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Click the logo to learn more about our 45/82 Society and leaving "Ding" Darling in your estate.
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Click photo above to learn how to enter the 2019 "Ding" Darling Amateur Photo Contest!
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In Memory and Honor Gifts
Click
here
to see gifts made in honor of and in memory of friends and families to DDWS June through July 2019.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Refuge in this thoughtful and meaningful way.
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We Did It! 20/20 Approval Caps Wulfert Bayous Acquisition
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The "Ding" gang celebrates victory outside the county commissioners' meeting room.
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On August 20, the Lee County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of supporting the acquisition of the 68-acre Wulfert Bayous parcel located on Sanibel Island. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society and J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge have been working with the county on the collaboration for more than a year to make the acquisition a reality. Lee County's Conservation 20/20 program will fund $6.5 million of the total $9.5 million cost to purchase the property. DDWS has raised the additional $3 million through private READ MORE
Read NBC2's coverage by clicking here.
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Challenge Grant Received for WoW
Seeking Donations Big & Small
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| An artist rendering of WoW design |
DDWS recently received an anonymous challenge grant to help raise support to bring the Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) project to fabrication. The grant will match donations made by December 31, 2019, dollar for dollar up to $50,000. "If the challenge is met, and we raise the additional $100,000, we will have nearly reached our goal of $255,000 for making WoW a reality and bringing it into under-served communities in READ MORE
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October 12: Christmas in October
The Refuge Nature Store will be participating in this event at the Sanibel Community House on Saturday, October 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. The show will feature floral design classes and a number of local vendors selling their wares for the holidays. Stay tuned for more information.
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ADVOCACY
The Army Corps of Engineers Comes to the Refuge
by Sarah Ashton & Jim Metzler, DDWS Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
In 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers developed the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS), which sets guidelines for water releases out of Lake O. Because LORS is currently under review, the recent meeting we had with the Army Corps was a timely opportunity for us to make the Corps aware of how LORS impacts the Refuge and the changes we would like to see. On August 20, the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS) hosted a luncheon as part of the Corps' day-long fact-finding trip READ MORE
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Project Refuge: Call for Artists and Designers
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Artwork by Toni Ory
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Win up to $500 in prize money for your "trashionista" design at March's
Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash
Twist Tie Optional Luncheon at The Sanctuary Club on Sanibel Island. Deadline is October 1, 2019, to submit your application for the juried show.
Click
here
for a flyer or call
Dot Voorhees
at 239-472-1100 ext. 239 for more information.
 Become a sponsor of this exciting inaugural event! Click
here
or talk to Dot.
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Fishing and Fly Fishing are among the skills Scouts can learn at Badge University.
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On October 26, the Refuge will host its second annual Merit Badge University for registered Boy Scouts of America. Support for the program comes from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society and Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge's recreation concession. Scouts from around the nation will have the opportunity to earn up to two out of six badges being offered that day. They include Bird Study, Photography, Cycling, Kayaking, Fishing, and Fly Fishing. Class sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The non-refundable, non-transferable cost READ MORE
Click here for a flyer.
To learn how to become a sponsor of Merit Badge University, contact Dot Voorhees at 239-472-1100 ext. 239.
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Celebrity python hunter, scientist headline on 'Ding' Day
Everglades Burmese python hunter Dusty "Wildman" Crum has appeared in a number of television spots, including the Today Show late 2017, Swamp Mysteries on the History Channel in June 2018, and most recently this year on the Discovery Channel's Guardians of the Glades series.
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Dusty Crum and Mike Kirkland presented at the 2019 "Ding" Darling lecture series to full houses.
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Biologist Mike Kirkland manages the python elimination program for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which created it in efforts to remedy the Burmese python epidemic in the Florida Everglades. He manages READ MORE
Click
here
for a full schedule of "Ding" Darling Day events.
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Dusty "Wildman" Crum in the field with a capture, photo by Joey Waves
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'Ding' Darling Days Sponsors
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The gang at Doc Ford's presents DDWS Development Officer Dot Voorhees (uppser right) with a sponsorship check for 'Ding' Darling Days.
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Thanks to our wonderful
sponsors, who make the 2019 event possible.
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A Banner Year
More signs of the Refuge's
75th Anniversary
are popping up. Literally! Last week saw the hanging of nine different
Celebrate banners at the Visitor & Education Center and Tarpon Bay Recreation Area.
Highlights of the anniversary season, which runs now through December 1, 2020, will be a Clyde Butcher photography exhibition; Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash; special offers at Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge's recreation concession; one-of-a-kind 75th logo and "Ding" cartoon items in the Refuge Nature Store; and other unique celebratory events and programs throughout the months.
Click here for a full calendar.
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Farewell, Dee
Dee Mason recently finished up her STAR (Summer Teachers Assisting Refuges) stint with the Refuge, thanks to funding from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. A fifth-grade teacher at Villas Elementary School in Fort Myers, she assisted the Conservation Education team with summer programs.
Click HERE to read her farewell thank-you letter to DDWS.
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September Recreational Discounts
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Fish for reds, snook, trout and a number of other species in Tarpon Bay.
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Tarpon Bay Explorers
is offering 25% discounts on all rentals and tours for local residents of Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties during September. Paddle a kayak through the mangrove tunnels of Commodore Creek, ride a bike through the heart of the Refuge on Wildlife Drive, look for dolphins and manatees with a bird's eye view on a standup paddleboard, and go fishing on a pontoon boat in the back-bay waters of the Refuge. Tarpon Bay Explorers also has new Hobie fishing kayak rentals for the avid angler.
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Make-a-Wish Visit
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The Dominguez family with Education Intern Izzy Garcia (left) and Conservation Educator Sara Hallas (right)
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Jocelyn Dominguez with mother Christina at the observation tower
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Last week, 3-year-old Jocelyn Dominguez visited the Refuge on a Make-a-Wish visit with her family. "The whole family LOVED being outdoors, and they were all such wonderful and loving people," said Conservation Educator Sara Hallas, who led the tour with the family. "Jocelyn loved the binoculars and being able to spot birds though them. She enjoyed playing with the rocks and sticks along the trails and she loved the taxidermy otter so much she got one from the Nature Store."
The family wanted to see Bald Eagles, so Sara and her intern, Izzy Garcia, took them to SCCF's Bailey Homestead to show them the nest. "They were having such a good time that they stayed later than planned," said Sara. "It was an exciting and heartwarming day."
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New to Celebrate 75
th
Anniversary
Take this adorable Roseate Spoonbill home with you! The first-of-its-kind Roseate Spoonbill plush has splashed down at The Nature Store to celebrate the Refuge's
75th Anniversary.
A completely custom toy designed in partnership with Wildlife Artists, it is part of the Conservation Collection, which supports environmental and conservation efforts around the world. Sitting about eight inches tall, with its feet extending another five inches, this pink beauty showcases the vivid colors and unique bill shape of the beloved Roseate Spoonbill, which the Refuge has selected as the official signature anniversary bird. On the west coast of Florida, the Refuge Nature Store is the only place you'll find this lovable pink toy bird, tagged with Refuge-approved facts about the species.
Stop in today to pick up your soft and cuddly Roseate Spoonbills. Or contact Nature Store Manager
Ann-Marie Wildman
at 239-472-1100 ext. 214 for information on mail-ordering store products.
Remember, members of "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society receive a 10% discount at the Nature Store. Profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs and wildlife research.
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In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.
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Indiana Bat
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Location:
7 miles west of Scottsboro, Alabama (246 acres)
Totemic Fauna:
Indiana Bat, Gray Bat
Visitor's Tip:
Viewing opportunities for bat emergence occur only from June through August and last for approximately one hour near dusk. A viewing platform lies about 100 yards from the parking area. Remember to bring an umbrella. Entrance to the cave itself is closed to the public.
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Gray Bat |
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| Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
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In each issue of "Ding" of the Wing, we share a quick tip on how you can turn your lifestyle greener. For more information on being environmentally aware, visit our
Go Green web page.
Plastic Kills
If you have any doubts about the possible adverse effects of plastic on the health and mortality of wildlife, take a look at this heartbreaking image of a sea turtle hatchling trapped in a plastic bottle cap. It's not enough to recycle. To truly save lives, stop drinking out of plastic water bottles, using plastic straws, and shopping with one-use plastic bags.
Doing Our Part to Reduce Plastic
"Ding" Darling is committed to and has led the way on the islands in reducing the single-use plastic products that plague our planet and threaten wildlife. Thanks to DDWS' efforts, we have eliminated plastic shopping bags and one-time-use plastic water bottles in the Refuge Nature Store and at Tarpon Bay Explorers' gift shop. In recent years, the Refuge has also installed a filtered water refill station and DDWS has transitioned to compostable plates, cups, and flatware for event use. We have a no-straws policy.
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Click
HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings
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| Yellow-Crowned Night Heron - Photo Credit: Carol Matthai |
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Carol Matthai spotted this seemingly playful Yellow-Crowned Night Heron was spotted at the Refuge. If you watch birds long enough, you can spot similarly amusing behaviors.
T
o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer
Sierra Hoisington, for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
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National Public Lands Day - September 28, 2019
"Ding" Darling World Animal Day - October 4, 2019
Christmas in October at the Community House - October 12, 2019
Museum Shopping Sunday
- December 1, 2019
75
th
Anniversary Happy Hour Holiday Shopping
- December 3, 2019
"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Hosts Everglades Coalition at South Seas Resort
- January 9-12, 2020
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge
- May 15, 2020
Official 75th Anniversary Celebration - December 1, 2020
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our
website to learn more!
Sincerely,
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by April Boehnen.
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