| FWC RESPONDS TO HURRICANE DAMAGE AND ASSISTS VOLUNTEERS
July 12, 2005
Contact: Brad Smith (850) 265-3676
While the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has deployed 150 law enforcement officers for search-and-rescue of Panhandle residents, maritime security and humanitarian relief in hard-hit areas, others from the agency are contributing to Hurricane Dennis recovery in other ways.
Communications technicians, marine mechanics, administrative leaders and media relations employees from the FWC are adding their skills to recovery efforts along with biologists helping volunteers rescue baby brown pelicans from a north Florida rookery.
When the storm roared ashore Sunday afternoon as a Category 3 hurricane, its strong winds and waves completely inundated a nesting colony of Eastern brown pelicans on Lanark Reef in Franklin County. Monday, volunteers rescued 100 fledging pelicans that lay scattered near the site along U.S. 98 and on nearby sandy flats.
Dr. Thomas Eason, who heads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Species Conservation Planning Section said, “Because the nesting site was completely washed over, it is highly unlikely the adult birds will find and care for their young where they are now, so we’re assisting the St. Francis and the Wildlife Mammal Center in locating facilities to care for the 2- 3-week-old pelicans.”
Eason praised volunteers who called Monday and rescued the birds and transported them to St. Francis Wildlife Association’s hospital in Havana and the Florida Wild Mammal Association in Crawfordville – both of them licensed and approved wildlife rehabilitation centers. He said several FWC biologists were on hand Tuesday to assess the damage to the rookery and assist rescuers with equipment and transporting the hatchlings.
It’s not the first time this year the rookery site has been washed over. On June 11, high water from Tropical Storm Arlene washed over the site but the pelicans quickly returned, according to wildlife biologist Brad Smith. He said the birds will likely return to the site next year and nest.
Smith said brown pelicans are listed as a species of special concern in Florida but overall, he said the population is in good shape. He said the Lanark Reef rookery is one of only four nesting sites for pelicans in the panhandle.
“The wildlife rehabilitation centers, such as St. Francis and Florida Wild Mammal Association, do an excellent job caring for orphaned or injured wildlife,” Eason said. “They can always use volunteers and donations to care for these animals, especially at times like these.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at one of the centers or donating money for the cause should contact Sandy Beck of St. Francis at (850) 528-0823 or Chris Beatty of the Florida Wild Mammal Association at (850) 926-8308.
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