Agree with all that. Absolutely correct. Guess I look at as no further conversion will happen to these lands. They are not protected from use but are protected from more intensive use. Traditional use can continue- at least most CEs read that way.
Fyi, there were multiple findraising calls made from DeS pac to the parties selling the land in the week leading up to his signature. Just like lobbyists were solicited for contributions before DeS signed the budget. And no attempts to disguise the leverage or be subtle about it. No way that is legal but who is going to say no and have DeS line item veto their spot at the trough. For those reasons he gets no credit from me. What was done wasn't to create the corridor as much as it was to reward donors and score environmental points with people who dont understand how bad cattle and ag pollute our waters. I can't find the first news story that noted how the lands were being leased back to the users and how that would perpetuate the pollution problem. It also takes more land off of the tax rolls which cuts funding to the local gubmnts I support the creation of the corridor but don't support the way it was created or the long term allowable uses with no requirements to treat the runoff
Kudos to both of you for a very informative exchange for those of us interested in the subject matter without the knowledge
I shouldn’t be surprised- but I am. This is the way things are done now. Looks like DeSantis is for sale for as long as his candidacy lasts. Given the circles you operate in, you probably know several buyers.
I used to have the hunting lease on XL ranch and I think in the past I’d told you about numerous bear and panther sitings there. Interesting enough we had a bear show up at Lake Wailes Lake on thursday of this week. Right in downtown. Black Bear Surprises Early-Morning Walkers on Lake Wailes Trail
Pretty cool. This time of the year young males are being run off from mama - either by her or by larger males. They can wander into some strange and unusual places. Older males - like the one in the photo start wandering around looking for females. They move into populated areas under cover of darkness, then the sun comes up and "Oh shit, where am I?" Article is in error about the status of bears though - they are not endangered.
I don't think he is for sale, he just uses the taxpayer money to extort campaign contributions from people that will benefit from it.
I still haven't seen Path of the Panther but a friend let me know I was in some of the shots. Now I need to see it to see if they got my good side.
So cool. Let me know when. My friend (CW's wife) is in it 3x with the kids. Tell us when you're in it if you don't mind
I don't know - I know they came through Camp Blanding on the Corridor project and videoed us doing something re: bears - I don't remember what. Pro Tip: Look for an overstuffed FWC uniform.
Camp Blanding is my old stomping grounds. Used to hunt and pulpwood there and ski on Kingsley Lake and have a few wild weekends at the campgrounds out there back in my delinquent days.
I enjoyed my time there. Over the years it became colonized with bears dispersing from Ocala. Every year CB gets money to mitigate the noise they make. They do this by purchasing available land adjacent to the base. We helped them prioritize environmentally important lands for that by using bears as a proxy.
thought you might find this interesting I assume they are referencing Devils Garden slough, jsut southwest of Lake O. Two Florida Panthers Brawl Near Hunter’s Blind Until An Angry Wild Boar Breaks It Up (msn.com) Two hunters in Devil’s Garden, Florida witnessed one of nature’s craziest sights when two extremely rare Florida panthers went to war just a few feet from their blind.As the two hunters were sitting in their blind, they heard a murder of crows calling harshly and repeatedly, which typically signals that a predator is nearby. Sure enough, a young tom entered their field of view shortly after, and while just seeing him would have been cool enough, what they got to witness is a truly once in a lifetime moment. Seemingly out of nowhere, a mature tom burst out and attacks the young panther, clearly unhappy he was invading his territory. The two start a fight to the death, just a stone’s throw from where the hunters were sitting. As you may have guessed, the older male is easily the more dominant one and takes it to the young panther, pinning him on his back while trying to bite at his stomach area. But just when all appears lost, another crazy thing happens, and a huge wild boar busts out of the tree line and begins running at the warring cats. The older panther gets distracted by the boar, which allows the younger one to slip away and run off into the high grasses, safe to live another day.
^ WOW. What a show that was. I think it possible there is a female in breeding condition nearby. That gets the boys riled up. Cat mouths and claws can carry a heavy bacterial load and there have been panthers die a couple weeks after a minor fight like this from seemingly insignificant wounds. Great video. Thanks for posting.
Death wish? Suicide by panther? I have no clue really. Just a guess that it was such a ruckus going on that it ran out to see what was going on. Still an odd behavior by a prey item towards its predator.
Heartbreaking Vehicle strikes kill 4 endangered Florida panthers in one week Vehicle strikes kill 4 endangered Florida panthers in one week - Tampa Bay Times
this one wandered out on the docks at the Naples Yacht club about a month ago, hung out on a catamaran for a while, and was later seen walking down fifth avenue where the old money shops are. Video: Boaters spot unlikely animal hanging out on a sailboat in Florida | CNN Florida black bear spotted kicking back on luxury sailing catamaran (naplesnews.com)
