Help protect Pine Island’s wildlife
To the editor:
I’ve been a volunteer for the CROW (Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife) hospital on Sanibel for some 21 years, and every year I see a lot of injuries to wildlife that were caused by the negligence of humans.
The top of the list is irresponsible use of fishing monofilament. Discarded monofilament (both with and without hooks) often entangles birds and causes them a slow painful death, sometimes while hanging upside down in the mangroves. Discarding monofilament is not only stupid – it’s a criminal violation in Florida. If you see discarded monofilament, stop what you are doing and go retrieve it – be a responsible fisherman.
Number two on my list is feeding fish scraps to birds. While it may seem like an act of kindness to feed your fish scraps to beggars – it’s not. Pelicans and wading birds know how to safely eat fish (which is head first, which causes the fins and barbs to fold down). They don’t have a clue as to how to safely eat fish scraps and often the barbs and fins (and fish hooks) penetrate their throats or organs and cause injuries and infections and death. That’s why feeding fish scraps to birds is illegal in Florida (not a well known law, but the penalties are severe).
Of course, road kills result in a lot of wildlife deaths on Pine Island – often unavoidable but still horrible. In one striking example, indigio snakes are so often killed by cars that they are thought to be are extinct on Sanibel, and only seven have been counted on Pine Island in recent surveys. I have personally seen people go out of their way to intentionally run over snakes and even a gopher tortoise. If that animal is a threatened species (as are both indigo snakes and gopher tortoises), you can (and should) go to jail.
My last category is the improper use of rat poison. Black rats and Norway rats are a problem on Pine Island, especially in boats, and we have to deal with them. Responsible use requires not only that the poison be presented so that it is available only to the rats (as in an enclosed boat bilge), but that poisoned rats not be allowed to become available to predators. Poisoned rats eaten by ospreys or other predators will also die a horrible death. Popular brands of rat poison kill by causing the blood vessels to explode. If you see a dead osprey that looks like it’s body has exploded, you should suspect irresponsible use of rat poison.
Please help protect Pine Island’s wildlife.
Phil Buchanan
St James City