A northern harrier and two Virginia opossums were among the 96 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildilfe Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include a black skimmer, two blue jays, two eastern screech owlets, a marsh rabbit and a gopher tortoise.
The northern harrier was seen lying on its back in the grass on the southern end of Marco Island. After the bird hadn’t moved for several hours, a woman contained the raptor and brought it to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital for care.
The harrier’s head was drooping, it was unable to…
Over the past 57 years, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has become home to thousands of volunteers. These dedicated individuals have helped to fulfill the mission of protecting Southwest Florida’s water, land, and wildlife for future generations to come.
Over the last year, the organization has made numerous adjustments to keep its staff safe and healthy. However, the work has not slowed. In fact, the von Arx Wildlife Hospital admitted a record 4,300 patients in the calendar year. While the volunteer schedules and shifts may have looked a little different this past year, the commitment has not faltered. …
Written by Environmental Policy Specialist Kelly McNab
The Conservancy has been working closely with staff from the City of Naples on updates to their Stormwater Development ordinance. We are thrilled to see the City take such a proactive approach to improving our water quality through updated stormwater regulations.
This ordinance is necessary to improve our water quality locally and within the Gulf of Mexico, thereby protecting our water resources, wildlife, and our residents and visitors. The Conservancy greatly appreciates the City of Naples dedication to improving stormwater management and protecting our waterways. …
On Thursday, April 1, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida hosted City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member and Chair of the Big Cypress Basin, Charlette Roman, Collier County Commissioner and Chair, Penny Taylor, City of Naples Councilman Ray Christman and representatives from The Everglades Foundation and Everglades Trust for a tour of Rookery Bay on the Good Fortune II. The morning boat tour was followed by a visit to the Faka Union Pump Station at the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, the first Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) project to break ground.
The group…
As part of Florida Climate Week, Growing Climate Solutions: Path to Positive Southwest Florida, through their partner ecoAmerica, is excited to offer a NEW Climate Ambassador Program: Harnessing the Power of Social Media. This climate training will take place on April 20th from 10AM — 1PM, and focuses on the use of social media and electronic communications to advance climate awareness and engage policymakers. It includes all the information of ecoAmerica’s climate ambassador training, with a new twist on electronic communication rather than public speaking!
Upon finishing the training, Path to Positive Communities will issue you a Certificate of completion…
On April 7, we celebrated what would have been Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ 131st birthday and we are excited to share good news on the Everglades restoration front, in honor of her tireless work to restore the River of Grass.
An osprey and an eastern cottontail were among the 136 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include 15 mottled ducklings, two northern parula nestlings, a black vulture, three chuck-will’s-widows, a white-tailed deer fawn and a Florida softshell turtle.
A woman on Marco Island called the von Arx Wildlife Hospital after she found the young osprey on the ground at the property she was renting. The osprey chick was alert with no obvious external injuries noted when admitted. The osprey’s condition was monitored over the following 24 hours…
The Conservancy is disappointed in the vote on Longwater and stands by its analysis that Longwater is inconsistent with the Collier County Growth Management Plan.
As set forth in detailed presentations by Conservancy experts, Longwater will result in a $48.4 million deficit to the County roads capital improvements program and will result in a $21.5 million deficit to the Collier County Water and Sewer District.
At the Planning Commission hearing on April 1st, the County presented a brand new, previously undisclosed, fiscal impact analysis related Longwater’s impacts to the Water and Sewer District. In contrast to the Conservancy’s experts’ well-cited…
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Dramatically increased traffic, taxpayer-subsidized development, crowded beaches, and loss of essential Florida Panther habitat are all impacts we will see if Collier County permits two more “villages” in eastern Collier County this week.
The public still has an opportunity to speak up against these poorly-planned developments that threaten your quality of life.
On Thursday, April 1st at 9:00 am, the Collier County Planning Commission will continue hearings for two new 1,000-acre villages proposed by Collier Enterprises, called Longwater and Bellmar.
If approved, important farmlands and essential habitat of the endangered Florida panther will be replaced with large, fiscally irresponsible developments…
A bald eagle fledgling and two mourning dove nestlings and were among the 110 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include a great horned owl, a mottled duck, a green heron, a fox squirrel and a gopher tortoise.
Rosemary Tolliver, a volunteer with the Audubon Florida EagleWatch program, contacted hospital staff for assistance when she noticed a bald eagle fledgling on the ground on Marco Island. Photos texted to hospital staff showed the young eagle looked alert and no obvious injuries were evident. The adult eagles were…
Conservancy of SWFL
Protecting Southwest Florida's unique natural environment and quality of life...now and forever.
