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- Title
Survey of rare vertebrates in the Fisheating Creek area, Glades County, Florida.
- Authors
Enge, Kevin M.; Douglass, Nancy J.; Gore, Jeffery A.; Hovis, Julie A.; Meyer, Kenneth D.; Wallace, George E.; Farmer, Anna L.
- Abstract
In April and May 2000, we conducted surveys for rare vertebrate species on the Fisheating Creek Phase I easement lands, Glades County, FL, which contains ca. 33% of Florida's remaining dry prairie habitat. A large population of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) is present, and we documented the gopher frog (Lithobates capito), American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), and Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). We recorded 68 families of Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) totaling 157 individuals and three active clusters of red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis). The easement and adjacent lands had 16 possible previous nest sites of Florida sandhill cranes (Grits canadensis), seven Audubon's crested caracara (Caracara cheriway) territories, five southern bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nests, and six swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) nests. We observed signs of Florida black bear (Ursus americanus), and a male Florida panther (Puma concolor) moved onto the property and died of unknown causes. More intensive surveys would be necessary to document additional wildlife species and to determine population levels. We recommend the timely use of prescribed fire as a management tool to maintain or restore dry prairie, scrubby flatwoods, and scrub habitats for wildlife, cattle, and biological diversity.
- Subjects
GLADES County (Fla.); RARE animals; GOPHER tortoise; AMERICAN crocodile; ANIMAL population density
- Publication
Florida Scientist, 2014, Vol 77, Issue 1, p15
- ISSN
0098-4590
- Publication type
Article