If you visit after a rain storm you may hear a boisterous chorus from the Preserve’s frogs. Sixteen of Florida’s 27 native species of frogs can be found in Central Florida.

Frog species are grouped by the habitat where they live: terrestrial, arboreal, aquatic. Arboreal frogs, like the Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea) shown above, live in trees or bushes, and have enlarged toepads for climbing. Terrestrial frog species live on the ground, under logs, and plants. Many species burrow in loose soil. Aquatic frog species spend the majority of their time in the water, and usually have well-developed toe webbing.

Frogs and other amphibians absorb oxygen, water, and other substances through their skin. Consequently, amphibians are excellent ecological barometers (“canary in the coal mine”) for overall environmental health. The continuing worldwide decline in amphibian populations should be of much concern.

The Florida black bear, Ursus americanus floridanus, can be found throughout Florida, including Yankeetown! This subspecies of the American black bear was listed as threatened in the 1970’s, with a population in the low hundreds. Today biologists estimate the black bear population in Florida to be above 4,000. This is a tenfold increase from the historic low.

With this success comes an increase in people and bear encounters. In the Big Bend region sightings are not uncommon. If you see a bear from a distance, feel fortunate and enjoy the experience. If you encounter a bear at close range, avoid eye contact and back away slowly, while speaking to the bear in a calm assertive voice. Hold your ground if a bear huffs or snorts, paws the ground, or charges toward you. If you do the bear will likely stop and move away.

Florida bears generally have black fur with a tan muzzle. Adult bears range in weight from 150 to 400 pounds (68 to 181 kg), with males often twice the size of females.

The bear breeding season in Florida runs from June to August. Bear cubs weight about 12 oz. (350 g) at birth, with litter size between 1 and 5. The gestation period lasts 235 days, and litters are usually born in late January to early February.

Bears are omnivores and range over a large area to forage: 15 square miles for female and 62 square miles for males. Their diet is derived 80% from plants (fruits, berries, nuts), 15% from insects, and 5% from meat such as opossums, armadillos, and carrion.

The Friend’s would like to thank Vic Doig, Wildlife Biologist & Fire Management Officer at the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Brian Scheick, Bear Research Program Coordinator at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for several great presentations at the WGP Education Center. For more information about Florida black bears visit FWC at: myfwc.com/research/wildlife/terrestrial-mammals/bear/.

Attention Beachgoers: Help scientists collect data on nesting horseshoe crabs by reporting tagged animals.

If you see a tagged crab (like the ones in the photo):

1. Snap a picture of the tag or record the tag # (number is on the bottom of tag).
2. Note the date, location, and general condition of the crab (alive or dead).
3. Report data using the online form at (www.fws.gov/crabtag/) or by calling 1-888-546-8587 (1-888-LIMULUS).

Important: DO NOT remove the tag. When recording the tag #, try to limit disturbance to the crab. Try not to pick the crab up and if you must pick it up, NEVER pick it up by the tail.

Collected data goes into a national database maintained by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and contributes to knowledge about horseshoe crab movements and population numbers.

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are long-lived reptiles native to the southeastern United States. They occupy upland habitat throughout Florida including forests and pastures. Gopher tortoises are herbivore scavengers and consume a variety of plants, including grasses and terrestrial legumes. (Photo by FWC Research)

In Florida, the gopher tortoise is listed as threatened and both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law. A keystone species plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community. The gopher tortoise is a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for more than 350 other animal species. The decline of a keystone species is especially hard on a wildlife ecosystem.

Protected habitat like the Preserve is very important to the long term survival of the gopher tortoise. Periodic gopher tortoise surveys are done at the Preserve and the results reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Conservation of the gopher tortoise depends not only on the efforts of FWC and other conservation groups, but also on Florida’s citizens. For more information on Gopher Tortoises, see:

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/gopher-tortoise/

Want to become a citizen scientist and help the FWC? There’s an app (Android and iOS) for that

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/gopher-tortoise/app/