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Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
What’s My Name?
If you’re a Floridian, it’s a speck, or speckled perch; if you’re a visitor, you’d call it a black crappie. Found over much of the state of Florida, this popular game fish thrives in clear, calm water, such as lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers, yet unlike most panfish, it feeds primarily offshore on small fish. Its scales are typically yellowish green in color, and it features large dorsal and anal fins that are practically identical in size.
Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia minor)
Don’t Fly Too Close
Deadly to insects but not to humans, the insectivorous hooded pitcher plant, commonly found in swampy environments of northern Florida, lures flying insects into its tube-like leaves with an enticing combination of nectar, scent, and translucent patches on the leaves. Once deep inside, the insects are trapped by reverse-facing hairs and slippery walls. The plant then digests the insects leaving only tiny, indigestible body parts behind.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Here, Kitty, Kitty …
Though seldom seen, bobcats are, in fact, widely distributed throughout Florida. These stealthy and efficient hunters prey on squirrels, rabbits, rats, and various ground birds, and typically call the deep forest, swamps, and hammock land of Florida’s unpopulated regions home. However, they can also be found in urban and suburban areas, where they may occasionally take a feral cat or domestic chicken. Approximately twice the size of an average domesticated cat, the bobcat is identifiable by its tufted ears, mottled or spotted fur, and its trademark short or “bobbed” tail.
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Shingle Creek
The headwaters of the Everglades watershed is a slow, meandering, cypress-lined creek just outside the city of Orlando.
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Kissimmee River
The restoration of 40 miles of river and floodplain is proof that these massive projects can be completed and show immediate results.
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Lake Okeechobee & EAA Reservoir
This is where the southward flow of water was interrupted. The reservoir will clean and store fresh water before it is sent south.
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Tamiami Trail Bridges
The road bed for Highway 41 effectively dammed the shallow “sheet flow” of water from the north, but two new bridges have restored the flow.
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Everglades National Park
The major outlet for fresh water from the Everglades, Shark River features the region’s tallest and most productive red-mangrove forests.
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Florida Bay
Florida Bay now receives less than 50% of the fresh water it needs to maintain its massive seagrass beds, which are the key to the entire ecosystem.
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