Gator Bait

Photo by Larry Harter

Lara Miller 
Natural Resource Agent 


Many Pinellas County parks and preserves post “DO NOT FEED” the alligator signs around lakes and ponds. These educational signs teach the public about the dangers of feeding alligators while also helping to protect alligators from unnatural interactions with humans. These signs are increasingly important as human population increases have placed tremendous pressure on wildlife habitat. The list below highlights some of the reasons for educating the public about the urban-wildlife interface:

1. Habitat destruction has forced many alligators to adjust to living in a world surrounded by man.
2. When people feed alligators, they lose their fear of humans and begin to relate man with food.
3. Once alligators become a “nuisance” or even life-threatening, personnel are called in to evaluate the situation and remove the alligator if necessary.
• Alligators that are “removed” are typically killed and processed for their meat and hide. Occasionally they are sold to an alligator farm, exhibit or zoo.
4. State law makes it illegal to feed alligators; it doesn’t matter if it’s chicken or marshmallows, all of it is against the law. This law was put in place in an effort to prevent alligators from becoming a pest and thus further being killed.

As Auxiliary Ranger, Larry Harter put it, “People think that feeding alligators is being kind to them but it upsets the balance of nature and causes them to them to lose their natural fear of humans.”

The lesson here is that alligators are native and wild animals that are best if left alone. Mid-April through May is mating season for the alligators, making both males and females more aggressive. Avoid becoming gator bait; read the signs and follow the law.

For more information on the American Alligator, please visit the sources below:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230
http://webworld.freac.fsu.edu/cameras/saw_grass/enviro/alligatorflorida.htm http://myflorida.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1173/related/1

Residents’ online values survey

Pinellas County residents are invited to help set the strategic direction for Pinellas County by taking an online survey. Posted on the county’s website for five days, the survey offers an opportunity for residents to share their views about Pinellas County, the values that they want reflected in their community and their vision for the future.

The brief survey can be taken from 8 a.m. on Monday, April 23, to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 27. Click on the Your Voice Our Future button (top of Pinellas County web page www.pinellascounty.org ). 

While the survey is part of this year’s budget outreach, it goes beyond the development of the budget of this fiscal year and builds on the strategic direction sessions in which the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners participated.

"This online survey is about setting a direction for all of us as we continue to redefine the services provided by county government," said County Administrator Bob LaSala, county administrator. "We are encouraging everyone to take a couple of minutes to fill out the survey so that they can be a part of this very important process."

2012 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Building Education Program

Remodel Green & Profit 

April 12, 2012   
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.   
Pinellas County Extension 
12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774-3602 


Participants will:

• Learn to select fixtures/appliances that are cost-efficient and to understand the importance of such appliances with regard to Florida's water and energy resources
• Gain knowledge to construct better, more water and mold resistant homes suitable for Florida's hot-humid climate
• Discover how to address lead when remodeling and the tools and supplies needed for proper removal and disposal.

Program total of 8 CEH's

• CILB 0008174-2 CEH's


• CILB 0001756-2 CEH's


• CILB 0009802 -2 CEH's


• CILB0007368-2 CEH's


• AR 9877293 - 2 CEH's


• AR 9876873-2 CEH's


• AR 9876675-2 CEH's


• AR 9876676-2 CEH's


• FBPE exp 4028 - 8 PDHs

Register Online
http://buildgreen.ufl.edu/cecampus.htm

Spring into Snorkeling

Libby Carnahan 
Sea Grant Marine Agent 

Spring is in the air, and under the water. As the temperatures warm this season, consider strapping on some snorkeling gear, cooling off and exploring the underwater world in our backyard. Snorkeling is a relaxing and gratifying activity that can be fun whether it is your first time or your five hundredth time in the water.

Whether you are floating above the seagrass flats spying on seahorses, or exploring an artificial reef, the key to a great snorkeling experience is good preparation. If you are a non-swimmer, contact a local dive shop or fitness center for swimming classes to help increase your comfort level in the water. You may also choose to rent gear or purchase your own. Staff at local outdoor stores or dive shops can advise you, help you try on the gear before purchase, and ensure you have proper fitting gear.

It is always safest and more fun to snorkel with a dive buddy. When snorkeling from a boat, regulations require a dive flag displayed on your boat and when snorkeling from shore, you must keep a floating dive flag with you . Boaters should recognize your dive flag and its meaning, however always err on the side of caution and pay close attention to boat traffic in your vicinity.

It is important to check real-time and predicted marine weather and the tides as calm to light winds are best for snorkeling. Heavy winds will cause rough waters and decrease underwater visibility. Likewise, tides can affect the speed of local water movement, the turbidity of the water, and of course, the depth of the water.

Freshwater springs offer crystal clear water and a confined environment that provide a high level of comfort. Marine habitats including seagrass beds, sponge flats, hardbottom habitats, coral reefs, and artificial reefs provide opportunities to view a diversity of fish and marine invertebrates! So, grab your gear, explore Florida’s underwater worlds and have fun!

Equipment (*Essential, †Recommended)
*Dive Mask (with Tempered Glass)
*Snorkel
*Fins
†Snorkel vest
†Exposure protection (rash guard, dive skin, dive hood or cap, wetsuit)
†Safety Sausage
*Dive Flag
†Underwater Wildlife Identification Cards

Resources:
Salt Water Tide Predictions

Marine Weather Forecast

Real-Time Tide Levels, NOAA Tides and Currents

Real-Time Wind Conditions

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

Monday, April 2, 2012     
10:00 am to noon
 
Seminole Community Library Program Room
9200 113th St. N.
Seminole, Florida 33722
 
TOPIC: Pinellas County Extension Sustainable Floridians

SPEAKERS:

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector

Regional Specialized Agent

Urban Sustainability

Pinellas County Extension

University of Florida / IFAS

Bob Huttick

Recently trained in Sustainable Floridians program

MaryAnn Kirk

Recently trained in Sustainable Floridians program

There will be a fascinating Power Point presentation given at this exciting program.

You will have a chance to ask questions. Invite your neighbors to attend this special Discussion Group meeting!

For additional information and to RSVP: Contact Mary, queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

Pinellas County Extension Shines a Light on Energy Consumption

Saturday March 31 at Clearwater Public Library, East Branch

Through its Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project, Pinellas County Extension is promoting a new gadget that aims to get citizens more energy conscious and eco-friendly.

The Kill-A-Watt™ Energy Monitor is a simple tool used to see how much energy the devices in a home are actually using, whether they are on or off. Users simply plug the monitor into an outlet, plug an appliance into the monitor, follow The Kill-A-Watt’s™ instructions and watch it work. The monitor measures various aspects of electrical consumption, from voltage of an outlet to watts and kilowatt hours. Users can find out exactly how much energy and money is being consumed by most of their household electronics.

Pinellas County Extension and the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative have come together to make these Kill-A-Watt™ monitors available for check-out at their libraries to make the assessment of personal energy consumption even easier.

Extension specialists will also be holding upcoming classes at select libraries to further explain how the monitors work and to give easy tips to make a home more energy efficient in their effort to decrease electric bills and increase environmental friendliness.

On Saturday March 31st we will be hosting a class at the Clearwater Public Library, East Branch. Click here for a map to the library. Participants of the class will receive handouts and worksheets from the University of Florida and take part in an interactive presentation. Door prizes will be awarded.

Sign up today to participate in this class. Visit www.pinellascountyextension.org and click on the 31st on the calendar on the front page. Registration is free and easy.

See you on the 31st!

Get Ready Tampa Bay!

Mary Campbell 
Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

The Tampa Bay region is preparing for electric vehicles. Get Ready Tampa Bay is a regional collaboration with interested groups to prepare Tampa Bay for the roll-out of electric vehicles (EV). No new idea or technology is ever really simple or easy to launch. Electric cars have been around a long time and were first developed along with gasoline powered vehicles in the 1800’s. Electric vehicles did not have the speed or range of gas powered vehicles and developing the new batteries has been a challenge. With new technology and a few bright ideas, EV has come a long way since the 1800’s.

Electric vehicles are an option for improving air quality and reducing dependence on imported oil. Sailing past the gas station may sound like a great idea. Electricity is produced in the U.S. as opposed to gasoline imported by tanker or pipeline and it is less affected by the volatile world oil market. Electric vehicles run clean and produce no air-polluting emissions.

The infrastructure needed to support plug-in vehicles is beginning to pop up. Charging stations will need to become as conveniently located as gas stations are now. The national Project Get Ready is a non-profit initiative led by the Rocky Mountain Institute with a wide array of partners to help cities develop infrastructure for plug-in vehicles. Motorists will have the option to drive clean, quiet-running automobiles, get great mileage and top off the charge with a local charging station. Drivers can locate stations in the Tampa Bay area and beyond at Charge Point America.

Resources:
Get Ready Tampa Bay
Florida Energy Systems Consortium-Batteries for Automobiles (pdf)
EPA Electric Vehicles Fact sheet
EPA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles