Northeast Region Program

Bear Aware Canvassing

Human-bear conflicts are increasing as development continues to expand into bear habitat. The key to reducing the number of conflicts lies in educating Florida's residents on living in bear country. Volunteers visit neighborhoods where bears have been reported and educate homeowners about living with black bears.

Locations:  All counties
Timeframe:  Year-round

Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring

Volunteers maintain and monitor bluebird nest boxes.

Locations:  Marion County and Ross Prairie State Forest
Timeframe:  Late Winter-Summer

Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring

Volunteers monitor fish populations by participating in fisheries management. Projects vary but may include opportunities such as:  electrofishing, assisting with fishing derbies, building fish attractors, and general help/labor. 

Locations:  All counties
Timeframe:  Year-round 

Gopher Tortoise Burrow Surveys

Volunteers conduct gopher tortoise burrow surveys on development sites permitted for the incidental take of gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoise burrow surveys are necessary to determine the number of burrows that would potentially be impacted by a development project, and ensure that all tortoises living in those burrows are humanely relocated off site.

Locations:  All counties
Timeframe:  Year-round

Habitat Maintenance

Wildlife depend on the habitat found on our Wildlife Management Areas. Help maintain this valuable habitat by participating in:

• Native Plantings
• Invasive Species Removals
• Debris Cleanups  
• Building/construction events (nest boxes)

Locations:  All counties
Timeframe:  Year-round

Jay Watch

FWC partners with Audubon Florida to conduct Jay Watch surveys. Volunteers conduct scientific surveys that monitor populations of the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay. 

Locations:  Marion (Halpata-Tastanaki Preserve, Cross Florida Greenway “Triangle” Property, Ocala National Forest, and Ross Prairie State Forest), Lake (Private Property in Paisley) and Citrus (Pott’s Preserve WMA) counties.
Timeframe:  Summer (Weekdays)

Outreach

FWC staff attend community events throughout the northeast region and are always looking for assistance with these events. Volunteers are tasked with helping to set-up and disassemble these events as well as talking with the public to provide information about fish and wildlife. Events may include festivals, college volunteer fairs, schools, etc.

Locations:  All counties
Timeframe:  Year-round

Shorebirds

Volunteers assist the Florida Shorebird Alliance with:

• Shorebird monitoring:  conduct surveys to track beach nesting bird activity
• Stewarding:  stewards carry out two important tasks:  1) minimize disturbance to the nests, and 2) inform beach-goers about the need to protect beach-nesting birds
• Posting Sites:  install signs and symbolic fencing to reduce the levels of disturbance at important beach-nesting bird sites
• Rooftop nests:  return chicks that fall from rooftop nests

Locations:  St. Johns, Volusia, Brevard 
Timeframe:  Spring-Summer

Southeastern American Kestrel Monitoring

FWC utilizes nest boxes to increase populations of the threatened kestrel. Volunteers assist with maintaining and monitoring nest boxes.

Locations:  Citrus, Marion, and Sumter counties 
Timeframe:  Spring-Summer