AUTUMN IN THE EVERGLADES

Most people don't associate Autumn with south Florida especially the Everglades.  But, we do have fall, you just have to know where to look.  These are Red Maple trees along US 29 near the north boundary of Big Cypress National Preserve.  In the fall, they do turn red, and lose most of their leaves.  Bald Cypress on the other hand, turn brown in the Autumn, due to changes in rainfall, and humidity, then loose all their leaves, that's why they're called BALD Cypress.

TAMIAMI TRAIL

Did you know, US 41 between Tampa and Miami, is known as the Tamiami Trail, so it has part of Tampa's name and Miami, in the name.  They started building it in Tampa about 1915; by 1925 they had only gotten as far as Fort Myers.  That wasn't even the hard part, they still had to go the 100 miles across the Everglades. Well along come Barron Collier (think Collier county).  Well Barron Collier had become quite wealthy from street car advertising, and was looking for ways to make more money.  He decided to invest more than a million dollars of his own money to finish the Tamiami Trail. The men worked really long days, and it was very dangerous work.  There are over 20 species of mosquito's; 4 venomous snake species, Alligator's; and it was HOT! They said it was impossible, to build a road across the Everglades, but, April of 1928 they DID complete it!

EVERGLADES RACCOONS

Did you know Raccoons are native to North America? The largest Raccoons live in Canada; the smallest Raccoons live in the Everglades. But, the Everglades Raccoons are proportionately taller, because of all the water in the Everglades. You can usually see Raccoons foraging on the edge of one of the Ten Thousand islands during low tide. Those Raccoons are very small and almost blonde in color. They're smaller because there is not much to eat on those islands, and they're blonde because of the sun bleaching their coat. The eat clams, small fish, anything they can reach during low tide. Fresh water is a problem for them, because there is no fresh water on any of the Ten thousand islands. So the Raccoons lick dew off the leaves of the trees, if there is no dew and they are thirsty, they would have to swim to the mainland. But, since moist things like clams and fish make up their diet, they require less water than you would think possible.

IF YOU WANT TO TO SEE ALLIGATORS IN FLORIDA

If you want to see alligators in Florida...

Written by an Everglades tour guide with  5 years experience......If you want to see alligators in Florida; DON'T go when the temperature is over 90 degrees. Summer is a TERRIBLE time to see Alligators  Alligators like to keep their body temperature at about 90 degrees.

  Sure wish it was simple to tell you when is a good day to see alligators, but several factors are involved.  Alligators are sun worshipers, but not if it's really hot outside, then they seek deeper cool water.  They don't like wind, or rain.  If it's been cold outside;  and the water temperature is warmer than the air temperature, then they are for the most part underwater. They don't like cloudy days.  If it's windy, they will seek shelter from the wind.  But, if it's a COOL sunny day, with no wind, or rain, there will be LOTS of Alligators.

MEET CLYDE AND NIKI BUTCHER

Big Cypress Gallery
Annual Labor Day Weekend
Open House
Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31
Meet Clyde and Niki Butcher
Clyde Butcher will be unveiling his new
photographs of Florida and available for
book signings. Special guests will be the
Big Cypress National Preserve Rangers
for the Preserve’s 40th Anniversary.
Telephone 695-2428 or visit website
www.clydebutcher.com  

FREE YOUTH FISHING CLINIC

FAKAHATCHEE
Free Youth Fishing Clinic
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
together with the Friends of Fakahatchee
will sponsor a free youth fishing clinic
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,
September 20. Kids ranging in ages
from 6 to 17 years old are invited to
participate. Organizations are also
encouraged to partner with the
Fakahatchee and set up an exhibit booth
at the event. Deadline for agencies to
sign up is Wednesday, August 20.
Email Steven.Bass@dep.state.fl.us or
call 695-4593 for more information.

ALLIGATOR HATCHING SEASON

It's gator hatchin season! Look closely mama gator is there ready to attack anyone messin with her new hatchlings. When the baby gators hatch out, they're only about 6 inches long. If the nest is a long way from the water; sometimes mom will give them a ride in her mouth to the water. She doesn't feed them though, they have to do their own hunting right out of the egg. What do baby gators eat? Anything they can, small fish, frogs, large insects, bugs, whatever they can catch, that doesn't eat them. Plus everything eats the baby gators when they hatch, fish, birds, snakes, other alligators. So they have a very high mortality rate, only about 1 in 5 will make it breeding size, which is about 6 feet.