All About the Gumbo-Limbo Tree

January 10, 2017 by

Gumbo-limbo Tree Ever heard of the gumbo-limbo tree? No, it’s not from a fantasy book, it’s a real tree that lives in the Everglades. In fact, it’s one of the best-known trees in south Florida.  It’s also known as the “tourist tree,” because its peeling bark resembles the skin of South Florida visitors.

This tree has a shiny, red bark that has the appearance that it’s constantly peeling. It has green leaves that grow in spirals. It produces fruit mainly in March and April. The gumbo limbo tree is tall (grows rapidly), and it’s wood is easy to carve. It is very sturdy and hurricane resistant. But when they do fall, they can sprout from a broken branch on the ground; clearly, they are a very resilient plant! This tree is also considered a shade tree that thrives with minimal care.

The resin from the tree has medicinal purposes and can treat gout. Tea that is made from the tree’s leave is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

In the Everglades National Park, there is a Gumbo Limbo Trail that is .4 miles round trip. Bicycles are not allowed on this path. This paved path brings visitors through a shaded, hammock of gumbo limbo trees, along with royal palms, ferns, and air plants. The trail is about 4 miles from the main park entrance. This is considered an easy path. Along this trail, there are signs identifying the trees and explaining how this forest formed. There are some deep holes surrounding the path and it is known to be a bit buggy.

Check Out the Gumbo-Limbo Trees

While you can check out these unique-looking trees on the Gumbo-Limbo Trail, you can also view these trees and even more vegetation on an airboat tour through the Park. Join Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours for a fun and exciting airboat adventure today. To book an airboat tour in the Everglades, click here or call 800-368-0065.

 

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Mercury Poisoning Found in Dolphins in the Everglades

January 3, 2017 by

dolphinsAt the end of last year, a study was released revealing that the bottlenose dolphins in the Everglades show signs of mercury poisoning. Florida International University (FIU) scientists have been examining the dolphins, and released the study that stated the dolphins have a high mercury concentration on both their skin and blubber. These dolphins that were examined live around the Everglades National Park, the lower Florida Keys, and Florida Bay. These dolphins have a high mercury concentration them than any other dolphin population in the world. In fact, the level of mercury these scientists found was the highest level ever recorded.

The scientists believe the mercury has come from natural and man-made sources. Mercury is a metallic element, and is extremely toxic. Because of its toxicity, the mercury can affect and harm dolphins’ immune and reproductive systems, which can make them susceptible to catching and contracting illnesses and diseases easier and more often.

FIU has reported that mercury is produced from the mangroves in these areas. This occurs when the mangroves’ leaves fall into the water and come in contact with bacteria; the combination converts into mercury. In this area, pesticides are the culprit for the mercury production.

The Everglades has been known to have high concentrations of mercury, which is alarming to scientists. FIU scientists, along with scientists from the University of Liège in Belgium, the University of Gronigen in the Netherlands and the Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation in the United States,  are working to understand the impact of these contaminations and pollutants on marine ecosystems to better know how to implement conversation efforts. These scientists are trying to find the extent of mercury poisoning in the Everglades, and will also study sharks, alligators, and fish to see if they also have been affected.

Where to See Dolphins in the Everglades 

The bottlenose dolphins mainly reside in the Everglades’ Florida Bay, which is the wetland’s largest body of water. There is about 450 dolphins that live there. Hopefully with attention and awareness on the mercury issue, these dolphins will continue to thrive and live in the Everglades for years to come. Jump on an airboat ride to get a spectacular view of these brilliant, beautiful creatures.

By taking an airboat right with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, you will have the opportunity to see dolphins and lots of other animals, birds, and marine life. To schedule a tour, click here of call 239-695-3377.

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Wildlife Viewing in the Everglades

December 27, 2016 by

wildlifeIt’s officially the dry season in the Everglades and Florida, which is the best time to head down to the area to view an array of different wildlife species. During this time of year, the good weather combined with low water levels creates the perfect conditions and environment for animals and birds to congregate near bodies of water.

Great spots in the Everglades to view wildlife include: Shark Valley, the Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm), Eco Pond (a mile past the Flamingo Visitor Center), Snake Bight (near Flamingo), and Chokoloskee Bay (Gulf Coast).

Visitors to the Park have the opportunity to see alligators, wading birds, freshwater wildlife, and a few other land creatures. Since the animals are in their natural habitat, they are wild and visitors should be respectful to both the animals and the environment in which they call home.

Below, we’ve shared a few rules and tips on viewing the animals in the Park.

  • Keep your space from animals and birds. Remember you’re in their home and shouldn’t disturb them (do not pick up or chase). Binoculars provide a great way to get a closer, detailed look at the wildlife without bothering or spooking them.
  • Back away from animals if you feel they have been disturbed by you and leave the area. Animals and birds may feel threatened and start to act strangely (excessive flapping, pacing, muscle tension, staring, screaming/making frequent noises). Animals, especially when they feel threatened, can be dangerous.
  • Stay away from nesting or den areas. By entering one of these areas, you could potentially drive the parents to leave, which means the offspring will not be able to survive on their own. Stick to the trails to avoid running into one of these breeding grounds.
  • If you see an animal that you think may be sick or abandoned, leave it be; it’s family could be nearby.
  • Pets are not allowed on trails or the wilderness areas of the Park.
  • Refrain from feeding the animals; it’s not a good idea for the animals to become reliant on being fed, unnaturally, by humans.
  • Listen to all safety signs and warning signals in the park.

It is illegal to feed or harass animals in the Everglades. You’re in THEIR home, and the Park asks that you respect them. If you’re looking for a way to see wildlife in the Everglades, an airboat tour is a great way to view animals and birds from afar without worrying about bothering them or putting yourself in a dangerous situation.  To book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, click here or call 800368-0065.

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The Pinelands

December 19, 2016 by

The Pine Rocklands, pinelandsalso called the Pinelands, are a disappearing habitat in the Everglades and all South Florida. These rocklands are found on limestone substrates. These Pinelands once covered around 185,000 acres in Miami-Dade County, and by 1996 only 2 percent of this forest remained in the urbanized areas of the county and outside the border of the Everglades National Park. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recently proposed a list of four more plants in the Florida pine rockland ecosystem to receive federal protection. Three at risk species include: The Everglades bully, the Florida pineland crabgrass, and the pineland sandmat; one species is being considered as endangered: the Florida prairie-clover.

According to the Southeast regional director of the FWC, these four plants have declined by 80 percent in the last two decades. The primary threats these plants are facing are habitat loss and modification from sea-level rise, wildfires, and urban development. However, the pine rockland ecosystem is well adapted to fire that helps it survive better in the presence of fire that isn’t too intense.

The Everglades bully, a tall shrub with white flowers, only exists in 10 populations; the Florida pineland crabgrass, a blue-green perennial grass, is only found in the park and preserve; the pineland sandmat, a small perennial shrub, grows up to six feet, is found in the Big Cypress Preserve and 7 other locations in Miami-Dad county. The reason these plants have a high extinction risk is because the small populations have a limited to no chance for recolonization if hit by wildfires or extreme weather.

Hundreds of specials have been waiting for protection but these four are finally getting protection to survive and recover. It’s important to keep these plants alive and well as they help making up a nesting habitat for many species.

Visit the Disappearing Habitat

Although there are many efforts to save the Everglades, the area is still at high risk from disappearing from the Earth. The Everglades is a truly majestic place and needs to be seen in person for a person to fully embrace its beautiful. One great way to get a glimpse of the Everglades is on an airboat tour. To book a tour with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, click here or call 800-368-0065.

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Tegu Lizards in the Everglades

December 12, 2016 by

tegu lizardsBurmese pythons are well-known to be a major problem in the Everglades; however, there are other invasive species in this vast wetland that are a problem to the local ecosystem. One such species is the tegu lizard, which originated in South America. In fact, they are on the state’s list of most aggressive invasive species. So, how did the tegu lizards end up in the Everglades in Florida? They either escaped or were released from people who owned them as pets.

The tegu lizard is a threat to native birds, alligators, sea turtles, small mammals, and crocodiles; biologists from the University of Florida said it is believed this lizard could be as destructive as the Burmese python. This lizard is still currently sold in pet stores in the state. As of right now, trapping and selling them is legal. State workers, members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and biologists from UF have seen these lizards in places they haven’t been before, which means there is a growing number of them.

Tegus live in burrows and forage around water; they eat fruit, seeds, eggs, dog or cat food, insects, and small mammals. They are active during the day and can often be spotted on roadsides and other disturbed areas. During the colder months, they stay covered or in a burrow. Since they are able to withstand colder temps (as low as 35 degrees), biologists believe they can threaten more species than the pythons can.

The can grow up to four feet long and are black and white with a banding pattern on the tail. Gold tegus and Red tegus have also been found in South Florida. The gold tegu grows to two to three feet and has black and gold stripes while the red tegu can grow up to four-and-a-half feet in size and the males have large jowls.

Right now, black-and-white tegus and gold tegus are breeding in parts of Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties.

Right now, officials are trying to capture as many tegus as possible so that the population does not replenish itself; there are a lot more tegus in the Everglades than they thought. In 2015, they captured around 500 and in 2009 they captured only 13 tegus. Some tegus are being tracked, so biologists can better understand their patterns for trapping efforts to go more successfully.

The biologists are trying to compile convincing evidence of the tegu’s impact on mammals like the python’s, so that hopefully the state will create a plan on how to deal with this invasive species in the future.

If you see a tegu in the Everglades, take a picture and report your location and sighting at 1-888-IVE-GOT1, IveGot1.org, or the IveGot1 app.

Explore the Everglades

The Everglades is a beautiful place full of some amazing creatures; unfortunately, from climate change and invasive species, the Everglades is at risk of shrinking and even disappearing. See this breathtaking wetland while you still can. A great way to explore this Park is on an airboat tour with Captain Mitch. To book a tour, click here or call 800-368-0065.

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Water Quality in the Everglades

December 5, 2016 by

evergladesLately, it seems like most news to come out about the Everglades isn’t too positive. Thankfully however, there was some good news to come out last month. Water quality is being restored in the Everglades. Over the past two decades, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) have had the goal of restoring water quality. Recent tests have shown that at least 90 percent of the Everglades now meets an “ultra clean” water quality when it comes to levels of phosphorus (10 parts per billion or less required by federal consent decree and under state law). Right now, 100 percent of the Everglades is below 8 parts per billion; 86 percent of the Everglades is at 8 parts per billion.

Progress IS being made in the Everglades. Before the Everglades Forever Act of 1994, the water in the Everglades area contained around 173 parts per billion of phosphorus. In the past five years, phosphorus levels in the water were around 20 parts per billion, and this was after they were filter through Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs).

The few areas left are close to reaching very clean levels. Soon, the water quality of the entire ecosystem of the Everglades will be in compliance soon. The water restoration is part of Governor Rick Scott’s $880 million Restoration Strategies program.

Explore the Everglades on an Airboat

The Everglades is a remarkable, beautiful wetland and officials and community members are working hard at restoring so it doesn’t disappear. Since it’s a Park, there are many ways for visitors to explore the area. One of the best ways to take in all the Everglades has to offer is an airboat tour. Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours has been operating in the Everglades for more than 30 years. To book a tour with Captain Mitch, click here or call 800-368-0065.

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Tree Islands in the Everglades

November 28, 2016 by

tree islandsThe Everglades is home to many unique and special plant and animal life. Tree islands are a big part of the Everglades’ landscape and ecosystem; in fact, they’re hundreds of them. You’ve probably seen them time and time again in photos of the wetland but not realized what they are. So, what is a tree island? A tree island is a naturally formed patch/clump of trees in the march that can resemble an island of trees.

In the Everglades, tree islands are made out of hardwood trees, palms, ferns, and other tropical plants. Tree islands are usually in the shape of a teardrop due to the way the water flowed in the years prior to the drainage of the Everglades. The head of the tree island is where it meets the water. Often times, tree islands can be found in hammocks, which is on land that is a bit higher than the marshes and prairies of the Everglades.  Because of their elevation, they are usually the only areas that remain drying during the Everglades’ wet season.

The islands are habitats for many birds, panthers, and other critters, because they offer a dry, safe place for them to stay, rest, and live. Over thousands of years, the water level in the Everglades has risen, so trees began to form on mounds (shell middens) to survive. As the tree grows, it draws water from the bedrock which contains carbonates and phosphates. The trees would then secret the excess minerals out of them, which turned into calcrete that increased the elevation and volume of the islands to protect the island and the trees.

Although it was long believed that these tree islands were formed naturally from the bedrock rising, it is now thought that these tree islands were formed by human middens (trash piles). When archologies and researchers studied the layers within the islands, they found bones, charcoal, and human artifacts. Although not all tree islands are human made, many of them were created by people, like the Calusa tribe, who lived in the Everglades thousands of years ago.

Currently, many of the tree islands are maintained by airboat operators or use as hunting camps by “Gladesmen” in the east section of the park.

Want to see some of these tree islands up close? A great way to view these plant communities is on an airboat.  An Everglades airboat tour can bring you around to get a great view of these beautiful and old tree islands, while also viewing lots of other tropical plant life. To book an airboat tour, call Captain Mitch of Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours today at 800-368-0065 or click here.

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Mud Lake Canal

November 21, 2016 by

mud lake canalThe native people who lived in the Everglades left plenty of evidence behind of their existence. This evidence truly showed the people knew how to manipulate the land and areas around them to ensure their survival as a people. Besides tools, mounds, and tree islands, the native created systems of canals. These canals show the engineering and organization skills these people practiced.

In the Everglades, the Mud Lake Canal is a 3.9-mile aboriginal canoe canal; it is 20 to 30 feet across in width and 1 to 2 feet deep. When in use, the native people used to canal for their canoe travels throughout the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands, and the Florida Keys. This canal system allowed people to get around without having to travel through the rougher waters that can be found in the Gulf of Mexico.

The canal is considered unique as it connects different bodies of water at different elevations while stretching across all prairies and mangroves.

Mud Lake Canal has been carbon dated and it is believed to have been created in 750-1200 AD. This canal feeds into groups of mounds that were once part of a village where up to 50 people were living; it is believe these people were a Tesqueta village.

In 2006, the Mud Lake Canal became a National Historic Landmark.

The Everglades is full of sights and evidence of life well before modern civilization came to the area. If you enjoy viewing nature, as well as stepping back in time, explore the Everglades for yourself; the area has so much to offer! One of the easiest ways to get around and view the Everglades is through an airboat tour. On an airboat, you can get up-close views of the Everglades’ landscape and vegetation. If you’d like to explore the Everglades, book a trip with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours today at 800-368-0065 or click here.

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HM69 Nike Missile Base

November 14, 2016 by

HM69 Nike Missile BaseNot only is the Everglades a beautiful landscape to explore, you also can get a history lesson while in the Park. In the park, the Nike Hercules Missile site stands, and it happens to be a relic of The Cold War. Visitors are able to visit the Nike Missile Base by a ranger-guided walk that is offered in the months of December through April. The site is home to 22 buildings and structures.

The Nike Missile Base, also known as Alpha Battery or HM69 Nike Missile Base, is basically the same when it was in use; the site was terminated in 1979. This site was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and was completed in 1964. At this time, the United States’ priority was national security against a Soviet Union attack, so the Army chose the Everglades as a strategic site to build an anti-aircraft missile site. It is located 160 miles from Cuba.

This base was part of a larger missile defense system that was built in southern Florida, because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. There are three other Nike Hercules Missile sites across the state. These Florida missile defenses were integrated with HAWK missile sites to provide better defense capabilities around southern Florida. About 140 people operated three missile barns; they were on guard in case Cuban air strikes occurred. The crew at the Everglades site (known as Battery A) received a meritorious unit commendation from President John F. Kennedy; this was one of the few times an award was presented during this war for a deterrence mission.

In 2004, the base was listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places as an historic district. All of the buildings and structures are connected to events that made a significant contribution to American history. The structures include: missile barns, a guard-dog kennel, a missile assembly building, and more.

If you’d like to go to visit this historical site, click here for more details or call 305-242-7700.

After taking in this greatness of this site, why not check out the rest of the park? The best way to do this? An airboat ride. An airboat tour can bring you in many areas of the park that you are unable to access in other ways. To book a ride with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, click here or call 800-368-0065.

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Shell Works in the Everglades

November 7, 2016 by

shell worksSeeing as it’s been around for years and years, it’s no surprise the Everglades has quite a bit of archaeological heritage within it. Native people have lived in the Everglades long before European settlers came to Florida and began settlements.  Below, we’ll share some information with you on shell works, which is one of the archaeological heritage sightings you can find throughout the Park that give visitors insight into the Everglades’ past.

You know those tree islands that the Everglades is known for? Archaeologists now believe these are not actually naturally occurring in the Park, but rather were created by people thousands of years ago.

Shell Works

The originally people who inhabited the Southwest Florida area were the Calusa tribe; they were comprised of many small villages and utilized resources around them to surviving. Their main source of food came from fishing, and they made tools from shells and other materials that could be found around them. They created hammers, picks, and scrapers from conch, clam, and oyster shells; they also used shells for jewelry and ornaments.

When the Calusa were done with the shells and tools, they piled them to create shell works, which are large scale, planned formations of piled oyster shells that formed built villages. It is uncertain what the purpose of the shell works was, but archaeologists think they may have created these piles to separate domestic and sacred spaces in the villages. These shell piles created high ridges, mounds, crescents, platforms, canals, and courtyards. In the book “Pre-Columbian Architecture in Eastern North America,” author William Morgan suggests that shell works were created as networks to link communities and resources, along with dividing separate spaces.

In time, the piles of shells (also mixed in with food leftovers, bones, etc.) created an organic environment ideal for plant life to grow on top of them and be above the water level line.

These shell works were a collection of a variety of different shell and earth work accumulations. One of shell accumulations within the works is known as a shell midden, which is essentially a “dump” and tells the story of the people who lived there. These middens formed over time from discarded shells over generations. In the Park, the shell works are large, meaning the people had to have organized and planned the mounds and formations. These large mounds weren’t only used as leftover piles, but they also created mounds to build housing and spaces on.

Based on the remains found in the Park, archaeologists have dated the Everglades’ shell works to back to 1000 BC to 1500 AD.

Interested in checking some of these shell works out? They can be found throughout the park. A great way to see these mounds and get around the Everglades is on an airboat tour. Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours can bring you around places in the wetland that you will not be able to gain access to on foot. To book an airboat tour through the Everglades, contact Captain Mitch today at 800-368-0065 or click here.

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