The 2018 year continues our stewardship of America's National Parks. The āFriendsā urge support of Canaveral Seashore National Park, as your Park, and discover its recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs in your own backyard.
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Dear Friends,
ļ»æ
Yes, this is it, the dog days of summer. But in the seashore we are still busy and buzzy!!! Mosquito Lagoon is living up to its name and they are coming in hot and hungry. So pack your spray if youāre coming out to see us. While our native salt marsh mosquitoes are not known to carry traditional mosquito borne disease, there is not wall at the entrance keeping others out. While the seashore is a beautiful and peaceful place, it is wild and so is the wildlife. That includes jellyfish, insects, and other biting, stinging Florida residents. So remember to look for warnings at the entrance station, ask questions and be a smart Canaveral visitor.
Friends, thanks for all that you do, we couldnāt do what we do without you.
ļ»æ
See You at the Seashore,
Laura Henning,
ļ»æChief of Interpretation & Visitors Services
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Founders Day
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the "Organic Act" which stated that the purpose of the newly formed National Park Service was "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
The 84 million acres of lands that are the national parks offer numerous possibilities for educational, inspirational, and recreational activities. With nearly 400 parks nationwide, the largest of which resides in the state of Alaska (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve), the Park Service protects over 121 million museum objects, 68,000 archaeological sites, 27,000 historic structures, 2,461 natural historic landmarks, 40 national heritage areas, and 17,000 miles (27,000km) of trails for the enjoyment of its visitors.
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AUGUST 25th
97th anniversary of the
National Park Service
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Yellowstone National Park 1916
National Park Service
Historic Photograph Collection
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Sea Turtle & Shorebird Nest Counts
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2018 Sea Turtle Nest Counts (7-27-18)
ā¢ Loggerhead (Caretta caretta):
Apollo ( 1344 ) .......... Playalinda ( 2324 )
ā¢ Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas):
Apollo ( 48 ) .......... Playalinda ( 62 )
ā¢ Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea):
Apollo ( 6 ) .......... Playalinda ( 9 )
ā¢ Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii):
Apollo ( 0 ) .......... Playalinda ( 0 )
Total nest counts:
3,793
2018 Shorebird Nest Counts (7-2-18)
Wilson's plover
(
Charadrius wilsonia
)
:
Apollo ( 29 ) .......... Playalinda ( 5 )
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End of July 2017 TOTAL NEST COUNT: 6938
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Feel Free to Share this Newsletter:
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A Message From
Our President
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Thank a Mangrove
The real threat of hurricane season, to a native Floridian, starts in August. This is when we check on batteries, nonperishable foods and drinks, trim back trees and bushes, and prepare to hunker down if called. There is an unsung hero in our hurricane defense, and another true native, the mangrove. A mangrove is a shrub or tree that, lucky for us, grows along the coast of our Mosquito Lagoon. Coastal mangroves provide a valuable habitat; serving as a nursery for fishes, shrimp and offers a source of food and refuge for birds and mammals. Another important aspect of mangrove presence for people, besides providing a lovely backdrop for kayaking, is the protection of our shoreline from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves and floods.
Illustrative of the significance of mangroves, UNESCOās World Network of Biosphere Reserves has 86 sites out of 669 that include areas of mangroves. Mangroves are protected by Florida law and cannot be cut or removed without a permit. In July, the world celebrated International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (July 26).
Mangroves are being planted at Canaveral National Seashore to reduce erosion along the Mosquito Lagoon shoreline. Since 2011, UCF (Drs. Linda Walters and Melinda Donnelly), together with CANA staff and thousands of volunteers have worked to stabilize over 1.5 miles of shoreline by, in part, planting seedlings from three species of mangrove (red, black and white). Our thanks to them for their dedication to this project.
So, the next time I see you at the park, thank a mangrove.
Terry Bledsoe, President
Friends of Canaveral
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Pic Your Park
The Find Your Park Instagram Contest
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Share your selfie on Instagram by using the hashtag #picyourparkcontest and checking into a park between now and September. And who knows - maybe you'll be the big winner. First you must visit a National Park, so get out there and head over to Canaveral National Seashore, take a selfie and post it to Instagram using the hashtag #pickyourparkcontest and geotag your location within the park.
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ļ»æSEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON
MAY 1 - OCTOBER 31
Invasive Species Predation
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Threats from Invasive Species Predation.
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Around the globe, sea turtles and their hatchlings fall victim to natural predators. Crabs, raccoons, boars, birds, coyotes and sharks all play their role in the natural food chain as sea turtle predators. However, the threats of predation increase when human development reaches nesting beaches. People who leave trash near the shore, for example, unwittingly call raccoons and other non-native species to the beaches to look for food.
Nest predation can be a very serious threat. In certain āpredation hot spotsā on nesting beaches in the United States predation can exceed 50% of all nests laid.
Sea Turtles are not fast enough, or agile enough to escape predators.
Unable to retract their heads and flippers into their shell, like land tortoises, sea turtles are very vulnerable to these invasive predators.
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- Donāt feed wildlife ā animals will make a habit of returning to coastal areas in search for food, creating a threat to turtles;
- Donāt leave your dogs and cats unattended;
- Do not leave any trash, especially garbage containing food, outside of your home;
- Support spay and neuter programs near coastal areas to decrease feral invasive species predation;
- Contact your local law enforcement if you witness any predation on sea turtle nests or hatchlings.
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THINGS TO DO - AUGUST 2018
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From turtle talks, strolling through time and clamming 101, we have wonderful activities for you and your family. A great way to show your guests what you have available right in your backyard.
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How to Help the FWC Protect Gopher Tortoises
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In Your Backyard
Gopher tortoises are commonly seen in suburban areas around Florida. If a gopher tortoise is living in your yard, take the opportunity to learn about a threatened species and how to conserve it.
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On the Road
Vehicle-caused mortality is a large contributor to gopher tortoise deaths. Often, tortoises burrow and forage for food near roads because roadsides are open and sunny. Here are things that you can do to help reduce road mortality:
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Watch this video about the Gopher Tortoise
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- Observe speed limits and wildlife crossing signs
- When driving, scan the road and shoulder ahead. Gopher tortoises are slow moving, so allow them time to cross the road
- You may help the tortoise cross the road by placing it out of harm's way in the same direction that it was going, but DO NOT take it with you or move it to a different area.
- Do not put the tortoise in water. The gopher tortoise is a terrestrial turtle which means it lives on land.
- What if you see an injured or dead gopher tortoise? On weekdays from 8 a.m. ā 5 p.m., call 850-921-1030. After hours and on weekends, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionās Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922 (FWCC), dial #FWC or *FWC on your cell phone or text Tip@MyFWC.com.
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