Wildlife & Habitat Management - FY 2021-22 SCCF Annual Report

Wildlife & Habitat Management

A Wealth of Restoration Projects

The replanting of the western side of the 11-acre Venus Lake Preserve on northeast Sanibel occurred last October. Sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera), strangler fig (Ficus aurea), and wild olive (Forestiera segregata) were planted to fill in vegetation gaps that were previously being kept open around Venus Lake. This will result in a continuous corridor for wildlife.

Puschel Preserve

Restoration of the 12-acre Puschel Preserve on Periwinkle Way began in January 2022 as contractors began removing dense stands of invasive exotic vegetation like Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), Java plum (Syzygium cumini), seaside mahoe (Thespesia populnea), and various non-native palms and bamboo. Work on the far south end of the property was temporarily halted in March due to nesting swallowtailed kites (Elanoides forficatus) in an Australian pine. Exotic plant and debris removal has continued on the north end of the property as The Birmingham Family Trail and other new preserve features are being mapped out for installation.

Gretchen C. Valade Preserve

Gretchen C. Valade PreserveThe 2.2-acre Gretchen C. Valade Preserve on Pine Avenue was also cleared of invasive exotic vegetation this spring. The primary plants removed from the property were Australian pines (Casuarina equisetifolia), Phoenix palms (Phoenix reclinata), and mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria hyacinthoides), which left some gaps that needed to be filled with native vegetation. Native trees such as sea grape, strangler fig, and gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) were planted to fill in gaps along a narrow strip of the parcel along Sanibel- Captiva Road.

Air-Curtain Incinerator

To improve restoration operations, SCCF purchased an air-curtain incinerator to eliminate vegetative debris at job sites. This piece of machinery will be used to dispose of debris from Habitat Management and Native Landscapes & Garden Center projects, as opposed to creating piles and allowing them to slowly break down. Debris is burned in a safe and efficient manner with minimal smoke release. The incinerator is mobile and can be moved from site to site.

Eastern Indigo Snake Project Update

SCCF is continuing to survey and process island populations of the federally threatened and state-listed Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi). These rare and charismatic snakes are in decline range-wide, and island populations are highly susceptible to development and road mortality due to large home ranges, with likely no recruitment from the mainland. SCCF named a small parcel on North Captiva after this at-risk species: The Eastern Indigo Snake Preserve.

Terrestrial and Freshwater Turtles

SCCF Terrestrial and Freshwater Turtle volunteers assisted with ongoing surveys and helped account for over 30 turtles of various species in 2022 that were added to our database. Volunteers also assisted the City of Sanibel with an exotic plant removal and replanting project by surveying and moving terrestrial turtles out of the way while heavy machinery worked through the area.

SCCF biologists had a stellar year with ephemeral turtle research by discovering a disjunct Florida mud turtle (Kinosternon steindachneri) population. Twenty radios have been deployed on these elusive turtles to learn about their cryptic life history and preferred habitats on the island.

Two new populations of Florida chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia chrysea) were found, and their home range and seasonal activities are being studied. Their preferred nesting habitat, incubation time, and clutch size have been identified. Life history and population dynamics of these species on islands, or even in South Florida, is unknown to science, and SCCF is preparing several publications on these topics.

A Win for Diamondback Terrapins

We're excited to share that SCCF provided important data and input that helped lead to a no-take policy on diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) starting March 1, 2022, and new regulations requiring mandatory bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on all recreational crab pots in Florida starting March 1, 2023. The leading threat to diamondback terrapins across their range is drowning in crab traps. BRDs’ rectangular doorways have been proven to deter 73% of terrapins that tried to enter. SCCF’s data may also contribute to a pending piece of legislation that would make BRDs mandatory on commercial crab traps in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.