“Here are no lofty peaks seeking the sky, no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land. Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of water, but as the receiver of it. To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in our country.” With these words, President Harry S. Truman formally dedicated Everglades National Park on 06 December 1947 in a ceremony held at Everglades City.
| Manatee (Associated Press) |
The Everglades is always steps away from complete disaster. Be it drought leading to the death of animals and the real threat of fire to flooding that washes away alligator and turtle eggs and other nests and not leaving enough dry area for some animals to survive. These conditions were at one time natural and they were necessary for the continued balance of life in the Everglades but today many of these conditions are made many times worse because of people. In fires animals used to be able to sense them and move to other locations in order to survive. Today construction has stopped them from being able to go from one area of the park to another or has cut off escape routes in one direction or another. Fire was the Everglades way of getting rid of the dead and dying trees and plants and replacing them with new fresh growth. So fire itself isn’t a horrible thing for the Everglades but when animals who are escaping the fire only to find themselves in the line of the controlled fires started in hopes of keeping the fire from homes and businesses they have no escape and the fire burns hotter and faster then in nature not allowing some animals time to escape.
We have had an extremely dry rainy season making trees and plant life very dry and increasing the chance of a small natural spark meaning disaster for the Everglades. Yesterday and today all of Miami and Fort Lauderdale woke up to the smell of fire and ash in the air from a fire that has now been burning in the Everglades for weeks. There are approximately 360 fire fighters and support personnel are battling the fire. The wildfire was caused by a spark from a lightning and it has burned about 35,850 acres of the preserve, according to the Big Cypress National Preserve website. Two private hunting camps have burned and four Florida Panther cubs were killed in the wildfire.
Within the four National Park areas of Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve and Fort Jefferson National Monument there are 16 endangered and 6 threatened wildlife species. The Everglades, once known for its abundant bird life, has seen its wading bird population decline drastically since the turn of the century. The Florida Panther once common throughout the state, today is on the verge of extinction.
| Florida Panther (Associated Press) |
American crocodile
Green turtle
Atlantic Ridley turtle
Atlantic hawksbill turtle
Atlantic leatherback turtle
Cape Sable seaside sparrow
Snail (Everglades) kite
Wood stork
West Indian manatee
Florida panther
Key Largo wood rat
Key Largo cotton mouse
Red-cockaded woodpecker
Schaus swallowtail butterfly
Garber’s Spurge
Its not like we can just put a group together of animal rescuers and go out to the Everglades to help the animals. While there might be a few feral dogs or cats in danger, for the most part the animals in need of help are wild and require a special license and knowledge for their care. I am sure that all those licensed in wildlife rehabilitation in the area have been offering their services and help to the firefighters but for the most part these animals would not come seeking out humans for help.
This is so disturbing 🙁 Unfortunately, we are just burning/sucking the life right out of our planet…what is crazy is that there are people who refuse to see it. They must be “refusing” because it is obvious..it's not a matter of opinion…