Florida Everglades - Reflections of Marjory Stoneman Douglas Post # 14

The Everglades are definitely unique and one of a kind.  I have on many occasions driven on Alligator Alley and look from right to left seeing only an endless expanse of water and saw grass.  I have always wonder how the Seminoles faired in such hostile lands but after reading Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ “The Nature of the Everglades” I realized the immense diversity of plant and animal life that the Everglades have to offer.  Right here in our back yard is the only Everglade of its type that connects to the second greatest body of fresh water in the United States.  750 square miles of water that eventual filters into the river of saw grass.  I think that the Indian name Pa-hay-okee (Grassy Water) is appropriate and best describes the Everglades; a grassy water that expands south by over a hundred miles and east to west by over 70 miles.  Water, saw grass, and muck over a well-worn sponge like limestone rock.   Not only are the Everglades about water and vegetation but also home to great many types of trees, birds, fish, insects and other larger animals such as alligators, crocodiles, bear, turtles, and panthers .  What the Everglades lack in hospitality, it has in the diversity life.  From Lake Okeechobee in the north to the mangroves in the south, the Everglades dominate over South Florida and still have areas yet to be explored. For after 400 years of  its discovery by European explorers, Everglades still holds mysteries within its endless sea of grass.

Thrown to the Wolves - Service Learning at ShyWolf Sanctuary Post 15 & 16

My Service Learning hours, for my Colloquium class, were spent at ShyWolf Sanctuary in Naples, Florida.  ShyWolf Sanctuary is a safe place for many wild and exotic animals which included Florida Panthers, two different kinds of foxes, wolves, wolf-dogs, coyotes, prairie dogs, and rabbits.  The majority of these animals were brought to the Sanctuary after being critically hurt, sick, or rescued from abusive situations.  At the time of my service there were 35 wolves / wolf-dogs, 1 coyote, 2 panthers, 3 foxes, 4 prairie dogs and a whole lot of rabbits.  All animals required special diets and habitats to survive.  

The animals are separated into their individual habitats which are cleaned and restocked daily by the volunteers and owners of the Sanctuary.  I was actually surprised on my first day at the Sanctuary because the animal habitats are actually built around and in the back of the owner’s residence.  The house is situated at towards the end of a road in a residential area.  The wolves are separated in pairs or into larger groups of 3-5 wolves depending on their character and their established relationships.  All the animals are neutered to avoid increase in population.  Every animal seems to have a story of origin and most are cruel and sad. 

One wolf was rescued after being abused for 5 years.  The owners had the wolf on a chain and choker out in the sun for the majority of the 5 years.  The neighborhood children would throw rocks, sticks, and metal cans at the wolf.  The owners fell on hard times as the husband was arrested and incarcerated and the wife returned to Mexico.  The wolf was left behind to die without food or water.  A Good Samaritan ended up calling Animal Protection and the wolf was retrieved.  Unfortunately, the wolf was ill with numerous parasites, heartworm, and it’s metal chock chain was now imbedded into his skin.  Animal protection originally planned to euthanize the wolf but the Sanctuary took him in and nursed him back to health.  Now he is the Alpha Male of his small pack of 3 and has rebounded in heath and spirit, living a more fulfilling life. 

Another wolf was used on a breeding farm (for wolves) and had dozens of litters but when she started to produce less and less, she was left to die with food or water.  She was rescued and brought to ShyWolf Sanctuary but she was not responsive at first.  The wolf refused to eat and just slept all day.  She was not very receptive to the volunteers or other wolves.  The owners found the solution for the wolf’s depression when they rescued to wolf puppies from a similar breeding farm.  The female wolf was immediately receptive of the wolf cubs and became their replacement mother.  Today she still lives in the habitat with both of the cubs. 

The volunteers are all from different paths and unique in their own sense.  Many are high school and University students but there are also volunteers that have been helping out the Sanctuary for years.  The volunteers are there for the animals and to help the Sanctuary with the giant responsibility to take care of the animals but we must also recognize the many others that donate funds to the Sanctuary.  The price to preserve these animals is high.  In one week, the wolves alone, consume 1500 pounds of meat (beef and chicken).  Also all these animals are routinely assessed and treated by a veterinarian.  Even with the all the effort to help the animals, ShyWolf Sanctuary continues to have opposition.  I was told by the owner of the Sanctuary that some PETA activist challenged ShyWolf Sanctuary by stating that to keep the animal caged in a artificial habitat was cruel.  The owner responded back with a simple question that the activist couldn’t answer: How long do you think that a wolf that has never known the wildness survive on its own?

A New Perspective for Downtown Fort Myers

The Fort Myers downtown field trip was enjoyable and definitely unique when compared with the other field trips.  As a Paramedic, I had worked the same area on many occasions and prior to the fieldtrip, I had a very different perspective of the area.  I could say that my experience was positive and actually increased my interest in getting to know the downtown area.  I do like the fact that many of the buildings and the roads have been restored and a recorded history of events is presented to the public on signs which are visual in many different areas.   Downtown is a blend of both old and the new construction which allows us to appreciate the urban environment over a period of time spanning over 100 years.  One would ask what does downtown have to do with colloquium and the environment.  In all definitions, urbania is an environment all its own that has a significant impact on all that surrounds it.  True, the buildings, roads, harbor, and associated infrastructure are man-made, the area still represents an environment that is very efficient in using the resources of the surrounding area.  With urban areas spread worldwide in all corners of the world, to not consider urbania as an important functional environment would be like excluding the mountains, ocean, or the rain forests.   Many people look at cities as something evil encroaching onto nature but in reality we owe much to cities for they have given humanity shelter for generations.  Instead of looking at nature and urbania as opposing forces, we should instead seek ways of blending both together to form a harmony between the natural and the man-made. 

The ECHO Experience

The Echo field trip impressed many new ideas on me.  I learned many new things and also reinforced some old ideas.  Solar stoves, bio-filters, bucket irrigation systems, and ecoagricultural farming techniques were only a hand full of the subjects that were presented.  Not only were the subjects talked about but the simple technologies were present, demonstrated and used on a daily bases on the farm.  The philosophy of the Echo farm is to teach societies in need to become self-sustained through efficient farming and the use of simple and inexpensive technologies.   One example that impressed me was the bio-filters for water filtration instead of importing bottled water (which could be expensive).  With the bio-filters, local water sources can be used without the threat of becoming extremely ill.   Several days after class, I actual purchased a Sawyer bio-filter on-line to add to my emergency/ survival supplies.  It beats keeping a large supply of bottle water on stock and is much easier to transport.   The solar stoves were also an item of interest because the only power source needed is sunlight.  Another aspect of ECHO that is interesting is the different farming techniques that are being used such as green fences, plants that promote soil fertility and moisture, simple bucket and hose irrigation, and multi seasonal  planting to assure production year long.  I was impressed by the mini eco-agricultural farm set up on the farm.   There were confined grazing animals for fertilization, the ducks to fertilize the lake which promoted food growth for the tilapia farming.  There are many invaluable lessons to learn from ECHO and I will definitely research more into the subject when time permits.