Rooftop Tent Build

The Canine Dumping Ground

Okay where do you go to get rid of fluffy, fido or snoopy ?. Why that's easy the everglades of coarse. I mean why not ?, they can run around a million acres, hunt, and fish to their hearts content. As for water unlike that bowl they used to have at home literally billions of gallons await them there. Don't forget how they sometimes pee and poop on the carpet no problem out there. But why would you even have to bring them out there to begin with I mean you love them right ?, isnt that why you got them anyway ?. Who the hell in their right mind can think that bringing a domesticated animal out to one of the most wild places anywhere is a good idea. If you have never spent a night out there you would know how beautiful it can be but you also know how desolate, scary, and bug infested it can be too. Also don't forget this is (was) a member of your family you know "mans best friend" ?. Luckily there are people and organizations like Broward's 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida

Click here for Sun Sentinel story

  

Okay when a webpage is set up to report on invasive species in a certain area I do believe there is a problem

In South Florida if you let an exotic animal or plant go it usually will thrive. Now we have a website to report them. Think about that pretty soon you wont have to go anywhere else to see different types of wildlife. Want to see a Nile Monitor Lizard or a North African Python ?, no problem just come to South Florida and see them in all there wild beauty. Hey how about a Iguana or Giant Whiptail ? I already told you no problem. And now its getting easy to spot the elusive Florida Panther. Just go to State Rd 29 as the sun comes up and look for one dead on the road after getting hit by a car overnight. But you got to be quick or it will be removed by a state or federal worker only to become the latest statistic. Its a good thing that there aren't people that are allowed to have Tigers, Lions, or that kind of thing or..... oh wait a minute damn it !

Flamingo Commercial Services Plan Approved

This is from the NPS website concerning the rehabilitation of the Flamingo area within the park. Flamingo Commercial Services Plan Approved

Date: August 7, 2008 Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714 Contact: Fred Herling, 305-242-7704 The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Flamingo Commercial Services Plan (CSP) project. Southeast Regional Director David Vela approved the FONSI based on the environmental assessment (EA) recommended by Everglades National Park Superintendent Dan B. Kimball. With the environmental assessment and associated compliance completed, the park can now focus on the rebuilding effort described in the plan. Strong public involvement played an important role in developing the Flamingo CSP. The approved FONSI is based on Alternative D, identified as the Preferred Alternative, when it was released for public review and comment between April 14, and May 15, 2008. Superintendent Kimball is pleased with the outcome of the planning process and the cooperative spirit in which it was developed. "I’m eager to now focus on bringing the plan to reality since I have heard frequently from so many of you what a special place Flamingo is, how much you care about it, and how important it is to the community and those that care about Everglades National Park. I’m committed to the challenge of reestablishing Flamingo, once again, as a premier destination and ‘gateway’ to Florida Bay, the park’s backcountry and the Wilderness Waterway". Key features of the Final Plan The Final Plan provides for an enhanced mix of commercial services for land- and water-based accommodations, education and recreation activities. The Plan emphasizes eco-friendly development concepts and sustainable design features that take into account Flamingo’s location in a high hazard flood zone. The mix of overnight lodging and facilities described in Alternative D reflects these critical issues and the unique market conditions at Flamingo. The Plan calls for a single, elevated lodge/restaurant; elevated cottages; houseboats; eco-tents; additional services in the marina area; two backcountry chickees in Florida Bay; a new amphitheater; and new park and concessioner housing and maintenance facilities to efficiently support the operations. The Plan also includes the RV campground remaining at T Loop with electrical hookups added; a new boat transfer service at the Buttonwood Canal plug; a wider array of guided tours, programs and livery services; provides for a modest environmentally-friendly pool at the lodge; and continues access to Eco Pond. During peak season a Flamingo circulator shuttle would transport visitors to key destinations and a "Yellow Bike" system would provide overnight guests with enhanced access to the marina, lodging and other visitor services, while reducing the frequency of private vehicle use. The new site design will allow the Flamingo area to function more efficiently for visitors, the concessioner and the park, while enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the area with new trails and pathways. With redevelopment focused on a reduced building footprint, approximately 50 acres would be restored to natural conditions. In addition to enhancing long-popular recreational activities (boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, backcountry exploration, wildlife viewing and photography), Flamingo will become a more prominent educational venue for telling the important stories of Flamingo and the Everglades: Flamingo’s colorful natural and cultural history, the long-term goals and challenges for Everglades restoration, and offering learning opportunities regarding issues like climate change, sea level rise and sustainable development. The Plan’s financial analysis provides guidance on the numbers and sizes of these facilities, while emphasizing flexibility so that the park and future partners and concessioners can be provide needed facilities and services in a manner that offers a strong, viable business opportunity. For more information about the plan or to obtain a copy of the FONSI, visit the Everglades National Park website: www.nps.gov/ever and under "quicklinks" go to the Flamingo Commercial Serviced Plan, or contact Fred Herling, Project Manager at 305-242-7704 or e-mail us. -NPS-

Woman catches lake creature with 'legs'

A woman fishing in an Ocoee lake caught a fish-like creature with "legs". The woman's photos show what appears to be a fish with two front legs and no scales. The woman said she was "freaked out a little bit" after pulling the creature to a pier. I know you are thinking "Here we go again another invasive species" but actually this is a species native to the southeastern states. It`s actually a Lesser Siren which is species of aquatic salamander. And I have to admit that although I know quite a bit about what you will find in the waters of Florida this one was new to me. It looks a bit a like the invasive Snakehead but the Siren has front legs instead of fins and although the Snakehead can live for a while out of water it is not an amphibian. There was talk of the Snakehead being a major problem and having seen how voracious they are I am suprised they have not been as of yet. Maybe they ate all of the Sirens up and that`s why I never saw one yet.

The Fox Guarding The Henhouse

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has turned a "blind eye" to Florida's Everglades cleanup efforts, while the state is violating its own commitment to restore the vast ecosystem, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
I always wondered how the EPA was going to be able to meet it`s own cleanup deadline. But I guess they never really knew either because they kept pushing it back. This is interesting maybe I can do the same thing with my taxes, paying my bills, or just about anything else. But what can they do anyway the real problem is agricultural runoff from the north that makes its way southward as it flows through the river of grass and other disruptions in the sheetflow. Even the buyout of Big Sugar wont cure everything and I dont think the other land owners will be as willing to sell out. The idea of filter marshes is a good one but it still is just a band aid on the real problem. And the new reservoirs being built seems like history repeating itself all over again. Take this quote "30 million tons of earth will be dug from flat land and surrounded by a 26-foot high, 21-mile long levee, making it larger than any other reservoir not connected to a natural source, according to state officials". To me that means 30 million tons of rock and soil thats going to be used for construction projects, which is one of the ways those involved stand to make a fortune. And with an area that large being obliterated or at least changed forever means loss of habitat for the wildlife already in peril.

I didn`t like that Ficus Hedge anyway

Here`s the newest invasive to make the rounds, Singhiella simplex better known as the fig whitefly or should I say not known at all. Oh I can see it now first we release some foreign bug to control it, then something else to keep the solution to the original problem from decimating something else. Then we give up and move on to the newest and more exciting plague that can only be killed by.....cash, cold hard cash. And that reminds me, have I ranted about the Florida Citrus Canker Eradication Program yet ?.

Time to pick a new state tree ?

Unknown disease killing off Florida's sabal palms
So just a few hours ago I published a post about invasive species and then I find this. Florida`s state tree is being threatened by some kind of disease that has researchers stumped. Designated by the florida legislature as the state tree in 1953 these palms go back millions of years and have provided food and shelter for animals and humans alike. There are 3 sabals in my front yard but I`m not worried, if they die then I can just watch as melalueca and brazilian pepper take over. And that will make great habitat for iguanas, spider monkeys and roof rats.

Floridas illegal alien problem

I was driving down the street where I live here in south florida and counted 15 iguanas. All were in the same area on the grassy shoulder of the road like they are every morning. They come out in the morning to get sun and sometimes will return in the afternoon. The only problem is they are not native and they are everywhere. They will eat your flower beds up and leave a mess on your seawall. Why they only recently have been become out of control kind of surprises me. The problem with invasive non native species in south florida is that if you let it go it will thrive. Iguanas are not the only problem, right now in the everglades burmese pythons are abundant and big. Pythons are carnivores and will definitely throw things out of whack in the everglades which is why they are actively studying and erradicating them. The iguanas on the other hand although a definite problem will be harder to control because they are already everywhere and some people dont want to see them go. I have also heard about monitor lizards on the west coast by Naples and the list of invasives never ends. Theres Melaleuca, Australian Pine, Brazilian Pepper,Old World climbing fern, Japanese climbing fern, and Kudzu. As for non native fish we have Snakeheads, Walking Catfish, and Mayan Cichlids, and now the latest is the poisonous Lionfish in saltwater that has been spotted on the reefs. For mammals there`s Nutria, Feral Hogs, Roof Rats, Squirrel Monkeys and more. I can go on and on but I would still not even scratch the surface. There was even one case of Iguanas falling from the trees during a cold snap.
Considering man introduced most of these species I find it interesting that we actually took the steps neccesary so long ago to protect the wilderness areas we have left. But that being said letting your guard down for a second has and will prove disastrous.

Some of the best Everglades Books

Here are some of the best non fiction everglades books that I have found. Although there are many more these are my personal favorites. You can find most of these by using the Amazon link that I have on the right side of this page and it will take you straight to books pertaining to the everglades, from there you can refine the search. If some of these are not found on Amazon you can find them by doing a Google search or even Ebay. The first is A Dredgeman of Cape Sable. Its about dredging the Homestead canal that runs through the Everglades National Park as told by the one of the men that actually did it. The next is A Guide to the Wilderness Waterway of the Everglades National Park. The Wilderness Waterway is 99 mile canoe trail through the park from Everglades City on the west coast of Florida to Flamingo at the southern tip of Florida. It has maps as well as landmarks and advice on planning this journey. Anyone
attempting to try this should be aware of severity of this trek as there is no cellphone service for most of way, dry ground is limited and the park service chickees where you can pitch a tent need to be reserved. You will also need a backcountry permit and enough food and fresh drinking water as there is none to be found anywhere. Keeping with the canoeing and kayaking theme is Fishing the Everglades - A Complete Guide for the Small Boater this book was made with the non motorized craft in mind and gives great advice on where to fish and how to do it. Also covered are essentials you should bring and a lot of good information can be found in this book even for the non fisherman. At last check this book was out of print and sometimes expensive but I have found it selling on Ebay for no more than it originally cost. The next is Gladesman and its another classic, it is
about living in the park during the early 1900`s. Stories about poaching, smuggling and moonshiner`s are all in here as well as good pictures of how they lived. There have been places in the park I have been that I thought I was the first one there, not only will this book prove me wrong but there`s also pictures to prove it. The Everglades National Park has to be one of the few places that is actually becoming more wild. The park service has actually razed many dwellings and structures over the years to revert back to being wild. Which is why you will see pictures of cars back in places you cant even walk to anymore or houses and camps that used to be home to many people during the early years before and up to the creation of the park. Some structures can still be found but will not be there for long because they are not maintained. The next four books are all by Charlton
Tebeau and focus on human habitation in the park and the everglades in general and are all worth reading.The Story of the Chokoloskee Bay Country has information as told by Ted Smallwood an early settler of the town of Chokoloskee. And finally Orchids and other airplants of the Everglades National Park by Frank C. Craighead is very good especially if you have an interest in orchids but still a good read none the less. There is also a
trio of books by award winning author Peter Matthiessen that take place in the everglades and revolve around E.J. Watson a shady character and early settler around Chokoloskee. I also see that now he morphed the three books into on with extra material and characters called Shadow Country. These books are all novels and with Shadow Country bringing it all together at 912 pages I will have to check that one out.