The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating the suspicious death of an American crocodile found floating in Florida Bay near Islamorada on Sunday. FWC officers recovered the crocodile carcass along the mangrove-covered shoreline near Mile Marker 74.

For information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing the crocodile, THE FWC’s Wildlife Alert Reward Association and the Humane Society of the United States are offering a combined reward of up to $6,000. Anyone who provides information can remain anonymous.

The American crocodile in Florida is listed federally as a threatened species. State and federal laws prohibit killing, harassing, feeding or possessing crocodiles. Killing an American crocodile is a third-degree felony.

This female crocodile, known as “Blue #9,” was a longtime resident of the area. It recently made news when it laid eggs in a planter box next to U.S. 1.

The FWC asks anyone who has information regarding the death of this crocodile to call the FWC at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-346-TIPS.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners rescued an approximately 9-month-old female Florida panther in the Golden Gate Estates area of Collier County on Monday.

The FWC received a call about a panther kitten dragging its rear leg. A homeowner noticed the injured panther earlier that morning as he was leaving for work. When he returned home and saw the panther a second time, he notified law enforcement.

FWC panther biologists and law-enforcement officers, deputies with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and staff from the Golden Gate Animal Clinic responded to the area where the panther was last seen. They located the panther in thick brush and sedated it.

After an on-scene assessment of the panther’s condition, FWC biologists transported the panther to the Animal Specialty Hospital of Florida. Veterinarians at the hospital determined that the panther had a compound fracture in her rear right leg, rib fractures and bruising around the lung, all of which were likely caused by a vehicle collision. That evening they performed surgery, using a steel plate to mend the bone together.

With the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the panther was taken to the White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, where she will receive care until she has fully healed from her injuries and is ready for release.

“We are pleased with what appears to be a successful surgery with no complications,” said Darrell Land, FWC panther team leader. “Thanks to the help of our partners, this panther has a very good chance of returning to the wild. With only 100 to 160 adults and subadults remaining in south Florida, every panther plays an important role in the population.”

Florida residents can support conservation efforts like the rescue and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned panthers by purchasing a panther license plate. Fees from license plate sales are the primary funding source for the FWC’s research and management of Florida panthers.

To report dead or injured panthers, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or #FWC or *FWC on a cell phone.

For more information on Florida panthers go to FloridaPantherNet.org.

A restoration project at Tropical Fish Management Area (FMA), within Miami-Dade County’s Tropical Park will have positive impacts for both fish and anglers. Improved habitat created by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists will lead to healthier fish populations as well as increased angling opportunities at the FMA.

Tropical FMA is one of the FWC’s management sites intended to provide the public with easy and affordable access to fishing and other nature-based recreational opportunities. Usually established with the help of a local cooperator – in this case, Miami-Dade County – FMAs provide amenities such as fish-stocking, special regulations to protect the fish populations, and vegetation management and enhancement.

Vegetation management and enhancement was the focus of this restoration work.

“The main goals of this project are to provide additional fishing and recreational opportunities to the public, while enhancing the habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or use the lake. We will accomplish this by reconnecting the north and south sections of the lake, opening up additional fishing access and planting native vegetation that will benefit fish and wildlife,” stated John Cimbaro, who has been overseeing Tropical FMA for 15 years. “Excessive cattail growth had blocked off the northern part of the lake, which we considered an important fish-production area. Cattail removal has reconnected the northern section with the rest of the lake, and opened up what should be a good fishing site there.” The project was completed by an FWC contractor, Texas Aquatic Harvesting, and was conducted in close coordination with Miami-Dade County. The county helped reduce project costs by disposing of all removed vegetation.

Components of the restoration program included removal of cattail and spatterdock (a type of water lily) that were reducing fish and wildlife use and blocking fishing access near the middle of the lake. The program also included restoration of native vegetation in the southern part of the lake, which serves as a “nursery area” for young fish. The nursery work required removal of cattail as well as nonnative Brazilian pepper trees. With the invasive vegetation removed, a follow-up project will plant native bulrush, spikerush and pond apple in its place.

“This will provide a shallow, vegetated area where juvenile fish can thrive and wading birds can forage, complementing both the fishery and wildlife use of the lake,” Cimbaro said.

Tropical FMA was established in 1991 and has become a popular fishing area over the years, supporting up to 6,000 hours of annual fishing effort. The most sought-after species in the lake include largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish. The FWC maintains the catfish fishery by stocking 6,000 channel catfish every year. More information about the site is available in the Tropical FMA brochure. To view this brochure or those of other fish management areas, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Freshwater Fishing,” then “Sites & Forecasts.”  

This is also the time of year when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) begins getting calls about “abandoned” animals that folks believe may be in need of rescue. The fact is that rescuing these seemingly abandoned youngsters interferes with the very processes that ensure their survival in the wild.

After giving birth, adult wildlife must forage to provide food for themselves and their young. This means leaving their newborns for short periods.

Having some basic knowledge of wildlife and the survival skills animals use can help avoid attempting to rescue animals that don’t need rescuing.

Common targets of misplaced rescues are baby deer, temporarily left in a safe place while their mother feeds nearby. Many people who find fawns mistakenly assume they have been abandoned when, in reality, their parents are in the process of ensuring the infants’ survival.

“In most cases, it is absolutely not in a fawn’s best interest to rescue it,” said Angeline Scotten, Wildlife Assistance Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Scotten says what typically happens is someone discovers a young deer waiting for its mother. Often, those fawns are found in palmetto patches or in recently burned areas, where a doe has placed her new offspring for protection. These settings tend to help mask the fawn’s scent, thus providing good protection from the keen nose of a predator.

People become concerned when the parent is nowhere in sight and mistakenly believe the young animal will perish unless they save it or take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Unfortunately, actions of this kind usually have the opposite effect of a rescue.

“Stress created by changing the animal’s diet and surroundings is often fatal. If the rescued fawn manages to survive, its return to the wild is practically impossible because of human imprinting and a lack of survival skills, which it would have learned from its mother, had it remained in the wild,” Scotten said.

Feeding wild animals to help them survive is another misconceived notion that can have dire consequences for wildlife. Although this may sound odd, feeding causes problems ranging from poor nutrition, dependence on humans for food and nuisance behaviors that can threaten people, property and pets.

“Wildlife has survived for thousands of years without human interference and, frankly, it certainly seems to work out better for the animals that way,” Scotten said.

The FWC recommends that if you find a fawn or other baby animal, don’t touch it or disturb it and quietly leave the area.

Juvenile birds are also commonly found on the ground at this time of year, looking a bit dazed or confused. The youngster may be trying to hide in tall grass or in low bushes to avoid being seen by predators. These young birds are going through a process called fledging – learning to fly and fend for themselves.

“While fledging, the birds’ parents will continue to care for it by feeding it and helping it to learn needed survival skills. The best advice is to not interfere in this crucial learning process and to keep pets that may harm the young birds confined,” Scotten said.

According to biologists, the only time a baby songbird should be rescued is when it is on the ground and has almost no feathers, when the bird is injured by pets or its tail is less than a half-inch long and it cannot hop around on its own.

“If you find a baby songbird you are sure needs rescuing, and the nest is low enough for you to safely return it, it’s OK to do that. Songbirds have almost no sense of smell, so young birds can be returned to their nest without a chance of rejection,” Scotten said.

You can also place the baby bird in a lined, uncovered, shallow box with drainage, and attach the box to the tree from which the bird fell. Sometimes the parents will come to the baby in the new box and feed it there.

When you are sure a bird needs rescuing and care, place the baby in a tissue-lined box that has air holes in the top. Keep the box in a warm spot away from drafts and air conditioning and out of direct sunlight. Do not give it food or water. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area. Please remember that migratory birds are protected and need to be cared for by a licensed facility.

The FWC’s Southwest Region Office, 863-648-3200, has a list of licensed rehabilitators. Many local veterinarians work closely with wildlife rehabilitators and also can be a good source of help.

The FWC asks you to remember that removing an animal from the wild to save it may actually have the opposite effect. Seek advice from wildlife professionals before attempting to rescue any animal.

“Remember that in most cases, it’s better to leave wildlife in the wild,” Scotten said.

For more information on Florida’s wildlife and what you can do to help, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “How You Can Conserve” and then “Wildlife Assistance – Injured or Nuisance Wildlife.”

Attendance on both days is required for certification. Participants must successfully complete the online portion of the course prior to attending and bring the final Web report to the FWC course on May 11. It does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

Classes both days are at the North Naples Fire District, 1885 Veterans Park Drive, Naples, FL 34109.

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised).

Participants must successfully complete the online portion of the course prior to attending and bring the final Web report to the FWC course on May 11. It does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

The class is at the Markham Park Shooting Range clubhouse near the trap & skeet fields, 16001 W. State Road 84, Sunrise, FL 33326.

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Women are invited to explore the finest of fishing at the next “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminar, hosted May 10-12 at the Pirates Cove Resort & Marina, 4307 SE Bayview St. in Stuart.

Sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in conjunction with the Sport Fish Restoration Program, “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” is a national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sport fishing and promoting conservation and responsible angling.

During the three-day, hands-on event, FWC educators will demonstrate ethical angler habits, such as safe hook removal, release techniques, fish venting and more. Local fishing guides will provide instruction on fishing techniques and methods.

Past participants found the event worthwhile.

“Being able to pick, choose and move between skill stations was terrific,” said Mary Hackney of Naples. “I loved the flexibility.”

“I learned more about fishing in two days than from my dad in 20 years,” said Georgia Allen of Bonita Springs.

On the final day of the seminar, women may embark on an optional fishing adventure.

To learn more, visit ladiesletsgofishing.com, call 954-475-9068 or email info@ladiesletsgofishing.com.

Except for those who have already successfully completed the online portion of the course, attendance on both days is required for certification. Students who have completed the online course only need to attend the second day. They will need to bring the final Web report, which does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

The class will be held at the Everglades Youth Camp, J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, 12100 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33412. (GPS will not work for this location.)

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Participants must successfully complete the online portion of the course prior to attending and bring the final Web report to the FWC course on May 4. It does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

The class will be held at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office shooting range in Fort. Pierce. The range is at the end of Coolidge Road, which is one-quarter mile west of the turnpike overpass on SR 70.

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Participants must successfully complete the online portion of the course prior to attending and bring the final Web report to the FWC course on May 4. It does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

The course is at the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office shooting range, between Clewiston and La Belle, 0.7 miles down Witt Road off State Road 80, 9 miles west of U.S. 27. Take the first road east of the Pioneer Shell Gas Station.

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.