Sanibel task force details planned prescribed burns for 2021
By TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com - | May 11, 2021
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Sanibel Prescribed Fire Task Force recently outlined its plan for this year’s prescribed burn operations on the island, which consist of four areas in total, with two being a high priority.
On May 5, representatives for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and city’s Natural Resources Department announced the spring-summer plan for the targeted conservation lands during a joint public meeting held virtually this year via Zoom.
The areas for the refuge and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are the Bailey Tract, Botanical Site and Legion Curve, while the SCCF and city staff are focused on the Erick A. Lindblad Preserve.
Diamondback terrapin monitoring and research is in full swing in the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation s Wildlife & Habitat Management Department, officia
SCCF staffer joins national group to combat turtle trafficking
By SCCF - | Mar 10, 2021
SCCF
Chris Lechowicz
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz recently joined the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles, which is made up of biologists and law enforcement personnel from state, federal and non-government agencies across the country. The group discusses current issues and trends involving turtle trafficking in the United States, devises solutions to combat trafficking, and protocols for the relocation of confiscated turtles.
It is a critical time for the important work of the collaborative, Lechowicz said. Turtles and tortoises were recently declared the most at-risk vertebrate group for extinction, surpassing primates. The designation is primarily from habitat loss, human consumption, traditional medicine use and an ever-increasing pet trade demand. A global demand for turtles has placed heavy strain on tur
A different journey: Hiking during wet conditions
By SCCF - | Jan 20, 2021
SCCF
Otter
SCCF
Erick Lindblad Preserve
The winter months invite increased visitation to the island and more frequent use of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s hiking trails. In recent years the trails, such as the Erick Lindblad Preserve trails, were either dry or drying out by January. However, as a result of the active wet season, most of them are currently impassable without waterproof boots and expectations of getting muddy.
“Many people aren’t aware that hiking through shallow puddles or muddy trails during non-dry times can be quite enjoyable with the proper footwear and clothing,” SCCF Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz said. “Not only is it less crowded, but there are often different and increased opportunities to see wildlife, especially species that you may not see otherwise, such as river otters, freshwater fish, frogs and aquatic reptiles.”