Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area reopens to public

July 19, 2018

 

Suggested Tweet: Public access restored to #Everglades and Francis S. Taylor #Wildlife Management Area in south #Florida. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/1ffd364

 

Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area reopens to public

 

FWC photo.

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reopened access to the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in south Florida, which had been closed due to high water levels.

 

Public access is restored to this WMA that covers parts of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and provides recreational opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and biking.

 

“Thanks to the dedication and leadership of Gov. Rick Scott, our state and federal water managers have been able to reduce the water levels in the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA, improving conditions for wildlife there,” said­­ FWC Commissioner Michael Sole.

 

Temporarily restricting access to this WMA was a necessary conservation measure because high water levels had forced wildlife to take refuge on tree islands and levees, resulting in stressful conditions for the animals. With improving water level conditions, they are no longer having to take refuge in these areas.

 

To read the executive order lifting the restricted access to this WMA, go to MyFWC.com/About and click on “Executive Orders.” For updated closure and reopening information, visit MyFWC.com/DisasterPlan and click on “Open/closed Status of FWC Offices and FWC-managed Areas.” If you have additional questions, call the FWC’s South Regional Office at 561-625-5122.

 

The public can report a violation of this order, or any fish and wildlife law violation, by calling the FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922 or #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone.