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The Lesser Known Species in Florida

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Florida: More than Just Alligators and Manatees

Josue Cajina

COM/172

May 26, 2014
Nora Clarke

Florida: More than Just Alligators and Manatees

There are many species of animals in Florida of which the panther, alligator, crocodile, and manatee are the most popular, but there are other species equally interesting and beautiful, as the river otter, beaver, fox squirrel, key deer and over 500 different types of birds ("Great Florida Birding and Wild Life Trail", 2014). Although some of these species of animals are found in other states, Florida natives are unaware of the fauna diversity in their own backyard. The state of Florida offers 11 national parks ("National Park Service", n.d.) where both natives and tourists can spot these animals. For this reason, teaching people about Florida's lesser known animal species can help increase visits to Florida's National Parks, encourages outdoor activities, and raise conservation awareness in this state.

Florida has both native and non-native animal species, but out of the native the most recognized species may be the alligator and manatee. Florida is home to more than just that and teaching people about its lesser known species can promote visits to Florida's National Parks. As mentioned earlier, there are 11 national parks ("National Park Service", n.d.) throughout the state, featuring the Everglades, which the National Parks Service describes as "The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States" ("Everglades", n.d.). Also, because of Florida's unique ecosystem consisting of diminutive variations there is a variety of habitats, such as mangrove swamps, cypress swamps and pine flatwoods, giving way to an assortment of wildlife species ("South Florida Water Management District", n.d.). With this large amount of national parks, it is convenient to choose one to visit, but with other destinations in Florida it is unlikely that people will choose a national park without something that attracts them. Therefore, presenting the public with knowledge of these lesser known species can provide just that.

Some of the lesser known animal species in Florida like the mink are very shy and can be elusive to find. The mink is a small mammal, with a long thin body and a dense tail, which weighs about 4 pounds and can be found close to water ("Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission", 2014). Because of the shy nature of the mink and other similar species, they are more elusive than their popular counterparts and can be better spotted in their natural habitats, within the national parks. Some of these animals are not used to humans and will avoid places of human presence like beaches and roads. The national parks offer the opportunity to visit the untouched natural home of these animals, thus giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate them thriving in their own habitat as nature intended.

Once people become interested in these lesser known species and begin to visit the national parks, the next step is to find activities to do. Native species like the Key deer can be easily spotted along Key West because these animals are used to human presence and may even be seen feeding on household plants ("Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission", 2014). Other species like the fox squirrel, although found all over Florida, may be a little more difficult to find and may require some outdoor activity to access their range. For this purpose, exposing the public to the knowledge of Florida's lesser known species such as the Fox squirrel can encourage outdoor activities. Florida may be mostly flat, but the habitats where some of these animals live may not be accessible by car and may require such activities like mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, or even snorkeling. Many people will live an entire lifetime in Florida and may never see a river otter in the wild. That's because these animals live deep within their habitats and simply visiting a park will not do; therefore, doing such activity as kayaking may be a good way to spot the river otter and other beautiful creatures in a peaceful way, without disturbing their ecosystem or hurting the animal.

In addition to these activities, some of these locations may require more than just an afternoon and can include staying overnight; therefore, camping is a good option. Not only is the location where these animals reside a factor that can encourage camping, but also the fact that some of these animals are nocturnal, like the gray fox. Staying in a hotel or visiting a zoo may not provide the full experience of the nature of these animals, but camping can expose visitors to their world as they become active through the night. Camping is also inexpensive compared to staying in a hotel and visitors may even spot these animals while walking to the campsite; according to Hurley (2010), "Instead of paying $200 or more per night in season at the Bar Harbor Inn in Bar Harbor, ME, you could stay in stunning Acadia National Park for about $20 per night — saving enough for at least a car payment!"(p. 85-89). Outdoor activities such as the ones mentioned above are a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy a family vacation and making people aware of the presence of these animals living in their own state can encourage this.

Another benefit of educating people about Florida's lesser known species is a possibility for conservation awareness in the state. Human development has a high impact on the ecosystem, and without conservation some animals can be exposed to extinction. According to Reece, Noss, Oetting, Hoctor, and Volk (2013), "Florida is a hotspot of endemism for plants [27, 28], vertebrates [29, 30], and insects [31] outside of the tropics. This biodiversity is threatened by increasing urbanization; Florida is the fourth most populous state in the US and the third fastest growing state (US Census 2010), with more than 17% net increase in population from 2000 to 2010." (p.1). Florida is more than just common alligators sneaking into communities through canals and people need to be aware of that. By making people aware of Florida's diverse fauna, they can be encouraged to take better care of the environment. Florida is mostly connected by water; therefore pollution is a serious threat to the habitats of these animals. Besides making people aware of the existence of these lesser known species, exposing them to their environment can also help bring conservation efforts.

Also, understanding where the animals live can make people aware of the dangers of land development because they can experience the ecosystem at first hand. Different species have different needs, therefore, their habitats change. Animals have specific requirements in what they need to survive. For example, if deer do not have the required vegetation for their nourishment their numbers will drop and so will the numbers of predators that feed on these animals. As people leave the city and arrive into the home of these animals, they will find themselves in an unfamiliar land. A land where there are no supermarkets to buy food from or stores to buy supplies; moreover, they will realize that animals depend on the elements surrounding them and learn that even the slightest change can impact their wellbeing. In other words, placing individuals in the environment of these animals can help add perspective and assist in conservation awareness.

Furthermore, exposing people not only to the habitat, but also the food source of these animals can teach them about the need for environmental projects and conservation efforts. For example, the Key deer almost faced extinction in the 1940's, being reduced to less than 50 animals, but with conservation efforts their numbers have been brought up to normal ("Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission", 2014). In the wild, animals must forage or hunt because there is no zookeeper to bring food to them. For this reason, seeing an animal in an enclosed man made habitat such as in a zoo deceives people from the real factors necessary for their survival; thus by seeing their natural habitats, what they feed on and what they need to survive, can help people understand the need for conservation.

Florida contains many beautiful animals, but zoos often include only those that are most popular. There is a need for educating people about Florida's lesser known animal species and the benefits are far greater than just knowledge. People can be encouraged to visit the national parks and even plan outdoor activities to see these amazing creatures in their own habitats, but the greatest accomplishment would be to make the public aware of the need for conservation. As humans grow in numbers so does the need for land development and the extraction of natural resources and without proper awareness of the presence of these living creatures, proper conservation methods will not take place. With the incorporation of non-native species and human overpopulation, native species suffer a high risk of extinction; therefore, there is a need to take action and make people aware of their presence as the rightful residents of the State of Florida that they are.

References
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2014). Retrieved from http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/key-deer/
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2014). Retrieved from http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/mink/
National Park Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/state/fl/index.htm?program=all
Great Florida Birding and Wild Life Trail. (2014). Retrieved from http://floridabirdingtrail.com/index.php/conservation/birding_in_florida/
South Florida Water Management District. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xweb%20protecting%20and%20restoring/florida%20wildlife
Everglades. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
Reece, J., Noss, R. F., Oetting, J., Hoctor, T., & Volk, M. (2013). A Vulnerability Assessment of 300 Species in Florida: Threats from Sea Level Rise, Land Use, and Climate Change. Plos ONE, 8(11), 1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080658
Hurley, A. (2010). More Fun for Less Money. Good Housekeeping, 250(3), 85-89.

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