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 The FWC Employee eNewsletter
August 2021
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 The most recent Commission meeting took place Aug. 4-5 in Bonita Springs. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6-7.
 Staff and partners at the Governor’s announcement for the 2021 Florida Python Challenge®.
Another successful Florida Python Challenge® is in the books, this time with 223 invasive pythons removed from the Everglades ecosystem! More than 600 people registered for the 10-day competition, which helps raise awareness about invasive species in Florida and gets people directly involved with nonnative species removal.
The Florida Python Challenge® is a success thanks to the significant amount of collaboration and work carried out by FWC staff, volunteers and partners! Staff within HSC’s Wildlife Impact Management Section take the lead on Python Challenge planning and coordination, but they get significant help and support from HSC’s Wildlife and Habitat Management Section, as well as other staff throughout the agency and beyond. FWC staff from Law Enforcement, Community Relations, Regional Offices and other teams within the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation all play a huge part in making the Challenge a success. And the Florida Python Challenge® could not be done without the support of FWC volunteers and partners, including the South Florida Water Management District and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. It takes a village!
Learn more about the Florida Python Challenge®: flpythonchallenge.org. Read the FWC's news release announcing the winners
 FWC staff and Commission members with Governor Ron DeSantis at the kickoff for the 2020 Florida Python Challenge® Python Bowl.
 HSC staff members McKayla Spencer and Jan Fore demonstrating how to safely capture a python at the announcement for the 2021 Florida Python Challenge®.
 HSC staff member Dan Quinn during the 2020 Florida Python Challenge® Python Bowl.
 HSC staff member Brian Hutchinson and volunteer Rebeca Copeland checking in a python hatchling at the Holiday Park check station in 2021.
 FWC volunteer Ky Poletti checking in pythons at the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA in 2021.
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We need your help! By reporting wild turkeys seen in Florida and encouraging others to do so as well, you can help FWC biologists learn more about annual nesting success, brood survival, and the distribution and abundance of this large gamebird. Last year we had over 4,000 sightings reported and this year we have 2,650 reports. Help us beat last year’s number by using the following easy-to-use options for reporting hens with or without poults, jakes and gobblers you see between now and Aug. 31
We also want to say THANK YOU to everyone who is already participating in this effort!
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Learn more about the FWC’s Wild Turkey Summer Survey: MyFWC.com/hunting/turkey/brood-survey.
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 This summer, West Bay, St. Andrew Bay is getting a fresh look: HSC and FWRI biologists are transplanting 7.8 acres of Cuban shoal grass, a native species of seagrass. Seagrasses are important underwater plants that provide food, shelter and habitat for many fish and wildlife species (like this blue crab!).
St. Andrew Bay has experienced significant seagrass loss (~200 acres) since 1964 due to anthropogenic impacts. This large-scale seagrass habitat restoration project will restore ~7.8 acres of seagrass within the project area and foster recovery of seagrass habitat adjacent to the project area as well. Once established, the seagrass will also provide ecological benefits to the area, such as enhanced water quality, as well as food, shelter and essential nursery habitat for many fish and invertebrate species.
This project is part of the Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration in St. Andrew Bay, FL project, a large-scale oyster and seagrass habitat enhancement and restoration project funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (NFWF-GEBF Award #45902) and the State of Florida. For more information, contact the FWC/HSC project manager at Becca.Hatchell@MyFWC.com.
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 Sometimes night time is the best time… for sampling. Our freshwater fisheries biologists usually sample fish by day but sometimes they go out at night. Researchers have been night sampling stretches of the St. Johns River for juvenile American Shad. By day the shad disperse to the bottom to avoid predators but at night American shad and many other species school up near the surface to migrate out of the St. Johns. Our biologists sample specific stretches of the St. Johns during the summer to get an idea of how many juvenile shad are in the river, which can indicate how well the winter/early spring spawning run did.
  FWC staff from Marine Fisheries Management, Freshwater Fisheries Management, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Boating and Waterways, and Law Enforcement, attended the 63rd International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), the world’s largest Sportfishing trade show, July 20-23, in Orlando. This event, produced by the American Sportfishing Association, is a well-known venue for launching new fishing products and setting industry trends. FWC uses ICAST as an opportunity to communicate with industry leaders about agency goals, our partnerships with other attending agencies such as DEP, stony coral tissue loss disease, and the importance of Sport Fish Restoration to ensure the future of Florida’s important fisheries.
 
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 In May, FWC led a large-scale experimental coral outplanting to assess if it was now safe to restore coral to Florida’s coral reef coral under the long-term persistence of stony coral tissue loss disease: Facebook.com/FWCResearch/posts/4924611817554845
When designing this effort, researchers were faced with a challenge: to compare the health of the coral colonies across such a large area, they had to ensure that all the coral colonies transplanted onto the reef were as similar to one another possible.
FWC and research partners worked collaboratively with Ocean Rescue Alliance and REEF CELLS to provide a solution. They engineered a structure into which the individual coral colonies were inserted, forming a standardized base that was transplanted onto the reef. This ensured that the coral colonies were as similar to one another as possible, making it easier for researchers to evaluate the coral colonies across the study area.
This coral outplanting project is just the start of a new collaboration between Ocean Rescue Alliance, Reef Cells and FWC’s Restoration Ecology Program as we continue to design and test various structures to refine restoration efforts.
All of this project’s work occurring in the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is done under permit.
  
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 Just released! Our new manatee and sea turtle decals are here! This year’s themes highlight important conservation issues, such as safe boating around manatees and keeping our waterways clean for swimming sea turtles. With just a $5 donation, you are directly supporting these imperiled Florida species and our FWC programs that are dedicated to their conservation. These waterproof, high-quality stickers are available when you register your vehicle or vessel or online through the FWC.
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 FWRI took to the air as researchers continue to monitor the location and conditions of the current red tide bloom affecting Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas. Aerial surveys are used to inform and guide sampling as part of our red tide event response.
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 Atlantic red snapper recreational season in federal waters was July 9-11 and was an opportunity for FWC to collect important data for future population assessments.
FWC biologists asked recreational fishers about their red snapper trips and for permission to collect biological samples from harvested fish. New in 2021 - biologists collected a small piece of fin tissue from harvested fish for a large-scale genetics study conducted by UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS, Texas A&M University, FWC and other researchers in the region. The study uses a new technique called close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) where genetic markers are used to identify closely related fish, which serves as a measure for estimating the total number of red snapper in the Atlantic population. The method is similar to conventional tagging in which fish recapture histories are used to estimate population size. CKMR has been used successfully in other parts of the world to estimate bluefin tuna and great white shark populations.
 
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Here's a tip if you use an iPhone to take pictures/video that will be used for work. Use the following settings so your pictures are saved as JPEG/H.264 and not HEIF/HEIC.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and click on Camera.
- Click on Formats.
- Select Most Compatible.
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 Here are some recent releases sent by the FWC:
Redfish Summit 2021: Attend, learn, share your input
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners celebrate another successful Florida Python Challenge®
Recreational and commercial spiny lobster season opens Aug. 6
Wondering about the impact of antler point regulations in Florida? Find out now!
New snook, redfish and spotted seatrout catch-and-release measures for Tampa Bay
TrophyCatch celebrates exceeding 100 approved Hall of Fame catches weighing 13 pounds or heavier
FWC arrests 2 for the illegal killing of a tarpon
Atlantic red snapper season to begin; anglers can help FWC gather data
Just released! FWC’s 2021-2022 manatee and sea turtle decals
 Lt. Scott Smith's promotion ceremony took place in July.
Lt. Scott Smith and Capt. Dipre.
 Officer Liz Brown, Lt. Smith, Lt. Dodd Bulger.
  Congrats, USFWS Regional Awards Recipients!
Last month we recognized some FWC staff receiving awards from the Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but some were inadvertently left out. Here are additional awards that included the FWC:
- State of Florida Trustees in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill NRDA
- Three Legs of a Stool: Florida FWCC, South Florida Water Management District, and Fish and Wildlife Service
- Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS) Interim Steering Committee
FWC Takes Home Multiple ACI Awards
This year, the FWC brought home six awards from the Association for Conservation Information:
- 1st place Conservation Post of the Year: Python Detector Dogs (this post reached ~2.5 Million (2,498,572) people on Facebook alone.)
- 1st place tie Book/Report: Florida State Wildlife Action Plan
- 2nd place tie Social Media Campaign: Python Bowl 2020
- 2nd place Best Social Media Presence: Florida Fish and Wildlife Social media presence
- 3rd place Logo Illustrations: SRFS logo by FWRI
- 3rd place Regulations Publications: Freshwater Fisheries Regulations
   Citizens and FWC customers were so impressed by the following employees, they told us about it through email on the "Praise an Employee" page of MyFWC.com/Contact. When your coworkers receive kudos, help share the good news by contacting Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
Officer Esteban Blyar
Shout out to the officer in Longboat Key who responded to this manatee in distress due to red tide.
 Officer Bobby Dube
Thank you for sending your staff for our fishing event. It was a lot of fun and your officers provided great information to the young anglers.
Madeline Fernandez, FFM
Madeline goes way out of her way assisting me with depredation permits every year. She does her job with excellence and urgency as these permits need to be in our possession to protect our crops. I think Madeline is a big asset to the FWC and is deserving of any advances to her job and well deserving of any pay increases. To have employees as Madeline is a complement to a job well done! Thanks again for her great attitude and knowledge as this is always a demanding and busy time of the year as she is issuing these permits.
Officer Ben Johnson
I called regarding a cottonmouth snake on my back porch. He showed up and was super friendly, and quickly and humanely caught the snake and relocated it to a more appropriate area. So grateful for this service, I had no idea what to do and am normally live-and-let-live about snakes but venomous ones so close to the house were just a bit too much!
John Looney, IT
I want to tell you about my first experience with an official of the FWC. After being terminated last November, I was OPS, I have spent a grueling seven months trying to get rehired as a desktop support person in some other Florida agency. A few weeks ago I got an email from Looney about a position I had forgotten about, asking if I was still interested. Although I was seeking an CS position, the advertised pay rate was excellent, so I responded, He interviewed me by phone. At the end of the interview, he announced that he would be doing a second interview in person later in the week. A day or so later he announced that there would be a delay. I was finally interviewed and at the end of the interview he promised to let me know of his decision. I later received an email saying he had decided to go with another candidate and that it had been a difficult decision for him. I have been in this position many times but this the first time I can honestly say I respect the decision and also that it was based on merit and not politics. It is reassuring to know there are still managers out there like Looney. I regret not being able to work for him but hopefully my next boss will be another "John Looney." I just thought you should know.
Officer Thomas Nelson
My tire blew out and Officer Nelson pulled over and attempted to help us. He stayed with myself, my oxygen dependent hubby and our dog until a tow truck arrived. He went way over and beyond in the heat of the day A fine employee to represent FWC. We cannot thank him enough.
Andy Strickland, FWRI
While traveling to meet a homeowner for a site visit and survey, I had a boat trailer tire blow out on a long empty stretch of the highway. Knowing my jack and lug wrench were in my technician’s truck in Pensacola, I was wondering how to get this tire changed and on to my appointment. Andy Strickland to the rescue! Andy always ends every conversation with "if you need anything don't hesitate to call," so I made a call. Andy dropped whatever he was doing and was there within 30 minutes with the tools to get the tire changed and get me on my way. He also took the blown-out tire and dropped it off for a replacement tire that I picked up as I made my way back toward Panama City. Andy went above and beyond to help me out and I am grateful!!!
Officer Ronald Washington
I take this opportunity to commend Officer Ronald Washington for his care and concern in providing assistance to me. I had just finished shopping and had several cases of water to load in my car. As I needed both hands to do this, I placed my car keys on the case of water in the trunk while I loaded the others. As I placed the last case in the car, employees came to collect my cart and I handed it over and accidentally closed the trunk and locked my keys in the car. The officer's truck was parked in front of the store and I approached him and explained that I had locked my keys in my trunk. Without hesitation he got on his phone to check my insurance policy to get me roadside assistance. I did not know my policy number so that proved futile. He called my Insurance providers and that proved futile as by this time it was too late. He then suggested that he could reach out to Triple A for me. As it was about dusk, he accompanied me to my car so I would be safe. The process of unlocking my car began in no time and I was able to retrieve my keys and be on my way home in record time. Thank you Officer Washington, I could not go without ensuring this good deed is reported!! You were my Good Samaritan, I sincerely appreciate all you did to make this process seamless!!
Tony Young, HGM (seven commendations)
Tony was great, very helpful. He followed up helping me. It’s good to know he has the best interest of the hunters and game alike. It was great getting to speak with him and he was very helpful.
I called Tony with a wide range of questions. I’m a new resident to the state out of Illinois and Tony answered all my questions and then some. He helped me find WMA’s that fit the type of deer hunting I was looking to do. He took time to understand what I wanted to accomplish and helped facilitate that. Tony is a huge asset to the state of Florida and the hunting and fishing community. Thanks to Tony, I will be heading out hunting soon and with confidence.
Tony was very helpful to me trying to register for disability hunts!
I have called many different people with a simple question on where I could hunt, and Tony was the only one to help me. He went out of his way to get me a list of places along with the website I could look more information up, he was also very respectful. Excellent service.
I moved to Florida from northern Minnesota. I have been hunting since I was 12 years old. I know how difficult it is to make connections and find hunting locations in a new area especially in a new state. I met Tony at a show and he gave me a tremendous amount of info and even helped get the FWC app on my phone. He also gave me his cell phone number and assured me I could contact him if I had any questions. Up in Minnesota I was able to spend a week with the DNR to trap and relocate wild turkeys. I would not hesitate if I had a chance to work with FWC on any project. Again, I really believe Tony went over and above to help me get info to be able to get into the outdoors enjoying some hunting in this state.
I was inquiring about turkey hunting in Florida and Tony took the time to speak to me. He also sent me maps and other information regarding turkey hunting. He went above and beyond the call of duty and is a great asset to the FWC. Thanks again Tony!
Thanks for all the help!!!!! Keep up the good work helping disabled vets keep their rights to hunt and fish. I will advise other vets about all this info at my next V.A. meeting.
 Congratulations to the following employees for reaching 5-year milestones of employment with the FWC.
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40 Years
Toni Brannon, NW Region
Randy Cohron, HSC
Carla Lambert, SW Region
25 Years
Cedric Johnson, FBO
20 Years
Justin Ellenberger, HSC
Lisa Phillips, LE
Nancy Sheridan, MFM
15 Years
Scott Stahl, FWRI
10 Years
Marshall Fuqua, HSC
Anita Kramer, FWRI
Jon McGuire, LE
Eric Sutton, OED
Retired!
Darrell Land, HSC –
34 years, 8 months
Officer John D. Clark –
14 years, 8 months
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5 Years
Thomas Armstrong LE
Heather Barry, LE
Jason Bernard, LE
Rachel Best, OLP
James Brodbeck, LE
Jon Browning LE
Virginia Davis, LE
Robert Dial LE
Roger DuBose LE
Christian Earls, LE
Gabriel Fernandez, LE
Richard Gilmore LE
Aaron Gonzales, LE
Heather Grant, LE
Kelsey Grenz LE
Elizabeth Harman, FWRI
Raymond Hastings LE
Keaton Hazelwood LE
Kennaey Hester, LE
Johnathan Hettel, LE
Richard Hildebrand LE
James Holcomb LE
Jennifer Johnson, FWRI
Christopher Kirby, FWRI
Richard Klobuchar LE
Nicholas Kossey LE
Thomas Kuhn, HSC
Morgan McLeod LE
Beatrice Parker, LE
Robert Rivard LE
Nicholas Stelzer LE
Skylar Summers LE
Justin Wallheiser, MFM
Kyle Yurewitch LE
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(The FWC has a great many non-FTE employees, and they deserve recognition for reaching 5-year milestones too. Unfortunately, the system doesn't keep track of such statistics; but we don't want that to stop us. If you know of a non-FTE employee about to reach a 5-year milestone, please notify the Inside Job by email.) |
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FWC employees have some of the most interesting jobs ever! Here are some of our employees doing what they do best. Send your photos of FWC employees in the office and in the field to Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
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 On July 10, Officers Courtney Carroll and Justin Salazar attended the “Fishing Fun” event at Marathon City Hall in Monroe County. The event is hosted annually by the City of Marathon and provides free bait and tackle for children interesting in fishing. Officers Carroll and Salazar helped participants tie hooks, unhook landed fish and measure landed fish. There were approximately 20 children in attendance.
   
 FWC Officer Bobby Dube tows a patrol boat in the July 4th parade.
 David Holmberg (Corbett), Jackie Gomar (Hungryland), Deven Davidson (DuPuis), Valerie Sparling (DuPuis) and Julian von Kanel (volunteer) cooperate to install a herp array on DuPuis WEA.
 Officer Daniel Jones was dispatched to a call at Sugarloaf Middle School where a key deer had been seen on the school grounds. Officer Jones assisted a Monroe County deputy and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper with securing the deer and releasing it into nearby woods.
 Lead area biologist Katelyn Horn and Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist II Ryder Hochmuth pictured with pulled write’s nutsedge on OK Slough WMA.
 South Region Intern Max Maddox pulls invasive write’s nutsedge on OK Slough WMA.
 While checking for resource violations at Whale Harbor Bridge, Officer Stallings observed an individual carrying a dip net southbound across the bridge. Officer Stallings and Officer Diaz crossed the bridge and found the individual hiding in the bushes. Upon investigation, the officers observed that the individual had a clear plastic container that was full of spiny lobsters. The subject was placed under arrest for the possession of illegal spiny lobsters.
 
 Lt. Roy Payne finished 5th place in the Iceland Extreme Triathlon.
 Dive training with the Monroe County Sherriff Office Dive team.
 PIO Officer Bobby Dube along with Lea Humphrey and Bailey Thomasson, biologists from the FWRI lab in Marathon, gave a presentation to approximately 150 campers at the Founders Park Summer Program in Islamorada. Officer Dube discussed boating safety, the importance of the Keys ecosystem and how to be a good steward of the environment. Lea and Bailey brought in different species of lobsters and conch for the children to view and touch as well as learn about their similarities and differences.
 Officers promote Operation Dry Water.
 Officers in the Keys participate in a memorial workout to honor Officer Greg Patterson.
 Photographer Frazier Nevins, Officer Jorge Larios, PIO Bobby Dube and Andy Newman, head of Monroe County‘s TDC - Tourist Development Council, film PSAs in English and Spanish for the upcoming Lobster Sport Season.
  FWC dive training in Key Largo.
 
 PIO Bobby Dube and recruiters Mike Alvarez and Paige Pestka provide information about lobster season at a booth in the Keys.
 Several FWC Officers worked displays at the “National Night Out” events in various locations throughout the Keys.
 
 July 10 marked the triumphant return of the Blue Angels over Pensacola Beach and our officers were there to keep people safe on the water! A big thank you to The Cutting Board for donating food for hot meals for officers working the detail and to Doug Manning, John Burkhart and Kimberly Stamper for cooking for everyone!
 Officers Josh Stallings and Jessica Diaz, and Lt. Paul Hein with lobsters from an arrest.
 The Division of Hunting and Game Management’s Becky Peters and Tony Young attended the Open Season Sportsman’s Expo in Lakeland July 23-25. Formerly known as the Big Buck Expo, the annual event is the largest hunting trade show in the state. Becky worked all weekend scoring/measuring deer antlers for entry into the Florida Buck Registry – established in 1982 to provide hunters with a record of the number and quality of white-tailed deer taken in Florida. Tony manned the Hunt Florida booth over the 3-day expo, answering questions from the public and providing information on Florida’s hunting opportunities and regulations.
 PIO Bryce Phillippi spoke about Operation Dry Water at a joint press conference with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office ahead of the July 4th weekend.
 Capt. Guy Carpenter, Lt. Steve Stasko, Lt. Donald Dougan, PIO Adam Brown and Officer Specialist Jeff Goggin conducted safety patrols in the annual “Freedom Swim” across the Peace River from Port Charlotte to Punta Gorda. Nearly every year for the past 30 years, hundreds of participants swim the 1.5 mile stretch on Independence Day. No major incidents occurred and the event was considered a success.
 
 Southwest Regional Director Allie McCue along with Capt. Carpenter, Capt. Holcomb and area officers explored the Coconut Point CWA, Little Estero Island CWA and the Big Carlos Pass CWA in Lee County.
 Southwest Regional biologist Ana Nader speaks with the media regarding a successful manatee rehabilitation and release in Cape Coral, Lee County. An approximately 2-year-old male was rehabilitated at Zoo Tampa and released back into the Caloosahatchee River.
 
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The Inside Job is a monthly newsletter featuring
the employees and programs of the FWC.
Send your submissions, comments and questions to Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
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