Tag: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Ehrlichiosis

Extreme close-up photo of blacklegged tick perched on a blade of grass with its four topmost legs in the air as it waits for a passing animal to latch onto.

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted to humans and animals from ticks. In most cases, symptoms are mild, but sometimes if antibiotic treatment is delayed, it can cause severe illness and even death. In Florida, ehrlichiosis is an emerging disease. The hotspot of transmission is in north central Florida, but the disease is underdiagnosed. This 4-page fact sheet written by Yasmin Tavares and Samantha Wisely and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation describes ehrlichiosis and explains how it is transmitted, how to know if you have it, and how to prevent yourself and your friends and family from getting it.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw481

Eastern Indigo Snake

Photo of snake's head viewed from above, grass visible under it.

Learn more about eastern indigo snakes!
The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick, accurate introduction to Florida's wildlife, including both native and invasive species. Authors Tyler Buckley and Raoul K. Boughton hope this 2-page quick guide and others in the series published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation will inspire readers to investigate wildlife in their own backyards and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw475

El sapo de caña o “Bufo” (Rhinella marina) en Florida

close-up photo of male and female cane toads.

El sapo de caña (Rhinella marina), a veces conocido como el “bufo”, sapo gigante o marino, es nativo del extremo sur de Texas, México, América Central y la zona tropical de la América del Sur, pero está establecido en Florida. Los sapos de caña se introdujeron inicialmente en Florida como un método de control biológico de plagas en la década de 1930. Se suponía que los sapos comieran escarabajos que amenazaran el cultivo de la caña de azúcar, pero la población introducida no sobrevivió. This 7-page fact sheet written by S. A. Johnson, A. Wilson, and Armando J. Ubeda and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation is the Spanish translation of The Cane or “Bufo” Toad (Rhinella marina) in Florida.
https:edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw477

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Raccoon-Borne Pathogens of Importance to Humans—The Raccoon Roundworm

Photo of a raccoon standing in shallow water in the daytime. It has spotted the photographer and is gazing at the camera.

Diseases carried by northern raccoons present significant health hazards to both people and pets. This 7-page fact sheet written by Caitlin Jarvis and Mathieu Basille and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation is part of a series addressing health hazards associated with raccoons. It describes the raccoon roundworm and the disease it causes, baylisascariasis, which normally causes little or no trouble to raccoons but in severe cases can make people and their pets very sick. Sick wild animals can act tame, but do not approach! Contact animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator if an animal seems to be behaving abnormally or if you suspect it is sick.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw480

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Raccoon-Borne Pathogens of Importance to Humans—Parasites

A raccoon perched in a lichen-covered tree at night faces the camera. One forepaw is visible.
Diseases carried by northern raccoons present significant health hazards to both people and pets. This 7-page fact sheet written by Caitlin Jarvis and Mathieu Basille and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation is part of a series addressing health hazards associated with raccoons. It describes the most important internal and external parasites associated with raccoons. Sick wild animals can act tame, but do not approach! Contact animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator if an animal seems to be behaving abnormally or if you suspect it is sick.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw479

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Raccoon-Borne Pathogens of Importance to Humans—Viruses and Bacteria

photo of a raccoon taken at night and spotlit by the flash.

Diseases carried by northern raccoons present significant health hazards to both people and pets. This 7-page fact sheet written by Caitlin Jarvis, Samantha M. Wisely, and Mathieu Basille and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation is part of a series addressing health hazards associated with raccoons. It describes rabies, canine distemper, feline distemper, canine parvovirus, salmonellosis, and several other raccoon-borne viral and bacterial diseases of concern to people and their pets. Sick wild animals can act tame, but do not approach! Contact animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator if an animal seems to be behaving abnormally or if you suspect it is sick.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw478

Lumpy Jaw in White-Tailed Deer

A fawn at a private deer farm. Photo by Tyler Jones taken on 10-13-15

Lumpy jaw is a deer health problem that all deer farmers eventually face. It gets its name from the swollen jaws or cheeks and necrotic lesions it causes in and around the jaw bones of animals including white-tailed deer. The disease is considered a significant problem for deer farms in North America, where it is one of the most important production-limiting diseases and causes high rates of mortality in fawns. This 4-page fact sheet written by Juan M. Campos Krauer, Samantha M. Wisely, and Hannah M. Barber and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation explains how deer acquire lumpy jaw, how to spot it in deer, how to treat it, and how to prevent it in the first place.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw472

Peters’s Rock Agama in Florida

A photo of a male Peters's rock agama on a low brick wall showing to good effect its orange head and tail and charcoal-colored midsection, all set off nicely by the orange bricks and green artificial turf in the foreground.

Florida has experienced more introductions of nonnative reptiles than any other region on Earth. Approximately three times as many species of established, nonnative lizards live in the state as do native species. This 5-page fact sheet written by Kenneth T. Gioeli and Steve A. Johnson and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides background information about the visually striking Peters's rock agama, including information about its introduction to Florida, as well as its biology, conservation issues, and management recommendations.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw476

Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Virginia Opossum

A photo of three young possums hanging by their tails from a branch.

Learn more about the Florida opossum!
The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick, accurate introduction to Florida's wildlife, including both native and invasive species. Authors Simon Fitzwilliam and Raoul Boughton hope this 2-page quick guide and others in the series published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation will inspire readers to investigate wildlife in their own backyards and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw471

Hurricane Toads

A close-up photo of one of the abovedescribed raisin-sized froglets seated on a dime. It fits easily within the area of the dime, leaving a substantial margin uncovered: a very small frog.

Eastern spadefoots are a common but largely unappreciated species of native toad in Florida. Following torrential rains they emerge from hiding and breed in shallow pools. In as little as 14 days, hordes of raisin-sized froglets emerge and hop away in all directions from the pond or puddle where they were born. Some of them find their way to yards and garages of suburban neighborhood homes. Other unlucky baby toads end up on roads, where they are smashed. This 5-page fact sheet written by Steve A. Johnson and Candace D. Fuhrmann and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation outlines the unique biology of this species and explains how to identify eastern spadefoot tadpoles, young, and adults. It also includes a section on how you and your friends and family can help these interesting and attractive little creatures by engaging in citizen science.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw474

Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Florida Panther

A photo of a panther at either dusk or dawn standing on what looks like a limerock road with dog fennel in the foreground and a pine forest in the background.

Learn more about the Florida Panther!

The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick, accurate introduction to Florida’s wildlife, including both native and invasive species. Authors Kelly Koriakin and Raoul Boughton hope this 2-page quick guide and others in the series published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation will inspire readers to investigate wildlife in their own backyards and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw467

Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Bats and Coronaviruses

Tripart infographic showing a silhouetted pig, three bats, and an unidentified animal but presumably a civet cat in a blue panel on the left. Inside the blue panel are arrows leading from the three bats to the pig above and the civet cat below. Another blue arrow points to a silhouetted human figure centered in the white space between the blue panel on the left and a purple panel on the right containing a single sillouetted man holding a pitchfork and two additional groups of people, some adults in business attire and four children holding hands. Three smaller purple arrows point from the central human figure in the whitespace to the people in the purple panel.
Bats benefit both natural ecosystems and people. Viruses that live in bats can harm people, but transmission of these pathogens from bats to humans can occur only when humans come too close to bats. Recently, misguided attempts to preserve human health have led to persecution of bats. In fact, however, what will keep people healthy is to protect bats and their habitat. This 4-page fact sheet written by Holly K. Ober and Samantha M. Wisely and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation explains how protecting bat roosts can reduce the likelihood of future zoonotic disease pandemics while also increasing the natural pest reduction services bats provide as they consume insects that cause damage to agronomic crops as well as the mosquitoes that transmit diseases like Zika, dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Finally, protecting bat roosts keeps bats safely distanced from people, whereas destroying their homes risks the health of both people and bats because it forces bats into closer proximity to people.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw473

Wading Birds of Northern Belize

A photo of a great blue heron wading at either sunrise or sunset.

Belize is home to over 605 bird species, many of them wading birds popular with bird watchers who enjoy their bright colors and charismatic behavior. Bird-watching is a major contributor to successful wildlife conservation and is important as native habitat loses ground to development. This 4-page fact sheet written by Venetia S. Briggs-Gonzalez, Jorge E. Ruano, Justin R. Dalaba and Frank J. Mazzotti and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation presents photos and descriptions that will help identify some common and some rare wading birds.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw469

White-tailed Deer of Florida

A fawn at a private deer farm. Photo by Tyler Jones taken on 10-13-15

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most economically important big game mammal in North America and Florida. This 12-page fact sheet written by Raoul K. Boughton, Bethany Wight, Samantha Wisely, Karen Hood, and Martin B. Main and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides an overview of the various subspecies of white-tailed deer with populations in Florida and describes their history, biology, and management.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw121

Diarrhea in Farmed White-tailed Deer Fawns

A photo of a group of fawns with yellow and green ear tags

Diarrheal diseases, commonly called scour, are common in newborn ruminant farm animals including deer fawns. The clinical presentation can range from mild diarrhea without systemic disease to profuse, acute diarrhea associated with rapid dehydration and death, sometimes within hours of onset. Determining the particular agents associated with an outbreak of diarrhea is important for both prevention and treatment. This 5-page fact sheet written by Juan M. Campos Krauer and Samantha M. Wisely and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation focuses on disease in fawns caused by pathogenic types of Escherichia coli, describes the pathogens and how they infect fawns, and includes advice about treatment and prevention.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw463

Sea Turtle Conservation: 10 Ways You Can Help

A sea turtle on a beach at sunrise observed by four people standing at a distance.

All of Florida’s five species of sea turtles are in danger of extinction, largely as a result of people’s actions. Fortunately, however, there are simple steps Florida’s residents and visitors can take to help these remarkable animals. This illustrated 4-page fact sheet written by Jessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret M. Lamont, and Raymond R. Carthy and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides 10 easy-to-follow suggestions for ways people can reduce harm to sea turtles.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw466

Sea Turtle Conservation: Priorities for Environmental Education Efforts

A sea turtle on a beach at sunrise observed by four people standing at a distance.

All five species of sea turtle that occur in Florida are in danger of extinction. This 4-page fact sheet written by Jessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret M. Lamont, and Raymond R. Carthy and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation discusses common human actions that are harmful to sea turtles and provides insight on key environmental education topics.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw465

Mammalian Carnivores of Florida

long-tailed weasel

Florida is home to several species of animals in Order Carnivora, a group of mammals with teeth adapted to allow them to eat meat. Many of them, like panthers, you probably know about, and some, like raccoons, you may see regularly. But did you know Florida hosts two separate species of foxes? Two different skunks? Weasels? This 20-page fact sheet written by Raoul Boughton, Bethany Wight, Elizabeth Pienaar, and Martin B. Main and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation provides an overview of the mammalian carnivores of Florida from panthers to mink.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw464

Using iNaturalist to Contribute Your Nature Observations to Science.

Florida panther and kittens courtesy Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

iNaturalist is one of the most popular citizen science data portals in the world. Citizens can submit pictures of biological observations to an online data base to be reviewed by the rich online community and used for important biodiversity research around the world. Users can use the iNaturalist ap to plan community projects and bioblitzes and learn more about species identification and biodiversity. In this 5-page fact sheet, authors Matthew Earl Boone and Mathieu Basille explain how observations are vetted and used and give a step by step guide to get started! Published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw458

Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Nine-banded Armadillo

Joe Schaefer and an armadillo UF/IFAS photo

Learn more about nine-banded armadillos!

The Wildlife of Florida Factsheet series was created to provide the public with a quick, accurate introduction to Florida’s wildlife, including both native and invasive species. Authors Simon Fitzwilliam and Raoul Boughton hope this 2-page quick guide and others in the series published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation will inspire readers to investigate wildlife in their own backyards and communities and understand the amazing biodiversity of wildlife in the state of Florida.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw456