This exotic snake was caught in a garage on Bayou Chico (Pensacola) – it did not belong to the homeowner. Photo courtesy of: Escambia County Animal Control
Now that we have completed National Invasive Species Awareness Week many readers have learned what NOT to do with their unwanted exotic pets… but what DO you do with them? Here are six simple suggestions for you to consider. Many professional herpetologists suggest similar options.
Keep it This may sound a bit strange but it is actually an option. Many who purchase an exotic pet do so without the understanding of how large they may get, or expensive they are to maintain. However if the owner does a little homework you may be able to design, or purchase, a enclosure for your pet that will make them more comfortable, easier for you to handle, and less expensive to maintain.
Find a new home This is the most popular option. Listing the animal on the internet or in the local paper may yield a person very interested in having and properly maintaining it… a win-win for all. Other options can include nature centers and schools where education on invasive species may find a place that needs and wants the animal. There are rescue groups for specific species which can be found on the internet.
Return to the pet store Many pet stores will take pets they have sold back for resale. This is certainly a better option than releasing it but pet owners should understand that they will probably will not get their money back.
Contact your local animal control office Our local animal control will not take exotic pets but some may, and most can, provide good advice as to local locations that may be interested in it.
Contact your local state wildlife agency Most state wildlife agencies are very familiar with non-profits, nature centers, and other locations that will accept exotic animals. In Florida the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offer Amnesty Dayswhere residents can bring their unwanted exotic pets to a central locations; FWC will then try to find them a new home. To find the nearest Amnesty Day to your home visit the FWC website at MyFWC.com.
Euthanize Though for most pet homeowners this is not an option, for some it may be their only option. If you do plan to euthanize your pet you should do so only with a certified veterinarian.
Whichever option the pet owner chooses, releasing them into the wild is NOT a good option. In addition to being against the law it could be lethal for your pet or, if they do survive, economically or environmentally catastrophic for your community.
An unwanted green iguana now resides at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center where others can learn about the issues of exotic pets. Photo: Molly O’Connor
Swallowtail Butterfly Feeding on a native Buckeye. Buckeyes also attract hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Jed Dillard
Honey bees are quite the buzz these days. Reports of population declines and the importance of their role in pollination have caught the country’s attention. The Northwest District IFAS Beekeepers’ classes have grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Many folks have decided to keep bees for the first time and even those who do not start their own hives are itching to know more about how to help these industrious insects.
As important as the European honeybee is to our agriculture, there are many species of native pollinators that were here when the first European bees arrived with the settlers from England and Spain. Many of our crops were also introduced, but when the Native Americans began growing squash and pumpkins, the honeybees were not around. Many native plants we treasure in landscapes and natural lands are also dependent on these pollinators.
Butterflies may be our most familiar pollinator after honeybees, and growing a butterfly garden is a great way to enjoy these colorful visitors. However, there are many other native insect pollinators. Moths may come to mind next, but native bees are the unknown stars here.
There are over 300 species of native bees in Florida. Some are conspicuous like bumble bees and some are rarely noticed because of their small size. These species are also economically important. Bumble bees are preferred in vegetable greenhouses, because they are more active than honey bees, and are also major pollinators of cotton.
As we increase our interest in native plants, it’s important to preserve and enhance native pollinators. Choosing native plants is just the first step. Many native annuals can reseed themselves if managed properly, and assuring there are appropriate pollinators on hand is one of the key steps in that. If you’ve planted to attract wildlife, you’ll want to know which pollinators will ensure fruit is produced.
As you attract more native pollinators, you’ll have a more vibrant native plant community. As you have a more vibrant native plant community, you’ll support a larger and more diverse native pollinator population, and that’s some more buzz the world needs to catch.
More information on butterfly gardening is available from the University of Florida . UF information on attracting and supporting native bees is available at http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/honeybee/nbns.shtml, and there is a great citizen science project on native bees (Teachers, youth leaders, parents have you read this far?) “The Native Buzz” at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/ellis/nativebuzz/. The Xerces Society for invertebrate preservation also has informational resources available at http://www.xerces.org/.
Cogongrass Photo Credit: Chris Evans, Illionois Wildlife Action Plan, www.bugwood.org
Cogongrass is one of the 10 worst weeds in the world. This grass is an aggressive grower and forms colonies causing loss of productive forest areas, severe degradation of habitat, and economic issues. Since its introduction in the 1900s, Cogongrass has spread to most of the counties in Florida. Reproduction occurs through seed production and the creeping rhizome system. This plant is prolific once established with the creation of a very dense rhizome system that retains water and releasing of allelopathic chemicals reducing competition from other plants.
Cogongrass is yellow/green in color with an off-set midrib and a fluffy white seed head. Cogongrass is drought and shade tolerant. Once this grass invades, it will quickly displace the native species and requires frequent and intensive controls.
Early detection is best since a small infestation is easier and cheaper to treat. The larger infestations become more time intensive, expensive, and difficult. There are treatment options for these infestations, make sure that specific instructions are followed and treatment is repeated.
For more information on the biology of this plant and various treatment options visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg202. Also, by contacting your local UF/IFAS Extension office for assistance and information.
Cogongrass is a fire-adapted species, thriving where fire is a regular occurrence. In fact, the threat of wildfires greatly increases with the presence of cogongrass, a non-native invasive species. Cogongrass fires burn hotter and faster than native grass fires. This footage, shot in Baldwin County, Alabama, demonstrates how destructive a cogongrass fire can be to native vegetation.
Tawny Crazy Ant (Nylanderia fulva):
Cleaning up large piles of dead ants are a daily cleanup chore for this homeowner. Photo: Dan Culbert, UF/IFAS Extension Okeechobee County
Nylanderia fulva is part of the group of ants called “crazy ants” due to their erratic and quick movements. These ants are medium to small and goldish brown to reddish brown in color. The Tawny Crazy Ants nest in large numbers in leaf litter, soil, rotten logs, under potted plants and along underground electrical conduits.
Nylanderia fulva is a nuisance to humans. They infest gardens, sidewalks and other areas of human traffic. They cause damage to electrical lines. They also displace other native ant species due to their large colony size.
This ant, Nylanderia fulva, has been confused with several other ants such as the Nylanderia pubens and Nylanderia guatemalensis.
Controlling the bug population in your garden and around your home will help decrease the likelihood of Tawny Crazy Ants invading. Avoid transporting plant material, mulches and such to uninfested areas. Granular baits can be used to control smaller populations but large populations will probably need a professional pest control service.
The Tawny Crazy Ant was a Featured Creature by UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology. Also, the UF/IFAS School IPM has some good information about controlling Tawny Crazy Ant.
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