This Little Guy Is An Eastern Screech Owl. Although Small, He Is Considered Fully Grown. An Eye Injury

Who is the Sawgrass Nature Center?

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Sawgrass Nature Center, we wanted to provide to you a summary of who we are and what we do.

The Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital (SNC) is a non-profit organization that has been providing environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation for the residents of our community for the past 25 years. The SNC was founded in 1995 on a philosophy of environmental stewardship and the belief that humans were meant to preserve and care for the environment and its wild inhabitants. Our main mission goals are:

Educate the public about Florida’s native and unique wildlife

Rehabilitate and release in-need native wildlife that is brought to our center

With the belief that education and compassion go hand-in-hand, we hope that our educational programs which are designed to entertain and educate both children and adults will lead to respect for our native animals and knowledge of the important roles they play in nature.

Our center also provides care for over 850 in-need native animals annually through our onsite wildlife hospital. Residents of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade County have been bringing injured, orphaned, or sick native wildlife to SNC for the past twenty-five years. We continue to be the only place in northwest Broward County that offers this service.

Unfortunately, not every animal once rehabilitated can be released again. Some suffer from permanent injuries that will prohibit their survival in the wild.  These animals are provided a forever home at the Sawgrass Nature Center. They become “animal ambassadors” that help to educate the public about their species and their importance to Florida’s natural environment. Our animal sanctuary exhibits are open to public viewing.

If you are interested in the events and programs that the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital offers, please consider following us on social media or check out our website, https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/.

Yknow the thing where red pandas just lay down on a branch and let their legs hang and they’re just like vibing

Riddles + an Event = Fun!

https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2021/09/28/world-animal-day/

Writer Beware makes posts on which publishing houses to avoid at all costs, which words to look for and which words to watch out for in contracts, and several other things that will keep you in control and knowledgeable about the publishing process.  I’d suggest reading through the website if you want to avoid getting ripped off, cheated, or scammed.

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.

Monkey Island: Cayo Santiago Imagine an uninhabited island originally set up as a research station. A few monkeys are released there to observe and study. Fast-forward several years and monkeys run the island—no humans allowed. Sound like a science fiction movie? A Planet of the Apes knock-off? Well….in this case, it’s not. This island exists—it’s Cayo Santiago in the Caribbean near Puerto Rico.

Keep reading

A Successful Camp During a Pandemic

Spring of 2020 set back many with the realization that COVID-19 was going to affect us for far longer than hoped. Places closed, families went into quarantine, and everyone was left wondering—what happens next?

One of the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital’s main goals was to continue our mission of Environmental Education.  No other program meets that goal like our youth camp, Camp Wild. However, Spring Camp had already been canceled, so there was no precedent for running a successful camp during a pandemic. But the need for a sense of normalcy and a place for children to go have fun and further their education was definitely there.

Camp Wild 2020 – Summer Session continued under new rules and safety regulations. An average camp size of thirty was reduced to a capacity of fifteen. In the open-air outdoor classroom at the Sawgrass Nature Center, assigned seats and spaces were created for campers with a six-foot minimum distance between them. Masks were required and worn at almost all times, apart from food and water breaks. Mandatory hand washing and hand sanitizing were scheduled throughout the day. Regular reminders to keep their hands to themselves, to show care for their friends’ safety by not sharing and the risks involved with breaking the very important safety rules helped campers understand the role they were playing toward a safe and successful camp experience.

The curriculum and activities were also adapted to new safety requirements. Typical toys and games that could not be easily sanitized (playdough, crayons, Legos) were substituted with items that could be kept clean and separate. When it came time for crafts, every camper was preassigned with their own set of supplies and materials. Counselors were then responsible for collecting and cleaning supplies.

One of the most difficult issues of running an outdoor camp during COVID-19 is the requirement of face masks. How do we ensure the campers keep them on and that they are breathing properly in the face of Florida’s unrelenting heat? Fortunately, face masks have proven to be quite breathable.  Campers were told that if they ever felt like they needed a mask break, or that they were breathing too hard, a safe space would be made for them to breathe freely.

With all these safety regulations, Camp Wild attendees were able to participate in typical camp activities like outdoor games, dip netting, slogging, bug hunting, and more. Camp Wild 2020 was a success in the face of a global crisis. Six weeks of successful operation showed us that there is a way to keep our children safe and educated during uncertain times and for them to have a fun summer camp experience.

This injured Burrowing Owl was brought to the nature center by a concerned Broward County resident to be rehabilitated. We were able to successfully able to release it back into the wild as good as new! 

This Burrowing Owl had an interesting feature that made it a unique visitor at our hospital. Most Burrowing Owls have bright yellow eyes. This one in particular possessed a recessive gene that gave it brown eyes instead. 

Rocky Mountain Golds: © gifs by riverwindphotography, September 2020

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/