FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 6/7/13

JOIN THE WOODLAND LEGACY PLANNING NETWORK
A new web network provides a forum for woodland owners, forestry professionals, & legal/financial experts to network & share information about legacy planning. Join the network here: http://successionplanning.ning.com/

BARK & AMBROSIA BEETLE ACADEMY COMING IN MAY 2014
The Forest Entomology Lab at the University of Florida is pleased to invite you to a comprehensive workshop on bark and ambrosia beetles in May 2014.

• Are you a landowner or a naturalist interested in bark and ambrosia beetles?
• A forester in charge of pests?
• An extension agent with clients in forestry and natural resources?
• A researcher with beetle-related projects?

You probably need to understand bark and ambrosia beetles, their damage, and biology! Learn from a team of experts through hands-on labs, field demonstration, and lectures. Choose one, two, or all three modules:  Regional Applied Focus, Hardcore Identification, and Understanding the Bug. See details and sign up for updates at http://www.ambrosiasymbiosis.org/academy/.

FWC RELEASES LAST GROUP OF PLANS TO CONSERVE 60 IMPERILED SPECIESThe fourth and final group of draft action plans to conserve dozens of Florida fish and wildlife species is ready for public inspection and input, including plans to protect pillar coral and the Southeastern American kestrel. Since February, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has shared plans to conserve 60 species listed now as state-threatened or species of special concern. While listing status may change for some species once a final Imperiled Species Management Plan is approved by the Commission, all 60 species will be managed by the FWC to maintain or grow their populations to preserve Florida’s wildlife legacy for future generations.

In this final group, FWC is releasing draft action plans for 13 species. In addition to pillar coral and kestrel, there are plans for the limpkin, crystal darter, Black Creek crayfish, Santa Fe cave crayfish and seven reptiles that reside in the Florida Keys. The reptiles are the Key ringneck snake, rim rock crowned snake, Florida Keys mole skink, as well as lower Keys populations of Florida brownsnake, Peninsula ribbon snake, red rat snake and striped mud turtle.

The public is invited to go to http://myfwc.com/Imperiled to read and comment on the plans for these 13 species, with the last day for public comment being June 21.

FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF PANTHER, CHIPMUNK, and MINK SIGHTINGS

Report chipmunk sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx

Report panther sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/PantherSightings/getlatlong.aspx

Report mink sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/mink/getlatlong.aspx

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?

Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinar-calendar/month#.T-zLkBhgZys.blogger

ONLINE EVENTS / EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/events_calendar/online_events.html