
The Florida Panther
Felis concolor
coryi
Photo credit:
Florida Panther page
Updates and news that affect Florida's
Endangered Wildlife.
Due to the ongoing outrageous Global Wildlife
atrocities, this Blog
will now expand to include postings about other
wildlife.
My new Word
Press Blog
My Google Mirror Blog
September 2, 2013
Believe~

Wild Horse with foal
Picture: Public Domain
Do you believe?
I believe.
Voices are heard.
Prayers do work.
Those who wanted to
slaughter horses have lost.
When voices are
unanimous, when prayers are spoken in
unison,
they can and do make a
difference.
We must never
underestimate the power that we have to
change the wrongs,
to make things better
for animals around the world, that are
in harm’s way.
In this instance, so
many of you cried out in protest so
loudly, about the impending murder
of
these beautiful wild creatures, these
innocent animals, that for the moment at
least,
the score is: horses one,
slaughter houses, zero!
Is this fight over,
no, absolutely not, but the very fact
that the courts have heard you
and
responded in this positive manner, is
a really good signal that this will
not
be a slam-dunk for the slaughter
industry.
They now know, that
they are in for a full-fledged battle
with some
of the most powerful animal
groups that exist.
Too many animal people
across this country, even around the
Globe,
are really, really, angry about
this impending action and
are making
their feelings known loud and clear.
Please, do not stop.
Keep writing, keep
calling, and under no conditions should
any of us think that this is a done
deal.
The lives of these
horses depends on all of us, we can not
let them down.
We are just getting
warmed up here.
*Please
feel free to Reblog this, post it to FB
and then tell all of your friends who
love animals*
They cannot wait.
The inspiring story
with all of the details is on one of the
very best animal advocate sites on Word
Press,
Our Compass:
Equine Advocates Win Reprieve
PS: FROM MY
HEART TO YOURS, THANK YOU!
August 25, 2013
Why Seeds Matter?

Jane Goodall, September, 2011
Picture credit: Angela George
As many of you know, my
education was in Anthropology and perhaps
you may have read
the recent posting here
about Dian Fosey’s life and the movie, Gorillas
in the Mist.
Today in my email,
there was a story that I wish to share with
all of you, actually it was an
outstanding
interview done by the Sierra Club recently
with the remarkable Jane
Goodall, who at
nearly 80
years of age, still remains one of the
world’s most revered
Anthropologists/Primatologists.
Mary Leakey, Margaret
Mead, Dian Fosey and Jane Goodall were my
heroes and as women,
their importance in the
field of Anthropology, were as the
groundbreaking “door openers”
for
all of the women of the science who would
follow them.
What is discussed in this
interview, is something very close to her
heart
and mine as well, it is all about
seeds.
What is so important about
seeds you may ask?
Seeds, are the primary
source of food supplies in countries all
over the Globe,
and for years they have been
controlled by Monsanto and may I add,
they
do not have our best interests at heart.
This company has been
written about here previously and
their
quite poor record on Global health issues is
a matter of public record.
GMO’s, seeds and what we
all need to know to protect our world and
the future of all food,
which after water,
is without question, a most crucial part of
all human life,
are discussed in the
interview.
Although a recent
most unflattering critique of her book
reveals some issues,
these
remarks are about her
book, Seeds of Hope, however,
the issue of how extremely
important seed
supplies in the world are, is what should
be focused upon.
What is that saying, “let
those of us without sin cast the first
stone? “
Personally, my own sins
would probably reach from Florida to the
Moon and back~
So, if the critic’s claims
are true, I can and do forgive her for her
literary sins, but what I
believe
is much more important here for all
of us, is the very bright light that she
shines on the subject
of how Monsanto is
very successfully trying to control all of
our world’s food sources.
Goodall’s book may have
some problems, but her ideas about seeds,
are what should
matter to all of us, if we
wish to have untainted food supplies in the
future.
Hopefully you will have a
moment to read this intriguing, passionate
interview,
about the potentially dark future
of our world’s food.
It’s not too important,
it’s only about whether or not our children
and
their children will have safe, healthy
food to eat.
Sowing Seeds Of Hope: An Interview with
Jane Goodall
August 16, 2013
66 Bad Guys Bite The Dust!

Elephants At Zakouma National Park in SE Chad,
the tragic sight of many Elephant deaths by poachers.
Oh yes, sometimes the
good guys do win.
And on this day, 66
bad guys have bit the dust!
As has sadly been
posted on this Blog several times,
elephant and rhino poaching
in Africa
is out of control and increasing at an
outrageous and alarming rate.
These beautiful
animals and others are continually being
murdered
and/or maimed for their body
parts all over
Africa and also
India.
The long tentacles of
the smuggling industry have now become
Global, as increasingly
desperate
people will do nearly anything to
provide an income for their starving
families.
But even as the
numbers of those who choose this life of
animal crime increases
exponentially, so
do those who intend to stop them.
Yesterday, Interpol
a global group dedicated to
among other things, ending
the widespread wildlife poaching and
smuggling industry in Africa, announced
that with the group’s recent successful
campaign known as, Project
Wendi,
they have over
the past few months,
arrested 66 Ivory Smugglers in Africa.
The massive financial
rewards for all involved in this
despicable business,
makes them willing
to risk prison or death, for the
money that awaits them.
Although this recent
Project by Interpol may not stop the
insanity in Africa,
it is a beginning
and each one arrested slows down the
process, just a bit.
And another animal may
live a day longer.
Read more about the
great news here:
Interpol Arrests 66 Ivory
Poachers
Ivory Bust Reveals Traffickers New
Tactics
Hong Kong Seizes Tonnes of Ivory
DNA Testing, A Powerful Weapon
Rhino Poaching in India
August 4, 2013
Fin Soup Is Not Fine

A Lemon Shark
Picture credit: Albert Kok
After having to repeatedly watch some idiot
recently
wrestle a shark to the shore
just to show off and take
its picture, as well as an increasing number
of Shark abuse stories,
I swore that if there was
even one more ugly story about them, I would
have to write
and that story was
just delivered into my email.
What ever happened to that
great fearsome beast of the movie Jaws
that made people shudder
with fear?
Today Sharks seem more
likely to be on the news being terrorized,
than as the
killing machines that
they have historically been known as.
One of the most perfectly
evolved species ever to inhabit the
seas, this virtual perfect predator,
is not only no longer
being avoided in fear, it is now being
stalked, maimed and murdered at
the alarming rate of more
than 100 million a year, which has the
science community fearing
that they may become
extinct within our lifetime.
Here in Central
Florida, some locals brag that we are the
shark bite capital of the world,
which is somewhat
bogus because the majority of the incidences
are quite minor,
with just a few stitches
required to send the victims back to the
beaches.
Sharks come close to the
shore looking for their favorite prey, which
is usually a seal
and a surfer or swimmer to
their eyes, looks like their favorite food,
so they nibble and not
liking the taste, usually move on.
In spite of this, the ugly
tag remains on the areas around Ponce Inlet,
as being a shark
attack hot spot!
The world’s ocean
ecosystems without sharks would be a
tragedy,
as their presence
is required to maintain balance and order in
the seas.
Yet again, Humans are the
causal factor in this disappearance story.
Sharks all over the world
are losing their lives, just as the
elephants, rhinos
and others, for
their body parts.
In the case of the now
globally hunted sharks, it is their fins
which have become
the key ingredient in a
disgusting, delicacy called, shark
fin soup!
The news is not good for
stopping this despicable practice, as only
some countries
in the world at this time,
have completely banned this outrageous
animal offense.
While these few
countries have issued a lukewarm ban on this
issue, many more need
to get on
board because if we don’t, pretty soon, the
only sharks you may see,
will only be in
either an aquarium, not good, or even worse,
only in the movies.
The story is here:
Driven From Predator to Prey – Sharks Face
Extinction
July 28, 2013
Class Of 2013 Cranes

Whooping Cranes following the
ultraflight Adult and juvenile Whooping Cranes Whooping
Cranes in Flight
This is a very exciting
day for those of us here in Florida who love
the spectacular
Whooping Cranes.
The young ones have just
arrived at their ”Crane College” today in
Wisconsin from the
Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center in Laurel, Maryland and will spend
the summer
getting a complete
”Crane Education.”
In the Fall, after their
“training” is finished, these beauties will
begin their migration
south, or Operation
Migration, following the
ultralight on the long journey
to their winter home here
in Florida.
Florida is famous for its
Snowbirds and these Endangered beauties are
just another
example of why so
many love to come down here every year
and spend their winters in paradise.
When the young
birds finally do get here in the Fall,
people will come from all over the country
to see them in their
winter homes at the
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
on Florida’s Gulf or West
Coast, near Tampa.
So, until we see you in
September babies, listen to your teachers
and play nice with the other kids~
You may learn more about
our beautiful Whooping Cranes here:
http://www.gator-woman.com/whoopingcranes.html
These links are to stories
about their arrival today in Wisconsin:
Whooping Cranes Arrive In Wisconsin
Eight Whooping Crane Chicks Arrive In
Wisconsin
Will They Hear Your Voices?

Wild Mustangs In Arizona
Picture by John Harwood
Prayers can and will be
answered.
Voices can and will be
heard.
Thank you so much to the
wonderful group at Our Compass!
I have just signed this
and am next sharing it on F.B.
Please I beg you,
please do the same.
Sign it, share it, reblog
it!
Let your voices speak for
these Horses who are out of time and about
to be slaughtered.
Please read this and act
fast.
Reblog this, share this,
please help to spread the word.
Please don’t let them die
without their voices being heard:
Update: US Horse Slaughter On Hold For Now
July 24, 2013
A Fed Bear Is A Dead Bear

A young
Black Bear
Picture credit: hans-stieglitz
Once again this morning, I
had not intended to write, but once again it
was not to be.
This state has a pretty
poor record, in my eyes, when it comes to
“nuisance,
(their word not mine)
anything.”
Nearly every day in our
local news, there is another story of a wild
animal
who has caused a problem and has
been killed.
Today, yet another Black
Bear has stepped across that magical,
mythical line set up by those
in charge and
he has paid for his indiscretions with his
life:
Black Bear Euthanized
He was ” euthanized,” what
a deceitful word that is,
why do they dare
not speak the truth, they killed him.
Our Florida Black Bears
are normally shy, reclusive, omnivores
(which means that they will eat most
anything)
and there has never been
an incidence of one attacking a human here.
The ones who end up on the
Orlando news are usually at the top of a
tree,
waiting for the people, the cameras
and the noise to leave,
so that they can
come down and go about their business.
Perhaps if I had not lived
for so many years in a place like
California, where wild things
are now pretty
much coveted, it would not be so hard to
live here in Florida,
the wildlife hunting
capital of the South.
To be completely fair, it
was not always so animal friendly in
California, in the
historical past, many
wild animals were hunted and killed, which
is why today,
there are so few of them left
and people have reversed their thinking
and
now go out of their way to protect them.
Florida seems to have such
a low tolerance level for wild things that
bring attention to themselves.
The place where this bear
was killed is in an upscale place on
Florida’s West or Gulf Coast,
called Naples,
I know this only because one of my Aunts
lives there
and she has commented on the
kind of people who call it home.
Some of the very wealthy
residents of Naples, like others
of Florida’s affluent resort areas,
only
live here part of the year and they don’t
care much for having wild things roaming
around
in their neighborhoods and want to be
assured that everything is “under
control.”
And as is usually the case
with a wild animal here, “under control”
means dead.
We did have a large
gorgeous Black Bear here in our little
corner of the world
that was recently caught
and relocated:
Massive Black Bear Relocated
So, the lesson learned
here is a bitter one, indeed.
Any animal, wild or
otherwise, will remain where a food supply
is constant
and it was surmised by the
authorities, that someone was feeding this
young Black Bear.
As the FWS officer who
ended this bear’s life quite accurately
pointed out,
” a fed bear is a dead bear.”
The reminders about
“bear safety” are on the news here
constantly and
wouldn’t you think after
witnessing enough of these sad “euthanizations“on
TV,
that people would eventually get it?
If we eliminate their
food source, the Bears won’t come.
So, this little, young
bear is gone, he is dead and will not, as
has often been done in the past, be
relocated
up to where we are in the Ocala
Forest, because he might repeat his most ”offensive
actions.”
If only our Florida
wildlife got as many second chances, as the
criminals here who repeatedly
commit the
same crimes and continue to go free.
Perhaps there should be a
separate justice system for our criminal
wildlife?
July 21, 2013
Beautiful, Beneficial Bats

A
beautiful Endangered Gray Bat
Photo credit: Dr. Renn Tumlison
This Issue is one that I
wrote about some time ago, but recent news
has reminded me once again,
that the crisis for this
animal has not only not gone away, but has
gained momentum and
appears to now be an out
of control situation:
Biological Diversity Public Action
The animals are
beautiful, beneficial Bats
and the disease that is wiping this
mammal
off of the face of the
Earth, is white-nose syndrome.
Many people have a
negative opinion of this” most helpful
friend “ and even those who
don’t fear it, may have a
difficult time feeling any great remorse for
its current plight.
Right now, Bats in this
country are facing nearly complete
eradication from this rampant
fungal disease and
the prospects of the species surviving, do
not look too good.
You should be very
concerned about this situation, but you may
not know why.
Bats are the single most
prolific insect eater on the planet and if
they ceased to exist,
those nasty little creepy,
crawly, critters might just, as in the
biblical prophecies, not only,
" inherit the
earth, “ they may just take it over
quite quickly, with little to stop them,
other than
more huge quantities of
what is becoming more and more frequently,
”useless insecticides.”
The over use of these
terrible toxins for way too long now, has
caused countless numbers
of insects to become
“super bugs,” that are developing
complete immunity to them.
Now, this is all a very
scary thought, unless you happen to love
bugs.
As for the beleaguered
Bats, the white-nose syndrome has now spread
across the country
into 22 states
and has killed more than 7 million Bats in
its death march.
Irregardless of our
personal feelings about Bats, we all need
them in our lives,
because the world would
not be a very “human friendly”
place to live with out them.
We actually have a Bat
house on our property and continue to hope
that one day,
it might just have
some visitors~
As usual, it would be
wonderful if you chose to get involved and
several ways to do
this are detailed in these two stories:
http://gator-woman.blogspot.com/2012/01/millions-of-dead-bats-is-very-bad-news.html
http://gator-woman.blogspot.com/2012/06/do-you-really-want-to-live-in-world.html
July 14, 2013
Bringing Buffalo Back

Buffalo in
the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota,
land of the Oglala Lakota people.
Unless you are from the
Western United States, Buffalo or
Bison,
may not be an animal that you have ever
encountered.
My experiences with
Buffalo are quite personal, having seen them
in the Dakota’s and
on Reservations where
they long ago flourished, roaming in numbers
by the millions.
This is a remarkable
animal, as you would know, once you have come
face to face
with them and I do
mean this quite literally, having once had
one lean all the way
inside my Jeep in
Yellowstone, just to say “hello.”
What an unforgettable
experience that was!
My love of the Native
people and the Buffalo of the Dakota’s, was
the driving force
in creating a
website to Honor them many years ago:
http://www.tahtonka.com/bison.html
The Buffalo/Bison
were of immense historical and cultural
importance to
Plains Native people and
it may be difficult for non natives to
fully appreciate
the extremely vital role that they
had played in their lives.
To the Plains people, the
Buffalo was everything.
But, in the late 1800′s,
this world of the
Buffalo Culture, would
come crashing down,
when Buffalo Bill Cody, a
newly constructed coast to coast railroad
system
and the US Government, completely changed and
nearly eradicated,
both a beloved animal
and a people, almost.
After the
initial slaughter, a meager
few remained in remote parts of the
Dakotas and several other
areas, untouched by the kill orders.
The US Government believed
that by eliminating their source of food,
and an entire culture,
the Natives
would relinquish at last and go where they
were supposed to be,
the prisons that were to
become their permanent homes, the
Reservations.
For the past two hundred
or so years, the absence of their beloved
Buffalo has been a
knife in the hearts
to all of those who loved them, up until
about a year ago,
when they witnessed a
historic event, the buffalo were being
brought back.
Native people are
deliriously happy for their return, wildlife
officials love what is happening
to the Plains ecosystems,
it is a win-win all around.
A bittersweet remark in
the story, says that the return of the
Buffalo,
” have restored
balance to the land,” imagine that!
Although it looks good for
now, there is one tiny little hiccup, they
are running
out of money to
continue funding this project.
The complete posting is
here and if you do choose to get involved,
it seems a small
pay back for an animal and
a people who have been repeatedly abused by
invaders to their
homelands for more than two hundred years:
Yellowstone
Bison Revitalize Prairie On Fort
Reservation
July 13, 2013
Indefensible

Wild Horse with foal picture: Public Domain
Canadian Geese with goslings picture: Brocken Inaglory
I had no intentions of
writing today, as you know by now, this has
been a difficult week
and we are both exhausted.
However, our local news
this morning will allow me no rest.
At 5 AM, the first story
on our news here, was that the state of
New Mexico And The FDA Have Come To
An Agreement
and they will be
slaughtering horses.
As if to quell the
expected outbreak of hostility, it was
clearly stated that of course,
none of the horse meat
will be sold in America.
Hello, that is not the
problem people, the problem is, you are
slaughtering horses.
Hopefully, you have
all had the chance to read my story on this
Blog,
called “We
Want To Live.”
A group on Facebook has
much, much more:
https://www.facebook.com/NewMexicoAgainstHorseSlaughter
It is simply
incomprehensible to me and I am sure to you
as well, that this is going to be done.
Is America still a
Democracy?
Do the concerns of the
People have any meaning any more?
Why is there no
discussion, no input allowed, for something
as egregious as this?
We, the People, in this
country have raised our voices in absolute
objection to many Issues
and it is if we are
speaking another language, no one in charge
seems to hear us.
I feel so angry, so
sickened by this, that I cannot speak.
Then, as if that news was
not enough to break my heart this morning, I
opened my first email
and it was about 144
Canadian Geese being slaughtered
in North Carolina.
The group trying to stop
it has a petition and much more information
here:
https://www.facebook.com/cwrescue
Sometimes, like today, I
feel like this is all for nothing.
Right now, my heart is
broken and it is like no one is listening,
nobody cares.
July 11, 2013
The Brits And The Badgers

A Badger whose future is unclear
(source of this picture is unknown)
Since beginning this Blog in March, many
Issues have been addressed here that
involved animals being harmed.
Thankfully, being the kind
and caring readers that you all are, you
have responded with zest, zeal and passion.
But the one topic that has
evoked the most overt reaction, raw emotion
and
absolute disgust from all of you has
been, mass animal murders.
What has been written
about here relating to this particular topic
to date are:
horses, elephants, gorillas
and rhinos.
There are other stories to
be told, but not written about here
yet, with past and
future planned executions
in this country, namely, wolves and bison
or buffalo and
of course, the
Burmese Python In The Florida Everglades.
It remains curious to me,
that whenever humans wish to dispose of an
unwanted or unwelcome animal,
they choose
to call what they intend to do to it, a
CULL.
(This definition
comes from their Oxford dictionary)
Are they uneasy with the
words “mass murder?”
Now sadly, as of today,
one more species can be added to this list:
Badgers.
To be completely honest,
until this came to my attention here on Word
Press,
I knew nothing about this animal, but
in the few short months here,
I have
witnessed a
Global Outcry From Fellow Bloggers about
what is
being planned in England for this
animal.
For some unknown reason,
certain humans seem to believe that it makes
more of an impact,
if the slaughter of a
chosen victim is done is huge numbers, and
for some odd reason,
the last two discussed
here, had the number 5,000.
After reading the stated
reasoning behind the proposed slaughter this
August of Great Britain’s Badgers,
the
explanation
for this action is
that they believe it
will reduce the
number of cases of
TB in the Cattle
there.
The Country has had
an often times, ugly
history with this
animal,
point in
case being the now
forbidden,
Blood Sport Of
Badger Baiting.
For those of you not
living in, or
familiar with
America, we have had
a similar case
like
this with our Native
bison, or buffalo in
Wyoming.
Years ago, Montana
Ranchers began
slaughtering bison
or buffalo, just as
soon as they left
Yellowstone
and
wandered into their
state because they
feared the Bison
were infecting, or
could potentially
infect,
their cows
with
Brucellis abortis.
And one final
thought, a new
story today, says
that the upcoming CULL
Of Badgers
may not even be of
any benefit at all,
according to one of
their very own.
As
the species with the
supposedly larger
brain, could we not
at least consider
ways to deal
with
animals that we seem
to have a conflict
with, other than
mass murders?
Come to think of it,
our past history
with other humans
does not lend itself
well to this, does
it?
July 9, 2013
Plastic, You’re Outta Here!

Plastic trash on the Beach in Hawaii
Picture credit: NOAA
I have been wanting to address this Issue for
months and with this announcement today,
it is now time.
The city of Los Angeles, my home for over 30 years, who is
continually
at the forefront and frequently a leader in
cutting edge everything,
has just passed the most exciting eco-friendly
legislature in its history.
It has banned single-use plastic bags.
I can see Ed Begley Jr. smiling from here~
So now, how long will it take for the rest of us to get on board
this Eco-train?
The damage done Globally by all kinds of plastics, cannot easily be
assessed.
It injures, affects, hurts and kills so many types of animals
everywhere,
that it is difficult to accurately measure its
complete harm.
Birds, turtles, dolphins, whales and many other sea animals are all
being found
with plastic pieces, some quite large, that they
have ingested in the waters all over the world.
Baby chicks of sea birds in remote parts of the Pacific, have been
found starving to death due to
the plastic pieces that they are being fed
instead of food, mistakenly by their unaware parents.
It just goes on and on.
So, my request, my hope, is that we collectively, will try to do
our best to get plastic out of our lives.
As for myself, I can only offer up what I have done for so many
years and
that is to find alternatives to plastic in every
form.
When and if any plastic does regretfully make its way home, it is
dealt
with as the potential killer that it truly is.
It is disposed of very
carefully, always with an animal ending up
being harmed by it in mind.
I am so proud of L.A. for
being a leader on this extremely important
Issue and applaud them.
Where I now live in
Florida, on our street, we are one of very
few who even
put out a recycle bin for
the trash collectors each week.
So sad!
Each of us can do this, we
can help by simply making a small change in
our lives
and spare animals a
painful, horrible death, by just not buying
plastic,
each and every time that
we can choose an alternative.
Think baby steps, take it
one plastic product, one plastic choice at
a time and
pretty soon it could be,
it can be, gone from all of our lives.
And finally, picture a
hungry baby bird with its tiny belly filled
up with bits of plastic,
perhaps that will be
all the motivation you will ever need?
You know that we can do
this~
Please read more about this Issue here:
Los Angeles Enacts Plastic Bag Ban
July 8, 2013
One Less Monster In The World Today

Elephants At Zakouma National Park in SE Chad,
the tragic sight of many Elephant deaths by poachers
Who says that dreams don’t
come true?
Today is a miracle day for
all those who love Elephants, as a monster
has been captured in Africa.
In Chad a poacher named
Hassan Idriss, who has the blood of 89
Elephants and
more on his hands, has
been captured.
This monster has been
repeatedly murdering Elephants and he is
known to have help or accomplices.
It is time to get serious
about these monsters and drag them all into
court, where they will
hopefully be given the harshest ever known
sentence in Africa for these heinous crimes.
Do they have the death
penalty in Africa for poachers?
If they do not, they
should because these mass animal murderers
are at the
bottom of the barrel as
far as a species goes.
Yes, there is one
down, and so many more to go, but on this
wonderful day, there is one less.
So many Blessings can be
said today for a small, but important
victory for the Elephants.
Please do read the
story about this and
so much more at this
remarkable place for
all who love
animals:
Poacher Captured In
Chad
June 30, 2013
We Want To Live

Wild Mustangs In Arizona
Picture by John Harwood
Well the uplifting news days are now
officially in limbo, as several stories
came
this morning that have put the fire
back in my eyes.
Not everyone, I am
sure, is passionate about Horses, some
may fear them, others may
have no
opinion either way, but then there are
those of us, who grew up loving them
and
would not take kindly to anyone harming
them, for any reason.
It is being reported that Apaches in
Arizona are asking to be allowed to
slaughter 4,000
wild horses on their
Reservations because their people cannot
afford to feed them
and they can make a
great deal of money if they do so.
You may remember that New Mexico is
about to become the first US State to
allow
Horse Slaughtering and have a
Slaughter House?
The two key factors to consider in
this gut-wrenching conflict are:
that many, many horses will be killed
for lack of food and
they are living on land where the US
Government should have no say.
Now, several thoughts come to mind:
Can some or all of these horses be
adopted?
Can outsiders donate food for them?
Aside from the obvious ethical
considerations in this issue, let us
all think for a moment on this?
The proposed slaughter of these animals
is to produce meat for humans to eat,
an extremely disgusting thought.
What
has not been made clear, or undisclosed
deliberately, is that some of these
Horses were
previously used in Horse
Racing, ( a blood sport/abomination that
makes my blood boil )
and therefore were
exposed regularly to various drugs
making the human consumption
of them not
a terribly good idea.
My question is this, as an
adamant horse lover, what gives anyone
the right
to murder all of these
beautiful animals?
Yes, they are living and breeding on
Native Reservations, which makes the
whole issue somewhat
cloudy and
controversial because Native
Reservations are supposed to be
Sovereign Nations.
One explanation as to the reason that
the Apaches or other Tribes would be
so desperate to do this
for purely
economic reasons and that I have
long complained about, is the
nearly complete lack of
interest by
American humanitarians,
philanthropists or just plain generous
people, to donate or offer
assistance to
try to relieve some of the absolute
poverty that exists on many, if not
most, US Reservations.
I can speak with a bit of experience
on this issue, having been to many of
them personally.
Too many Americans with the means
to make a difference, take their
money to other Countries, why?
So, dear animal loving people, if we
wish to prevent these 4,000 horses and
many more that will surely follow
them in these Western states from being
slaughtered
for our next burger, we had
better get involved in this and make our
move now,
because this ugly issue will
not be well resolved for either the
animals or the Native people,
unless
things change dramatically and soon.
Here are
some stories
to read, but
only if you
are able, as
they do
hurt:
Thousands Of
Horses Could
Starve On
Reservations
Horse
Slaughter
Banned In
New Mexico
Chemically
Tainted
Horsemeat
Unfit For
Consumption
June 23, 2013
Not A Time To Die

Environmentalist Jairo
Mora Sandoval
Picture credit: Didiher Chacón,
director of WIDECAST
Being young should be
a time of exploration, adventure and joyful
discovery.
It is a time when many of
us are at our highest intellectual, love and
friendship peak.
But, one thing that it
should never be, however, is a time to die
or to be murdered.
This week on an island
renowned the world over for its stunning
beauty,
an innocent young man just doing
what he loved, protecting leatherback
turtles,
was murdered for being
in the wrong place and opposing turtle
poachers.
This ugly word,
poachers, is getting way too much press any
more and I for one,
am sick of the way that
these monsters have chosen to handle those
who get in the
way of their dirty little
money business.
Jairo, an environmentalist
and native of this place where he died,
was
a mere 26 years old and should have had a
full lifetime ahead of him in a field
where
anyone can become a hero, at least as far as
those who are saved are concerned.
In recent years, Costa
Rica has been rumored to have become a place
of potential danger
for outsiders and going
there for a vacation or a honeymoon could be
risky.
The world that we live in
today, has a new breed of hired
killers and getting caught
in their cross
hairs, can and has proved fatal, as in Jairo’s case this week.
I have just signed this
petition for him, would you please consider
doing so as well?
The Justice For Jairo Petition
No one should ever have to
put their life at risk or be killed, for
protecting animals.
And as today is,
World
Oceans Day, might we all take a
moment to say a little prayer
for all of
those like this beautiful young man, who
care so much and put their lives
at great
risk every day, to try to save Endangered
wildlife on our planet?
Vaya Con Dios Jairo,
may you go with God.
June 16, 2013
Courage Defined
A 2-3 year old African Mountain Gorilla
Picture credit: Kurt Ackermann
The last time
that I talked
about a movie,
it was a
terrific,
positive
experience for
many of you,
and you
responded to it
with glowing
comments.
The movie from
last night
however, will
not be the
causation for a
repeat of that.
I had seen this
movie many years
ago, when it
first came out
and was nearly
unable to sit
through it.
My reaction to
the film again
last night, was
exactly the
same.
The movie was
” Gorillas in
the Mist. “
The person that
I share my life
with had never
seen it and I
had
recently recorded
it.
I warned him
before it began,
of the content,
but he wanted to
see it.
So, with
complete
trepidation on
my part, we did.
This story is
pretty accurate
in many ways,
there were a few
errors, but they
were minor.
When I look
at films like
this my Anthro
education clicks
in.
The film for
those who may
not have seen
it, is about
Dian Fossey’s nearly
lifetime of work
with Africa’s
Mountain or
Silverback
Gorillas.
The scenery is
exquisite and
the script is
tight, but it is
the wonderful
personal
relationships
detailed in the
movie,
including the National Geographic photographer and her
personal African guide,
that make the otherwise extremely cruel
subject of this film, almost bearable to watch.
But unfortunately the film also addressed her
uneasy at times, frequently at odds,
rocky relationship with her
mentor Louis Leakey.
My initial, " over the top, " admiration for Louis
Leakey at the beginning of my studies
in Anthropology, was abruptly
reversed after reading his wife Mary's Autobiography,
"
Disclosing the Past, " which sheds some rather unflattering
light on his " indiscretions. "
The film is a cold, hard look at humanity at its
worst and the poachers who will do anything to make
money by
stealing and/or murdering critically endangered animals, namely
Africa's Mountain Gorillas.
Dian Fossey was one of the most dedicated
scientists ever, in her particular field of study
and she should be
an example to all of us for having the courage to do what was right,
what she believed in, irregardless of the consequences.
The cast, the script, (from her book) and
cinematography makes this an unforgettable,
heart breaking film that
is difficult to see, but is a must be told story.
Dian's life was important, what she did for
animals was important, she must never be forgotten.
This is not a film for children, or those with
tender, delicate hearts.
June 8, 2013
Why Not?

Reprinted with permission
Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
http://newsok.com/ongoing/may-20-tornadoes
A friend had a picture and a posting this
morning on her FB page that sent me to a very dark place.
(The above is not the picture, I was asked to pay
$75 for that one and declined.)
This entire country has been ravaged for weeks by
weather disasty heart,"center">I have lived in states
from the East Coast to the West Coast, where severe weather events
are normal,
common, repeated occurrences
and we always prepared for the ranch or a farm,
and have animals, why not a place forthem
to be safe until the disaster passes?
Oklahoma and many other "tornado alley" states,
often are able to give extensive warnings
of impending dangerous weather, so it could
be possible that there would be time
enough to save some, or even all animals on a farm
or ranch?
I know that this sounds bizarre, but why not?
June 2, 2013
Monsters, Murders and Mayhem

The Beautiful African Bush Elephants
This subject has been avoided for as long as
possible, for one very good reason,
my emotions, my opinions would not, could not, be considered
unbiased in any way.
But when a Google Alert came a few days ago about
this issue, it could not be avoided any longer.
This subject must now be addressed because this
time it is personal, it is on my doorstep.
The subject is
Elephant Poaching and the person
who has been indicted, is from New Mexico.
This monster bought the Ivory Tusks from an
African Poacher and then sold them to a person here in Florida.
Personally, I believe that they should all do hard
prison time because they all have blood on their hands.
But neither the time, nor the fine, could ever be
enough to satisfy me, for these heinous acts against innocent
animals.
This animal in particular, is one of the most
beloved in the world, which makes these assaults even more difficult
to bear.
The penalties all involved in this incident will
receive, that will actually be enforced, are putrid, to say the very
least.
In case you are not aware, taking any parts from
an Endangered Species, like these African Elephants,
is a big time crime and the punishment
should be harsh, painful enough to give the beastly persons
involved in this sickening ugly market,
pause to think at least.
But it is not.
What they are all, including the legal system,
doing to not only Elephants,
but to Rhinos as well, is besides being criminal,
is immoral and despicable as well.
This slaughter will never stop, not until it hurts
too much to continue the crime.
These innocents are being murdered for their body
parts and the beastly people involved
on all sides, care nothing for the bloodied
carcasses they leave behind, only for the huge
deposits into their bank accounts.
The numbers of animals who have already died in
this tragic manner, is beyond staggering,
it is nearly impossible to comprehend.
If only Humans had body parts that the animals
could exploit.
I firmly believe in Karma and do expect that one
day these monsters will meet theirs,
but it will be too late for all of the dead
animals missing their high priced body parts.
Knowing that the species of which I am part of,
can do these things, makes me ashamed to be a Human.
Told you there would be no unbiased commentary on
my part.
You can learn more here:
Trophy Hunter Indicted
Elephant Poaching
Our Florida Ghost~

The Florida Ghost Orchid
(picture credit Mike Fournier)
There was a story in
the news yesterday, that prompted me to introduce you to a plant
here
in Florida that is so rare, that people from all over the Globe
come here hoping to see it,
some even come hoping to steal it.
Few succeed at either.
This deliciously rare and stunning beauty, is
called the
Ghost Orchid
and it only grows deep in a swamp in South Florida
on ancient trees,
which makes it extremely difficult to experience
in person.
A word of advice, the Ghost will not grow on your
front porch in a pot,
so unless you can replicate the exact conditions
where it lives here, please
don't murder it needlessly, it will not survive if
you take it home.
A dedicated Florida Wildlife Officer has
made the safety and security of the Ghost his mission in life,
along with also watching over the most
endangered mammal in America, the Florida Panther.
Ask me if would I love to have his job, you bet,
in a heart beat.
He is the luckiest person on the Planet, in my
opinion.
So now, about the
Ghost Orchid, as some of you may know, this web site has a
a page
that is especially devoted to this spectacular flower/plant.
This page, by the way is the single most visited
one on the entire web site!
My hope is that some, or perhaps many of you, will
go and read about our Ghost
Orchid.
Its stunning beauty has inspired a book, a movie
and legions of hunters, followers
and admirers from around the world.
There are simply not enough adjectives to describe
its beauty, ethereal is often used,
my personal choice is breathtaking.
So dear readers, come meet the Ghost
Orchid, I promise you will be enraptured by its beauty:
The Ghost
Orchid
May 26, 2013
On This Memorial Day

One Of Our Florida Green Treefrogs
It is Sunday and so as usual I am doing the
Blogs.
But as I sit here trying hard to
concentrate, think it may be impossible.
The frogs and birds are making so much noise,
it is hard to think.
What I really want to do is finish weeding and
play with my flowers, but alas, not.
It is a gorgeous day here in paradise.
All is good and as it should be~
If you are out and
about today, perhaps you might Hug a
Veteran and say:
“Thank God for you
and every Veteran for the Free America
that we live in.”
Have a Memorable Memorial Day.
May 19, 2013
Giving Back, Dolphin Style~

A Bottlenose Dolphin in Florida
Those of you who live in Florida may be familiar
with
Winter, a Dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
who was given a helping hand by some very kind
humans and a
new tail to replace the one that she lost
due to a fishing line disaster.
If you don't live here, there is a really good
movie about her life, " Dolphin
Tale "
that is quite well done and details her painful
tribulations, rehabilitation and eventual recovery.
Today on our local news, there was a " good news
animal story, " there are so few it seems,
so this was a joy to see, about how Winter
is now giving back.
A little local girl recently lost both of her feet
in a freak accident and Winter is now showing
her how to adapt and relearn some basic motor
skills.
These are the same kinds of things that Winter had
to learn after her " accident. "
What you may not know, how could you, I have not
shared this, my oldest son is a
paraplegic from birth and has always been in a
wheelchair.
So, Winter's beautiful story and her struggles to
deal with her injury, really hit home hard for me personally,
as did this new one today about how an animal
who was nearly killed by us,
is now giving back to the Humans that helped her
so much during her time of need.
I highly recommend the movie, for all ages, it is
a lesson in determination, perseverance, love and patience.
Couldn't we all use a big dose of that?
Who Cares If It's Endangered Species Day?

One of our Florida green treefrogs
So there you are, thinking, not another " special
day. "
I don't even get a day off of work for it, so why
should I care?
But you should care, do you know why?
In our lifetime, hundreds of species have already
become extinct and they are
going away at such an alarming rate,
that even confirmed optimists are becoming
concerned, even downright
worried, that we may lose so many, that eventually
our planet will, as the scriptures
supposedly say, " be inherited by the insects."
It seems that insects are just about the only
thing that all of our pesticides,
or insecticides, don't wipe out, one way or
another.
And if you're thinking "oh well, the chemical
companies will save us with better,
stronger, insecticides,"
hello, this has become our biggest problem.
The insecticides now being produced by Monsanto, Bayer and
others,
have been so over used, for so many years, that the bugs
have become immune
to them and are well on their way to becoming
super bugs,
that eventually will respond to nothing that is
thrown at them.
So, while you're digesting that cheery thought,
think on this, all of the animals whose diet primarily
consists of
insects, are the exact ones that are the most endangered and are
becoming extinct:
the bats, the bees, the birds, the frogs, the list
goes on and on.
These wonderful, fragile creatures, are what
stands between us and the hordes of
marauding insects, who are so
anxious to take over our world.
To repeat, countless mammals, birds, bees and
amphibians, are leaving this world
precisely because of the overuse
and wide-spread blanketing of our planet with poisons.
So, here's an idea for all of us on this, " not
traffic stopping, just another day, " or Endangered Species Day.
Think what your/our world would be like, if the
insects were all that was left here, besides us.
If that thought doesn't motivate you to get
involved and pick an animal, or species to care about,
come on down
to Florida and spend a week in the Everglades in August
and see what
the future could be like for all of us.
As for me, I will keep pounding on this little
Vaio 'til my fingers bleed or I croak, hoping that
somewhere, somehow, I will reach you and you will be affected enough to care
and get involved.
The future of this planet as we know it, is
on you, on me, on all of us.
So, the question remains, what will we do?
Endangered Species Day
May 14, 2013
What's For Lunch?

A lion in Botswana, Africa
Before I begin, I wish to thank the 222+ Word Press
Blog "wildlife watchers "
who have elected to "Follow" the Blog.
Although this inconsequential little Blog has only
been online for two months,
it has had over 4,000 hits and more than 200
followers.
Can I say, this is all just slightly overwhelming
and completely unexpected?
I have been writing about these same Wildlife
Issues for many years,
not on Word Press, to my great chagrin, with
little positive response.
But now, after two brief months on WP, I am
convinced that you are not only out there,
but that you absolutely do care what happens
to "those with no voice."
Please accept my gratitude and a humble thank
you from my heart to yours,
for all that you have shared here since its
inception on March 10.
Now, for today's Wildlife Issue revelation, for
you to react to, respond to,
and if history repeats, clearly oppose~
As many of you know, I live in Florida.
For much of the world, this is a place where
Mickey and Minnie rule and fun abounds,
but there is another side, a dark side, to the
happiest place on Earth and it is this:
Florida has the highest numbers of physical
abuse towards women, children
and you guessed it, animals, of any state in
America.
A fact that sickens me to acknowledge.
Since moving here permanently in 2006,
many stories on our local news have caused me
great concern and alarm, especially those relating
to animals being harmed by humans,
but there are two recent stories that simply
cannot wait, nor be ignored.
The first is that last week, a horse in an open
field, apparently near where we live,
starved to death and dropped dead right here in
Lake County.
There have been in the past, quite regretfully,
other similar stories about cows
suffering the same fate in our county.
The denials and disclaimers were quick to come
this time, from all sources involved,
but the sad fact is, that if just one person had
interceded in time, this horse might well be still alive.
According to the story, one other horse remains on
this same undisclosed property
and the county has given these people a short time
to "correct the problem."
A witness who was interviewed during the
story, said that she doesn't think " it will survive" the allotted
time.
So when we drove home from the store yesterday and
passed an open field with a very
emaciated horse in it, we did not know if this
might be the "other one " on the news.
I called our Lake County Humane Society this
morning, but they were closed for the day, my second call
was to Lake County Animal Control, who said that
they would send someone out " to take a look."
Lake County Humane Society: 352 589-7400
Lake County Animal Control: 352 343-9088
Lake County Commissioners: 352 343-9850
Next, in my email yesterday, was a Google Wildlife
Alert with a story that I was sure had to be a misprint.
Sadly, it turned out, it was not.
If you have an extremely tender heart, please do
not read the story:
Lion Tacos
This eating place in Tampa and one other, have
crossed a line and the public backlash is,
as it should be, in support of wild animals.
I fully expect and will be disappointed if you do
not, respond in an animal avalanche about these two stories.
It has not escaped my memory, that some in this
country are now also advocating the consumption of horse meat.
Applications to build
Slaughter Houses are beginning to show up,
including one in Wounded Knee, South Dakota
and one that thankfully went down
to defeat here
in Lake County.
The one in New Mexico, is now considered "ground
zero" for this issue.
Did I mention how really proud that I am to know
each and every one of you?
Now, go get 'em~
May 5, 2013
Happy Hunting, Not!

A Beautiful Florida Black Bear
I am fully aware that many will disagree with my
stance on this, but please hear me out.
Today all of the details were released for the
next Alligator
Hunting Season here in Florida.
There seem to be so many "killing seasons" here
now, it is hard to keep up.
My greatest fear is that our gorgeous
Florida Black Bear may be next, as hunters are already
chomping at the bit
to get this passed.
I have recently personally spoken to a "head
person" who "assures" me that this will not happen.
Now, ask me if I trust "anyone" about this.
I came here to Florida
as you know, after living in Southern California for over 30 years,
where sadly,
there are not really too many wild things left.
So, coming here and seeing them everywhere, is
just such an overwhelming joy, that I would hate
to see Florida become practically barren of
wildlife, like Southern California has.
I grew up in Indiana and spent many happy summers
on my uncles farm in the hills of southern Indiana,
which was for me, a little city girl, a wild
paradise to run through all day until I dropped.
I loved it with all of my heart and never wanted
to leave.
So, I am truly not just another angry "city
person" complaining about hunters and hunting.
This is what bothers me about hunting.
Where we live now, is many miles from the nearest
anything, so we must drive a bit,
to get to civilization, as it were.
Now, during any of the many "hunting seasons," we
are forced to go past many VERY unpleasant sites.
No, I will not go into any of the grisly details.
The people who live out here on the fringes of
civilization are "different" to say the least,
from most other Florida residents.
They seem to be in a world all of their own.
Things happen out here, ugly, terrible things,
that are not legal, but no one ever gets caught,
so it continues to happen.
My question is, why do people still need to hunt,
maim, kill?
Is it a primordial need?
There are so many animals in Africa who are being
slaughtered for their body parts.
I know that I am in a very tiny minority and will
take great punishment for this,
but why do we need to continue to kill
animals as if their lives mean nothing?
As a species, after so many millions of years,
shouldn't we have by now, evolved
to a place where we at least might show more
respect to our fellow animals?
I truly do not believe that humans were put on
Mother Earth to do so much harm to wild creatures and feel nothing.
April 30, 2013
Global Guinea Pigs~

A Guinea Pig Stable
If right now, I asked you what the most important
thing is, that you should
or could do, to protect yourself and those you
love, including your pets,
from harm, you would probably come up with some
pretty good answers,
but more than likely, you would be well short of
coming up with the entire truth.
You see, the truth is, that on a daily basis, we
and all living things on this planet, are being exposed
to countless toxins, that are killing us, or at
the very least, making us terribly sick,
including some that we are not even aware exist.
Some time ago, most of you probably heard about a
quote that was credited to the Ford Motor Company,
that someone there was said to have remarked after
learning of a number of deaths relating
to defects in their cars, that these deaths were
simply, "acceptable losses."
This horrifying comment has reverberated around
the world since then
and has become a somewhat sick joke.
But, here is the real truth, everyday some company
produces a product that they know is harming,
people, plants and/or animals and they keep
doing it, because no one has the temerity to stop them.
And, we are paying them to do this, because we are
buying these products that are poisoning us.
In this Country, we have Government Organizations
with thousands of people working full-time,
being very well paid to protect all of us
from the "bad guys" and/or their "bad" products.
They include, the CDC, the FDA and the EPA, to
name just a few, but it would appear,
that none of them seem to be able, or are
unwilling, to stop these ruthless companies with a
singular motive in life, that is, to make
money, and we, their Guinea pigs, can all be damned.
By now, most of the world is aware of the horrors
linked to Monsanto and their many lethal products,
but there are 100 more companies just like them,
with their own personal brand of toxins waiting
for their turn in line at us, their Global
Laboratory animals, or Guinea pigs, to see if we live or die,
or just become really sick or maybe
just deformed, by the latest product that they are promoting.
The story linked below, is the single, most
impressive work that I have ever found on this subject.
If you never read anything again in your life,
please read this and swear on your ancestors, that you and
yours will no longer be the victims of these
companies, living your life in servitude as their Guinea pigs.
We must speak to these people, in the only
language that they can understand, money,
and we must refuse to buy their products.
You Are A Guinea Pig
April 27, 2013
There Just Are No Words
This will be an unusually brief posting today,
with no picture, because it would be too disgusting.
While strolling through my Reader this morning, a
posting came up that stopped me dead in my tracks.
I could not go any further, until I went and read
about it.
As implausible as it may seem, mankind has just
slipped another rung farther down the ladder of inhumanity.
I truly believed that as a species, we might be
turning the corner on our treatment of animals,
but now after reading this, it seems not.
I am now speechless.
So, here is the story and I now eagerly await
responses from of all of you, my brilliant,
outspoken, compassionate followers:
Scientists Modify The Herd
April 23, 2013
Pollinators and Pesticides

It was a bit difficult to choose a topic equally
as important as Earth Day for today's conversation.
But think this may do.
Let's talk about bees and the wondrous world of
pollinators.
If like me, or maybe not, you were not an expert
on their very vital purpose on our planet, here are a few thoughts.
It is quite simple, without pollinators, not much
would grow, including a great deal of the world's food supplies.
They simply said are, one of man's, forgive me
Breanna, best friends.
Pollinators can be seen on any warm day, flitting
from one plant, or flower to another,
taking and leaving what we humans need to survive.
But, consider this, the bees and many
pollinators all over the Earth may soon no longer exist, why you
ask?
Their imminent demise is being blamed on, what in
our time, has become the single
most detrimental toxin that any living thing can
be exposed to, pesticides.
And the pesticides
that may soon wipe out our pollinating friends, are neonicotinoid
pesticides.
Pesticides harm people, plants and animals
equally, as they are an equal opportunity killer.
Once their poisons get into our water sources, we
are all goners.
Remember Erin Brockovich?
Ask the residents of McFarland, California, in the
great San Joaquin Valley,
where the continual use of pesticides on their
crops, poisoned the entire areas
water supply and a great many of their children
now have leukemia.
There are many groups and individuals working
diligently to reverse the damage already done by these toxins.
One of these groups is the Center for Food
Safety, who is asking for your commitment
to help stop this disaster in progress, by
taking a "pledge
to protect the pollinators."
The world of pollinators is made up of not only
bees, but many of their friends,
which includes hummingbirds, butterflies and
numerous other helpful insects.
It's a gregarious group effort pollinating all of
the worlds growing things you see.
Ensuring that pollinators will always be here to
work for us, is merely a matter of making better
choices in our gardens and in the food growing
industry.
Your local garden shops will know which ones are
eco and pollinator friendly, or just plain safe for all of us!
These changes can be done, these changes must be
done, if humans wish to continue to have food to eat and exist.
A place to learn more:
Pollinators and Pesticides
April 21, 2013
Embracing Mother Earth On Her Day

Today is Earth Day, so how should we thank this weary planet for the life-giving,
air, water and everything else that
she provides us with, that most of us take for granted?
This planet has existed for billions of years, but each year it
becomes more
and more of a struggle just for her to continue living.
Many of us never give her, or what we do to her, a second thought.
This is a tragic mistake.
One day, unless we change our hearts and minds and begin showing
respect and concern for her,
Mother
Earth may not take care of us any longer, she may not be able
to, she may die.
Every day, we fill her Oceans, Rivers and Lakes with garbage, toxins
and poisons of all description.
Every day, we pollute her atmosphere, the very air that we all
breathe, with more of the same.
Every day, we dig deep into her soul, stripping all that she has,
leaving her scarred and wounded,
with no concern for the effects of
it on her at all.
Every day, we cut down her stunning, majestic trees that nearly
touch the sky,
for what, more paper to fill up our shredders?
Since we took our first steps on her face, we have taken and taken,
rarely giving back
and even less often, cared much about the
effects of our impact on her.
So, my question to each of us is, yes, including myself,
what will
you/we do today for Mother Earth?
Have you ever noticed, that after facing an extraordinary danger or
imminent death, when first
putting their feet back on the planet,
many people react by kneeling down and kissing the Earth?
So, on this very special day to Honor her, how should each of us
show Mother Earth our gratitude?
As for me, I am going into my garden and pull some weeds, that
should make her smile~
What Whales Want

A Right Whale Mother And Calf Off The Florida Coast
Whales are just like us, they want a family,
a nice place to live and to be free to live
there, in peace.
It’s a nice thought but,
unfortunately for them, the Oceans are
getting smaller
everyday and for the biggest mammal on the planet, are becoming very
crowded
and may soon become terribly loud.
Right now, seismic
blasting is being considered as a
potential drilling option in the
Atlantic Ocean,
in the exact corridor
where the single most Endangered Whale on
our planet lives
and breeds, the
Atlantic Right Whale.
The impact of this blasting will be
disastrous for them for several reasons,
they may be
harmed directly by the blasting
and they will no longer feel safe to breed
in the area.
Last year, the birthing numbers for this
critically endangered whale was down
dramatically,
because of
food shortagesup North, can you
imagine what it will be like, for these
extremely
noise sensitive whales, if they
are exposed regularly to constant blasting?
It will simply be unbearable.
And, the Whales are not the only ones who
will be greatly harmed by this proposed
blasting, so will Dolphins.
We do not need to drill or dig, for more
oil, gas, coal or other fossil fuels in this
Country,
what we need are more
renewable energy sources.
Which, if it were more profitable for those
who deal in fossil fuels, would already have
replaced them here.
Other countries all
over the world, have long ago embraced
renewable energy sources,
but America seems
to be either unable or unwilling to make the
progress absolutely necessary
to protect and
preserve both the environment and animals of
this planet, including the human ones.
Silver Springs

Silver Springs Florida in 1886
This is the story of a magical place in Florida that has lost its
way.
Once upon a time long, long ago, there was a destination here so
revered,
you were often, scarcely able to get in.
Tourists loved it, movie makers loved it, the whole world wanted to
come see it.
Just hearing its name, Silver Springs, brought a smile to many
people’s faces.
In fact, when I was in high school, I met a young man one summer at
a local lake in northern Indiana,
who also happened to be there on
vacation.
It turned out that he was one of their very talented skiing
performers,
and that summer, he taught me to water ski.
But, that was so long ago.
Today, Silver Springs is badly run down and nearly unrecognizable,
by those whose memories burn bright of more exciting times
and the
never to be forgotten glass bottom boat rides.
For years now the springs has been run and managed? by a California
company,
guess they didn’t think we could do it right?
But soon that will change and the
state of Florida will take over the job, hopefully this will
help.
Recently a Canadian Billionaire cattle rancher has shown great
interest in setting up shop
just a few miles away and the
negative impact from this would be two fold, tremendous water loss
and harmful pollutants being introduced into the springs.
Neither would be good.
Water is a very precious commodity in Florida, because the whole
state is a
giant aquifer or sponge, everything that happens up above, travels
down
and affects the aquifer and all the living things here.
The many years of water abuse, in combination with this years severe
drought,
have resulted in an increase in the dreaded and dangerous
sink holes which recently sadly, took a life.
We already have way too many places draining our aquifer dry, like
the bottling companies, golf courses
and huge farming industries, so
this massive cattle ranch would be the final nail in the coffin for
the springs.
Previous politicians have tried to protect the springs, and it
helped somewhat,
but current Governor Scott, has cut all of its
lifelines, so it will now be up to the state
to do the right thing,
for one of Florida oldest and most treasured pieces of history.
April 14, 2013
Harriet

Harriet, our Gopher Tortoise
Yesterday afternoon, just as I was
turning off my computer, our wayward
wanderer
finally graced us with her
presence, after many months of complete
absence.
Harriet is our resident
Gopher Tortoise and she has
become a sweet part of our family here
in the Ocala Forest in Florida.
It seems that she comes out, just as
the
“snow birds” are all leaving and
yesterday
also happened to be our
warmest day of the year so far, at just
over 90 degrees.
We have learned so much about her
particular species in the years we have
spent with her.
She has had some very close calls and
we have had to fight hard just to save
her from
a tragic ending on these
occasions.
The world around her is not nearly as
concerned for her safety as we are
and
we feel quite obligated to protect her
from it.
Gopher Tortoises are an Endangered
Species in Florida and it is against the
law to harm them in any way,
even
picking them up and moving them is
against the law.
But all of this is forgotten,
when each spring, she pops back up
out of her tunnel, ready to eat
and
greet us and the warm season ahead.
We have made sure that she has only
what is good for her here, with
everything left pretty much “natural”
and no pesticides, no toxins or
chemicals used in the front part of our
property where her main tunnel is.
I say main, because she has a second one
in the back where she goes
occasionally,
for reasons we have not
yet determined.
Now we look forward to
watching her the rest of the year,
coming out to eat every day,
moving
slowly and carefully around, picking out
just the special “weeds” that are her
favorites.
Our entire property is fenced in, but
the front part is just for her and our
Airedale Breanna
and we are careful for
both of their sakes, that it is safe
from anything that could harm either of
them.
We consider ourselves very fortunate
to be able to share our lives with them.
Nuisance People

Our Florida Alligator
For those of you kind
enough to come here, I thank you with
all my heart.
Today is my “one
month” anniversary on WordPress and your
support has overwhelmed me.
If you are curious,
and why wouldn’t you be, about where the
title of this Blog came from, it is
this.
Many years ago on our
first trip to Florida, we went to the
Everglades.
My parents were living
in Miami Beach at the time and we
thought it would be a fun day trip.
It was the middle of
August and in South Florida, August is
not when you want to be in
the Everglades.
The mosquitoes are
like a black blanket that covers
everything there.
For two people from
Los Angeles, where there are few and I
do mean few bugs,
it was pretty
terrifying.
We spent an entire day
there and what we saw, was never to be
forgotten
and started my love affair
with this breathtaking place called
Florida.
Now for how this Blog got its name.
On that day, just as
we were driving in and being very stupid
tourists, we pulled
over at the sight of
our
first Alligator resting
peacefully on the side of the road. Now being the idiot
that I was, I got out of the car
and walked toward this creature
I knew
nothing about, both hands stretched out
like I was going to pet it.
I have a picture of
the moment, which has lost itself
somewhere in this house,
one day to be
found again, I hope.
The Alligator was not
full-grown, maybe only four feet long,
but it could have done some damage,
if
it has chosen to.
Instead it simply laid
there, I am sure thinking, ” this has
got to be a joke, stupid tourist. “
Because it did
nothing, I turned and walked back to the
car and we drove on.
Only after moving down
here nearly ten tears ago, did I realize
how very lucky I had been that day.
So, when we became
permanent Florida residents, I started a
web site and
called it “Walking with the
Alligators” out of my gratitude for what
might have been that day
and deep
respect for what I consider one of this
state’s greatest treasures, the
Alligator.
So, as you can
imagine, when they announced on the News
here last night that they were looking
for Alligator Trappers in Lake County,
to “Dispose of Nuisance Alligators,” I
was pretty steamed.
People come here, to
this last Garden of Eden in the United
States, with its splendiferous array
of
wildlife and then when our animals do
what they normally do in the wild, these
idiots go nuts,
calling Fish and
Wildlife whining, ” Come get these
things out of my yard. “
“Well, duh, you are in
their yard, you morons, so why don’t you
get out. “
I have zero patience
for city people who want to come here,
to my newly adopted home
and change
it,or kill all that makes it the
National Treasure that it is.
Florida is truly a
spectacular collection of wild life and
wild places
and it deserves
to be respected for just that.
And if this is a
problem for you, please go back where
you came from.
April 7, 2013
The Visitors

A Beautiful Florida Black Bear
Picture credit: Dr. William Weber
For many years people have asked me about my complete dedication and passion for animals.
An answer: just now Breanna did her " OMG bark. " This is the one reserved for very special occasions.
I went to her window to look for the cause, but saw nothing at first,
then as I turned back around to look in the other direction, there they were.
The momma and her two babies running at a full gallop in the open field across from our house.
This sight, this experience, is something that should never be taken for granted.
These beautiful black bears and all of the other wildlife living in this Forest, are why this place is everything to us.
We share our lives with creatures that give us so much more, than we could ever give them in return.
For this we are grateful.
Who Let The Dogs Out

Wildlife Inspector Amir Lawal of the Service’s
Miami Law Enforcement Office and Viper
Picture Credit: Tom MacKenzie / USFWS
Many thanks to Russell McLendon of Mother Nature Network for
sharing this great story and vital information.
Many thanks also to Tom MacKenzie of the USFWS, for granting permission to use this picture,
his hard work on this awesome project and all of his super pictures for it.
Poaching may not be a big problem in a lot of places, but Florida is not one of those places.
It seems like too many of our wild animals, as well as some highly prized orchids in this state,
like the Ghost Orchid, have at one time or another, fallen victim to these fiends,
who believe it is their right to steal things and then sell them to the highest bidder.
Recently many of our beloved wild turtles have been stolen by the hundreds of thousands,
and sold to Asian countries where they are used for food, medicine and other.
It would seem that these countries have long ago eradicated their turtle populations.
Trappers or poachers, come to Florida and go into our swamps and marshes or where ever
they can find them and just load up and ship out our wild turtles in such numbers,
that many of them may soon be put on Endangered lists, when they never were in the past.
Enter my personal heroes, the Sniffer Dogs!
Now, these are not just any dogs, they are very well-trained, professional sniffers and
they are doing what few humans can, tracking down or sniffing out, stolen wildlife.
These awesome dogs and their handlers, USFW agents, will soon be stationed at ports
around the country and hopefully will help stop the tidal wave of thefts of
our beloved Florida wild things to these scum bag poachers.
The Press Release: Detector Dogs Sniff Out Smuggled Wildlife
U.S. Trains Dogs To Sniff Out Wildlife
A Picture Page About The Dogs
March 31, 2013
No Place to Call Home

The beautiful Florida Panther
It was fun to watch a
young exciting team from south Florida reach
the heights
that they did this
week, as they became the darlings of the
press and were written
about and talked
about all over the country, but there is one
thing you may never
hear about this
school and that is the land where it was
built.
You see, the land under
this fairly new school, was supposed to be a
Panther Refuge.
Land set aside for the Panther, has been a
political Florida football for years,
with few agreeing on just how much land or
Habitat, they need to survive,
but one thing is obvious, at the rate they
are losing their places to just exist,
the Panther will not survive.
Historically, few politicians and even fewer
lobbyists here have considered saving
wildlife an important enough reason to
reject development, or construction,
when
there are such big donations attached to
them for those who make it happen.
In this case, as in many others, money won
and a critically Endangered animal lost.
The
Florida Panther is undoubtedly,
the most Endangered animal in the entire US,
with fewer than 100 of them remaining and it
is simply tragic that this school
and
its supporters could not find anywhere else
to build it.
Panthers can neither vote, nor write checks,
in fact they really hold little value at
all,
except
to the wildlife watchers and protectors who
as usual, have little control over
the ugly things that are done to those
” with no voice. “
Connie Mack may have had
his Karma served up by the voters in the
last election,
but the Panther is
the biggest loser in this never-ending game
of Florida Monopoly.
The ongoing sad saga for the most
beleaguered mammal in America is here:
Dunk City’s Dark Side
When Will We Find Courage?

The River of Grass, the Florida Everglades
Photo credit: USGS/SOFIA
If you have spent anytime
near a river, you could have watched the
slow degradation in person.
No degree in science is
necessary, to understand the impact that
chemicals, namely fertilizers
and pesticides, have had
on everything that they touch.
The worst offenders are
phosphorus and nitrogen, with of course some
mercury
and bacteria thrown in to
complete the tainted brew.
Remember Erin Brockovich?
It’s all about the water.
Most living things are
completely interdependent on their
environment, beginning with the water.
When we choose to look the
other way, or do not stop those who poison
and pollute our water,
because we don’t want to
get involved, we are telling them, either we
don’t care, or we have no courage.
Either way, the polluters
will continue unabated and the waters will
eventually become
an engorged toxic soup
that can no longer sustain life.
EPA Declares Over Half Of US Rivers Unfit
Can You Hear them Now?

A Right Whale Mother and Calf in the Atlantic
As a matter of fact, yes,
Mammals in all of the Earth’s bodies of
water can hear us now
and what they are
hearing from military sonar testing and oil
seismic testing,
is affecting them all
nearly the same way that loud concerts do
our children.
It is giving them all
permanent hearing loss.
These endless loud noises
interfere with their food searches, as well
as with their
mating, birthing and just
plain living activities.
Sea animals react to these
noises in different ways, some try to get
away from it by
beaching themselves,
others become disoriented and end up in
wrong places, alone.
Regardless of their
reactions, these Ocean noises are doing
irreparable harm to all of
our sea mammals and it
must end where they live, most especially in
their
travel pathways as they
migrate.
Ocean Noise
March 24, 2013
Can This Kite Make A Comeback?
 The Everglades Snail Kite
I haven’t written about our
Everglades Snail Kite for a
fairly long time,
because so much of the news about them
hasn’t been very encouraging.
These critically Endangered
Kites were pushed out of the Everglades, their
ancestral home,
by the usual human suspects,
fertilizer run off from US Sugar and other farmers in the area,
who have
been assaulting the Everglades for many
years.
US Sugar recently had their contract
renewed and has pretty much been
given free reign to continue polluting,
mostly unabated.
There were some minor checks written into
the new contract about run off,
but it will be difficult at best, to stop
their rein of terror on one of the most
beautiful places in the entire state.
Another factor in the dramatic drop in Kite
numbers, has been the droughts
for
the past few years, which have only
exacerbated the plight of the Kite.
Extremely
low water levels in many of Florida
lakes, has nearly eliminated the apple
snail,
which
has have forced the Kites to abandon their
nests and the young in them.
After leaving their
ancestral homes in the Everglades, the Snail
Kite moved farther
north to Lake Toho to
begin again, but sadly, now, they will most
likely have to move once again,
this time
because their one and only food source, the
apple snail who like the Kite,
also eats
only a single food source, Hydrilla.
Recreational Boaters and
fishermen who have complained for years
about the
Hydrilla weeds in Lake
Toho clogging up their boats motors,
have finally have
convinced the right people that it must be
removed,
which will of course, mean
the end of the snail and the kite there.
So, where will the Snail
Kite go next?
It would be best for
them, if they could return to their
ancestral home in the Everglades
and an Audubon
restoration plan is in the works that may
help that happen.
The Snail Kite could sure
use a few breaks if they are to survive
and we all desperately
need rain in this drought ravaged state
right now
because water levels
everywhere are at the lowest levels in many
years.
Thankfully, the wet season
is about to begin and we will see how this
year goes for all of us.
Everglades Snail Kite
Snail Kite: Species Profile
March 23, 2013
It's Turtle Time In Florida
A Loggerhead Hatchling
Photo credit:
NPS
Florida is home to many species of
Wildlife, some are plentiful, some are
Endangered.
Of the species that are
Endangered, there are several varieties of
Sea Turtles on the list.
Our resident
Sea Turtles include the
Green,
Leatherback and
Loggerheads and for those of us
who love them, this is a time to revel in,
from now until October 31, it is all about
turtles in Florida.
This is the beginning of the ”lights out”
time, for those lucky souls who live on the
beaches
of Florida Turtle nesting areas.
These observances are absolutely
mandatory for the protection of the
“little joys” to come.
Last year was
a record-setting
nesting season for the Loggerheads and
we are all hoping for a repeat this year.
Lights Out: Sea Turtle Nesting Begins
Sea Turtle Nesting Season begins in Florida
March 22, 2013
Today Is World Water Day

Alexander Springs
After the air that we breathe, the next most vital
component to all life on Earth, is water.
And today is World Water Day.
There is much to know, here are just two of the
many places where you can learn more about water:
World Water Day: 10 Facts You Probably Don’t Know About
Water
Its World Water Day
March 21, 2013
It's About Changing The Way We Live

Photo credit: USGS
Last week, we heard the news about how
Red Tide
is killing our Manatees,
the story about this was posted earlier and now last
night on our local news,
we were sickened to hear of even more mass
deaths on Florida's Atlantic Coast in the Indian River Lagoon.
It seems that the high numbers of deaths here,
are being blamed on what
farm fertilizer run off
is doing to the feeding areas of our beloved
mammal.
This is not the first time that this subject has
been made public, for years
Alligators in Lake Apopka
have been dealing the with the same
situation which resulted in sexual "anomalies."
The farm culprit in South Florida is US Sugar
and for the exact same reason,
fertilizer run off.
The only problem is that in Southern Florida,
when the Everglades
and
Lake Okeechobee
are poisoned by fertilizers, it is more than
just animals that are sickened, it is also millions of people.
Okeechobee is one of their main water sources
and they don't have an alternative water supply to choose from.
So, you ask what is the solution?
It is really very, very simple.
First, please understand that
Florida's aquifer system is like a giant sieve,
everything on the top seeps through to our
underground water supplies,
the good, the bad and the ugly, all of it.
So, we must all, yes all, stop buying and
using products for our homes, public places
and farming that have
toxic chemicals like phosphorus in them.
There are alternative products that do not,
and if we don't switch now to these safer products,
Florida will not be the only place where you
can't drink the water.
This is happening all over the Country, even
the world, our water is being poisoned by chemicals,
pollutants and toxins by
those who refuse to change because they don't have to,
people have been quite
well paid off to allow them to continue this practice
and they have already put
the money in the bank.
In the end, however we
will all run out of pure clean water to drink because you can't
drink money.
March 20, 2013
Earth Hour
Saturday March 23,
2013
at 8:30 PM, your time~

In just a few days, a special way to give
back to the planet that has supported
all life for
over four Billion years, will take place
hopefully, everywhere.
Earth Hour was first observed 7 years
ago and was created by a
dedicated group
who are very
concerned with the health of our planet and
believe that if we all share
a common goal,
a common hope, that we really can change
the way things are being done.
The overconsumption of anything special
this Saturday night, perhaps in Honor of our
Mother Earth,
you will choose to turn off your
lights for just one, wee little
hour and pause to think
about what you are
doing, or could do, to reduce your
“footprint” here.
You won’t believe how good it will make
you feel, because when you care for things
other than yourself, it gives you such a
sense of peace~
Earth Hour
March 17, 2013
Wildlife and Wildplaces Have New Champions

A new program at the World Wildlife Organization
is bringing together Spiritual Leaders from
all over the world who are in agreement
about the need to protect our wildplaces and wildlife.
This unexpected partnership could
have a tremendous impact for one very good reason, who would
be dumb enough to go against their
spiritual leaders to poach animals or trample
sacred places?
Sacred Earth: Faiths for Conservation
The group has already had a positive impact in
Thailand,
where Elephants being slaughtered for their ivory
was rampant.
Recent activity on this issue in the
Social Media has produced over 1.5 million opposing voices
from countries all over the world who helped sway
the opinions of the Leaders in Thailand.
Facebook,
Online petitions, Twitter
and the like, are working wonders putting the messages
out to a Global Audience who have overwhelmingly responded.
Please, don't ever believe that your voice, your
actions, don't matter, it has just been proven,
that they most certainly do, and we all need to
keep doing it.
March 10, 2013
Red Tide Is Not A New Laundry Detergent

Photo credit: USGS
Red Tide or Algae Bloom is
now out of control on Florida's Gulf Coast in the
Tampa Bay area.
This may, according to Florida Wildlife officials, be the worst year ever
for Manatees.
Previously the highest number of deaths was at 151 in 1996
and
the experts are projecting that it will be even worse this
year.
We are at 149 right now.
It seems that Manatees just can't get a break, either they are hit
and maimed
or killed outright by boats, or they die from extremely cold
winters.
Now the threat for
Red Tide threatens to be the worst enemy, other
than Humans,
that the Manatee have ever encountered.
Red Tide Killing Manatees In Record Numbers
Red Tide Bloom Taking Record Toll
Record Number Of Manatee Deaths
March 3, 2013
The Ghost Net And Other Assorted Trash

Marine Debris
Photo credit: NOAA CCFHR
A thousand pound fishing net has recently been found on one of our
Florida reefs
and
it is killing our sea life and wreaking havoc on the reefs.
The Ghost Net
Is this the first time that this has happened, of course not, nor will it be the last,
the
point is how do we stop this.
arded fishing netgear,
now in addition to these, we are finding that the same things are
happening to sea life
with a myriad of plastics that have been thrown into the oceans all over the world.
Their tragic story is here:
Victims Of Pacific Trash
What bothers me the most, is the callous disregard for
animals lives that some humans display.
Walk across the parking lot of your local Wal Mart, you'll get the
picture.
Take a stroll along the shore of any beach, it's the same.
Local parks, school yards, more of the same, litter, trash, garbage,
it's everywhere.
The thing is this, we have become a race of careless, thoughtless
dumpers.
Whenever we are through with something, we just toss it, wherever.
And its not just our trash, but also pets that people have tired
of caring for and just thrown away.
The entire state of Florida is now reeling from the soaring numbers
of these discarded pets.
It is alarming for those who care for both our wildlife and the
environment,
and are sickened by the garbage found all around us on a daily basis.
This trash and garbage that so many toss so casually, is costing all of
us, including our wildlife
and we all need to start thinking before tossing.
What is that saying,
" If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. "
February 24, 2013
Let's All Go Native~

The Everglades, an exquisite Florida Natural Area
The 19th Annual Public Interest Environmental Conference
is this weekend at the University of Florida and their guest speaker
is suggesting
that there are things we can all do right now, to help protect the
Endangered Wildlife
and the fragile Ecosystems of
Florida from rising sea levels and erosion.
Whitney Gray is from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission
and
what she wants us all to do, is really a total recall of the 70's
movement of going Native.
Gray wants us all to reuse and recycle till it hurts and she also want us
to let
nature take it's course in our yards, or just go native!
All of the great ideas that Ms. Gray is offering this weekend in Gainesville,
are
things that
we have already been doing forever, except for the yard part,
which we began doing when we moved to Florida years ago,
for the benefit of Harriet, our resident Gopher
Tortoise.
Harriet, who is quite picky about her diet, scours all over our property,
hunting carefully for her favorite "wild things" to eat.
So, what she finds to eat here, is not only what she likes, it is
exactly what she needs.
We use no poisons on our property because of her and our
Airedale Breanna.
Wish I had read this story sooner, would have loved to have heard
her in person.
How
Endangered Species Adapt
February 17, 2013
This Invasion is Not Coming From Outer Space

When the rest of the country thinks of an Invasive Species in Florida,
they are
probably only familiar with the now infamous
Burmese Pythons in the Everglades.
But in fact, there are many threats to our fragile wildlife and
ecosystems here.
Right now, other than the very scary, to me, snakes, which are here by the thousands,
there are a number of other creatures wreaking havoc on, not only our
wildlife,
but on our all ready maxed out to the limit economy, as well.
You see trying to keep up with these non stop invaders, is a $130 Billion,
that is billion with a B, effort in this state.
The last time that we went down to the Keys, we were sitting in a gas
station in Miami
when a very large creature appeared right in front of our car,
it was
an exotic alright, it was a huge, wild, green iguana.
It would not be the only one we saw on our way back to the Freeway.
No, they are not native here and much of Miami now looks like a zoo
because of
the out of control numbers of them running the streets,
more than likely the result of
countless owners who tired of feeding them
and just threw them out for the community to deal with.
As a matter of fact, this is exactly how most of these invaders became
the
huge problem in Florida that they are now.
Selfish, bored, stupid owners who just threw them away.
The exotic species now running amuck in South Florida include: wild
Toads,
no not the Disney ride, wild rats, wild birds, wild fish, wild or
feral pigs,
multiple kinds of
lizards
and a scary species of
Crocodile, called the Nile Croc,
which in its Native Africa, is a man-eater.
And none of this even begins to cover all of the invasive plants
that are now here,
doing exactly the same kind of lethal damage to their Native
counterparts as well.
It is all simply mind boggling.
And we Floridians have to pay for and deal with all of this because no one has
the guts
to stop the sale of these exotics once and for all in Florida
and indeed the whole Country.
The root for the gluttony of invasive animals, is of course, money.
There is very big money to be made in the business of catching,
stealing
and selling multiple species of exotics here.
But, the worse part of all of this is, that they are not just a
financial problem,
they are devouring
and driving off or displacing our beautiful Native Florida wildlife,
in sickening record numbers in the entire state.
An excellent story with all of the gory details about the exotics
invasion of Florida:
Invasive Species Threatening Florida
February 10, 2013
Is America Still The Land Of The Free?

Well finally, someone in this state woke up and said, whoa we have
to stop this, now.
Some believe that
Scott has run Florida like a Gestapo state, since taking over in 2010.
His attitude in most everything to date, has pretty much been, I am the Governor
of this state
and I will do exactly as I please, period.
He did after all, spend $70 million of his own money to become the
Governor of Florida
and believes, I am sure, that this bought him the right to run this
state however he sees fit.
Scott's intentions in this matter are "Crystal" clear, those
growers who have in the past
flooded with no fear of any reprisals, unlimited amounts of toxins
into the Everglades,
and will be allowed, if he gets his way, to renew 30 year no-bid
leases,
without the public even having a say in it.
Is America still a Democracy?
What these farmers, these powerful growers of sugar and vegetables, do to the
land with their poisons,
their chemicals, is lethal to both the Everglades and all of the living
things that call it home.
Below are two versions of the same story, please read one or both of
them and
if you
care about the Everglades, or if you live near them, your drinking water,
please get on your computer, or your phone and tell
this man
that you
will not stand for this kind of dictatorship
Government in Florida.
We demand to have a voice in what is being done to our Environment,
our wildlife and our wild places here.
The last time I checked, Florida was still part of a Democracy,
we have not become a Communist Country yet, have we?
Wildlife Federation Sues Rick Scott
Wildlife Group Challenges No-Bid Leases
February 4, 2013
Meet Nancy And Rick

Rewards do indeed come for those who are patient.
Yesterday, there was nothing of any critical nature to post,
so I relaxed and enjoyed the Super Bowl.
But overnight, something did come to me that must be shared.
There are two people in Mississippi, who are doing what we all should be doing,
seeing trash and garbage in Nature and choosing not to ignore it.
For the past six months or so, this couple has been picking up the garbage left behind
in their
beloved Bayous, by ignorant, thoughtless jerks who care for nothing, but themselves.
The story about their
awesome deeds made the local area news and as they have
recently become my friends on Facebook, I would like to
introduce them to you.
So, here is the inspiring story of these two selfless people who think more of
Wild Places and Wildlife, than themselves, what a unique concept~
Couple Cleaning Out The Bayous
February 3, 2013
Are There No Pressing Issues On This Day?

Have not received anything recently, so happily will claim on this
most rare of days,
that things are possibly not so bad for our
Florida Endangered Wildlife.
Will post if anything does come up in the next few
days.
Until then, enjoy the Super Bowl~
January 27, 2013
It Works For People, Why Not For Panthers?

There are at least 20 places in Thailand right now, that are storing sperm
and cells for many
Critically Endangered animals, so why can't we do this in Florida
for the Panther,
who is on the absolute brink of extinction?
The Thai Government is working in tandem with Zoos and Wildlife
Conservation Institutions.
Well, we have these in this country, so why aren't we doing the same
thing here?
If it works for the Panthers, we could then move on to other
mammals, like the Right Whale, etc.
We have to do something, because so far, nothing else has worked for either of them.
Human interference is keeping both of them from making any kind of recovery.
Scientists are supposed to be the ones who "think outside of the
box."
Ok, so it's time to start a new plan.
Wildlife Sperm Banks Established
January 20, 2013
Who Will Cry For The Animals?

Today is a very sad day for my family, as one its
most admired members has passed.
Over the past three days, there have been so many prayers, kind words
and loving thoughts posted on each of our Facebook pages,
which is
of course, to be expected at this time of sorrow
and remembrance.
But last night, knowing that today at the church
most of this part of my family attends,
there will be much said and done to show affection
and respect for this person, that
instead of sleeping, I was thinking about all of the
animals who die every day
and wondered if anyone will cry or pray for them.
Sadly, many animals die at the hands of humans for
their body parts;
their tusks, fur, skins, antlers, horns, and
appendages,
others die merely for sport and saddest of all, some
die just for
spite.
Does anyone cry for any of them?
Do you? If not, why not?
Are not their lives just as important as a humans?
My hope in writing about what must seem ghastly,
or even repugnant to some,
or perhaps all, is that maybe you might have never thought about
this before.
So, if you have not, maybe today, you will think
about an animal that you know
has died and feel sad, or maybe even shed a tear for it.
And I am not talking about our pets when I say
this, I am talking about animals that
you know nothing about, you know, the one with no
names or families to love them.
Maybe today will be the day you choose to help stop the
needless deaths
of so many animals on this planet, who have no
voice.
Will this be the day
that you choose to become a voice for the voiceless
and just maybe, perhaps cry for them
when they die?
January 13, 2013
So Much To Choose From In Florida

If like me, you love the environment and all of
the wild things in it
and wish to help them all to live to be
very old,
Florida is your kind of place.
In this one state, there are so many causes to
join, animals to defend, places to protect,
or speak out about, that it can all be just a
bit overwhelming.
So, after living here for the past 8 or so years,
I have gathered some information about
the most needy things here and the groups
dedicated to saving and or protecting them.
This is an abbreviated list of what Florida has, to help get
you involved
and on the road to making a difference:
The Florida
Everglades
The Florida Panther
Whooping Cranes
Right Whales
Sea Turtles
Manatees
and lastly, more Birds than you can count on your
fingers and toes~
So, to begin your quest in helping to save any and
every
wonderful thing in Florida,
here are just a few of the many places you might begin:
Florida Audubon
The Everglades
Florida Panthers
Whooping Cranes
Right Whales
Sea
Turtles
Manatees
January 6, 2013
26 Acts

A Key Deer Fawn
As the year end post was so very sad,
I choose to begin 2013 with more hopeful thinking.
Lately, the world all around us has become so
violent and ugly that sometimes I just want to crawl
back into bed and pull the covers over my head,
but that would serve no purpose really.
So, in light of the recent sad news everywhere, I
wish to believe that 2013 will be, must be,
a better year not only for all of the fragile,
delicate things that I love,
but for the entire Human Race as well.
If each of us does what was suggested by someone
right after Newtown,
that we all might voluntarily commit 26 random
acts of kindness,
couldn't that also include our out there on the
edge, hanging on by just a thread,
endangered plants and wildlife on the planet too?
So, nice to meet you New Year 2013 and I
would like to let you know,
that I have already begun those 26 random acts of
kindness this week
and intend to continue doing them all year long,
wherever I just happen to be.
It can't hurt and it just makes you feel so good~
Walking with the Alligators

Write to Gator Woman
amberziek6 at centurylink.net

Keep Florida Wildlife Wild and Alive~
Web Design by:
Gator-Woman
Educating Visitors About Florida's Wildlife Since January 6, 2013
Last edited May 7, 2022
Links, questions and feedback are always appreciated.
Walking With The Alligators.com does not share or sell any visitor information.
2008 - 2022 Walking With The Alligators.com
All Rights Reserved.
|