UF IFAS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

This article discusses the invasive Cuban tree frog and what Dr. Johnson says about it.

There’s an invasive Cuban tree frog in your home. Here’s what to do next. The amphibians may be cute, but they’re threatening Tampa Bay’s native wildlife.

Interested in a conservation career with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but not sure where to start? Look no further than fws.gov/careers!

The USFWS Careers site is full of tips for how to land a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity with us.

☑️ Take the Find Your Path Quiz to discover exciting careers across the U.S. Department of the Interior that match your talents and interests.

☑️ Learn about employee benefits like competitive pay, hybrid and remote work opportunities, generous leave, and a great medical and retirement package.

☑️ Discover our currently open positions that you can apply to right now!

☑️ Get advice on navigating USAJobs.gov and the federal employment application process.

☑️ Learn about special hire authorities that can help you get the job faster!

Conserving America’s wildlife and public lands is interesting, important and rewarding. Whether you’re a student or work professional, pursue your passions and “find your happy” at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 🐟🦌🌱🧍🌎

Photo: Jessica Jia smiles next to a baby turtle by J.Jia/USFWS

🌿 Empowering Youth through Ecological Literacy in Sarasota County 🌿

This past year, Sarasota County’s LIFE (Learning in Florida’s Environment) Program has successfully inspired young minds by connecting them with the natural world. Through interactive field trips and educational activities, students explored local ecosystems and gained a profound understanding of environmental conservation. Over 600 students participated, showing significant knowledge gains and an increased appreciation for nature.

📚✨ Interested in learning more? You can visit Zahir Ringgold Cordes' blog for a detailed overview of the program's achievements and future plans.

Blog link:

Looking Back on LIFE: A Successful Year for Sarasota County’s Award Winning Youth Education Program Malala Yousafzai, youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient and youth advocate for the power of education and equal opportunity for girls, famously said, “The world is shaped by the dreams and ambitions of its young minds.” As we work to address some of our most pressing environmental questions and c...

📢 New Publication Alert! 🎉

Dr. Marcus Lashley and Dr. Carolina Baruzzi from the WEC department co-authored an exciting new paper titled "Climate, Food, and Humans Predict Communities of Mammals in the United States," published in Diversity and Distributions. This work was done in collaboration with several other esteemed authors. 🌍🦌

Link for the publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13900

🎉 Congrats to Orlando Acevedo Charry for winning the NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award! 🌟

Orlando is a PhD candidate in interdisciplinary ecology at UF's School of Natural Resources and Environment. This honor was presented at the NACTA Annual Meeting in Wooster, Ohio. 🏆

🌳 Exciting News for Florida Landowners! 🌳
UF Forestry expert team has brought forward Forest Landowner Academy course. If you would like to know more about the course, you can visit the blog by Suzette Cook.

Link:

UF forestry experts team up to deliver course for landowners IT’S BEEN A YEAR since the new category “Forest Resources and Man­agement” was added to the Univer­sity of Florida IFAS Extension Online Learning Catalog. That portal became a point of access to online educational content developed by UF extension faculty and staff in forestry and natural re...

🕵️‍♂️ Nature Detective Challenge! 🕵️‍♀️

🌙🌿 It’s a nighttime mystery! Deanna’s camera trap captured this sneaky little critter. At first glance, it might look like a potato, but this elusive animal has a special role in our ecosystem. Can you guess what it is?

🔍 Hint: This animal shares its name with a small underground worker and loves to burrow. They are commonly found in Florida and are most active during dawn and dusk.

Drop your guesses in the comments! Let's see who can solve the mystery first! 🕵️‍♂️🔍

A special shoutout to Deanna Riente, a master’s student at the WEC department, whose camera trap data provided this intriguing image.

📢 New Publication Alert! 📢

🎉 Huge congratulations to Juan Restrepo for collaboratively publishing in Scientific Reports! His study on the Black-and-chestnut Eagle highlights the impacts of human-wildlife conflict on this endangered species in the northern Andes. 🦅🌳

You can read the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-63947-3

Step into your future with an amazing Roundup of jobs & internship opportunities! ✨

INTERNSHIPS:
1. The Angari Foundation, located in West Palm Beach, is now accepting applications for fall 2024 internships. Apply by June 1st to be considered for the opportunity.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/44ZOP0h

2. The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation & Research Center is accepting applications for two paid 6-month Coral Research Internships in Apollo Beach, FL.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/4bWsgfj

JOBS:
1. Florida Sea Grant is seeking an NW Regional Clean Boating Coordinator for Escambia County. Closes 6/3
Apply here: https://bit.ly/3x922r5

2. Florida Sea Grant is seeking an Extension Program Specialist for St. John’s County. Closes 6/7
Apply here: https://bit.ly/4b1YTYl

3. The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, FL is seeking a Full-time Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Specialist. Email a cover letter with resume to [email protected]. Interested parties will be required to interview in Marathon, Florida Keys. The applicant will be responsible for travel to and from Marathon. References will be requested for an interview.

4. UF/IFAS is seeking a Social Media Specialist. Closes 6/30
Apply here: https://bit.ly/4c12dUk

5. Cape Coral Public Works Department is seeking two Environmental Technicians and one Environmental Biologist to join their team.
Apply here: https://bit.ly/3x922Y7

6. The International Sea Keepers Society is seeking a full-time Education and Outreach Associate. Learn more about the organization here: https://bit.ly/4c12eaQ
Apply through LinkedIn here: https://bit.ly/4bZmw4q

7. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking a temporary OPS F/W BIO SCIENTIST II working on East Coast red snapper sampling. Closes 6/8
Apply here: https://bit.ly/3Vahdsl

🌟Check back every week for the latest & opportunities!
🌟If you are an employer looking to advertise your open position, please email the job details to: [email protected]

🌍Happy World Environment Day🌍

Meet the Hispid Cotton Rat: These small mammals play crucial roles in seed dispersion and as prey for predators, highlighting the interconnectedness of our natural world. Let's take a moment to appreciate the lesser-known creatures that contribute to our biodiversity.

Photo Credit: Lauren Spears

🦅 Ever wondered what to do if you find a dead bird?

Carie Stevenson's latest blog details the importance of reporting avian mortality to track disease outbreaks among wild bird populations. You can look at the simple steps to reporting and why it matters at the blog link below. Don’t miss out on crucial insights about avian health!

Link: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2024/05/29/weekly-what-is-it-reporting-avian-mortality/

Weekly “What is it?”: Reporting Avian Mortality Sometimes I plan my blog subject well in advance, and sometimes the universe drops a topic literally at my feet. Walking into my office yesterday morning, I was startled to find a dead mockingbird lying on the doormat directly in front of the building door. With no visible injuries it’s hard to kn...

🐍 The "Living with Snakes" workshop at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy on May 23rd was a resounding success! 🐍

Organized by Carolina Baruzzi , with insights from Dr. Steve Johnson and contributions from Ashlynn Canode, the day was filled with enlightening discussions and hands-on activities.

Participants enjoyed debunking myths about Florida's snakes, a lively Snake Bingo, and the unique opportunity to interact with both live and preserved snakes. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined and contributed to this enriching experience!

🌿 Calling all iNaturalist users!

A fascinating survey is currently underway to delve into the motivations and usage habits of iNaturalist users. This research, which is part of WEC master’s thesis, takes just 5-10 minutes and seeks to understand how user motivations evolve over time.
Whether you're a seasoned observer or a casual visitor, every response is valued! You can scan the QR code to participate in the survey in English or Spanish.

Feel free to share this with peers, labs, and anyone keen on nature observation. 🌱

🐢🌍 Happy (belated) World Turtle Day ! 🌍🐢

Sorry for being a bit slow on the uptake, but we couldn't let World Turtle Day pass by without shell-ebrating! 🎉🐢 Let's take a moment to appreciate these majestic creatures who have been "turtley" awesome residents of our planet.

As we honor these gentle beings, we can't help but wonder, who's the turtle in the picture? What do you all think? 🤔📹

Photo Credit: Deanna Riente

🐦🌊 Exciting news for birdwatchers! Join the ongoing Downtown Fort Pierce Waterfront Birding Bioblitz throughout 2024.
You can explore the vibrant avian diversity along the Indian River Lagoon and waterfront with the help of birding backpacks available for checkout at the Kilmer Branch Library. Capture and share your findings on iNaturalist to contribute to our understanding of local biodiversity. 📸

For a deeper dive into this project and more on how you can participate, follow Ken Gioeli’s blog:

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/stlucieco/2024/05/06/downtown-fort-pierce-waterfront-birding-bioblitz/

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Marcus Lashley for his pivotal role in the Forest Landowner Academy course, which has won first place in Florida's FANREP awards! 🌲

His dedication and expertise in natural resource education and management continue to make significant impacts. We are proud of Dr. Lashley's achievements and his contributions.

🦋 Ever wondered how to keep Atala butterflies thriving in your garden all year? In Vilma Valdes' latest blog, she shares insightful tips on using alternative cycads like Zamia fischeri to supplement their diet. But, there’s a twist – find out why sticking with their preferred coontie might be the best strategy! 🌿

Read more for a deep dive into maintaining these beautiful creatures:

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/miamidadeco/2024/05/17/how-to-maintain-atala-butterflies-in-your-garden-year-round-third-blog/

is hiring Digital communications Manager!

The Wildlife Society is seeking a digitial communications manager to develop, edit, and publish social and digital media content. The position is remote and applications must be submitted by June 9. Details are available at https://tinyurl.com/tws-comms.

🐾 Today marks Endangered Species Day, a vital tradition initiated by the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006.

In Florida, we take this day to honor and celebrate the critical habitats on both public and private lands that safeguard our imperiled species, like the majestic Florida panther. 🌳
Discover more about how we can protect these precious ecosystems in Chris Demers' latest blog.

To Read more: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ffgs/2024/05/17/florida-land-steward-update-may-17-2024/

Florida Land Steward Update, May 17, 2024 Have land? Get a plan and stay connected. Florida Land Steward is your source of assistance, events, news, and opportunities.

🎉 Congratulations to the outstanding recipients of the Nancy C. K. Looney Scholarship!

Thanks to the Nancy K. C. Looney family. This scholarship is awarded to passionate undergraduates in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation who excel in their dedication to nature and wildlife. 🌿🦉

🎉 Congratulations to the winners of the Monica Christina Stokely Memorial Scholarship! 🎉

Honoring a sister’s love of wildlife ecology, Murray Stokely established this scholarship at UF’s College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS). It supports undergraduates in wildlife ecology and recognizes those passionate about conservation through practical forestry and conservation work.🌿🐾

We are incredibly proud of our recipients for their dedication and contributions to the field. Your hard work is truly inspiring!

To know more about the scholarship, visit https://giftplanning.uff.ufl.edu/meet-our-donors/murray-stokely-iii?utm_source=stl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=a123&utm_content=a-1-23-HED&subid=252072775&seed

🌟Congratulations to our WEC undergraduate award winners! 🌟
We're so proud of you! 🐊

💕 Happy Mother's Day to all the nurturing souls out there! 🌊
Just like this adorable manatee and its precious pup, mothers everywhere embody love, strength, and unwavering care. Today, let's celebrate the incredible bond between mothers and their offspring, reminding us of the beauty of maternal love in all its forms.

🐸 Celebrating Amphibian Week with a Spotlight on the Green Treefrog! 🌿

Meet the native green treefrog (Hyla cinerea). Captured by Dr. Steve Johnson, the photograph showcases the frog in a unique water-conserving posture—limbs tucked in and abdomen adpressed against the branch. This stunning photgraph graced the cover of the Journal of Animal Ecology, highlighting a paper by WEC PhD candidate J. Alex Baecher.

🔗 Dive deeper into this fascinating study: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1365-2656.13899

Explore the critical insights shared by Jonael Bosques on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and its implications for Florida livestock. Discover preventive strategies and risk factors in his informative blog.
You can visit the blog link for more details. 🌿

Link: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hardeeco/2024/05/03/highly-pathogenic-bird-flu-and-its-potential-impact-on-florida-livestock/

Picture credit: Jonael Bosques, University of Florida.

New Job opportunity!