Wildlife_III-SC presentation and quiz

Wildlife for the Workforce
Part II:
Turtles and Tortoises,
Snakes, Bees,
and Exotic Animals
Sarasota County Parks and Recreation
Turtles and Tortoises
Gopher tortoise
Common cooter
Terrapin
Green sea turtle
• Turtles , terrapins, and
tortoises are commonly
encountered at beaches
and parks
• Tortoises reside on dry
land
• Turtles live in or near
water
Gopher tortoises
• Live in deep burrows
• Dune habitat is perfect
• Burrows important to
other species
• Protected species
Federally listed as a ‘threatened’ species
Why do turtles try to cross the road?
They are either looking for a place to lay eggs, or
moving from one pond to the other due to dry
conditions, competition for habitat or suitable mates.
When you see a turtle trying to cross a road, when possible move the
turtle across to the other side in the direction they are trying to go!
All reports of bees are handled through
Sarasota County Mosquito Control. An
evaluation of the hive and the site will be
done to determine whether the hive will
be left intact, relocated, or exterminated.
Snakes
• Florida has 44 species
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•
•
of native snakes-more
than any other
southeastern state
Florida snakes range
from 8”- 8’ long!
Natural “pest” control
Most snakes harmless
All snakes beneficial
Snake Facts
• Most non-venomous snakes will rattle
their tails and spray musk when stressed
• All snakes bite when threatened,
but non-venomous snakebites are
mild due to small teeth, no venom
• Of the 44 native snakes, only 6 venomous
and only four venomous in Sarasota County
Poisonous vs. Venomous
•
“Poisonous” means if you eat it you will get sick!
(Poison is absorbed through the skin and tissues)
•
“Venomous” means if it bites you, you will get sick!
(Venom is injected into the skin and tissues)
NOTE: All snakebite victims should seek medical attention
unless the snake was positively identified as non-venomous!
Venomous Snakes in Florida
(There are NO POISONOUS snakes in Florida, but there are
SIX VENOMOUS snakes in Florida!)
Cottonmouth/Water moccasin
Timber Rattlesnake
(only in North Florida)
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Copperhead
(only in North Florida)
Eastern Coral Snake
(black head, red touches yellow)
Non-native snakes in Florida
Non-native species with breeding populations in Florida:
 Burmese Python (Python molurus)-Everglades
(This is the snake we are most concerned with in Sarasota County)
 Indian Rock Python (Python sebae)-Miami
 Boa Constrictor (Boa Constrictor)-Miami
 Brahiminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)
Burmese Pythons
 Up to 20 feet in length
 Known to prey on at
least 20 Florida native
species including whitetailed deer, wood storks,
alligators and bobcats
 Wide variety of habitats
 Range up to 40 miles
each year
Non-native lizards in Florida
Non-native species with breeding populations in Florida:
 Black spiny-tailed iguana
(This is a significant problem in Sarasota County)
 Nile monitor lizard
 Green iguana
 Cuban anole
Black Spiny-tailed Iguanas
 Introduced in Florida 30
years ago via pet trade
 Takes over gopher tortoise
burrows
 Eats bird and tortoise eggs,
small mammals, insects,
crabs, and hatchling sea
turtles
 Found at Blind Pass, Lemon
Bay Park, and Shamrock
Park
 Environmentally destructive
Juvenile spiny-tailed iguana
Please report sightings of
large snakes or lizards to the
Sarasota County Call Center
at 941-861-5000
or to 1-800-IveGot1
Sarasota County has an Exotic Reptile Management Plan
that reports sightings to a statewide database.
!!! It is important to report all sightings !!!
Beach Driving Protocol
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Best Management Practices
Drive on hardpacked sand only
Avoid wrack line or
dense seaweed
Lower tire pressure
to minimize ruts
Drive slowly!
These practices have been established by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Contacts:
For bees, snakes, exotic reptiles, and gopher tortoise
issues, there is only one number you need to
remember:
call 941-861-5000
Thank you!
Wildlife for the Workforce
Part II:
Evaluation
Turtles and Tortoises,
Snakes, Bees,
and Exotic Animals
Sarasota County Parks and Recreation
Turtles and Tortoises
When you see a turtle or
tortoise crossing the road
and you are able to stop,
you should:
A. Turn the animal around
and move it a safe
distance back where it
came from
B. Move the animal across
the road in the direction
in which it was heading
C. Leave it alone and wait
to see if it survives the
trip
D. Call Animal Services
Turtles and Tortoises
When you see a turtle or
tortoise crossing the road
and you are able to stop,
you should:
A. Turn the animal around
and move it a safe
distance back where it
came from
B. Move the animal across
the road in the
direction in which it
was heading
C. Leave it alone and wait
to see if it survives the
trip
D. Call Animal Services
Bees
When you encounter a bee
hive, what information
will the call center need
for the purposes of
reporting the hive?
A. Whether or not anyone
was stung
B. The address and exact
location where the hive
can be found
C. A contact name and
number
D. Date and time of
discovery
E. All of the above
Bees
When you encounter a bee
hive, what information
will the call center need
for the purposes of
reporting the hive?
A. Whether or not anyone
was stung
B. The address and exact
location where the hive
can be found
C. A contact name and
number
D. Date and time of
discovery
E. All of the above
Snakes
The four venomous snakes that can
be found in Sarasota County
include the following:
A. Dusky pygmy rattlesnake,
Eastern diamondback,
Eastern coral snake and the
Burmese python
B. Dusky pygmy rattlesnake,
Eastern Diamondback,
Eastern coral snake and the
Eastern indigo snake
C. Eastern diamondback,
Eastern coral snake, timber
rattlesnake, and the
copperhead
D. Eastern diamondback, dusky
pygmy rattlesnake, water
moccasin, and the Eastern
coral snake
Snakes
The four venomous snakes that can
be found in Sarasota County
include the following:
A. Dusky pygmy rattlesnake,
Eastern diamondback,
Eastern coral snake and the
Burmese python
B. Dusky pygmy rattlesnake,
Eastern Diamondback,
Eastern coral snake and the
Eastern indigo snake
C. Eastern diamondback,
Eastern coral snake, timber
rattlesnake, and the
copperhead
D. Eastern diamondback,
dusky pygmy rattlesnake,
water moccasin, and the
Eastern coral snake
Non-native Reptiles
Sarasota County has been
working to control a
particular kind of invasive
lizard. This lizard has
done tremendous
environmental harm to the
gopher tortoise population
on Boca Grande. What
species of lizard is a
significant problem in
Sarasota County?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Green iguanas
Cuban anoles
Nile monitor lizards
Black spiny-tailed
iguanas
E. Lounge lizards
Non-native Reptiles
Sarasota County has been
working to control a
particular kind of invasive
lizard. This lizard has
done tremendous
environmental harm to the
gopher tortoise population
on Boca Grande. What
species of lizard is a
significant problem in
Sarasota County?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Green iguanas
Cuban anoles
Nile monitor lizards
Black spiny-tailed
iguanas
E. Lounge lizards
Beach Driving Protocol
Beach nesting birds and sea
turtles make their nests in or
on the sandy beach, and are
particularly vulnerable to
pedestrian and vehicular
traffic. By practicing safe
beach driving protocol, we
can help to ensure the
survival of protected species
on our beaches. What IS
NOT characteristic of good
beach driving protocol as
recommended by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission?
A. Drive on hard packed sand
only
B. Stay away from the
wrackline or dense
seaweed
C. Lower tire pressure
D. Drive slowly
E. None of the above.
Beach Driving Protocol
Beach nesting birds and sea
turtles make their nests in or
on the sandy beach, and are
particularly vulnerable to
pedestrian and vehicular
traffic. By practicing safe
beach driving protocol, we
can help to ensure the
survival of protected species
on our beaches. What IS
NOT characteristic of good
beach driving protocol as
recommended by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission?
A. Drive on hard packed sand
only
B. Stay away from the
wrackline or dense
seaweed
C. Lower tire pressure
D. Drive slowly
E. None of the above.