The Everglades’ Threatened and Endangered Species

May 3, 2017 by

endangered species everglades airboat toursThe Everglades is an amazing and pristine ecosystem that is a unique biome that is home to a huge wealth of different flora and fauna. For nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and adventure seekers alike, the Everglades is a one-of-a-kind place that is unmatched. A lot of people, when planning a vacation to the Everglades, choose to experience Everglades National Park, which is a protected area of the Everglades where plants, animals, birds, and fish are protected and conserved.

One of the most interesting and humbling aspects of visiting the Park is that it (and the Everglades in general) are home to a number of threatened and endangered species of plant and animal. This means that in this environment, you have the opportunity to see truly endangered species that are at risk of extinction. These are species that need to be protected and saved because of their biological diversity and importance to the functioning of the overall ecosystem.

What a rare honor to have the chance to see creatures that may number in just the tens. Sadly, with each passing year, it seems that more plants and animals become threatened, endangered, or extinct, but with preservation efforts like those are many national parks, we can at least hope to save and protect small areas that these creatures can safely dwell within.

There are a number of different threatened and endangered species that you might encounter on a trip to the Everglades. What follows is a brief rundown of the same species that are included on the protected list.

Threatened or endangered species of animal that call the Everglades home include:

  • American Alligator
  • American Crocodile
  • Sea Turtles
  • Manatees
  • Florida Panther
  • Various Bird Species

The park is also home to a variety of threatened and endangered plants that include:

  • Buccaneer Palm
  • Florida Thatch Palm
  • Tree Cactus
  • Manchineel
  • King’s Holly
  • Silver Thatch Palm
  • Bitter Thatch Palm
  • Lignum-Vitae

The protection of these plants and animals is vital and also our responsibility. Man is the reason that these habitats have been continually encroached upon and altered beyond repair. Since the degradation is our doing, we have the moral responsibility to save and protect that which remains. The Everglades National Park is home to a number of threatened and endangered plants and animals that can be seen nowhere else. Visiting the park gives you the opportunity to experience the once-in-a-lifetime honor of witnessing something rare and majestic.

To experience the wonders of this park first hand, jump on an airboat tour with Captain Mitch. To learn more, click the Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours page. Click here to book a airboat ride or call 800-368-0065 to reserve a spot today.

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Earth Day is Important for the Everglades

April 18, 2017 by

Each year, Earth day is celebrated on April 22. Back in 1970, 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day celebration. Fast forward 47 years, and we now have the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Florida is home to the Everglades, many species of animals, fish and birds, and thousands of plant life, so Earth Day and these environmental laws have special meaning to this state.

Two years ago, President Obama visited the Everglades on Earth Day to speak on climate change. South Florida, including the Everglades, is extremely vulnerable to climate change. South Florida has a high population, and a low, flat landscape; it’s beaches are eroding and flooding occurs often during high tides. As the sea level continues to rise, this not only compromises the land, but the drinking water available to South Florida’s residents, as well. With higher sea levels, the drinker water will become saltier for millions of people.  This is because the Everglades refills and protects the basin Biscayne Aquifer that supplies drinking water to one-third of Florida. Obama expressed during his Earth Day speech that we cannot deny the effects of climate change, and its biggest impacts will be happening in South Florida.

Every year, the Everglades does something for such an important day for the wetland. Check out https://twitter.com/EvergladesNPS for news and updates on events and happenings occurring.

Also each year, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center hosts an Earth Day celebration with activities and events for all ages. More than 1,200 people attend this celebration. Some activites include: animal programs, boat tours, food, music, educational programs and lectures. For a full list of this year’s activities, click here.

Through environmental awareness, the Everglades has been slowly going through restorations. The damage currently done can show us all how important it is to fix what we’ve done to hurt the environment before it’s too late.

Explore one of the Earth’s greatest treasures on an airboat tour. Captain Mitch’s Airboat tours brings visitors across thousands of acres of private swampland. Captain Mitch and his familh have been in the airboat tour business for more than 60 years. On a tour, visitors will get a chance to see alligators, birds, fish, snakes,  and more. Book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch today. Click here or call 800-368-0065 to schedule a trip. Visit here for a $3 off per person coupon.

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Everglades Fish Spotlight: Gulf Toadfish

April 4, 2017 by

gulf toadfishThere are around 300 different species of fish swimming in the waters of the Everglades National Park. Some of them look straight out of pre-historic times, like the Gulf toadfish. These fish make their presence know. They’re one of the few fish out there that can make sounds that humans can actually hear. Read the list below for some more interesting facts on this fish:

  • The fish gets its name because the sounds it makes are toad-like grunts; they make these noises to attract a mate.
  • These fish are in abundant quantities in the Gulf of Mexico and the Everglades because it is not considered a game fish and known to be poor quality when it comes to eating. It’s slimy outside can be toxic, so people avoid eating it.
  • They are brown fish and they spend a lot of their time hiding in sand and seaweed. They prefer shallow waters.
  • They are known to be a sluggish fish. They can live as deep as 820 feet in the water.
  • It darts out from seaweeds to go after prey.
  • They Can stay alive out of water for a decent amount of time.
  • They lack scales.
  • They can grow up to 12.8 inches in length and weigh up to one to three pounds.
  • They are a bottom feeder feeding on crustaceans, annelids, mollusks, and gobies.
  • Their slimy coating on their body can cause physical irritation to humans.
  • It is also known as a dogfish, mudfish, and oysterdog.

Take a ride through the Everglades yourself to see the vast wetland that is home to so many different species. An airboat ride gives visitors an up-close look at the Everglades; visitors have the chance to spot many different animals, replies, fish, and amphibians. Book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours today by calling 800-368-0065 or clicking here.

Photo courtesy: Rob Myers, www.flmnh.ufl.edu

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Update on Everglades Funding

February 28, 2017 by

evergladesIn December, President Obama signed a bill that authorized $2 billion to go towards restoration efforts in the Everglades. This bill was called The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016. This act provides half the funding needed for the Central Everglades Planning Project, and the other half of the funding will come from Florida.

According to the Everglades foundation, the Central Everglades Planning Project will remove levees, so a more natural flow of the water will flow across the plain. As of now, and for decades, the water is diverted east and west. With this project, the water will no longer be restricted from flowing south from Lake Okeechobee, which is the natural flow. For many years, people have been complaining about the negative impact of this water restriction and were looking for a permanent fix to redirect the water to its natural flow.

This issue is important to many Floridians because they want to ensure their water is clean; the water people used to drink, shower, water their lawn, and so on, comes from the Everglades.

This bill was pushed by Congresswoman Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach, Congressman Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, and Congressman Patrick Murphy of Stuart. Congressman Deutch hopes there will be a future commitment on the federal level for funding.

With this project, the state is also looking for solutions on where to put the water. It has been proposed that the state could by 60,000 acres of land in western Palm Beach County, which is currently owned by sugar producers. This land would be used as a reservoir to store water from the Lake, so it will no longer run east and west. This will be further discussed by state lawmakers in March of this year (2017).

Visit the Everglades

The Everglades is one of the world’s gems, and thankfully more efforts are being taken to restore it before it disappears. If you want to take a trip through this beautiful wetland, jump on an airboat tour with Captain Mitch. Captain Mitch’s airboat tours will give you an up-close-and-personal look into this mystical place. To book an airboat tour, click here or call 800-368-0065.

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FAQ About Everglades National Park

February 13, 2017 by

things to do in the evergladesWant to take a trip to the Everglades? It’s certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. On an airboat tour with Captain Mitch, you’ll be able to get up-close views of the beautiful surroundings, along with the opportunity for many wildlife sightings. However, people often have many questions before entering the Everglades. The National Park Service has many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on its website to help people be better prepared for their trip to the Everglades. Below, we wanted to share some of these questions with you, so you can have a great time and feel comforted knowing as much as possible before you jump on a tour and explore the wetland.

Q: What time does the park close?
A: The Park’s main entrance in Homestead and Shark Valley entrance in Miami are open every day, all day and night. It is not staffed after 6 p.m. No one will get locked in the park during the night, and you can enter or exit at any time.

Q: Does it cost to enter the Park?
A: Fees vary. For a pedestrian and cyclist, it cost $8 to enter the park (at all park entrances). Children 16 or younger get in for free.  A motorcycle cost $20 to enter and a car cost $25 to enter. Annual passes cost $40.

Q: Are there places to eat in the Park?
A: The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center bookstore, the Royal Palm Visitor Center bookstore, the Flamingo marina store, and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center has snack foods and beverages. The Buttonwood Café in Flamingo is open from November 15 to April 15. It is recommended by the Park that people bring their own food and drinks during their trip.

Q: Are the crocodiles and alligators aggressive?
A:  Alligators and crocodiles are unpredictable; crocodiles are known to be a bit more aggressive than alligators when provoked. It’s best to keep a safe distance (15 to 20 feet) when viewing any wildlife. The Park tells visitors to NOT feed wild animals; it is a criminal offense to do so. Since 1990, two people have received injurie from alligator attackers after swimming/splashing in the alligator’s habitat.

Q: Are Pets Allowed?
A: Pets are allowed in parking lots, campgrounds, boats, maintained ground of a public facility, on public roadways, and on roadside campgrounds and picnic areas. They are not allowed on trails or wilderness areas. They must be on a leash (no longer than 6 feet).

Explore the Everglades

An airboat tour is a wonderful way to experience the Everglades. Book a tour with Captain Mitch today. Captain Mitch has been giving tours in the Everglades for more than 30 years. To schedule a tour, click here to call 800-368-0065.

 

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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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Sleep Under the Stars by Camping in the Everglades

October 11, 2016 by

Tent On A CampsiteCamping is one of the best ways to experience the great outdoors. But, did you know you can actually go camping in the Everglades National Park? You can! The park offers camping opportunities in both the front country and back country. Visitors are able to go camping year-round, but the wet season (June through November) is a more difficult and uncomfortable environment for camping. If you’re thinking about experiencing this beautiful wetland through a camping experience, remember to come prepared; the park does not provide any camping equipment for people to buy or rent.

For the front country camping, there are two drive-in accessible campgrounds from the Homestead entrance of the park, which are Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground. People can bring both tents and RVs to the sites. These are the only two sites in the front country part of the Everglades.

For the most part, the number of camp sites in these campgrounds meet the demand. In the winter (busy) season, it is recommended to reserve a site for Flamingo. A limited number of group sites (which accommodate up to 15 people) are available. A maximum backcountry stay is 14 days.

With backcountry camping, people can camp at a number of ground sites, beach sites, and elevated camping platforms across the park. These sites can be reached by canoe, kayak, motorboat, and some can be reached by hiking. Most of these sites are in the Ten Thousand Islands and along the rivers that flow into these islands.

For this type of wilderness camping, a permit is required, which a person can pick up the day before or day of his or her trip at the Flamingo or Gulf Coast Visitor Center or the fee station at the Homestead park entrance. The permit processing fee costs $15 and there is a $2 per person per day camping fee.

Visitors are asked to use caution at campsites where alligators and other wildlife have been fed/gained access to human food.

Explore the Everglades

If you plan on exploring the Everglades before you set up camp, an airboat tour is a great way to get around the park. To book an airboat tour, contact Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours by clicking here or calling 800-368-0065.

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Go Fishing in the Everglades!

September 14, 2016 by

fishingDid you know you can go fishing in the Everglades? You can! Since one-third of the Everglades is water covered, it makes sense that there are plenty of places where fishing would be ideal! In the Park, anglers have the opportunity to catch a variety of fish, including: snapper, redfish, bass, sea trout, and bluegill. Being a national park and in the state of Florida, people must be aware and abide by local fishing information.

People are asked to exercise caution while fishing in the Everglades, and to always check on weather and tide conditions and predictions, as well as prepare for lots of mosquitos. In short, visitors must be aware of all Florida state laws, rules, and regulations regarding fishing such as bag limits for individual species. When It comes to licensing information and regulations, people should visit marinefisheries.org to know what’s OK and what’s not OK before you head out.

In the Everglades, people have the opportunity to participate in saltwater fishing in Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands and in other areas along the park’s coast.  Both saltwater and freshwater fishing require separate Florida fishing licenses.

Shoreline fishing is available in the park, but it is limited. Places to do this include: Pine Glades Lake, Sisal Pond, Ficus Pond, Sweet Bay Pond, Nine Mile Pond, West Lake, and the Flamingo Camping Area.

When it comes to freshwater fishing, a license is required for those over 16. People are not allowed to use live or dead fish, amphibians, roe for bait. Digging for bait is also prohibited. With saltwater fishing, the same license requirements apply. Saltwater bait includes: shrimp, minnows, pilchards, pinfish, mullet, and a few others.

General Everglades Fishing Info:

  • Seines, nets, and lobster snares are prohibited.
  • Spears and firearms are prohibited.
  • Collecting plants and animals is prohibited.
  • Anglers are allowed to have 4 fillets per person for immediate consumption at designated campsites or on board vessels with cooking facilities; otherwise, all other fish must remain intact while in park waters.
  • Commercial fishing is prohibited.
  • Anglers are limited to 20 fish per person at a time, but cannot possess no more than 10 of any one species. If the species is non-native, there is no limit.

For a full list of Everglades fishing information that is up-to-date and more thorough, visit marinefisheries.org or myfwc.com. If you’re looking for a tour or if fishing isn’t your thing, think about riding in an airboat to experience the Everglades in a whole new way. To book a trip, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 800-3698-0065 or click here.

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Plant profile: Pond Apple

August 19, 2016 by

pond appleThe Everglades is home to an array of plants that thrive in the wet, subtropical climate. Although mangroves and grasses come to many people’s minds when thinking about plant life in the Everglades, we’d like to profile a plant that many people might not know about that is native to the area: the pond apple.

The pond apple, Annona glabra, is a shrub or small tree with evergreen leaves, white/pale yellow thick-petal flowers and large fruit.  This plant is also known as alligator apple, swamp apple, corkwood, and monkey apple. Along with the Everglades, this plant is also native in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, West Africa, and South Asia.

They can grow up to 30 to 40 feet tall by 10 to 20 feet wide. As a young pond apple tree, the bark is gray and scale; as the tree gets older, the bark becomes fissured and can turn to a reddish-brown color. These trees can be found along streams and rivers banks, canal banks, slough swamps, freshwater ponds, lakes, and strands. The pond apple is known to flourish around bald cypress trees. They tolerate salt water and cannot grow in dry soil.

In the past, there was a pond apple forest at the southern end of Lake Okeechobee, but due do drainage over the years this habitat was destroyed. Still, the largest numbers of this species of tree are found in the Everglades, but they can also be found throughout other areas of Florida.

Native Indians and settlers to the Everglades ate the fruit off this tree, but it is now considered unsavory for humans to eat. Most of the fruit will mature and fall of the trees in the fall and winter. When they drop, they are green or green/yellow in color. The fruit has a sweet aroma and the pulp is fleshy, mealy, and pithy. The flesh is yellow/orange in color and is filled with more than 100 dark-colored seeds within. The seeds are poisonous, and powder from the seeds have been known to blind people. The seeds and leaves of this plant are known to be insecticidal. More recent studies are showing that the seeds contain anticancer compound, which may be able to be used medically. Birds, raccoons, squirrels, and alligators have been known to eat the pond apple fruit.

Not only does the pond apple provide food for many animals in the Everglades, it also provides shelter and creates a safe haven for many, as well.

Visit the Pond Apple’s Habitat

Explore where this fruit-filled tree thrives while on an airboat ride. An airboat can take you through many places in the Everglades with the opportunity to see this plant, along with hundreds of other species of plants, many of which are unique only to the River of Grass. To book an airboat tour, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 800-368-0065 or click here.

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Take A Ride on the Shark Valley Bike Trail

August 2, 2016 by

shark valleyThe Everglades is a beautiful, majestic place perfect for you to explore and enjoy in a variety of different ways. If you’re looking for some extra exercise and a peaceful and enjoyable way to experience the park, you should try biking through Shark Valley.

The Shark Valley bike trail is a 15-mile trip that is good for any type of bicycle; this trail is flat and is not a rough terrain. On average, this ride takes bicyclists two to 3 hours to complete. Usually, people don’t bike nonstop on this trail, because they stop to view the beautiful wetland scenery around them.

The bike trail is also used by trams, run by Shark Valley Tram Tours. People ride bikes opposite the flow of tram traffic. The loop starts at the visitor center. People are asked to stop biking when a tram passes, and they can continue once the tram has fully passed them. The speed limit for trams and bicyclists on this trail is 25 mph for safety purposes.

People are allowed to bring their own bicycles, or they can rent them from Shark Valley Tram Tours. Bikes are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis. The rental bikes are single-gear, coaster brake bikes with adjustable seats. There are also children’s bikes available, as well as bikes with child seats attached. Shark Valley Tram Tours also provides helmets and baskets for people to use with their bike rental. Bikes can be rented and used on this trail from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On this trail, there are no short cuts. For people who do not want to or cannot complete the 15-mile trip, they are advised to turn around on the road to return. The parking lot for this trail closes at 6 p.m. People can find restrooms and a water fountain at an observation tower at the farthest point on the loop road.

If you’re looking to ride with a group larger than 20 people, you need to obtain a special use permit from a park ranger. Also if you want to bike outside the normal biking hours, you will also have to obtain a permit.

Through the ride on Shark Valley trail, people can get a closer look at bayhead and hammock ecosystems in Bobcat Boardwalk and Otter Cave Hammock trail, which are a couple of unpaved walking trails people can explore along the way.

Being in the middle of the Everglades, there is the chance of seeing wildlife. Feeding or harassing the animals in the park is not allowed, and people are asked to keep their distance from any wildlife they see for their own safety.

Visit the Everglades

Biking is a great way to explore the great outdoors of the Everglades Park. Another awesome way to see even more sights throughout this precious ecosystem is a trip on an airboat. Airboats can bring visitors to places beyond where a walking or biking trail can reach. To book an airboat tour, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 800-368-0065 or click here.

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