MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

BY CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

The Sunshine State is teeming with terrestrial, aquatic, and avian wildlife. More than 130 native species are threatened or endangered—and many make their home in Southwest Florida. Whether they’re outgoing or shy, get to know a few of your neighbors’ “cool factors.”

LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE

scientific name: Caretta caretta

adult size: 3 feet weight: 250 to 300 pounds lifespan: More than 50 years habitat: Temperate and tropical regions of the ocean diet: Fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, and

GET TO KNOW SOME OF OUR LOCAL NATIVES

occasionally seagrass and algae status: Threatened in Florida, endangered in other parts of the world Cool factor: Mature sea turtles return to the beaches where they hatched to lay their eggs.

FLORIDA PANTHER

scientific name: Puma concolor coryi adult size: 7 to 8 feet from the nose to tail tip weight: 100 to 160 pounds lifespan: 12 to 15 years habitat: Confined to Southwest Florida’s pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mixed swamp forests diet: Deer, wild hogs, raccoons, armadillos, snakes, alligators status: Endangered, with an estimated 120 to 230 panthers in Florida, making them one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world Cool factor: Panthers are strong swimmers. They have a keen sense of smell and a 130-degree field of vision.

EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE

scientific name: Drymarchon couperi adult size: 6 to 8 feet long weight: Up to 9-plus pounds, averaging about 5 pounds habitat: Upland forests, hardwood hammocks, Florida scrub diet: Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians status: Threatened Cool factor: This snake eats its prey live, and hunts and consumes other snakes, including venomous ones. It is also the longest native snake in North America.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

scientific name: Platalea ajaja adult size: 2.5 to 3.5 feet, with a wingspan of 4.5 to 5 feet weight: Up to 4 pounds habitat: Shallow wetlands, marshes, bays, or swamps diet: Small fish, insects, small aquatic crustaceans status: Threatened, protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act Cool factor: Shortly after hatching, spoonbill chick bills gradually flatten and develop into their iconic flared shape after a few weeks’ time.

RIVER OTTER

scientific name: Lontra canadensis adult size: 3 to 5 feet weight: 11 to 31 pounds lifespan: 10 years habitat: Rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and swamps diet: Fish, crayfish, turtles status: Native Cool factor: The tail comprises 40 percent of total body length and facilitates strong swimming skills. Otters can swim eight miles per hour and dive to depths of 36 feet. They are mostly nocturnal and live in burrows on the banks of fresh or brackish waterbodies.

GOPHER TORTOISE

scientific name: Gopherus polyphemus adult size: Up to 15 inches weight: 8 to 15 pounds lifespan: 40 to 60 years habitat: Well-drained, sandy soils found in habitats such as longleaf pine sandhills, oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods, dry prairies, and coastal dunes diet: Low-growing plants, such as wiregrass, broadleaf grasses, gopher apple, and legumes status: Threatened Cool factor: The only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River, they spend up to 80 percent of their time in burrows that average 15 feet long and more than 6 feet deep. These burrows offer shelter for more than 350 other species.

SANDHILL CRANE

scientific name: Antigone canadensis

adult size: Approximately 4 feet adult size: 7 to 10 pounds habitat: Marshlands, wetlands, and open fields diet: Berries, seeds, small invertebrates Cool factor: The sandhill crane mates for life, and pairs dance together to reinforce their bond.

Be a Good Neighbor

We all play a part in making sure these natives remain happy, healthy neighbors. Whether you are a long-time resident or first-time visitor, here are some tips for being a good neighbor.

• Leave nothing but footprints. A leading cause of harm to all creatures is plastic pollution. Bottle caps, ribbons, balloons, and monofilament fishing line commonly kill or maim birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. (More than 700 pelicans die each year in Florida alone from entanglement in fishing gear.) Use less plastic and clean up litter, especially around waterways.

• Keep your eyes on the road. Observe safe speeds on the roads and on the water to avoid unnecessary collisions with wildlife.

• Don’t feed wildlife. This causes animals, including alligators, to lose their fear of people, posing a threat to humans and domestic animals—and to the animals that are being fed.

• Take nothing but pictures. Florida has strict laws that prohibit the capturing, harming, or harassment of Florida’s native species, including live shells, sea stars, urchins, and sand dollars at the beach.

GET UP-CLOSE The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit environmental protection organization established in 1964. Learn about Southwest Florida’s ecosystems, plants, and wildlife at the Dalton Discovery Center. Rent kayaks, take an electric boat tour, and stroll through native ecosystems. See gopher tortoises at the Christopher B. Smith Preserve. Go behind the scenes at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Find out more: conservancy.org.