Threatened gopher tortoises to be relocated

Threatened gopher tortoises to be relocated to make way for Wekiva Trail

 

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/threatened-gopher-tortoises-be-relocated-make-way-/nZGPC/

Saving these 150 tortoise should not cost $200,00 to relocate?

It is only about a 3 mile stretch of land some 10 feet wide?

If the towns want to spend that much money, save the extra and build that short stretch of trail up a little so that animals can live and/or just go under?

Personnel I would rather be able to enjoy the turtles as with the rest of the wildlife while biking the trail?

This is the reason and seems to be the only reason the professional's can give for spending this much money and terrorizing the poor tortoises?

(Amy Daley of CPH Engineers is in charge of finding the tortoises a new home.

"Well according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Conservation regulations, gopher tortoises are a threatened species here in the state of Florida," Daley said)?

So what, does this mean the only choice in moving them?

I think not.

The proposed Wekiva Trail is to be a 15-mile, multi-use trail that will provide hikers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts a regional connection between Lake, Seminole and Orange Counties, 3 miles for the gopher.

This, I am sure that most of us will agree is a good thing because it will give many more people a safer place to help get healthier without fear of being run over while on a roadway?

Remember that this is a trail and that the 15 miles to be added for connecting towns has many endangered Gopher Tortoises around but for only 3 of those miles?

I say this because it would seem to me that moving them a few feet while building this trail would be more than enough?

Why not build the fence first then the trail?

Any or all power and water lines can run along side of that 3 miles and also up and under for protection of the lines?

This trail will provide a way to the shops, restaurants and cultural destinations of the City of Mount Dora, and connect existing trails to thousands of acres of preservation land and destinations such as Rock Springs Run and the Wekiwa Springs State Park. Construction would extend the trail from Altamonte Springs to the Orange County line near Bear Lake Road and Maitland Boulevard.

You haven't lived until you can sit at the dining room table and just watch Harriett sun herself and/or eat.

http://gator-woman.com/gopher.html

Caught in the Headlights

But, it's just another animal, why slow down?

Slow down?

What a concept!

http://www.onearth.org/articles/2013/07/can-lasers-help-save-floridas-panthers

The part of Route 41 Florida known as the Tamiami Trail is a Scenic Drives through the Everglades in Florida.

Why would anyone be speeding while traveling this beautiful road?

The Tamiami Trail, has a maximum posted speed of 60 miles per hour during the daytime, although many drivers exceed that speed.

With nighttime limits of 45 miles per hour.

This speed limit is ridicules and now, because of the new interstate, should be dropped down to 45 daytime 35 nighttime.

Remember, the life you save could be mine?

If you are in a hurry we, the government, built this speed road just for you, a three or four line 70 MPH highway that you should be on.

This way I, as well as so many animals, will not keep getting in your way?

If you are in a hurry and must travel on Rte. # 41, travel about 3/4’s of it and then get on Rte. #75 and drive even faster?

Can new technology help save Florida’s endangered panthers from being run down on the highway?

by Justine E. Hausheer  @justinehausheer • July 17, 2013

No, dropping the speed limit and police patrols will.

This trail is a last area of "safety" for many wildlife.

This includes our Florida Panthers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther

Florida Scenic Drives and Road Trips Tamiami Trail

http://www.myscenicdrives.com/drives/florida/tamiami-trail

Now for this government in Florida.

Acceptable losses is a car manufactures slogan and should not be used against those with no voice to protest!

This new RADS,(The roadside animal detection system), is only as good as the drivers that obey the signs?

RADs is an attempt to help with the traffic threat, but was only the result of local sportsmen objecting to a more proven method for reducing wildlife losses.

On “Alligator Alley” a four-lane Interstate 75, more than 30 underpasses now give wildlife a way to cross under the road, and 40 miles of fencing guide animals to the safer route.

But these crossings come with a hefty price tag—$4 million.

The two miles of proposed fencing along Route 41 would keep panthers off the road.

However, it would also prevent sportsmen from parking on the shoulder and hiking into the brush to hunt or fish.

Folks, this is Florida, a tropical state, hunters have hundreds of thousands of places to pull over and do their dirty work, why do they also feel the need to kill on this beautiful scenic travel road?

Because they can!

Guns don't kill, greedy monsters kill.

News from the new Gopher tortoises hotel at the fence

I need to get healed and get a life, I am now a reporter on the life of a Gopher tortoises?

A follow up from an earlier posting

It’s a Mystery?

http://sachemspeaks.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/its-a-mystery/

Our good neighbor Jim did a great job on his side of the fence, I added a board at the bottom on my side plus made a short overhang above, doing a better job when healed.

While chasing squirrels form Breanna's play yard someone, I am hoping Harriett, came from the back yard, maybe through Jim's back yard and into the hole.

I have been checking the old hole at the road and have seem no life as yet, it is starting to look as though she has abandon it.

I am hope that it is Harriett, because coming from our back yard through Jim's back yard is so much safer than going under our gate and up the road.

If not than a gentleman caller is ok also, I am checking, I just do not wish to do much disturbing for awhile.

The little so and so is going to keep leaving the yard looking for a man, so I will be glad that at least she will be a little safer from the back yard.

Like I said earlier, I need to get a life, I am now a reporter on the sex life of a Gopher tortoises?

P.S. whomever moved in also did a good job helping the rain to pass around the hole.

Stay tune because it is looking like rain is on the way.

Harriett has a boyfriend?

It's a Mystery?

 

Walked out the back door at first light, looked to my right as I was heading for my work shed and almost tripped on the patio.

Over at the fence across from our driveway was a fresh pile of sand?

First thought was, "Boy I am going to hate to fight off those Fire ants."

As you can tell from the above statement,

I was not quite awake as yet, that is until seeing the mound of sand.

After a closer look, it looks like either Harriett, our Gopher Tortoise,

http://sachemspeaks.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/shes-back/

built a new home away from the fence facing the road, or Harriett has a boyfriend?

Harriett came out to eat so I planned on watching her to see where she goes after breakfast only she fooled me,

because she left while I was putting gas in the lawnmower.

Please stay tuned for any following episodes?

Macroglossum Stellatarum

Just when you think that you are the most intelligent species in the land, along comes the Macroglossum Stellatarum?

Lewis Nixon invented the first Sonar in 1906,In 1906, American naval architect Lewis Nixon invented the first sonar-like listening device to detect icebergs.

UF researcher shows hawkmoths use ultrasound to combat bats

http://news.ufl.edu/2013/07/03/hawkmoth-ultrasound/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UniversityOfFloridaNews+%28University+of+Florida+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

WRONG.

Bats and many Moths have had sonar for centuries.

Bats and moths have engaged in an arms race for nearly 65 million years as bats evolve ways to hunt down moths and moths evolve ways to escape bats.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/ok-weird-ward-bats-these-moths-rub-their-genitals-6C10560785

French physicist Paul Langévin constructed the first sonar set to detect submarines in 1915.

By 1918, Britain and the United States had built sonar sets that could send out, as well as receive, sound signals.

In the 2000's, the U.S. Navy introduced a sonar system to help clear military mines.

Hawkmoths are major pollinators

 and some are agricultural pests.

Researchers use the insects as model organisms for genetic research due to their large size.

Previous research shows tiger moths use ultrasound as a defense mechanism.

“While they produce the sound using tymbals, a vibrating membrane located on the thorax, hawkmoths use a system located in the genitals.

Scientists found at least three hawkmoth species produce ultrasonic sound, including females.

Researchers believe hawkmoths may produce the sound as a physical defense, to warn others or to jam the bats’ echolocation, which confuses the predators so they may not identify an object or interpret where it is located”, Kawahara said.