WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DAY

Racoon (Procyon lotor); photo by Cynde Baumann; Florida Black Bear Cub (Ursus americanus floridanus); photo by FWC; Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi); photo by UF; Florida Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris paludicola); photo by Wildsouthflorida.org

December 4 marks Wildlife Conservation Day, an annual event meant to raise awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats through conservation programs. Wildlife conservation in Florida entails a proactive effort to protect, manage, and restore the state’s diverse native species to ensure ecological health and sustainability. It is imperative to preserve our biodiversity and essential ecosystems as each species plays a role in its habitat, and when one is lost, it can have a ripple effect on others.

Florida is one of the most species-rich states in the nation with over 900 species of freshwater fish and land vertebrates, thousands of invertebrates and countless plant species. This multitude of species is dependent on our highly productive natural habitats. Major threats to wildlife include urban sprawl and habitat fragmentation, poaching, pollution, and the illegal wildlife trade. Non-native plants and animals replace local species and disrupt native ecosystems.

Each state has a wildlife action plan designed to take preventative action for species decline. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) implements Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan. The plan highlights Florida’s 974 native wildlife and 45 habitats. The plan also outlines specific actions to protect them. For more on Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan, see Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) | FWC.

Florida State Parks like Gamble Rogers and North Peninsula are home to many species of wildlife considered endangered, threatened, or imperiled. Park staff and volunteers protect sea turtle nests, remove invasive species and conduct a variety of preservation, protection, and management techniques to restore and protect vital habitat for the wildlife that depend on Florida’s state parks for their home.

You can help by volunteering in our parks or participating in programs that involve firsthand activities like nature walks and habitat restoration. While in nature, refrain from disturbing native plants and animals and never feed wildlife. Report the following species to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 if found injured, sick, orphaned, or dead: manatees, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, Florida panthers and black bears.