Urban Wildlife

Bird Disease Detected in State

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Thursday, January 13th, 2011, 10:04am

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is currently monitoring a Virulent Exotic Newcastle Disease diagnosis which occurred in Cormorants in Pinellas County last week. Exotic Newcastle Disease is an extremely contagious and fatal foreign avian disease that affects most bird species but is not life threatening to humans. Human contact with Exotic Newcastle Disease may cause minor irritations such as pink eye or skin irritations.

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High School Students: Time to Enter Manatee Art Contest

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011, 4:03pm

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites high school art students across the state to participate in a contest to create a piece of manatee artwork that will be used on the 2011-2012 manatee decal.

Students in grades 9-12 in Florida should coordinate with their school’s art teacher to submit the artwork, because each school may submit no more than five entries. Home-schooled students also are eligible to enter the contest. Contest details and forms are available online at MyFWC.com/Manatee.

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Atlantic Snook Harvest Closes Dec. 15; Catch and Release Still OK

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010, 12:49pm

The recreational harvest of snook will close in all Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, beginning on Dec. 15. The annual winter harvest season closure of snook in these areas, which normally ends on Feb. 1, has been extended until Sept. 1, 2011, by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the prolonged cold weather that impacted snook in Florida earlier this year.

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Red Snapper Fishing is Prohibited in South Atlantic Federal Waters

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Friday, December 10th, 2010, 6:02pm

NOAA Fisheries Service extended the prohibition of commercial and recreational fishing for red snapper in all federal waters of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is illegal to fish for, possess, or harvest red snapper from these waters.

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Cold Weather May Lead to Fish Kills

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Friday, December 10th, 2010, 3:46pm

As temperatures drop in Florida, the number of cold-related fish kills is likely to increase. Chilly winter temperatures can lead to fish die-offs in Florida’s marine habitats, rivers and lakes.

The good news is that these events are natural occurrences and typically do not cause permanent damage to the ecosystem or to fish populations. In some cases they are even beneficial, in that they help limit the spread of invasive, exotic species.

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FWC Wants Public's Input About More Daylight Alligator Hunting

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Thursday, December 9th, 2010, 2:18pm

FWC Wants Public's Input About More Daylight Alligator Hunting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to know what Floridians think about providing more daylight-hunting hours to alligator hunters. The public can comment via an online survey.

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Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens Florida Urban and Community Forestry Grant

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010, 11:08am

November 23, 2010 The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, Inc. significantly enhanced it’s outreach to the community with the aid of the Florida Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program during 2010. These funds were made available to organizations and municipalities to develop or enhance their urban and community forestry programs.

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