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Celebrate March 17 "Save the Florida
Panther Day"
(Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge news release)
Contact: Layne Hamilton, Refuge Manager (239)
353-8442
On March 17, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Friends of Florida Panther Refuge invite everyone to
celebrate the culmination of "Florida Panther Week” with the
annual open house for Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.
The free event will be from 7:30 to 12 p.m.
Governor Charlie Crist has designated the day as
"Save the Panther Day.”
(View Gov. Crist's message.)
Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, said "Governor Crist’s
proclamation underlines the fact that the Florida panther is a
symbol of the great natural legacy we Floridians treasure and
protect for future generations. Save the Florida Panther Day is
a celebration of that legacy and a reminder that it is unique to
Florida.”
This week, different events have attracted over
1,700 people to learn about Panthers or to see their natural
habitats. Organizers hope to convey that what happens to the
greater Everglades ecosystem affects both panthers and people.
Attend the last event to earn a "green heart”
for St. Patrick’s Day by joining a special tour, meet
biologists, or have a fun experience in the local wildlife
refuge. Tours average 1 hour, with outdoor activities like a
bird hike, swamp buggy tours, plant hikes, orchid swamp walks,
and a photography workshop lead by Larry Richardson and Mark
Strong.
Reservations are not necessary for a dedication
ceremony that will take place at 10 a.m. to officially open the
newly completed boardwalk and observation platform. This was
made possible by funding from the Duncan Memorial Fund,
Naples-Fort Myers Chapter of Safari Club International and the
Friends of Florida Panther Refuge. There is no entrance fee for
the trail and it is regularly open daily during the daylight
hours.
Tours Still Available for "Save the
Panther Day”
Beginner Birders Welcome! Migratory Bird Hike
from 7:30 a.m.
Explore the refuge trails with biologist Daryl Thomas as you
learn how to identify local birds by plumage, song, and
habitats.
Orchid Walk - 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m.
Step into the swamp and learn about the research that's being
done on the refuge to propagate rare and endangered orchids! You
may see a rare Cigar Orchid in bloom!
Native Plant ID walk- 8:45 and 10:45 a.m.
Learn how to identify local plants (native and exotic) and learn
how nonnative plants threaten our natural areas with Jim Burch,
the supervisory botanist at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Due to their popularity, the swamp buggy rides
and photo workshops are already full. All activities are free.
Space is limited. Sign up now, by calling the refuge office at
(239) 353-8442, ext. 233 between 12 noon and 3:30 p.m.
Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Information and fun kids’ activities from groups such as Florida
Gulf Coast University’s "Wings of Hope Program”, Big Cypress
National Preserve, Collier County Audubon, Defenders of
Wildlife, and the Refuge’s Fire Crew.
The Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge work
with the refuge to protect and conserve one of earth's rarest
animals. Members receive monthly updates about the panthers and
volunteer activities on the refuge. To learn more details about
how you can become a members to support panthers, visit
www.floridapanther.org.
Driving Directions to the refuge: From Naples,
take I-75 west to Alligator Alley Exit 80. Take the exit for SR
29, North toward Immokalee. The entrance to the public trail is
on the left about an eighth of a mile north of the I-75 exit.
The entrance to the Refuge Work Center is the second gate on the
left another eighth of a mile.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the
principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting
and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service
manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System,
which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of
small wetlands and other special management areas. It also
operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife
Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations,
restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and
restores wildlife habitat, such as wetlands, and helps foreign
governments with their conservation efforts.
Additional Resources:
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