Wood Stork, Pineneedle Village. Preening just before dusk.
Joel Sartore inspired this website, in a note of appreciation for our neighborhood, he shared a wonderful list of ways to help the WWS
habitat.
It is a joy to share the many sightings of birds and other wildlife her in Wildewood. An American Eagle has nested nearby for years. Here is an adult and its offspring.
Juvenile American Eagle
Three neighbors recently reported turtle sightings. Peninsula Cooter Turtle (left) and a Florida Soft-Shell Turtle. Photograph, February 3, 2019. The duck? Lesser Scaup.
The entire development called Wildewood Springs is a wildlife-certified wildlife area. What a beautiful and beneficial aspect of living here! Why are sections of the neighborhood untouched, still wild? WWS was not clear-cut. That means that developer Paul Neal and architect Tim J. Seibert designed around the large native Southern Live Oak trees. Leaving some land for wildlife provides the many bird sightings posted here. It is also good creature-in-the-house prevention.
The wildlife designation asks that we do our best to uphold a friendly abidance to the wildlife and land.
Our guiding Rules and Regulations booklet helps by extending suggestions about care made by local and state officials.
Here are a few ways to help:
Let wildlife get their food from the habitat.
If you're like me, I was surprised by the do-not-feed directive. As a midwesterner, I had bird feeders. However, here in Florida, there is abundant nourishment for wildlife.
Dr. Sadkin says a cause of the growing population of Canada Geese that do not return north is feeding which can interrupt migration patterns.
Avoid using rat poisons.
Tell your neighbors that Owls, Hawks, and Eagles take care of the vermin population. Susan Jennifer Griffith, UF | ISAF, is a resource for Florida-friendly habitat and landscape guidance. She says,
Avoid using rat poisons.
Tell your neighbors that Owls, Hawks, and Eagles take care of the vermin population. Susan Jennifer Griffith, UF | ISAF, is a resource for Florida-friendly habitat and landscape guidance. She says,
Warfarin-type or other poison baits should be avoided at all costs. Owls, Hawks, and Eagles will take care of the rodents naturally, but using poison baits risk killing these birds of prey so it is an endless vicious circle that ends up with inhumane deaths (potentially) of several different species – not just the rats. The birds of prey populations can take a big hit as their habitats are already disappearing rapidly so you end up still having rodent population explosions with no natural predators eventually. If residents insist on a rat box?. The box here is electrocution-based and very quick. That might be the best option if some sort of action is demanded.Dr. Sadkin advised not using rat poison boxes and instead installing owl boxes. Barred and Screech owls eat vermin.
Barn Owls love vermin - rats and mice make up 75% of their nourishment.
Other ways to help reduce vermin: Trim palms near units before fruiting. (Rats eat palm fruit and will nest in palm tops of those trees where the fruit is left.)
Don't install bird feeders (a WW2A rule adopted from the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife). There is plenty of food for birds in this habitat.
Other ways to help reduce vermin: Trim palms near units before fruiting. (Rats eat palm fruit and will nest in palm tops of those trees where the fruit is left.)
Don't install bird feeders (a WW2A rule adopted from the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife). There is plenty of food for birds in this habitat.
Choose beneficial vegetation choices.
When designing gardens, consider using central Florida wetland-habitat plants.
There are 4 butterfly gardens on WWS2A Association grounds. These gardens were installed with a purpose: to harmonize the habitat. They are meant to support maintaining the Audubon-certified wildlife habitat. Neighbors maintain the butterfly gardens. Each is designated with "no spraying" and "no trimming" signage made by the HOA landscape company, Natural Designs.
Another important support for wildlife - leave some vegetation along the pond edge.
There are 4 butterfly gardens on WWS2A Association grounds. These gardens were installed with a purpose: to harmonize the habitat. They are meant to support maintaining the Audubon-certified wildlife habitat. Neighbors maintain the butterfly gardens. Each is designated with "no spraying" and "no trimming" signage made by the HOA landscape company, Natural Designs.
Another important support for wildlife - leave some vegetation along the pond edge.
"Leaving some vegetation along the edges of your pond or creek will encourage birds to nest and rest there. Allowing vegetation to grow around your pond or creek also reduces erosion and helps filter pollutants out of the surface water before it can reach your pond." - The Cornell Lab, The Nature Conservancy
Use the FLIP List to guide plant purchases to support Florida's native habitat.
Become familiar with the FLIP list (Florida Invasive Plants) and refer to it before purchasing plants.
Remove top-tier invasive (to central Florida's wetland habitat) trees and plants.
Like Carrotwood trees. The Carrotwood tree is native to eastern and southern Australia - its native habitat is a littoral forest. But here in Florida, Carrotwood especially out-competes and endangers mangroves, the fish nurseries. I wrote about it here.
Obey and share information about Florida's Fertilizer Ordinance.
Abiding by this ordinance and reducing use when allowed is the #1 way to promote water quality in the ponds of WWS.
Manatee County Fertilizer Ordinance - "Help us prevent algal blooms, fish kills and poor water quality in our ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and bays."
"June 1 is the beginning of the summertime fertilizer blackout. During this time you cannot apply any fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus to your lawn or landscape until October.
The County’s strict fertilizer ordinance – aimed at improving water quality – prohibits using these products from June 1 through Sept. 30 or at any time of year the National Weather Service forecasts heavy rains to occur within 24 hours.
During the time of year when you are allowed to fertilize, you still must keep in mind that no more than four pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year can be applied, and that granular fertilizers containing nitrogen must be at least 50 percent slow release nitrogen. Also, phosphorus is not allowed unless a soil test documents a phosphorus deficiency." -Michelle Atkinson, UF | IFASRecycle and reduce plastic use.
WS2A has multiple recycle bins for neighbor use. Here is a link to the dates to recycle hazardous materials nearby (66th Street in Bradenton).
Keep dogs on a leash and pick up their poop.
I learned about pet care as a long-time dog-owner living adjacent to parkland (while living in Ohio). I'm glad I did. What I learned in OH applies to FL.
First, a leashed dog in Wildewood Springs helps a pet remain safe and it supports the safety of wildlife. Here are what the professionals say:
First, a leashed dog in Wildewood Springs helps a pet remain safe and it supports the safety of wildlife. Here are what the professionals say:
Freshwater Turtles
Various species of freshwater turtles lay eggs year round. (Read more about the various species of Florida turtles HERE.)
"Let turtles lay their eggs. Turtles are very vulnerable when they leave the safety and security of the water. If they are disturbed they may leave the nesting site without laying their eggs...These turtles risk becoming eggbound (unable to pass eggs) and can die." - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Mottled Ducks
"The Florida mottled duck is a non-migratory native species. Florida mottled ducks nest from February through July. The females tend to locate their nests in dense vegetation (tall grasses, rushes or palmetto thickets) on the ground near water. The nest is built of vegetation and lined with down. Only one brood each year is raised and females typically lay 8 to 10 eggs called a clutch. The eggs are creamy-white to greenish-white and are incubated within 25 to 27 days." - The Cornell Lab, The Nature Conservancy
National Parks give us a view of the bigger picture of pets and parks.
Parks generally have paths or roads for walking. Natural areas are off-limits for pets. Parks have a B.A.R.K. program:
Bag poop (Why? It's much more than accidentally stepping in poop. The important answer is for clean water.)
Always on a leash; National Parks state the leash needs to be no longer than 6'
Respect wildlife
Know where you can go
We are not the only neighborhood striving to educate and foster understanding about helpful options. Here is a flyer created by residents from a neighborhood adjacent to a State Park that helps me understand these suggestions.
Dogs are not allowed in Metro parks and natural areas.
To a bird, squirrel, or other critter living in the woods, a dog is a predator. Even if the dog only chases for a bit, the prey has expended a lot of adrenaline and energy to save its life.
- While being chased, and then recovering, the animal isn’t hunting, foraging, resting, traveling, or taking care of young.
- The stress of a chase itself can cause death.
- Pregnant wildlife and newborn animals do not have the reserves to repeatedly expend in running away from your dog.
- Ground-nesting wildlife is particularly at risk. Disturbed birds may be prevented from nesting, or if they already have a nest, they may fly away from it and neglect their eggs or chicks in the process. The chicks may die from exposure, lack of food, or predation.
- Dogs severly stress and sometimes kill wildlife.
