Wildlife in Florida
Angeline Scotten Senior Wildlife Assistance Biologist Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Agenda
. Agency Overview . Captive wildlife . Identification . Non-native species in Polk County . Nuisance wildlife . Feeding rule . Contact information . Questions Crested caracara, photo curtsey of Ron Bielefeld FWC overview
. State Wildlife Regulatory Agency – Protects and manages: . More than 575 species of wildlife . More than 200 native species of freshwater fish . More than 500 species of saltwater fish FWC overview
. Mission: managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of the people. . Public responsibilities: – Law enforcement – Research – Management – Outreach Captive Wildlife Captive Wildlife
. FWC enforces the statutes and regulations governing Florida’s wildlife industry . FWC officers routinely conduct inspections to ensure compliance . Additional information: – http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/captive- wildlife/ – 850-488-6253 – [email protected] Captive Wildlife
. FAC 68A-6 covers possession of wildlife in captivity and permit requirements – Categories – Possession/ transfer – Sales – General regulations – Public contact – Caging requirements – Etc. Captive Wildlife
. Florida requires permits for wildlife possession, exhibition and sale . Commercial and private facilities must have permits for many types of native & nonnative animals – Includes zoos, circuses, alligator farms, pet shops, tropical fish farms, rehabilitators – Anyone who owns a Class I,II or III animal Captive Wildlife- Class I
. Class I Wildlife- Those that pose a significant danger to people . Substantial experience and specific caging requirements must be met . Permits are required for public exhibition . Prohibited from personal possession*
*Unless the animal was possessed before August 1, 1980 or on or before August 27, 2009 for cougars, panthers or cheetahs Captive Wildlife- Class I
. Baboons . Gavials . Gibbons and siamangs . Bears . Gorillas . Black caimans . Hippos . Cape buffalo . Hyenas and aardwolf . Cheetahs . Jaguars . Chimpanzees . Komodo dragons . Leopards . Cougars, panthers . Lions . Crocodiles . Orangutans . Drills & mandrills . Rhinos . Elephants . Snow leopards . Tigers Captive Wildlife- Class II
. Class II Wildlife- can also pose a danger to people . Substantial experience and specific caging requirements must be met . Permits are required for public exhibition, sale or personal possession Captive Wildlife- Class II
. African golden cats . Guereza monkeys . Vervet, grivet or green . African hunting dogs . Honey badgers monkeys Howler monkeys Wild cattle; forest, . Alligators, caimans . . . Idris woodland and aridland American badgers . . Indian dholes antelope & similar . Binturongs . Langurs *non-native hoofstock . Bobcats . Macaques & Celebes . Wolverines . Caracals black apes . Wolves, coyotes & Managabeys jackals . Cassowary . . Ocelots Clouded leopards . . Old world badgers . Douc langurs . Ostrich . Dwarf crocodiles . Patas monkeys . European and Canadian lynx . Sakis Servals . Fishing cats . . Snub-nosed langurs Giraffe & okapi . . Tapir . Guenons . Temminck’s golden cats . Uakarus Captive Wildlife- Class III
. Permit required for personal possession, exhibition or sale . Any non-domesticated wildlife species that’s not Class I or II . Includes but not limited to: parrots, finches, skunks, foxes, geckos, snakes and frogs . No formal list but… Captive Wildlife- Class III The following species do not require a permit for personal possession as long as no other rule or statute applies . Hamsters . Button quail . Honey possums, sugar gliders . Canaries . Lovebirds . Chinchillas . Moles; shrews . Cockatiels . Myna birds . Doves: ringed, ruddy and . Parrots diamond . Prairie dogs . Rabbits . Ferrets (domestic; European) . Rats and mice . Finches . Reptiles or amphibians . Gerbils, hedgehogs (nonvenomous, unprotected species . Guinea pigs that are NOT listed as endangered, conditional, etc) . Shell parakeets . Squirrels; chipmunks . Toucans Captive Wildlife- Conditional reptiles & lizards
. Not allowed to be acquired . Indian or Burmese python for personal possession . Reticulated python . Dealers, exhibitors, . Northern African python researchers and trappers . Southern African python may apply for a permit to . Amethystine python import or possess conditional snakes and . Scrub python lizards . Green anaconda . Nile monitor Captive Wildlife- Conditional nonnative wildlife
. FAC 68-5 . Conditional reptiles . Dangerous to the ecology . Red-eared sliders and/or health and welfare of . Nutria the people of Florida . Some freshwater fish & crayfish Captive Wildlife- Venomous reptiles . FAC 68A-1.004 (87) . A license is required to capture, keep, possess or exhibit any venomous reptile . All venomous reptiles in . All reptiles in the genus class Reptilia belonging Heloderma to families: . All reptiles in the family – Elapidae Colubridae belonging to the – Crotolidae genera: – Viperidae . Rhabdophis . Boiga – Hyprophiidae . Dispholidus . Thelatornis . Atractapsis Captive Wildlife- Protected species . No person shall take, possess, or sell and of the endangered or threatened species and there parts thereof…. . 68A-27, Threatened & endangered species http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imp eriled/profiles/ . Migratory Bird Treaty Act – Prohibits killing, capturing, possession, sale, transportation and exportations of birds, feathers, eggs and nests – Nearly every native bird species in the US is covered Captive Wildlife- Protected species
Painted bunting
Indigo bunting Identification Nonnative snakes
African rock python- conditional Burmese python- conditional
African Rock (left); Burmese (right)- both conditional Nonnative snakes
Green anaconda- conditional Reticulated python- conditional Nonnative snakes
Ball python Common boa/ red-tail boa Nonnative lizards
Argentine black & white tegu
Nile monitor- conditional
Savannah monitor Nonnative amphibians
Cane toad
Cuban tree frog Nonnative species in Polk County
. Argentine black & white tegu . Savannah monitor . Brahminy blind snake . Cuban treefrog . Panther chameleon . Cane toad . Veiled chameleon . Rock pigeon . African spurred tortoise . European starling . White-nosed coati . Nile monitor . Muscovy duck . Burmese python . Green iguana . ….. . Tokay gecko . Mediterranean gecko . Ball python . Common boa . Domestic ferret . House sparrow . Monk parakeet Native snakes
Eastern hognose
Florida pine snake
Eastern coachwhip Black racers Native snakes
Eastern indigo snake
Yellow rat snake Corn snake Native venomous snakes
Cottonmouths
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake Native venomous snakes
Dusky pygmy rattlesnake
Coral snake
Canebrake rattlesnake
Copperhead Nuisance/ conflict wildlife Nuisance Wildlife Definition
. FWC definition 68A-1.004 F.A.C.- – Causes or about to cause property damage – Presents a threat to public safety – An annoyance within, under or upon a building Bobcat, photo curtsey of Laura Bender- Jupiter
Some people define ‘nuisance’ as presence of an unwanted animal. Nuisance wildlife rule: 68A-9.010 F.A.C . Allows the ‘take’ of nuisance wildlife by means other than gun and light*, steel traps*, or poison. – *Gun and light permit not required for take of non-protected mammals – *Steel traps can be used with a permit for otter, beaver, bobcat, coyote and fox . Nuisance wildlife can be taken on another’s property only with the landowner’s prior approval.
Gray fox & river otters Nuisance wildlife rule: 68A-9.010 F.A.C
. CANNOT be taken: – Any ‘listed’ species – Black bear – White-tailed deer – Bats* – Bobcat* – Any bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Burrowing owl photo curtsey of Ron Bielefeld; bobcat photo curtesy of Laura Bender; pine snake, deer, bear and bonneted bat FWC photos Types of traps
. Live/Cage Trap – Any box style trap where the animal is completely contained within the trap
. Snare – A trapping device consisting of a noose designed to capture wildlife.
. Steel trap – Any mechanical device* designed and used to capture wildlife by seizing and holding a part of the body. Captured wildlife
. Due to relocation laws, most wildlife are euthanized once captured . State law require humane euthanasia . Some species (hogs, alligators) are harvested . Important to note that relocated wildlife often does not survive – Stress of capture & transport – Introduction into new environment – Member of own species likely already established – Most wildlife have established territories and will leave new area – Relocation facilitates the transfer of disease Nuisance wildlife rule: 68A-9.010- Relocation 1. The animal is a native species and 2. The property where the nuisance animal is to be released is located within the county of capture and is a minimum of 40 contiguous acres; and 3. The person releasing the nuisance wildlife is in Argentine black & white tegu, FWC Photo possession, at time of release, of written permission from the property owner. Feeding Rule- Coyote, Fox, Raccoon
68A-1.004 General Prohibitions. (3) Intentionally placing food or garbage, allowing the placement of food or garbage, or offering food or garbage in such a manner that it attracts coyotes, foxes, or raccoons and in a manner that is likely to create or creates a public nuisance is prohibited.
Quick Rite LLC Alaska-in-pictures.com Boomsbeat.com Feeding rule- bears (4)(a) Intentionally feeding bears is prohibited. . (b) Placing food or garbage, allowing the placement of food or garbage, or offering food or garbage that attracts bears and is likely to create or creates a nuisance is prohibited. No person shall be assessed a penalty pursuant to this paragraph unless the person has first been issued a prior written warning for a violation of this paragraph.
North American Bear Center Feeding rules (cont.)
•68A-4.001 (4) “The intentional feeding or placement of food that attracts pelicans…is prohibited.”
•68A-4.001 (5) “The intentional feeding of sandhill cranes is prohibited.” Feeding rules (cont).
•68A-25.001 “No person shall intentionally feed, or entice with feed, any crocodilian…”
•68A-16.002 “No person shall take, feed, disturb, possess, sell purchase or barter, or attempt to engage in any such conduct, any bald eagle or parts thereof, or their nests or eggs…” Special programs Python Patrol Program . Identify, report and capture pythons . Mostly offered in south Florida to natural resources workers . Over 1,000 people trained since 2013 . MyFWC.com/Python Pet Amnesty Program
. More than 1,400 nonnative pets surrendered since 2006 . Mission: to prevent and reduce unlawful releases of nonnative pets . Foster responsible per ownership through outreach, education and amnesty events . No questions; can surrender any nonnative animal . Surrendered animals adopted by prequalified adopters . One day events throughout the state, or year-round adoptions through 1-888- Ive-Got1 Contact information
. Reports of violations can be submitted to the Wildlife Alert Hotline 24/7: 1-888-404-3922 . General regulations questions: – Captive wildlife: 850-488-6253 – FWC SW Regional Office- 863-648-3200 – Nonnative sighting or Pet Amnesty- 1-888-Ive-Got1 . Biology questions or identification help: – Angeline Scotten- [email protected] – Sean Greene- [email protected] Questions?
Photo courtesy of Reinier Munguia