Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Adolescent male panther crossing CR 832/Keri Road. Photo © Robert Repenning.

Progress was made for Florida panthers on Monday night, when the Sunshine State’s Hendry County put into effect a new slow speed nighttime panther zone on a 5.25 mile stretch of CR 832/Keri Road. The road’s posted speed limit will now drop from 55 to 45 mph at night, when panthers are most active and visibility for motorists is low.

A rural road that bisects the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, Keri Road (pronounced kee-rye) is a documented danger zone for panthers and other wildlife. Nine panthers are known to have been killed by vehicles on CR 832, six of which were within the state forest. While the road has a posted speed limit of 55 mph, many drivers exceed that speed. When the Hendry County Engineering Department recorded vehicle speeds on the road in August 2011, they found that 85 percent of motorists drove 65-70 mph, despite the legal speed limit of 55 mph.

The new designation will not only allow the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its law enforcement partners to warn drivers and enforce the speed limit in the state forest on Keri Road, but it will help to increase awareness about driving carefully on CR 832 and other rural roads.

Keri Road is a documented danger zone for panthers and other wildlife–nine panthers are known to have been killed by vehicles on CR 832, six of which were within the state forest.

Defenders’ Laurie Macdonald said, “For years, Keri Road has been a very dangerous roadway for panthers as well as for people. Now, thanks to the support of landowners, natural resource agencies and conservationists, Hendry County has taken an important first step toward improving passage for panthers and other wildlife across this stretch of highway. We are very hopeful that the reduced speed limit will raise awareness about the need to drive carefully and watch out for wildlife.”

Collisions with vehicles is one of the leading causes of death for Florida panthers. In 2009, 17 panthers—a record high—were killed while crossing roads, and in 2010, 16 panthers met a similar fate. For a species whose population is believed to be just 100-160 animals, even the loss of a single cat is significant.

Learn more:

Defenders’ Elizabeth Fleming caught sight of her first wild panther the same night the Keri Road slow zone was approved. Read about her firsthand encounter with one of the state’s iconic cats. 

Where does Florida’s state animal stand today? Read our Q&A with Laurie Macdonald to find out!

Check out the slideshow of Keri Road’s new slow zone below, courtesy of panther advocate and Defenders volunteer Eric Myer.

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Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, (c) Eric Myer

Keri Road bisects Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest.

Panther X-ing Ahead, (c) Eric Myer

Signs alert motorists to the slow zone.

Slow zone speed limits, (c) Eric Myer

Nighttime speeds on Keri Road now drop from 55 to 45mph.

Keri Road panther crossing, (c) Eric Myer

The new slow zone will help to increase awareness about driving carefully on CR 832 and other rural roads where wildlife may be present.

By: Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service – FL

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Listen to this story with Defenders’ Laurie Macdonald on the Public News Service.

The Jurassic Park bill would allow state zoos to lease state lands for research on animals like rhinos.

TAMPA, Fla. – Living next to a state-owned park in Florida might lead its neighbors to expect they would be living next to native species. However, they might see more exotic critters if a bill passed on Friday by the Florida Legislature is signed into law.

HB 1117, known as the Jurassic Park Bill, would allow 16 state zoos and aquariums to lease state-owned land to conduct research on animals including giraffes, zebras and rhinos.

The bill’s supporters say it will help preserve endangered species in places such as Africa. However, Laurie MacDonald, Defenders of Wildlife’s Florida director, questions their reasoning.

“I am just astonished people who care about conservation of species on other continents would want to put non-natives on our public lands.”

MacDonald and other opponents of the bill say allowing the non-native animals will endanger other species and pose some property risks, as well as placing additional demands on the state’s wildlife resource employees at a time when funding is scarce.

Dave Sumpter, who heads the group Wildlands Conservation, is concerned that allowing exotic species to be housed on public lands also will disturb long-term plans to link the natural travel corridors for native species such as bears – or even lure native species into problem behaviors.

The presence of exotic species could threaten efforts to protect habitat for native animals like black bears.

“If you have a block of land that’s got to be contained specifically to hold zebras, it also won’t allow for passing of our native species, like deer.”

The Jurassic Park Bill also allows for exotic, non-native birds. Sumpter notes the inability to contain winged animals means they’re likely to escape the designated habitat. Opponents also question why public lands should be available where private lands could be used instead.

The bill now goes to the governor’s desk. Its text is online at flasenate.gov.

Learn more:

Read more about what the Jurassic Park bill could mean for Florida wildlife in the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.

It’s that time of year again… Save the Florida Panther Week! And the celebration of Florida’s official state animal is in full swing. Where do the endangered big cats stand today? We caught up with Defenders’ Florida director Laurie Macdonald to find out.

Defenders: 2011 wasn’t a great year for Florida panthers, with a record-tying 24 deaths recorded. Are the numbers looking any better in the new year?

Laurie: The good news is, the panther population throughout the state is holding at 100-160 animals. But while that recovery is a vast improvement from the low numbers seen in the late 1960s (only 20-30 animals in the entire state), we’re not out of the woods yet—the Florida panther remains one of the most endangered cats in the world. Already, five panthers have died in 2012, with three of those caused by collisions with vehicles, reminding us we still have work to do to protect these animals.

Defenders: Accidents while crossing roads continues to be a leading threat to the recovery of these animals–what progress is being made to make Florida roads safer for panthers?

Laurie: The past few months have been exciting times for panther recovery! In December, we were thrilled to see a slow speed nighttime panther zone designated at CR 832/Keri Road, where nine panthers have been killed since 1996. And then in January, a Remote Animal Detection System (RADS) was installed along a deadly stretch of US-41 in the state’s Big Cypress National Preserve. The system is being monitored now to determine whether it is effective in detecting big cats and if it can be used in other parts of the state. These are projects that will help us make roads not only safer for wildlife like panthers, but for people too.

Defenders: Improving passage for panthers wasn’t the only good news for the endangered cats this winter, was it?

Laurie: I’m happy to say it wasn’t! Also in January, Secretary Interior Ken Salazar announced the creation of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, an area north of Lake Okeechobee and valuable panther habitat. This was a huge boost for panthers, who will need even more room to roam as the population continues to grow.

Defenders' Laurie Macdonald meets Corky, a rescued panther whose work as ambassador for the endangered cats reached thousands of Floridians.

Defenders: What advice can we give to Florida residents to help keep panthers on the road to recovery?

Laurie: As panthers go about their lives and raise their kittens, it’s important that we recognize how to prevent conflict situations, for instance, by securing pets and livestock at night rather than making domestic animals easy prey. And by driving carefully and watching out for wildlife, Floridians (and visitors!) can prevent panther injury and death, making the highways safer for all. This can be as simple as following day and nighttime speed limits and staying alert in case panthers or other wildlife— bear, deer, turtles, even birds— are trying to walk, crawl or fly across the road!

Learn more:

Be a part of the celebration! This Saturday, March 17, join Defenders and other Sunshine State residents at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge Open House. The day includes bird walks, buggy rides and tours through panther habitat. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/floridapanther.

Spring Break is around the corner. Make sure you’re ready for the road with these tips on how to drive safely in panther country.

Responsible beach management will allow imperiled wildlife like the piping plover to continue down the path to recovery.

BREAKING: The National Park Service (NPS) today announced new rules to manage off-road vehicle traffic on beaches so nesting and baby sea turtles and birds as well as pedestrians are protected in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, according to conservation groups.

In 2007, the groups—Audubon North Carolina, Defenders of Wildlife and Southern Environmental Law Center— turned to the courts for help in getting the NPS to  implement long overdue safeguards for pedestrians and beach-nesting wildlife on park beaches overrun by off-road vehicles.

“The park service’s rules are a compromise that provides protections for both pedestrians and wildlife while still allowing responsible beach driving,” said Julie Youngman, senior attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center.

The long-awaited rules are the final step in a process agreed to by all parties concerned about beach driving in the national seashore. During an interim management period prior to today’s rulemaking, rare bird and sea turtle populations showed signs of recovery, park visitation held steady or increased annually, and tourism remained strong in Dare County, NC, where much of the seashore is located, despite a recession.

“With both the number of hatchlings and visitors to the beach climbing, the success of responsible beach management is clear,” said Jason Rylander, senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “The new rules will ensure that Cape Hatteras continues to provide enjoyment to beach users while protecting the unique wildlife that call the seashore home.”

Tourism flourished in Dare County during the period when interim protections were in place.  Rental occupancy receipts in Dare County increased by millions over the previous decade as recorded by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Park visitation and gross occupancy inDareCountyduring peak breeding and nesting season under interim management held steady or increased compared to the three preceding years. According to a state report on tourism for 2009-2010, Dare County experienced an 8.8 percent growth in tourism—making it among the top growth counties in the state during a recession.  The county’s strong tourism industry employed 11,260 people with $172 million in payroll and generated $44.55 million in tax receipts for the state and $39.78 million in local tax receipts.

After three years of temporary protections, a record-breaking 153 sea turtle nests were recorded at Cape Hatteras.

As a unit of the National Park System, Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been required under federal law since 1972 to establish guidelines that minimize harm from the use of off-road vehicles to the natural resources of the seashore in accordance with the best available science for present and future generations. The new rules bring the NPS into compliance with that requirement.

The park service’s rules allow ORV use on the majority of the seashore. Twenty-eight of the seashore’s 67 miles are set aside as year-round ORV routes, with only 26 miles designated as year-round vehicle-free areas for pedestrians, families, and wildlife. The remaining 13 miles of seashore are seasonally open to ORVs.  The plan also proposes new parking facilities, ORV ramps, and water shuttles to increase visitor access to beaches.

“Under the reasonable, science-based management of the past few years, beach-nesting birds and sea turtles are rebounding at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and visitors continue to flock to this national treasure,” said Heather Starck, executive director of Audubon North Carolina. “The new rules appear to give the National Park Service the guidance to protect and manage the natural resources while allowing for responsible ORV use.”

With temporary beach driving rules implemented in April 2008, beach-nesting birds and sea turtles within the national seashore showed signs of recovery after reaching alarming lows under unmanaged beach driving. Only 44 sea turtle nests were recorded in 2004, but a record-breaking 153 sea turtle nests were recorded in 2010 and 147 sea turtle nests were recorded in 2011. No piping plover chicks survived to fledge (learn to fly) in 2002 and 2004, but 15 chicks fledged in 2010 and ten fledged in 2011.

How coal is killing America’s freshwater mussels

Mussels act as a water filter, keeping our rivers clean and healthy. But species like the tan riffleshell can no longer keep up with coal pollution. More than a third of freshwater mussel species are critically imperiled or already extinct.

Who cares about some little mussel that inhabits a few rivers in eastern Tennessee and southwest Virginia? Well, if you happen to live in the area, news that the tan riffleshell is on the verge of extinction could mean that your water isn’t safe to drink. For the rest of us, it’s yet another sign that pollution is taking a very serious toll on the environment.

These endangered mussels are the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” for Appalachian rivers, and they’re just one of 10 species identified in a new report released today called Fueling Extinction: How Dirty Energy Drives Wildlife to the Brink.

Like all freshwater mussels, the tan riffleshell makes its living by eating small particles in the water. These so-called “filter feeders” remove sediment and other pollutants, thereby keeping our streams healthy enough to support other plants and animals, including ourselves. So when these little shellfish start disappearing, that means one of nature’s vital water filters is broken and can longer keep up with all the pollution being dumped into the river.

North America once boasted some 300 species of freshwater mussels, according to the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society. But as a result of land development, over-harvesting and chronic pollution over the last 200 years, 38 mussel species are already thought to be extinct and another 77 are considered imperiled.

Today, the greatest threat to mussels comes from various by-products of coal mining and coal-burning power plants. These pollutants contaminate our waterways with heavy metals and other environmental toxins that can kill mussels as well as countless other plants and animals.

Mussels aren’t the only ones threatened by fossil fuel development, however. More familiar imperiled species include:

• Bowhead Whale: The remainder of the endangered bowhead whale population is at risk from contaminants and noise from off shore oil drilling and deadly collisions with ships. An oil spill could easily wipe out the small population of whales, which exists only in Arctic waters.
  

  This Kemp's ridley sea turtle was rescued from the Gulf oil spill.

• Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle: According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kemp’s ridley is the most seriously endangered of all sea turtles, and they only breed in Gulf waters. In the immediate aftermath of the Gulf oil disaster, 156 sea turtle deaths were recorded – most of them Kemp’s ridleys.
• Whooping Crane: There are just 437 whooping cranes in the wild today, after overcoming near extinction in the 1940s. But the proposed Keystone Pipeline would run along the crane’s entire migratory path from Canada to Texas, and could destroy the flock with toxic waste , collisions and electrocutions from power lines, and the risk of oil spills.

Drilling in the Arctic. Spilling oil in the Gulf. Building a pipeline across the country. Removing mountaintops to get at more coal. All of these actions have dire consequences for our land and wildlife. Fossil fuels are dirty and dangerous, and they’re pushing many at-risk plant and animal species toward extinction. Oil company executives take home millions of dollars every year while the rest of us have to clean up the mess. It’s time to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and rescue these species from the brink.

To learn more about the top 10 U.S. species threatened by fossil fuels, visit http://fuelingextinction.org.

Read more about the importance of freshwater mussels on Defenders blog and in our magazine.

Watch the interview below with “mussel man” Monte McGregor, a malacologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources:

The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area was created today.

BREAKING: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the creation of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in Florida today.

The refuge aims to conserve the Everglades’ headwaters and fish and wildlife and to preserve the community’s ranching heritage.

“The creation of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is not only critical for restoring imperiled wildlife, like Florida panthers and whooping cranes that depend on the region, but also for preserving a way of life for the ranchers who have made their living off the land for decades,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife.

The agency envisions expanding the small refuge to one day span some 150,000 acres north of Lake Okeechobee in south Florida, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s website.

Florida panther, courtesy George Gentry, USFWS

The majority of it will be protected through conservation easements purchased from private landowners, who would retain ownership of the land, as well as the right to raise cattle or crops, according to the Interior Department’s news release.

But the easements would protect the land from development, officials said.

“This endeavor is the perfect example of the payoff when diverse shareholders come together with a common conservation goal, and sets the stage for future collaboration to preserve Florida’s natural assets,” Clark said.