Florida outdoor enthusiasts -- hunters, fishermen, trail-walkers and bird-watchers -- all need to take an active role in preserving the environment or risk losing resources in the future.

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is active in promoting conservation programs to ensure there are plenty of areas to play in Florida.

 

Here are some ideas for how each outdoorsman can help protect our natural resources:

 

Fishermen:
Catch-and-release: Some fish, such as the goliath grouper, are prohibitive and cannot be kept if caught. The FWC implements limits on the number of fish that can be taken, minimum and maximum sizes of fish that can be kept and closed fish seasons.

 

Fishermen have to take care they use the proper catch and release methods, so fish are returned to the waters in as good a condition as possible.

 

 

 

Hunters:
With more than half of Florida owned privately, the state uses landowner incentive programs so hunters can use the land. The state implements hunting seasons, sets bag limits on the number of animals

 

Hunters should follow rules for hunting seasons and don’t take more than the bag limit. 

 

Hikers and bird-watchers:
The FWC manages about 5 million acres in Florida to help conserve wildlife and their habitats. Through the Safe Harbor program, the state works with private landowners to mitigate endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker to provide safe habitats.

 

Hikers, bird-watchers and campers should stay on designated trails and don’t take plants.

 

What does the future hold for Florida outdoor enthusiasts?
* Fishing: As the number of anglers increase in Florida, so does the competition for fishing space. Look for more restrictions on Florida’s fisherman. Possibilities could be catch-and-release-only programs and more species closed to fishing during longer seasons.

 

* Hunting: Hunters also could be losing more land as property owners turn over acres to developers in Florida. The FWC estimates about 25 percent of the nearly 6 million acres currently available to hunters could be gone in 50 years.
* Bird-watchers and hikers: Like hunters, hiking and bird-watching enthusiasts could be losing land as private owners sell out to developers.  As the state’s population increases, less land will be available for wildlife habitats.
* Source: Wildlife 2060: What’s At Stake for Florida? Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

 

What will happen to our wildlife in 50 years?
As the population in Florida increases, less land is available for wildlife. Here’s a look at what could happen with the loss of just 25,000 acres to development:
-- 1 black bear’s home range, 25,000 acres
-- 60 bobcats, 1 bobcat per 410 acres
-- 165 foxes, 1 fox per 150 acres
-- 580 deer, 1 deer per 43 acres
-- 1,250 Northern bobwhites, 1bobwhite per 20 acres
-- 2,000 cardinals, 1 cardinal per 12 acres
-- 2.5 million trees, about 100 per acre
-- 6,975 trillion insects, about 275 million insects (including butterflies) per acre
* Source: “Wildlife 2060: What’s At Stake for Florida?” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission