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 May 20, 2024
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 Andy Signell with a firearm confiscated in an unlawful nighttime hunt.
An FWC officer, Andy Signell, wrote this article that was published in the November-December 2001 issue of Florida Wildlife, detailing some of the changes he and the agency went through as the old GFC became the FWC. You can read this and other articles in Florida Wildlife on the Internet Archive.
Change – An Officer’s Perspective
On my first day as a young officer with the then Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission in 1987, I was traveling south on US 27 toward Moore Haven when a fellow officer’s voice came across the radio. The sound of an outboard motor revved noisily in the background. “4182 Lakeland,” he called. “I am in pursuit of (a resource violator I won’t name) and he is throwing bags of fish overboard. I am 10 miles offshore and heading to Clewiston. Send back-up to the marina.”
When I met the fellow officer several days later, I told him, “I heard you on the radio the other day chasing a fisherman. I didn’t know we worked the ocean. Where did you launch from?” He looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, “We don’t work the ocean.” I replied, “I heard you say you were 10 miles offshore.” After he quit laughing, he explained to me that “Lake Okeechobee is 40 miles wide.” That was a valuable first lesson, one where my perception of a freshwater lake changed. Other lessons in the past 15 years often centered around dramatic changes in the agency for which I work: the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Perhaps the biggest change that I encountered was with my job description. Wildlife officers are a thing of the past, just like marine patrol officers. We are now state law enforcement officers. Fifteen years ago, who would have thought that I might be offshore in the ocean, protecting Florida’s natural resources? With the merger of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and the Marine Fisheries Commission in 1999, tomorrow I could be there.
In the 1980s as a game warden, I could spend several days on horseback patrolling in the wilderness of Glades County attempting to catch a poacher. Today as an officer, there are very few minutes in an eight-hour shift that I’m not dealing directly with a natural resource problem that has come to someone’s attention. I must process each problem expediently because I may deal with four or five a day in addition to my routine patrol duties. The natural resources are under constant use, in most areas around the clock.
 Our partners at the University of Florida were recently contacted by Greg, who lives along a tributary of the Santa Fe River, regarding Suwannee alligator snapping turtles that nested in his yard on April 1 and 10. Our team, led by FWRI’s Kevin Enge and Travis Thomas from UF, helped describe Suwannee alligator snappers as a new species in 2014 and have continued their research under a State Wildlife Grant. Their recent efforts have focused on studying Suwannee alligator snapper nesting by locating nest sites, which is done by attaching GPS tags to females and recapturing them later to download movement data. In this case, Greg made it easy on our team and gave them a unique opportunity to learn more thanks to his call. Greg then placed a protective cage over the nest site to prevent predators from digging up the eggs until our team of biologists arrived, which included Jerry Johnston, Cody Godwin (Santa Fe College), and Shea Husband (UF).
  The team arrived to excavate the first nest on April 8 to determine the number of eggs laid and to remove them for safe keeping. After about an hour of carefully digging through pine roots, the first egg was finally uncovered. The team recovered 26 eggs that resembled ping pong balls from the nest. Some team members returned on April 11 to excavate the second nest, which contained 38 eggs. Thankfully, these eggs were much easier to find because the nest was poorly covered – a sign the turtle was likely interrupted while nesting.
  While it may have taken a while for our biologists to uncover these eggs, a predator that is not behaving as carefully can rip up and ravage a nest in mere minutes. Usually, 80-90% of turtle nests are depredated by raccoons, armadillos or other predators, but these eggs will be incubated at an FWC facility for about the next 100 days. Once they hatch, our team will collect data on the hatchlings and release them into the stream. Very little is known about this species’ hatchlings and eggs, and only a few nests have ever been found. Reminder: the public is not permitted to dig up turtle eggs.
 
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 Fish spawning aggregations are beginning to show up at Western Dry Rocks. The Western Dry Rocks Spatial Closure is intended to protect multiple species of reef fish that aggregate in this area to spawn, and the fishing closure will be in effect from April 1 to July 31.
During the past three years, scientists have been hard at work monitoring reef fish communities using a variety of methods and tools in and around the seasonal closure area. To date, scientists have:
- Acoustically tagged 185 snappers.
- Received 11 tag returns from anglers.
- Conducted 18 aerial surveys.
- Collected 17 months of current and temperature data.
- Counted over 56,000 fish during underwater fish surveys.
- And much, much more!
The year-3 research progress report was provided on May 1 at the Commission meeting in Daytona.
 The FWC is working collaboratively with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of South Alabama, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and the Lower Keys Guides Association as well as other federal, state and local agencies, non-government organizations, stakeholders and the community to actively investigate the abnormal behavior and sawfish mortalities. Here is what we know at this time:
- Dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH and temperature are not suspected to be the cause of the fish behavior or kills.
- DEP has conducted water testing for more than 250 chemicals within the area of interest. All parameters were below any biological thresholds, with most being below minimum detection limits. Sediment sampling results for heavy metals are pending.
- Based on fish necropsy data to date (excluding sawfish), there are no apparent signs of a communicable pathogen, and tested specimens do not support bacterial infection. Histological examination is ongoing.
- Testing of water and fish tissue did not indicate that red tide was the cause.
- A number of Harmful Algal Bloom species endemic to the area have been identified in water samples and their associated toxins have been detected in water samples and fish tissues, but more work is needed to determine if this is the cause of the unusual behavior.
- FWC has sent more than 300 fish samples to the University of South Alabama for toxin analyses.
Continued reporting of abnormal fish behavior, fish disease and fish mortalities is critical to understanding the nature of this event. Please submit reports to FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline online at MyFWC.com/ReportFishKill or by calling 800-636-0511. Check our webpage for the latest update.
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  On April 30, FWC staff joined The Nature Conservancy to release 41 eastern indigo snakes at TNC’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve. The Eastern indigo snake is a non-venomous, bluish-black colored snake. Reaching lengths over 8 feet long, eastern indigo snakes often rely on gopher tortoise burrows for shelter during cold weather. The species serves a critical function to balance the wildlife community by consuming a variety of small animals. The eastern indigo snake is protected as a Threatened species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a federally-designated Threatened species by Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. The main threats facing the eastern indigo snake is habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation. Eastern indigo snakes inhabit pine flatwoods, hardwood forests and areas that surround cypress swamps. They can be found throughout peninsular Florida and southeastern Georgia.
 
  FWC staff gathered to dipnet ephemeral ponds for larval amphibians at Point Washington WMA. Staff walked through each site with the same method of capturing amphibians: sweeping into the bottom of the pond (muck and all!) to find larvae and examine what was caught. Ephemeral ponds are small, isolated wetlands that dry periodically. Some ponds hold water only for a few weeks and some can hold water for a year or more. Pond-breeding amphibians are frogs and salamanders that breed in temporary wetlands. Many of these species are difficult to detect through traditional survey techniques because they are cryptic, burrowing or only seasonally visible. Ephemeral ponds are essential to the survival of many amphibians. Because the ponds dry periodically, predacious fish usually are not present. Some amphibian species lack the defenses to coexist with predatory fish and require fishless ponds for breeding habitat. Ephemeral ponds are important to many other species as well. The ponds, and the plants that grow in and around them, provide important habitat to many invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and birds.
 
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 In recent decades, human-bear interactions have become more common in residential areas throughout North America. Florida, where both the human and Florida black bear (U. americanus floridanus) populations have increased substantially since the early 2000s, is no exception. While public perception of bears might be generally positive, conflicts tend to arise as bears make their way into areas with higher human activity, such as suburban neighborhoods. To learn more about these interactions and how they affect public perception, FWC researchers conducted surveys among residents in two urban neighborhoods with ordinances that mandate anthropogenic (human) food sources be properly secured.
Our researchers surveyed residents in the neighborhoods before and after they received bear-resistant garbage cans and found that a combination of preventative measures and bear-resistant container usage reduced human-bear interactions by 54%, and completely eliminated incidents where bears accessed garbage. Additionally, analysis of calls to the FWC regarding HBIs showed a decline over the five years following ordinance implementation compared to the preceding five years. Consequently, residents reported feeling safer and spending more time outdoors in their neighborhood with less fear of a negative human-bear interaction. FWC relies on peer-reviewed science for its management; access this full publication.
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 In February, our biologists assisted with the release of a rehabilitated bobcat that was under the care of Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens over the past eight weeks after suffering a broken leg. Before the release, the bobcat was fitted with a collar equipped with both GPS and VHF capabilities. This collar allows our team to gather valuable data on the bobcat’s movements and habitat use and helps us monitor the presence of Feline Leukomyelopathy (FLM), a neurological disorder affecting panthers and bobcats. Throughout the day, the collar reports data directly to our biologist via GPS satellite and the animal can be located using a VHF radio antenna from the ground or the air. The collar will continue to collect data for the next one to two years, which is when the animal will need to be recaptured to remove and replace the collar otherwise the built-in fasteners will wear down over time and the collar will eventually fall off. Learn more about FLM and how to support panther research online. Watch a Facebook video.
Sarah Barrett hit the road again to continue her tour of the various FWC regions. This trip to the South Region, April 15-19, was affectionately dubbed the “S-Eras Tour” (think Taylor Swift’s Era tour) by Regional Director Tom Reinert.
 Starting out on Monday, Sarah traveled from Tallahassee to Jupiter, making a stop at the Northeast Regional Office in Ocala to meet with staff, including FYCCN NE Partner Coordinator Stacey Lamborn.
  Tuesday morning, Sarah met with staff and toured the South Regional Office in between meetings. She then met with FYCCN Partner Coordinators Beau Yeiser and Leo Villar to visit the Grassy Waters Preserve Nature Center. The Center is a valuable FYCCN Partner serving the Palm Beach County area.
 Afterwards they traveled to the Everglades Youth Conservation Center to tour the location with EYCC Director Devyn Hamann and Assistant Director Caylee Sarff. EYCC was hosting Lifeguard Training when they arrived, so Sarah was able to visit with staff from the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center as well! Lots of great things are happening at EYCC, including a new cabin and cabin renovations funded by donations to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
  Sarah was able to attend the South Regional Leadership Team Meeting at the Regional Dispatch Center on Wednesday. The meeting provided Sarah with valuable insight into what is happening across the agency in the South Region. After the meeting, attendees met with the Dispatch Team led by Lauren Alvarez for a celebratory lunch in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. After lunch Sarah returned to the South Regional Office to attend a C3 Meeting, followed by a hike around a nearby natural area.
 On Thursday, Sarah and Regional Director Tom Reinert stopped by the Alligator Management Program Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program office to visit with the SNAP Team. They then continued to Okeechobee to meet with HSC Deputy Director David Johnson for an airboat tour of Lake Okeechobee. FWC staff Beacham Furse (HSC), Alyssa Jordan (HSC), Christy Soldo (HSC) and Matt Stevens (FFM) were extremely generous with their time and expertise during the tour.
  Sarah noted “Having only been on the levee at Lake Okeechobee in the past looking at it from the manatee and water control structure perspective, the airboat tour really allowed me to understand firsthand the variations in the habitat across this iconic lake and the challenges that come from those differences!”
  Sarah finished the week at the Naples Zoo for the Florida Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Conservation Committee quarterly meeting. FWC South Regional Bear Coordinator Chris Boyce was a guest speaker at the FAZACC meeting. In addition, Bear Response Contractor Beth Hamm was present as part of ZooCon – a live broadcast from the Naples Zoo to Collier County Public Schools. They both did a great job providing information and answering questions about the iconic Florida black bear.
 After the tour, Sarah got a bonus visit with Officers Chris Thurkettle and Keon Pierre-Louis.
Sarah had this to say, “Another great regional trip is in the books. Thank you to all the staff who help make these trips possible!”
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 The FWC Officer’s Association hosted its third annual Retiree Event for officers and their families on Monday, April 29. Prior years’ events were hosted at country clubs and the Richloam Bass Hatchery, but its new location at the Ocala Youth Camp provided some opportunities for friendly competition.
 Ken Parramore with his winning 5-pound fish.
Around 50 retirees attended the event and participated in a fishing contest for biggest catch plus competitions in turkey target shooting and archery. Ken Parramore, Lance Ham and Steve Grigg were the big winners, respectively. Everyone had equal opportunities to win additional prizes during the raffle.
 Mealtime was a great opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of FWC officers. Stories were shared by those in attendance, memorabilia was available for viewing throughout the camp, and the sentiment of an FWC family rang true throughout the day.
“I worked with some great people and I’m proud to be a part of this family,” shared Santi Ayala, a South Region retiree.
“I know as you get into retirement, it can be hard to connect with everyone all the time but know that the legacy you all left is here and alive,” said Maj. Russel, NE Regional Commander, when commending the retirees for their hard work throughout the years.
 FWC would like to thank the retirees for their dedication to the agency. We look forward to welcoming even more past and current officers at next year’s event!
  ICYMI: Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund Cast $400,000 Lifeline to Revive Lake George
FWC, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Florida State Parks partnering with American Canoe Association for Kayaking 101 instruction to kick off National Safe Boating Week
FWC identifies vessel of interest in fatal Key Biscayne boating accident
Keep Florida the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World, become a Florida Friendly Angler today!
Applications for alligator harvest permits open today, including new Alligator Super Hunt
FWC conducting aquatic habitat enhancement in Everglades WMA Complex
 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 Courtney Carroll
I am delighted to extend my deepest appreciation for the exemplary professionalism displayed by Officer Courtney Carroll in their role as a State Wildlife Officer. Officer Carroll has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism in their duties. Their dedication to enforcing wildlife laws, protecting endangered species and promoting conservation efforts is truly commendable. Moreover, Officer Carroll exhibits outstanding integrity and fairness in all interactions, fostering positive relationships within the community and earning the trust of both fellow colleagues and the public alike. Their ability to handle challenging situations with tact and diplomacy reflects their exceptional professionalism. Officer Carroll's tireless efforts contribute significantly to preserving our natural resources and ensuring the well-being of wildlife populations. Their passion for environmental stewardship serves as an inspiration to others, reflecting a genuine commitment to the mission of conservation. In conclusion, They are an invaluable asset to our community and a shining example of professionalism in the field of wildlife conservation. Their dedication, expertise, and integrity make them truly deserving of recognition and appreciation. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to protecting our natural heritage."
Jean Marie Conner, HSC
Special kudos to Jean Marie for going above & beyond even prior to the "Woods" event on April 27. Not only did Jean Marie call me to remind me of the event, she called me back with specific directions to Bear Pond Trailhead when her attempt to send me a map link was blocked. During the event, Jean Marie was attentive to every detail and request, particularly to first-time attendees like me. Jean Marie is a true professional who enjoys her work and it shows! Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable and educational day in nature that I hope to do again soon!
Tony Young, HGM
I’m new to hunting and disabled. I called the FWC and got passed around because nobody could answer my hunting questions that related to disabilities. Then Tony picked up the phone. He helped me with disabled hunting questions, supplied me with his cell number for further assistance and texted me links. Part of my disabilities is Parkinson’s, therefore it’s hard to navigate websites or even use the phone some days. I truly appreciate good-hearted people that go over and above to help make my life just a little easier.
 Congratulations to the following employees for reaching 5-year milestones of employment with the FWC.
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25 Years
Cory Morea, HGM
20 Years
Michael Albert, LE
Eric Alford, LE
Richard Dearborn, LE
Elina Garrison, FWRI
Amy Hayes, LE
Kara Hooker, LE
Robert B. Johnston, LE
Cromwell Letcher, LE
Stuart Messman, LE
Anthony Nelson, LE
Shawn Polly, LE
Jonathan Ruggiero, LE
Patrick Walsh, LE
Stephen Wicker, LE
Seth Wingard, LE
Erika Zimmerman, LE
15 Years
Kevin Balfour, LE
William Bell, LE
Tracy Bontrager, LE
Joel Buckson, LE
Ryan Crane, LE
James Fillip, LE
Bryan Fugate, LE
Robert Geib, LE
Jeffrey Goggin, LE
Karl Hellett, LE
Timothy Hinds, LE
Ronald Howard, LE
Dan Marotta, FWRI
Brian Sierra, LE
Bret Swensson, LE
Kenneth Trusley, LE
Thomas VanTrees, LE
Chad Weber, LE
Scott Wiggins, LE
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10 Years
Tachea Evans, LE
Jaime Scott, FWRI
Paul Wharton, HSC
5 Years
Calvin Beech, FWRI
Kristin Halley, HSC
Karin Kryger, LE
Richard Pearson, IG
Christopher Sweetman, MFM
Lex Ann Thomas, HGM
Retired!
Melinda Lott, IT – 30 Years
Felix Callazo, LE – 25 Years
Norberto Fernandez, HSC – 25 Years
Faye Jones, FBO – 22 Years
Mary Bottenberg, FWRI – 10 Years
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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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 Lt. Jarrod Molnar, Lt. Shelton Bartlett and Senior Officer Joe Brooks conducted their annual BUI Refresher for FWC, USCG and OCSO officers in Okaloosa County. They provided the most updated NASBLA SFST, reviewed/demonstrated SFST and HGN, and stressed the importance of good reporting writing based on impairment indicators/clues, BWC video, notes and photos.
  On Saturday, April 27, Officers Devon Waters and Christopher Lugg attended the Pensacola Kids’ Fishing Clinic at the Blue Wahoos Stadium. Children were taught how to bait a hook and cast a line by FWC officers and members of the Pensacola Recreational Fishermen's Association. At the FWC booth children learned about life jacket safety, different types of fish and the multifaceted work of the FWC. After their period of learning, children had the opportunity to explore the patrol boat. Overall, the fishing clinic provided a fun and educational experience for children to learn about fishing and the importance of conservation.
  
 On Tuesday, April 23, the FWC and the Northwest Florida Water Management District hosted a 3-day freshwater fishing event for veterans at Econfina Creek WMA - Fitzhugh Carter Tract. The event was organized as an Operation Outdoor Freedom initiative. Operation Outdoor Freedom provides recreational and rehabilitative opportunities for wounded veterans on state forests, agricultural lands and private lands throughout Florida at no cost.
The Operation Outdoor Freedom Fishing Event started with an orientation and a review of fishing locations, followed by a safety briefing. Officer John Allen provided basic boater and water safety tips before veterans utilized johnboats for freshwater fishing. Northwest Region Fisheries Biologist Chris Paxton spoke to participants about freshwater fish identification and gave an overview of the fish they would likely catch, such as largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and black crappie.
 
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The deadline for the June 3 issue is May 28
The Inside Job is a bi-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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