Officials: Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Wildlife officials say the remains of the 1-year-old male panther were found Sunday on Alligator Alley in Collier County just a few miles east of the toll plaza. On Friday, officials say the remains of a male panther cub were found on private land near the Collier County landfill. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Officials: Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it’s the fifth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of seven total deaths this year. Wildlife officials say the remains of the panther were found last Wednesday in Hardee County on a rural road near Wauchula. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Calling young artists! FWC hosts Florida state fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding an art contest for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The deadline is fast approaching for the 2021 Florida #Fish #Art Contest! pic.twitter.com/tLc0f0hiH4 — MyFWC (@MyFWC) March 5, 2021They can also mail their work to:Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionATTN: Laura Rambo, Florida Fish Art Contest620 Meridian StreetTallahassee, FL 32301For more information on the contest and for entry forms, visit www.StateFishArt.com. Local 10 is also inviting South Florida art teachers and students, grades Pre-K to 12, to participate in its fourth annual eARTh Day Contest. AdSouth Florida schools are encouraged to create an original piece of artwork that best displays their social responsibility.
Florida restricts sales of reptiles amid fears of invasive species
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is restricting the sale, breeding and possession of Tegu lizards and green iguanas. The proponents of the ban said the reptiles have overrun Florida’s native ecosystem. There was pushback from breeders and sellers who argue they’ve been helping to get rid of the invasive species since the business is an incentive to keep hunting them. He has been in contact with other breeders around the state to figure out what to do next to stay in business. Those who already have a Tegu lizard or a green iguana as pets will be able to get a license, authorities said.
Rules planned to save right whales loom over lobster fishers
The North Atlantic right whale numbers only about 360, and scientists have said the animal's small population of breeding females could spell doom for the species. The National Marine Fisheries Service is developing new rules to reduce the possibility of entanglement in fishing gear, which can kill the whales. AdThe coming restrictions have sparked a rancorous debate between environmentalists and lobster fishermen over the proper way to save the whale. It's holding public hearings about the proposed rules in New England, including one for southern Maine on Feb. 23 and one for northern Maine on Feb. 24. AdThe right whales were hunted to near extinction during the commercial whaling era.
Officials: Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it’s the fourth panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of six total deaths this year. Wildlife officials say the remains of the 7-year-old female panther were found Saturday in Lee County on a rural road near Wild Turkey Strand Preserve. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Officials: Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it’s the third panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of four total deaths this year. Wildlife officials say the remains of the 2-year-old male panther were found Thursday in Lee County on a rural road near Wild Turkey Strand Preserve. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.
Large python caught in Coral Gables as sightings grow, likely due to colder temperatures
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Residents of a South Florida neighborhood is dealing with a python problem, and these are no small snakes. There have been a growing number of sightings in recent weeks across Coconut Grove, now apparently moving into Coral Gables. A massive 9-foot python was found in the bushes of a Coral Gables family’s home. One of the latest pythons caught in a growing list of large snake sightings in recent weeks. “People are probably seeing pythons more this type of year because as temperatures cool, there is more opportunities to see them come out and sun themselves and try to warm up,” she said.
Miami-Dade trio of suspected deer poachers face charges in FWC officer’s attack
From left, Rodrigo Alberto Mato La Rosa, 27, Lazaro Milian, 50, and Michel Amalfi, 45, face charges in the Jan. 2 attack of a FWC officer in Polk County. The FWC officer suspected the men were poaching deer after he saw someone shining a spotlight and heard a shot was fired, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. State and local authorities identified the suspected deer poachers from Miami-Dade County as Rodrigo Alberto Mato La Rosa, 27, Michel Amalfi, 45, and Lazaro Milian, 50. Detectives arrested Mato La Rosa on Sunday night in Hialeah. Amalfi, Milian, and Mato La Rosa are each facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
Officers search for impaired boaters during New Year celebrations
MIAMI – Authorities expect more boaters than usual, as South Florida celebrates the arrival of 2021. Officer Ronald Washington, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said revelers should celebrate with safety in mind. “We will be out there on the sandbars, in the waterways, making sure everyone is boating safely and not impaired by alcohol or drugs,” Washington said. Boating while impaired could result in authorities impounding a boat, issuing fines, and making arrests. We are watching you and we want to make sure you get home safe!’ And, we want to get home safe as well,” Washington said.
Florida's new python-sniffing dogs have 1st success
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is beginning a new program to use dogs to sniff out invasive pythons. We've got to try new approaches and the detector dogs is just one area where we're doing that," commission Executive Director Eric Sutton. He showed commissioners pictures of the dogs during a virtual meeting, including one with Truman standing behind the massive snake he found. Trainers use python-scented towels and live pythons with surgically implanted trackers to teach the dogs to pick up a snake's scent. The dogs were trained for more than a month before going out in the wild, according to the agency's website.
10-foot python removed from under car hood in Dania Beach
DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Authorities say a 10-foot Burmese python was removed from under the hood of a car in Dania Beach. “Our officers responded and safely captured and removed the approximately 10-foot invasive snake,” the tweet said. The FWC asks the public to report sightings of Burmese pythons or other invasive species by calling their hotline at 888-Ive-Got1. In an effort to rid the Sunshine State of the invasive species, the agency has several programs that allow public participation in Burmese python removal and management efforts. Click here to learn more about pythons, removal efforts and how they are affecting Florida.
Man arrested after FWC sent video of nurse shark swimming in pool
MARATHON, Fla. – A Florida man is facing multiple charges after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was sent a video of a small nurse shark swimming at the bottom of a pool in Marathon that authorities said was posted to social media. According to an FWC report, the video was sent to authorities on Sept. 23 and had been taken on Aug. 24. (FWC)According to the report, the video captioned “Little Sand Shark” shows Garrido, 32, of Callahan, holding the nurse shark that was no more than 24 inches in length. Authorities said later in the video, a boy is seen freediving down to the bottom of the pool, grabbing the shark and handing it to Garrido. The shark was extremely sluggish and close to death in the video, according to FWC officials.
Caught on Camera: Man on personal watercraft leads FWC officers on chase
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. Authorities have arrested a man who they said led Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers on a high speed chase Monday night on the waters off South Florida. FWC officers said they stopped a man identified as Eric Tukes on a personal watercraft who fled from their marine patrol unit around 8 p.m. after he led them on the chase that stretched from Broward to Miami-Dade County. According to FWC, the incident began as a manatee zone infraction when Tukes suddenly took off. Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper told Local 10 the chase ended up behind her home. Tukes reportedly ditched the watercraft and took off on foot, which is when Hallandale Beach police officers patrolling the area took him into custody.
Concern in Florida Keys about coronavirus as lobster mini season nears
KEY LARGO, Fla. – There are major COVID-19 concerns from a lot of people who live in the Florida Keys, and as the numbers continue to rise, Monroe County is trying to figure out what the next move should be. Just one day after the checkpoints came down, the entire county only had 109 cases of COVID-19. And now lobster mini season is approaching quickly, bringing with it the promise of a massive influx of visitors. So far, the FWC says they are moving forward with the mini season as planned. Monroe County has asked residents not to call 911 to ask about the status of lobster mini season, urging them to check monroecountyem.com/covid19 and the county’s Facebook page for updates.
FWC removes crocodile from Islamorada home
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – Officers and a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called to a home Tuesday in Islamorada after an unexpected visitor showed up. FWC Officer Bobby Dube said authorities were called to the home on Cortez Drive and Mile Marker 76.5 Tuesday to remove a crocodile, which was just under 8 feet long. An FWC employee tends to a captured crocodile. (Andy Newman)He said the crocodile was taken to another location and was fitted with a GPS locator after undergoing a brief checkup. According to the FWC, American crocodiles are a shy and reclusive species that can be found in South Florida’s ponds, coves and mangrove swamps.
FWC: Man caught on camera trying to remove ID band from pelican’s leg
ISLAMORADA, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has arrested a man who they said was captured on camera trying to remove an identification band from the leg of a brown pelican. The incident allegedly occurred earlier this year at Robbie’s Marina of Islamorada. FWC officials said Robert Charles Hovey Jr., 33, of Louisiana, “captured a wild animal within the boundaries of a state park, violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and tormented an animal in a cruel and inhumane manner.”An arrest warrant was obtained for Hovey on March 13 and he turned himself in to authorities in Monroe County on Monday. It’s unclear why Hovey was allegedly trying to remove the ID band. According to the FWC, “the brown pelican is the smallest of the six different species of pelicans in the world” and is found on both coasts of North and South America.
Glazed or jelly? Doughnuts lure city-roaming bear into trap
A juvenile black bear roams through Fort Myers, Fla., Tuesday morning, May 26, 2020. A black bear roaming around a Florida city proved no match for the doughnuts that lured the animal into a humane trap. Wildlife officials say bears tend to move more in the spring in search of mates and, as always, food. Brown said the bear was relocated to a state-managed wildlife area. Authorities estimate there are about 4,000 black bears in Florida.
Rickenbacker Marina fire leaves 6 boats damaged, Miami firefighters say
Published: May 21, 2020, 11:29 am Updated: May 21, 2020, 5:03 pmMIAMI Two weeks after a morning fire damaged six boats at the Crandon Park Marina, firefighters battled flames damaging six more boats nearby Thursday morning at the Rickenbacker Marina. According to Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Iggy Carroll, three of the boats were heavily damaged and the three others had minor heat damage. Carroll said Miami Fire Rescue investigators are teaming up with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the dockmaster. The Miami-Dade Fire Department investigated the May 7 Crandon Park Marina fire.
60-foot boat catches fire in Fort Lauderdale intracoastal waterway
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A 60-foot sport fisherman boat caught fire in the intracoastal waterway just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan said there were seven adults, 2 children and a dog aboard the vessel. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had just completed a traffic stop on the water when they saw smoke coming from the back of the 60-footer. Update @MyFWC was in the area conducting marine traffic stop when they saw smoke coming from the boat. They then rescued 7 adults, 2 children and a dog before the boat erupted in flames.