THINGS THAT BITE

We leave the Everglades National Park tomorrow (Monday) for 5 days in the Keys and feel we have done the area some justice – given that the vast majority of the huge area is underwater – albeit very shallow water.  We have discovered that it is not just 1.5 million acres of swamps, but also vast saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles.  I have already posted some pictures of the mangrove swampy bits, but this is what it is like over huge areas – with a massive sheet of slow moving water draining Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico.

As you can see from the present day diagram, this flow has been severely disrupted and thus threatens the whole area and its unique ecosystem.






SNAKES

Burmese Pythons (set free by owners or from zoos etc during hurricanes) are causing huge problems as they can grow to 8 m (26 ft.) in length and have been reported in extreme south Florida since the 1980s, with an established population now located mainly within the bounds of Everglades National Park. Juvenile Burmese pythons and python eggs are eaten by a variety of animals, but when the snakes reach lengths of over 8 feet they become a top predator – they are breeding like mad and eating vast quantities of the smaller mammals and wildlife.

Because of the problem there is currently a competition being held for this month, to see who can catch the biggest.  Only 41 caught so far since mid January – so a bit of a way to go.  Graham and I have been searching, but with no success so, sorry to Phil and Joan, who wanted us to enter the competition – this is the best we can do.

But we did see this Cottonmouth a few feet away from the boardwalk – extremely poisonous, so kept our distance!  Zoom lenses are good!  And a few other smaller and non-venomous ones.








BITING INSECTS

As anyone will tell you, the major problem in South Florida is the mossies and no-see–ums - apparently unbearable in the summer but OK in winter.  We have covered up a bit and only got a few bites, but this is what appears at the Visitors Centres – not temperatures, but mossie count. 





I like the idea of the complete coverup jacket – would be useful in many other parts of the world.  Not elegant but functional!!




ATTACKING VULTURES

As previously posted, the black vultures have been causing problems in some of the car parks by chewing up the rubber bits and wipers – hence it is true – here we are with our very own anti-vulture kit on loan!

AND

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST

THESE BIGGER BITERS