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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Emeralda Marsh - The Jewel of Lake County

The crown jewel of bird watching in Lake County is also one of the most prized conservation areas in all of Central Florida.

Although the 7,089-acre preserve known as the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area is almost a secret outside of the Sunshine State, local bird watchers and environ- mentalists rave about its large and diverse wildlife population. After only a decade of rehabilitation, the St. Johns River Water Management District, along with support from the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society, has accomplished an astounding feat of creating a viable conservation area and an ecotourism attraction.

The uniqueness of Emeralda Marsh is partly due to its past. In the 1940s the marsh lands to the east of Lake Griffin were drained and converted to agricultural fields and cattle pastures. With the support of the community, the District purchased seven different parcels between 1991 and 1993 that make up the conservation area.

Emeralda Marsh Birds The Snowy Egret (top left), Great Blue Heron (top right), Northern Mockingbird (bottom left) and Anhinga (bottom right) are just a few of the birds that can be found at Emeralda Marsh.

Initial restoration of the area began in 1994 when a wetland treatment marsh was established on more than 1,500 acres of former agricultural fields bordering Lake Griffin and Haynes Creek. The marsh treatment, or flow-ways, helps remove solid materials and nutrients from Lake Griffin.

"The original intent was to clean up the lakes - that was the main focus - and to do that one of the things that had to be stopped was the fertilizer loading into the lakes," said John Stenberg, a District environmental scientist. "We still have the wildlife habitat benefit so it is like a two-pronged approach where we trap nutrients and increase wildlife habitat."

From the advanced to the novice bird watcher, Emeralda Marsh presents unlimited opportunities. Known for its varying habitats and sheer size, what separates the conservation area from other preserves is its 4.3-mile wildlife drive. Built atop the dikes in the treatment marsh, the drive provides unbelievable access to the interior of wetland habitats.

"It's a good place for people to go," Stenberg said. "Things like a wildlife trail or wildlife drive give people a chance to see it even if they can't walk that far out. I have talked to people in wheelchairs that are riding around able to go birding. It is a great way to get people in that literally could not make the bike ride or walk that distance."

Friday, June 27, 2008

Lake County is Perfect for Bird Watchers

Unlike the birds, it is hard to say how many bird watchers visit or call Lake County home. With more than 18 identified locations for the activity, bird watching is a popular hobby that is enjoyed by many Lake County outdoor enthusiasts.

"I think there are a lot of bird watchers in Lake County," said Mary Remer of the Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society. "The society is sent all the names of people that subscribe to National Audubon Magazine, and right now there are more than 500 in this area.

"Bird watching is a growing outdoor activity. Florida is wonderful for it, and there are tons of people that come down here to go bird watching. It's hard to say how many bird watchers are in Lake County at any given time, but it is a great place for bird watching."

While many visiting bird watchers find Lake County to be a great place for birding, many residents have known this for years by simply looking out their back porches. While bird watching is increasing in popularity so is the casual watcher who sits in the backyard.

"I have a little different slant than the typical birders - I do it in my yard," said Greg Gensheimer, a Clermont resident. "I live in an older subdivision with rectangular five-acre lots. Particularly some of the older communities where the trees and habitats are established, there are more birds flying around our houses than most people realize."

In the past couple of years, Gensheimer has counted more than 60 different species from his backyard, but of course not all at one time.

"It depends on the time of year. Over the last couple of weeks in November the warblers come in and the Chipping Sparrows are at the feeder," he said. "I heard robins this week and have seen White-winged Doves and Mourning Doves.

"Birds can be found anywhere in Lake County - even little places that might not be anything more than an extended berm off the side of the road. You can see some of the most amazing things here."

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Florida Scrub Jay

Need a reason to visit Lake County? For touring bird watchers one lone species is often the number one reason to visit the Central Florida county of a 1,000 lakes.

The Florida Scrub-jay is a prize sighting for visiting bird watchers. The species is found only in Florida and is limited to a number of small areas in the state that have dry, sandy soil with oak scrub trees.

The Florida Scrub-jay is a state-listed threatened species because oak scrub lands are prime areas for development. Large colonies of the jays are known in only four areas of the state - with the largest possibly in the Ocala National Forest, located in northeast Lake County.

“I think Lake County is one of the best places in Central Florida for bird watching, although people in Volusia County may argue with that,” said Mary Remer of the Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society. “We have a good population of scrub-jays in Lake County and that is something a lot of people want to see.”

The Florida Scrub-jay is sought out by many bird watchers for other reasons than its declining numbers. The most unusual trait of the species is the young of the previous year help raise next year’s brood. And according to Remer, it’s a “beautiful bird.”

Remer and other Audubon Society members are hoping to add another colony of Florida Scrub-jays at the Palatlakaha Environmental & Agricultural Reserve, or as it is commonly referred to as PEAR Park, in South Lake County.

The 270-acre preserve was leased by Lake County several years ago from the State of Florida and has quickly become a popular regional park for County citizens and visitors as it features the Dr. S.J. Stephany Memorial River Trail and a dog park. As part of the rehabilitation efforts of the former agriculture land, the Audubon Society is establishing about 50 acres of oak scrub land for the Florida Scrub-jay.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Bird Watching Tips

Try to observe and photograph birds without disturbing them. Hide in the vegetation or stand right next to a tree while observing the birds, they may come closer.
Stay on existing roads and trails to avoid trampling fragile habitat.
The best time to watch for perching birds is the first two hours after sunrise and the last hours before sunset. Ducks, waders and shorebirds can be observed all day. On light rainy days birds normally are active most of the day.
Wear light clothes of natural colors — preferably khaki, green etc. Avoid clothing that may snag easily or will rustle.
At all times make as little noise as possible and talk with a low voice or whisper in order not to scare the birds away.
Walk slowly and make no speedy movements. Remember an experienced bird watcher may walk less than a mile an hour.
When with a group of bird watchers, always stay together in one flock so that no one walks ahead or falls behind.
Do not stay near nests of birds and never take their young or their eggs.
Avoid chasing or flushing birds.
Visiting hours of birding locations can vary; always call ahead.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Evacuating Farm Animals

Whether or not a family evacuates, owners may want to consider evacuating horses if they are maintained in stables or small pastures in urban areas where they will be unable to avoid debris and collapsing buildings. If it is decided the family must evacuate do not try to evacuate with livestock in trailer unless there is sufficient time.

If a family cannot be on the road 48 hours before the storm is due to hit, the family could easily be caught in traffic and high winds. Traffic on highways will be moving very slowly. A livestock trailer is very unstable in high winds and high winds will arrive eight to 10 hours before the storm.

Think debris. Store and secure everything possible. Plan to turn over and tie down picnic tables or anything else too large to store.

Put ID on animals.

Have the following equipment on hand and know in advance how to use it: Chain saw, ladder, axe, shovel, pry bar, come along, metal cable, block and tackle, wire cutters, tool box and gasoline.

Photograph animals and property. Have a photo of a family member with each animal.

Have a two-week supply of animal feed on hand.

During a hurricane, the safest place for livestock is a large pasture with a low area.

* Free of toxic trees and foliage.
* No overhead power lines
* Well away from areas that might generate wind driven debris.
* It should have both low areas that animals can shelter in during the storm, and higher areas that will not be flooded after the storm.
* It should have woven wire fencing.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Florida Black Bear Festival

As bear cubs begin to leave their dens to explore the world, celebrate with the City of Umatilla during the Ninth Annual Florida Black Bear Festival on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cadwell Park, located at 4 Cassady St. in Umatilla.

The theme for this year's festival is "Living Safely in Bear Country." The festival is presented by a partnership of Defenders of Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, City of Umatilla, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Umatilla Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club.

“The Florida Black Bear Festival is a fun event full of activities, presentations and field trips that provide participants with information about how bears live; bear behavior; how we can avoid attracting them to our homes; and how we can live and recreate in bear country safely” said Susan R. Martin, Executive Director of the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce.

Festival highlights include:

Music by Ken Skeens, Leigh Goldsmith and The Remnants
Live animals from the Central Florida Zoological Park
Authors’ Corner featuring nationally and locally renowned writers
Presentations offering bear country safety tips and ways residents can co-exist with bears
Guided field trips into the Ocala National Forest
Presentations by well-known naturalists, bear experts and authors
A family activity pavilion, children’s paleontology dig, animal track casting and bear scavenger hunt

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Feeding Birds

According to the National Audubon Society, bird feeding can benefit birds and also provide great bird watching from the backyard. The obvious time to feed birds is in winter when natural food supplies are scarce; however, additional species visit feeders during the spring and fall migrations, and also during summer while nesting.

To keep birds coming back to the feeders in any season provide them with the following three essential elements:

* Variety of quality seed.
* Fresh water for drinking and bathing.
* Ample cover, preferably provided by native plants which also provide potential nesting sites and a source of natural food.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Enjoy the Tourist Places in Florida

Florida procures the fame of one of the popular tourist destinations in the late 19th century. As the railroad expanded, the railroad magnate Henry plant built a luxurious hotel in Tampa that became a campus for Tampa University.

Numerous luxurious hotels have been along the route side which includes cities of St. Augustine, Ormond Beach and West Palm Beach. The Florida railroads opened large areas for development and it covers the tourist to enjoy the spirit booming over their. People started to buy and sell land in the platted communities such as Miami and Palm Beach. The first theme park emerged in Florida at 1930s and it inclusive of cypress gardens near winter haven and marineland near St. Augustine. In the late 1960, the Walt Disney world resort emerged at central Florida.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Invasive Exotic Plants

According to the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC), the spread of invasive exotic plants is second only to direct habitat destruction in creating adverse effects on Florida's natural habitats! Nuisance exotic plant species out-compete native flora thus reducing the amount of forage and cover for our native wildlife. In order to protect our wild and natural areas, the State of Florida spends millions of dollars every year to control the spread of exotics. In addition to threatening our natural areas, recreation and even commerce are compromised. In the early 1900's shipping was almost halted on the St. Johns River due to water hyacinths choking the river! Even today, boating on some lakes would be impossible if it were not for expensive chemical treatments of hydrilla.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lovebugs in Florida

Lovebugs are small black flies with a red thorax that have been invading our lives for the past several weeks. They are considered a nuisance mainly because they congregate in large numbers along highways and splatter on windshields and grills of our cars.

Damage: Car's windshields become covered with the fatty remains that can become thick enough to obscure vision. The flies can also clog radiators and cause our cars to overheat. The fatty tissue can pit our car's finish if not removed within a few days. A word of caution, do not paint your house now, lovebugs can mar freshly painted surfaces.

Feeding: Adult lovebugs are harmless - they do not sting or bite. They feed on the nectar of various plants, especially sweet clover, brazilian pepper and goldenrod.

Frequency of flights: Two flights of lovebugs occur each year in Central Florida. The spring flight occurs during late April and May. A second flight occurs in fall around late August and September and flight periods generally last 4-5 weeks. Flights are usually restricted to daylight hours and temperatures above 68 degrees F. Mating takes place almost immediately after emergence of the females. Adult females live only 2 to 3 days.

Control: There are several effective insecticides available for lovebug control, but spraying can be impractical because infestations occur over such a vast area and for a short period of time. You can control lovebugs in confined areas like porches and around your home with aerosol sprays available for other household insects. Predators have substantially reduced the population of lovebugs in Central Florida during the past several years. Lovebug larvae populations are extremely high in pasture areas, making an ideal environment for certain bird predators like robins and quails. Armadillos are thought to be predators as well, but scientific data has yet to back this up. Certain beetle larvae, earwigs and centipedes have been found to be natural predators of lovebug larvae in the soil.

Lovebugs and your car: There are several things a motorist can do to lessen the lovebug nuisance. First, travelling at night can reduce the incidence of lovebugs since they are active only in the day, usually after 10 a.m. Also travelling at a lower speed will reduce the number of bugs splattered on your car. There are many types of screens available that can be placed on the front grill of your car to protect the finish and prevent the radiator from becoming clogged. If a large screen can't be used on the front of the car, a smaller screen can be put behind the grill but in front of the radiator.

Splattered lovebugs should be washed off the car as soon as possible. Cars that have been waxed recently are more protected from damage by lovebug residue. Soaking the area with water for several minutes will aid in removal too. When lovebugs are numerous, or you know you will be travelling at the peak times, you can spread a light film of baby oil or use an aerosol oil spray over the front of the hood, above the windshield, and the grill and bumper. This practice will make lovebug removal easier.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Frogs and Toads in Florida

Frogs and toads are "amphibious" which mean "double life". Most frogs and toads have two stages in their life cycle, larvae (tadpole) and adult. From the approximately 80 species known in the United States, 22 frog and 5 toad species are native to Florida.

Description: Frogs look different than toads in several ways. Most toads have dry, warty skin, whereas frogs have moist, smooth skin. Most toads also have a pair of glands bulging out from behind their eyes. These glands produce a toxin that protects them from being eaten by most animals. All toads have these glands, but most are too small to severely affect people and our pets. Frogs do not possess these glands, and there are no poisonous frogs native to Florida.

Life stages: Frogs and toads have two life stages, the larvae or tadpole stage and the adult stage. When tadpoles metamorphose into adults their body structure and breathing organs change. The tail disappears, legs form, the mouth enlarges, lungs replace gills, and other organs transform to adapt to a life that includes breathing air, eating different food items, and living on land and water.

Feeding: All adult frogs and toads are predators and feed on a wide variety of insects. They have a large mouth and a long, sticky tongue that they use to capture prey. Their hunting style is to sit and wait for their food to come to them. When an insect moves within range, they turn their body, lunge forward, and shoot their tongue through the air. They also will pursue slower prey on the ground. Tadpoles, immature frogs and toads, are plant-eaters and feed mostly on algae, which they filter from the water.

Reproduction: Frogs and toads move to ponds, lakes, streams, and ditches to breed. Males move to the pond first and begin calling. Usually, this activity takes place on rainy nights. Once a female arrives, she selects her mate and breeding begins. Eggs are released into the water and the male releases sperm, fertilizing the eggs. The eggs remain inside a gelatinous mass until hatching. Eggs must remain in a moist environment, because they have no protective shell. Toads lay their eggs in single strands, and most other frogs lay their eggs in large clumps.

Importance: Frogs and toads are an important source of food for fish and other aquatic organisms as well as terrestrial species such as wading birds, red-shouldered hawks, and a variety of snakes. At times, it seems as though there is an overabundance of frogs and toads in Florida, but they play an important ecological role in the food chain. They sustain animals at the higher levels. One way that people directly benefit from frogs and toads is that many of their insect prey are considered to be pests, such as mosquitoes.

Nuisance problems: Frogs and toads will be attracted to any body of water for breeding, including bird baths and swimming pools. If this bothers you, there is very little you can do other than to make the water inaccessible with materials like screening and netting. Frog calls may be so loud as to interrupt your sleep, you may want to consider closing the windows or turning on a fan or some other noise-making device that is less disturbing but will drown out the frog calls.

Legal aspects: Permits are required to sell or possess for sale any live amphibian or carcass, skin, or any body parts of amphibians native to the state of Florida. Frogs may be taken throughout the year by gigs, clubs, blow gun, hook and line, hand, or by shooting during daylight hours. A commercial freshwater fish dealer's license is required to take for sale or to sell frogs. The gopher frog, pine barrens treefrog, and Florida bog frog are listed as species of special concern and are thus protected from taking, possessing, and selling of whole animals, body parts, and eggs.

Friday, June 06, 2008

THEODORE STONE, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR

The Director of Public Safety administers a department providing a wide variety of essential community services. Although at first glance these services appear very diverse, in actual practice, with the exception of Animal Services, they are interrelated and interdependent. The Director of Public Safety coordinates daily emergency services, along with system-wide emergency communications for EMS, fire/rescue, and emergency management response. Animal Services are delivered on a countywide basis, as well. This is accomplished by daily interaction between Public Safety division managers; the Fire Chief, Emergency Communications/E-911 Manager, Emergency Management Manager, and the Animal Services Manager. This close coordination allows for a smooth transition from daily operations to that of countywide disaster response and recovery functions.

In addition to the divisions listed above, the Director of Public Safety is responsible for direct oversight of the Petroleum Storage Tanks Bureau. This Bureau is headed by a Program Manager and is responsible for to performing Florida Petroleum Liability Insurance and Restoration compliance and enforcement inspections, and the Pre-Approval/Voluntary Cleanup portion of the Petroleum Contamination Cleanup Program and State Cleanup Project Management. These services are provided under contracts with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, within the jurisdictional boundaries of Seminole County.

The Director of Public Safety is also responsible for oversight of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Performance Management Bureau. This Bureau is managed by a Program Manager and is responsible for coordinating the system-wide EMS quality improvement program, delivering critical care education, improving the "standard of care" based on evidence-based medicine and supported by clinical outcome data, and partnering with local hospitals to decrease mortality and morbidity to the citizens of Seminole County. This Bureau works closely with the Medical Director, who is contracted with by the County, to provide medical direction and education for the 633 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in the Seminole County EMS System. The EMS Performance Management Bureau also administers the Seminole County Community Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Responder Enhancement (CARE) Program.

The Administrative Assistant to the Director provides direct administrative support to the Business Office and serves as confidential secretary to the Department Director. This position is responsible for overseeing administrative operations and coordinating special projects for the department, and ensures adherence to department directives and County policies and procedures.

All fiscal controls and budget development are centralized in this office and managed by the Public Safety Coordinator. Two Accountants are responsible for monitoring the fiscal transactions for the department, including account maintenance, payroll and leave processing, budget change requests, fund transfers, and project tracking. A Staff Assistant is responsible for all requisitioning and invoice processing for the EMS/Fire/Rescue Division, with assigned support staff for the other divisions/sections within Public Safety responsible for these functions for their assigned division/section.

In 2005, Seminole County's population of 411,744 ranked twelfth in comparison to Florida's 66 other counties however it ranked third in density due to its relatively small geographic area of 344.9 sq. miles, 308.2 being land area, the remainder large lakes. Seminole County has become increasingly urban in character, no longer primarily a low density suburban and agricultural community.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Venomous Snakes of Florida

Contrary to their undeserved reputation, out of the sixty-seven species and sub-species of snakes in Florida, only six are venomous. They live in just about any conceivable habitat, from coastal mangroves to freshwater wetlands and dry uplands therefore, it is probable that you will encounter them occasionally.

Snakes are reptiles, just like lizards, turtles and alligators, but many people fear them more than any other animals. Snakes are strictly carnivores and play an important role in our ecology, especially because they keep in check rodents which destroy our crops and are carriers of diseases that affect men. About half of our snakes are born alive while the others lay eggs, newly born snakes usually appear by late summer.

There are two types of venomous snakes in Florida, the pit vipers, which includes the diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, cottonmouth, and the copperhead; the other group is represented by the coral snake. The pit vipers are identified by the facial pits, one located between the eye and nostril on each side of the head. They also have an elliptical eye pupil and a broad, V-shaped head. Their venom is haemotoxic, which destroys the red blood cells and walls of the blood vessels of the victim. The coral snake has a neurotoxic venom, which acts on the nervous system, paralysing their victims.

Diamondback rattlesnake: The largest and deadlier poisonous snake in North America can be recognized by the yellow-bordered, diamond-shaped markings on the back, and rattles on the end of its tail. When disturbed, the rattler assumes a defensive position with the body coiled upon itself, and head and neck raised in an S-position from which it will strike its enemy. The head is wider than the neck and the mouth has the typical fangs, lying folded inside the roof of their mouth. Their food is mostly wild rabbits and cotton rats. They can grow to about eight feet in length and can be found state-wide.

Canebrake rattlesnake: It is a large snake, usually about four feet long, not as common as the diamondback. It has a pink buff color with sooty black bands and a rusty stripe down the middle of the back. Their tail is brown to black, and terminates in a rattle. They measure about five feet in length and are found in northern Florida and as far south as Alachua County.

Pygmy rattlesnake: Also called ground rattler, is fairly common in Florida. It is gray in color and marked with rounded, dusky spots. Reddish spots alternate with the black along the middle of the back, starting at the base of the head all the way to their tail. It feeds on frogs and small rodents and can measure up to two feet in length.

Cottonmouth moccasin: Also called water moccasin, can be found in every county of Florida, usually around stream banks, in swamps, and margins of lakes. Their color varies from olive-brown to black, with or without dark crossbands on the body. Their head is wider than their neck with a dark band extending from the eye to the rear of the jaw; the tail does not have rattles. When disturbed, it cocks its head upwards and opens its mouth wide to reveal the whitish interior lining, which gives this snake its name. It feeds on fish, frogs, snakes, lizards and small mammals. They average about 3 1/2 feet in length. Several kinds of harmless water snakes are often mistaken for cottonmouths.

Copperhead: A medium sized snake, pinkish tan with reddish-brown crossbands. These bands are wide along the sides and narrow along the back to form a shape resembling an hourglass. Found only in the Apalachicola River drainage of Gadsen, Liberty, Calhoun and Jackson Counties. Their habitat are fields and hammocks, and fairly rare within its range. The average length is 2 1/2 feet.

Coral snake: A fairly small snake, usually less than two feet in length, with patterns of red, yellow, and black rings. The characteristic black nose is used to identify this snake from the red nose of the non-poisonous scarlet king snake and northern scarlet snake. The red rings of the coral snake borders the yellow while the red rings of the king snake borders the black.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

PET LICENSING

You can obtain your license in 3 ways:

IN PERSON - Pet Licenses can be obtained by coming into our office during regular business hours. The licensing fee is $6 for sterilized (spayed or neutered) animals and $11 for non-sterilized animals. In order to purchase a pet license, your pet must first have a current rabies vaccination certificate registered in your name. Pet licenses expire one year from the date of the rabies vaccination. Please be prepared to provide the proof of rabies vaccination when applying for a pet license.

BY MAIL - You will need to send a copy of the rabies certificate (in your name) along with the appropriate amount of money to:

Pet Data PO Box 141929 Irving, TX 75014.
Please make check payable to SCBCC. Any paperwork mailed in will NOT be returned to you, so a copy is preferred.

Pet Data is a company that we contract with to do our licensing. They send out postcard reminders when a license is due to expire.

ON-LINE - The only way you can do your license on-line is if Pet Data has received a copy of the rabies certificate from your vet and they have sent you a notice that you need to renew your county license.

Commercial Kennel Licenses

Seminole County, through the Animal Services Division, inspects and licenses commercial kennels.

A commercial kennel is defined as any premises operation or business used for the commercial boarding, breeding, buying, selling or rearing of animals. Excluded from this definition are animal hospitals unconnected with boarding, beauty parlors unconnected with boarding or incidental breeding, buying, selling or rearing of animals by non-commercial kennels.

Commercial kennel licenses are issued annually after payment of a fee established by the Board of County Commissioners. The current fee is $125.

Kennels first becoming subject to licensing after March thirty first of any calendar year pay one half of the full fee for that year. Failure to secure a license may result in penalty fees added to the cost of license and/or the issuance of citations due to a Code violation.

Prior to issuing a new license or renewing a license kennel facilities are inspected at an undisclosed time. The kennel license must be prominently displayed on the kennel's premises and available for public inspection.

A non commercial kennel is defined as any premises used primarily as the domicile of an animal owner, on which premises said owner breeds purebred or pedigreed animals primarily for the purposes of improving the physical soundness, temperament and conformation of a given breed or breeds; provided that where said animals are offered for sale, sold or exchanged for profit, and where said sales shall comprise twenty five percent (25%) or more of said owners' income, such operation shall be deemed a commercial kennel.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

LOST PETS

The most responsible pet owner can experience circumstances which allow a pet to stray,Lost Pet become lost or injured. If your pet becomes lost, time is of the essence to locate your pet.

* Ask your neighbors, adults and children, if they have seen your pet.

* Contact your veterinarian’s office, and any other veterinarian offices in your area, to let them know your pet is lost.

* Distribute posters throughout your neighborhood and include a picture of your pet.

* Offer an unspecified reward for information or the return of your pet.
* Advertise your lost pet in the local newspapers.

Lost PetAnd most importantly, visit the local animal agencies in your community as soon as possible.

* Your pet may have been picked up by your local agency.
* Your pet may have been taken to any of the agencies in the greater Central Florida community. It is our experience that persons finding a lost pet will take the pet to a shelter they are familiar with. This includes taking the pet out of the county where the pet was found.
* You should visit animal agencies in person. You are the only person who can identify your pet. You should continue to visit every few days to ensure your pet has not been turned in. It is our experience that persons finding a lost pet may attempt to locate the owner on their own. It is not uncommon for lost pets to be turned in to a shelter days or weeks after they were found.
* Animal agencies hold lost pets for a limited period of time.
* Be prepared to pay fees to reclaim your pet.

Your lost pet may have been wearing identification (county license tag, rabies vaccination, ID tag or microchip implant). This is not a guarantee you will be reunited with your pet.

* Tags can become lost or unreadable
* A trace may be unsuccessful if your contact information is not current.
* We do not know whether or not other agencies trace identification.

Following are the policies regarding lost (also known as stray) pets impounded at SeminoleLost Pet County Animal Services.

* We hold stray pets five (5) business days.
* We initiate a diligent search to trace the owner of a stray pet wearing identification (county license tag, rabies vaccination, ID tag or microchip implant.)
* We are unable to verify over the phone whether or not your missing pet is impounded at our shelter. This applies whether or not your pet was wearing identification. You are the only person who can identify your pet.
* We recommend that you visit our shelter frequently to look for your pet. Your pet may not be at the shelter the first or second time you visit, but may show up at a later date.
* We recommend that you complete a “Lost Pet” form. This form is generally used to match pet descriptions when people call us to report they found a lost pet. We do not use this form to match stray pets impounded at the shelter.
* When you visit, bring proof of a current rabies vaccination and any other records you have on your pet.
* When you visit, be prepared to pay redemption fees, boarding fees and, if applicable, a rabies vaccination fee and pet license fee. We accept cash and personal checks.

Monday, June 02, 2008

WATER YOUR PLANTS MORE EFFICIENTLY

The demand for water in Florida is always increasing due to a steady population growth. We must learn how to make better use of the limited water resources available by practicing water conservation. Rainfall in Florida is about 52 inches of water per year, which could be considered adequate if we think that one inch of rain per week is sufficient to cover the needs of most plants. Most of the rainfall occurs during the months of June through September, with little rain occurring the rest of the year. During this period, supplemental irrigation is necessary to maintain good growth for most landscape plants.

When to Water: Frequency of watering depends on plant species, soil type, time of year and weather conditions. That makes it difficult to establish a general rule that will apply to all cases. There is only one rule that never fails, most plants will show their need of water by wilting. Some plants will not show obvious symptoms of water stress but sometime other types of symptoms will appear such as leaf drop, browning of leaf tips or leaf margins.

How much Water: As a general rule, plants in full sunlight will need watering every three to five days. Most Florida's soils will hold about 3/4 inches of water per irrigation period. Irrigation of landscape plants is usually done with sprinklers, which must be calibrated to deliver the 3/4 inches of water required for most plants. A simple method used is to place containers in the area covered by the sprinklers to determine how much time it takes for the sprinklers to deliver 3/4 inches of water. Simply, measure the depth of the water level in the containers until it reaches the desired amount of water, and record how much time it took to reach that level. Adjust your timer accordingly if you have an automatic watering system or if you do it manually, remember to turn on the sprinklers for just that period of time. It is recommended that if you have an automatic watering system you should install a shutoff device when it rains.

Watering Methods: Sprinklers are one of the most popular methods of watering your landscape plants. Sprinkler systems are versatile and can be operated automatically or manually to deliver the necessary amount of water. A hose-end sprinkler can be used in small areas to cover the water needs of your landscape plants. This method requires more labor to move the sprinkler around but it is very economical. Micro irrigation is a very efficient method of delivering a small amount of water to the root system of the plants. By wetting only the root zone, the amount of water used is minimal and it also limits weed growth.

Micro-sprinklers can cover areas of three to twenty feet in diameter and are an excellent way to deliver water to specific areas in your landscape. Watering plants with a hose is not an efficient way to deliver water to plants because water is applied faster than the soil can absorb it, resulting in soil erosion and exposing plant root to direct sunlight.

Time of Watering: The simplest rule is to water early in the morning. In the mornings, there is minimal evaporation, since wind and temperature are low, and the time that plant surfaces remain wet is also minimal. Maximum water losses occur when watering during the day due to the high evaporation rate. Watering early at night increases the amount of time that the plant remains wet, creating a good environment for the development of diseases.

Water Saving Practices: There are some other practices that result in water conservation.

Mulches: The use of mulches will reduce evaporation and consequently reduce watering.
Drought Tolerant Plants: By landscaping with plants adapted to low soil water levels, you can conserve water because these plants require less water to maintain good growth.
Windbreaks: Windbreaks, by cutting wind velocity, decrease evaporation. Trees, fences, hedges, and shrub beds will function as windbreakers in the landscape.

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