Ridge Rangers April 2014 Newsletter

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Ridge Rangers at work

April 2014

April Ridge Ranger Events

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

Month View

See a monthly calendar view of Ridge Ranger events

Wednesday - Friday, April 2-4: Help Foresters Enhance Habitat in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. This is a 3 day project by the Florida Forest Service, and they're requesting Ridge Rangers to assist in chain sawing operations to enhance oak scrub habitat (You won't be asked to use a chainsaw). Near Frostproof.  

Saturday, April 5: Remove Invasive Natal Grass to Protect Endangered Plant at FWC Royce Unit . We can't use herbicide near these endangered plants ... people are best at hand-removing the invasive grass from around eryngium! Near Lake Placid.

Saturday, April 5: Invasives Removal at Bok Tower Gardens. Help remove exotic plants in one of Bok Tower Garden's conservation areas! Near Lake Wales.

Saturday, April 12: Remove Invasive Natal Grass to Protect Endangered Plant at FWC Royce Unit . Second day of effort, see above. Near Lake Placid.

Thursday, April 17: Remove Invasives on Conservation Lands on the Upper Peace River. We'll be removing invasive Chinese Tallow trees from along the Peace River in the 280 acre Upper Peace River Conservation Area (we won't be working in water). Near Bartow.

Earth Day -- Tuesday, April 22:

Search for new populations of Florida Ziziphus in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. We'll be conducting a grid survey using GPS technology, looking for rare Florida Ziziphus plants. Great learning experience on how biologists work. Near Frostproof.

Saturday, April 26: Jay Watch Training at FWC Royce Unit. Learn about this endangered but very charming bird, and receive trainng to participate in this summer's JayWatch citizen science program.  Near Lake Placid.


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 ...


Ridge Rangers look for Panther Tracks

3/28/2014: FWC's Jennifer Korn and Ridge Rangers search for panther tracks at OK Slough State Forest.

Ridge Rangers learn about Panthers

Ridge Rangers who had volunteered for 25 hours or more in the last year were invited to a special educational event about Florida’s panthers last Saturday at Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, near Labelle. Panther scientist Dr. Jennifer Korn led the event, which included finding fresh panther tracks and hearing radio telemetry from a nearby panther!

Dr Jenn Korn locates a nearby panther using radio telementry

Ridge Rangers watch as Dr Korn uses radio telemetry to detect a collared panther.


Earth Day is April 22

Earthday

Ridge Rangers will be surveying for rare Ziziphus Celata in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest on Earth Day … come join us!


Not your average workday ...

Cattle watch Ridge Rangers hand weed rare plants

On March 7, Ridge Rangers and staff from Archbold Biological Station went onto a private pasture near Sebring to hand-weed around very rare Ziziphus plants. Hand weeding the plants in a pasture was a unique experience, for both the Ridge Rangers and the cattle ... (video)


Cool Gopher Tortoise App

Gopher Tortoise Smart Phone App

Have a smart phone? FWC has a new app to learn about endangered gopher tortoises and to enter sightings. The app is free and available for both iPhone and Android. See Smartphone Gopher Tortoise App