This Wildlife Wednesday We Are Featuring Our Resident Red Rat Snake. This Guy In Particular Has A Permanent

It is officially baby season at the Sawgrass Nature Center! This week alone we have taken in 36 baby opossums with the goal to release them back into the wild once they are old enough to fend for themselves. 

Today was a rainy day in South Florida. Some of our resident animals were particularly enjoying this weather, including our gator Wally. Wally is a female American Alligator. Most people think of Alligators as green in color, but most have a darker coloring that enables them to camouflage better in dark, swampy water. 

The Sawgrass Nature Center has the chance to win up to $20k in grants if we can raise just $3,000 in donations. The goal for this grant is to provide under served communities with career-building mentorship programs and educational resources for free. Please help us reach our goal by sharing or donating. Learn more about the mission here: https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/story/Elzntf

As of September, the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital has treated over 800 wild animals. This is a 20% increase from last year’s total intakes. While we can’t be completely sure, we assume the increase is due to other local nature centers and wildlife hospitals closing down and redirecting traffic to us, as well as COVID-19 causing more people to stay close to home. 

The more time people spend at home, the more time they have to notice all the native wildlife running around their backyards. 

Just your friendly neighborhood shark appreciation post

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Ewok, the eastern screech owl, is a permanent resident at the SNC due to an eye injury that would prevent him from thriving in the wild. He is a fully grown eastern screech owl, even though their small size leads many to believe that they are juveniles. 

The interesting coloring of their feathers is camouflage adapted to blend in with the base of trees. 

And yes, we name all of the Eastern Screech Owls we care for after Star Wars. 

A Eurasian Collared Dove built a nest in our yard

Why do snakes yawn? While wildlife biologists do not have a definitive answer, it is like that it is because they are hungry! We can confirm that this video was caught right before feeding time.

Are you feeling increased stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 related issues? Lavender is one of the best ways to naturally reduce stress and anxiety. Burn a lavender candle, use a few drops of lavender essential oils in a bath, or even use some to mix with lemonade! 

Check out what other people are using lavender for here: https://www.ausnaturalcare.com.au/health/life-style/10-benefits-of-lavender-essential-oil-and-how-to-use-it/

This ultra-black fish has evolved to be practically invisible in the darkest depths of the ocean, and the way it sucks in light could be useful for engineers.