps to prevent human-bear conflicts:

• Feed your pets indoors, or bring in dishes after feeding.
• Secure household garbage in a shed, garage or a wildlife-resistant container.
• Put household garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
• Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters consisting of metal lids or metal-reinforced plastic lids and lock bars.
• Clean barbecue grills and store them in a locked, secure place.
• Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.
• Protect gardens, apiaries, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
• Pick ripe fruit from trees, and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
• Encourage your homeowners association or local government to institute ordinances on keeping foods secure that would attract wildlife.

Ignoring these recommendations also greatly increases the chances that a bear and/or a motorist will be injured as the animal crosses neighborhood streets, looking for food.

Bears seen foraging in trash, pet food or other attractants, or bears that exhibit other destructive behavior, should be reported immediately to the FWC by calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or, during regular working hours, the FWC’s Lakeland Regional office at 863-648-3200.

If you would like more information on avoiding conflicts with bears, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on the video titled “Living with Florida Black Bears.”

On Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved staff recommendations for potential revisions to boating safety zones in Broward and Pinellas counties.

The first proposed change is that, in both counties, the descriptions of some zones would be changed to match the physical locations of regulatory markers, some of which have been in place since 1995.

“These are technical changes to rule language and will include updating rule maps,” said Capt. Richard Moore of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section. “The changes will also relieve the city and county governments from responsibility to maintain the markers for the state-adopted zones, as the FWC will take over maintenance.”

In Broward County, the five affected zones will remain as they have been physically marked since at least 2004. The rule language will be updated to match the current marker locations by extending:

• The southern boundary of the Hillsborough Boulevard Bridge zone by 200 feet.
• The northern boundary of the Hillsborough Inlet zone by 275 feet.
• The southern boundary of the Commercial Boulevard Bridge zone by 100 feet.
• The southern boundary of the Hallandale Beach Boulevard Marina zone by 525 feet.
• The southern boundary of the Hallandale Beach Boulevard Bridge zone by 100 feet.

In Pinellas County, two zones will remain as they have been physically marked since at least 1995, and the rule language will be updated to match the current marker locations by extending:

• The southern boundary of the Park Boulevard Bridge zone by 1,234 feet and the northern boundary of the zone by 550 feet.
• The southern boundary of the Indian Rocks Bridge zone by 1,372 feet and the northern boundary of the zone by 50 feet.

Other changes to Pinellas zones include:

• Revisions to markers and rule language to extend a channel-only zone to a shoreline-to-shoreline slow-speed, minimum-wake zone from Treasure Island to Corey Causeway.
• Changing a current zone to include the entire span of two Pinellas Bayway bridges.
• Expanding channel-only zones to include the entire spans of the Belleair Causeway Bridge and the Honeymoon Island Causeway Bridge.

“The current markers in those other locations are inconsistent with the rule language and are not clear to the public,” Moore said. “Our proposal revises the rule language to create safe boating conditions and areas that can be consistently marked, understood and enforced.”

A related, second change clarifies that shoreline-to-shoreline zones, unless stated otherwise in rule, do not include tributaries, creeks, canals, channels, boat basins, etc., because local governments are authorized by state law to regulate those areas.

“Also, changes in marine infrastructure around the Memorial Causeway Bridge required updates to maintain safe, clearly marked zones,” Moore said. “This required extending the southern boundary of the zone by 500 feet and widening the zone to include all spans of the bridge.”

The final proposed change is the removal of the countywide 30 mph speed restriction for the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) channel in Pinellas County. This was a concern for FWC staff, law enforcement and the public, as it has been neither posted nor enforced since it was put in place in 2000.

“If the ICW speed zone were continued and enforced, we would have two speeds to deal with,” Moore said. “Regulating boat speed within the channel while allowing higher speed travel outside and adjacent to the channel is a potential safety concern.”

The need for all revisions in both counties originated from an FWC review of current state regulations, including boating safety zone boundaries and waterway marker locations.

FWC staff received public support for these proposed changes in both counties, both during public meetings and through electronically submitted commenting. Those providing public comment included other law enforcement personnel, members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, marina owners and operators and owners of sail and power boats, both large and small.

The proposals amend Florida Administrative Code rules 68D-24.008 and 68D-24.010 and repeal rule 68D-24.006. Staff will return to the June Commission meeting to present them for final approval. For additional information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating or call 850-488-5600.

Fishery biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are responsible for monitoring more than 7,000 public lakes in Florida. From this unique perspective, state fishery managers are able to draw comparisons among a significant number of water bodies with great bass fisheries, and Lake Gibson’s largemouth fishery might well be among the best.

Though Lake Gibson is on the small side at 480-acres, electrofishing surveys, which stun fish and allow biologists to weigh, measure and release them unharmed, show its bass fishery excels in terms of both number and size. Surveys this year show bass ranging from a few inches – a welcome sign of successful spawning – to 7.7 pounds. Electrofishing catch rates were also very high: an amazing 5.5 fish per minute. A catch rate of one to two fish per minute is considered good.

Several bass over 8 pounds were tagged last year as part of an FWC study evaluating trophy largemouth bass fishing in Florida. One tagged bass weighing 9.5 pounds has already been caught and released in Lake Gibson by a local angler.

In addition to its top-notch bass fishery, Lake Gibson is also home to quality sunfish and catfish populations.

To get to these fish, the Lake Gibson public boat ramp is on the south side of the lake off Socrum Loop Road and Lake Gibson Drive.

If you would like more information on freshwater fishing opportunities, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing or contact the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management in Lakeland at 863-648-3200.

The Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) 10-year draft management plan is the topic of public meetings in Sebring and Bartow hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Each property purchased with public funds must have an individualized plan that ensures the area is managed for the intended purposes when it was bought.

A meeting on May 1 at the Highlands County Government Center, 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, begins at 7 p.m.

Another meeting, on May 2 at the Polk County Commission Chambers, 330 W. Church Street, Bartow, also starts at 7 p.m.

After staff presentations, the public is encouraged to comment and ask questions about the specifics in the draft plan.

“The Lake Wales Ridge WEA was purchased to ensure the conservation of fish and wildlife resources, other natural and cultural resources, and for fish- and wildlife-based public recreation. The draft plan specifies how we intend to do that,” said Rebecca Shelton, FWC land conservation biologist.

Shelton added that hunting and fishing regulations are not part of management plan discussions; they will be addressed through a separate public process.

To obtain a copy of the draft land management prospectus for Lake Wales Ridge WEA, please call Rebecca Shelton at 850-487-9982 or David Alden at 850-487-9588, or email Rebecca.Shelton@MyFWC.com.

For background and more information on management plans and their goals, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “Terrestrial Programs.”