February Ridge Ranger Events

Everyone is welcome to participate in Ridge Rangers events. Please click on the links for the full details and to register

See a monthly calendar view of Ridge Ranger events

Every Monday: Learn about and help grow native plants for habitat restoration in the DEP Homeland Nursery (near Bartow). Contact Charles Cook.

Every Tuesday: Learn about and help grow native plants for habitat restoration in the FWC Royce Unit Nursery (near Lake Placid). Contact Bill Parken.

Saturday, February 15: Invasive Survey at Disney Wilderness Preserve (near Poinciana). We'll be working in pairs to survey a cypress strand to search for invasives using GPS units and radios for navigation and communication. Participants will see the most pristine and gorgeous parts of the preserve!

Saturday, February 22: Ridge Rangers Outreach at Highlands Hammock State Park (near Sebring). We’ll be engaging attendees at a community festival to pot acorns and seeds for native plants (sprouts used for habitat restoration).  We did this at community festivals last fall and everyone thought it was too much fun … come join us!

Saturday, February 22: Invasives Removal at Bok Tower Gardens. This workday event is full, please contact the Ridge Rangers Coordinator if you’d like to put your name on the waiting list.  

Reference Links

Ridge Rangers Home Page: http://www.myfwc.com/ridgerangers

See where Ridge Rangers help

For Land Managers: Workday Request Form

Would you like to find out about the Ridge Rangers program, including how to participate? Send an email to the Ridge Rangers Coordinator

The Ridge Rangers Online Calendar has our schedule of upcoming volunteer events.

For Ridge Rangers working independently: find out how to report your hours at this link

Would you like to make a donation to help support Ridge Ranger workdays? See Ridge Rangers 501 (c)(3) Fund

On Flickr? Join the Ridge Rangers group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ridgerangers

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In this issue ...

• February Ridge Ranger Events
• Reference Links
• Ridge Rangers enhance scrub-jay habitat at APAFR
• Update on Project Acorn
• Please Take This Survey!

January 4, 2014 at Avon Park Air Force Range: A Ridge Ranger cuts down an intruding pine to maintain oak scrub habitat. (Photo by Elizabeth Ressler)

Ridge Rangers enhance scrub-jay habitat at APAFR

Editor's note: Ridge Rangers were back at Avon Park Air Force Range on two Saturdays in January this year, and removed over 1,300 intruding pines from oak scrub habitat! Here’s a note of appreciation (and an aerial image of the work area) from the Air Force Range Conservation Manager:

Ridge Rangers:  I want to thank you the great work over two weekends cutting pines and maintaining our Scrub in suitable condition for Florida scrub-jay.  I mapped out the extent of the habitat they treated by cutting sapling sand and slash pine and 94 acres was maintained (click the photo to enlarge). The area will remain in excellent condition for years to come.  I hope the Rangers had an enjoyable time and I would like to have them return next year. Thanks again! Mark Fredlake Avon Park Air Force Range

Update on Project Acorn

In the last few months many Ridge Rangers have helped gather and pot oak scrub acorns and then maintain the sprouts in the native plant nursery. On January 22 the Ridge Rangers Coordinator counted the resulting baby oaks and the tally was ... drum roll ... TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE!!That number of oaks will have some impact, and more are sprouting all the time.  All the sprouts will be planted in damaged habitat this upcoming summer on Ridge Rangers workdays.

Please Take This Survey!

Whether or not you’ve ever volunteered, your input is needed in a survey on the impact of volunteering. There’s a maximum of 10 questions, and most are just quick clicks.  Your input will be very helpful and most appreciated. Please take the survey at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QZYFMV9 The survey closes on midnight Thursday, 2/13/14