Latest news with #FloridaFishandWildlifeConservationCommission
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Two children dead after sailing camp boat struck by barge in Miami
Two children have died and another is unresponsive after a barge struck their sailboat off Miami Beach. Five members of a youth sailing camp were near Star Island along with an adult counselor when the barge hit their boat around 11.15am on Monday, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 'All six individuals, an adult female and five juveniles, were recovered from the water and transported to a local hospital for treatment,' stated the commission on X (formerly Twitter). 'Tragically, two of the victims have succumbed to their injuries.' Two of the children were pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital and that 'one is currently unresponsive', stated the US Coast Guard in the afternoon. The children ranged in age from seven to 12. Victims were not immediately identified. 'It was a trying day for all involved,' said Miami Fire Rescue Lt Pete Sanchez, according to Local10. More Trending 'Most of us have kids, so it is difficult to see.' Both the Coast Guard and the commission are investigating the incident. 'We extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by this heartbreaking loss,' wrote the commission. 'Our thoughts remain with them during this profoundly difficult time.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump insists he turned down invitation to Epstein island MORE: Three killed in mass shooting at Reno resort MORE: Back-to-school coats sorted – Regatta has kids covered (literally) with up to 50% off
UPI
2 days ago
- General
- UPI
Watch: Alligator removed from shoulder of Florida's Turnpike
July 28 (UPI) -- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel responded to Florida's Turnpike in Miami-Dade County to remove an alligator on the emergency shoulder. The Florida Highway Patrol said two lanes of traffic were blocked while FWC officers worked to capture the gator in the southbound lines, near the exit to Northwest 74th Street. The alligator, estimated to be about 9 feet long, was safely removed from the highway and relocated to a nearby canal. "The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP)," the FWC said in a statement provided to WPBF-TV. "The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas while conserving alligators in Florida. SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property."
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Science
- Sky News AU
Florida deploys furry robot rabbits to fight invasive Burmese python overpopulation
A water management district in Florida's Everglades is using robot rabbits to help monitor and eventually eliminate its ever-growing population of invasive Burmese pythons that have wreaked havoc on native animals. The solar-powered rabbits were let loose into the Everglades shortly after the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day competition that draws hundreds of eager snake wranglers to hunt the invasive reptiles. The robot bunnies, while cartoonish in appearance, are equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered camera that alerts officials with the South Florida Water Management District when they spot a python. From there, someone will be dispatched to remove the snake, according to a news release. The robots were designed to mimic real rabbits' movements and include mechanics to imitate a live one's heat signature and scent, which pythons hone in on when hunting real-life bunnies. The invasive pythons can measure as long as 18 feet in length and are capable of swallowing an entire deer whole. It's unclear how the robot rabbits may stack up against the pythons, or how many the district may lose to the reptiles' appetites. The Burmese python, a non native species to the United States, was first recorded in the Sunshine State in the 1990s. Since then, its population has skyrocketed exponentially, though officials aren't sure what the precise count is. More than 19,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades since 2000, according to Fox Weather Service. Others have been either killed or removed during promoted events like the Florida Python Challenge. Last year's winner wiped out a staggering 20 pythons and clinched the $10,000 grand prize. The species is exempted from the state's animal protection legislation — except for the anti-cruelty law — and can be humanely killed year-round with or without a hunting permit or license, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Still, the python's domination is clear when looking at the damage other species in the Everglades have suffered. The populations of raccoons and possums, two easy prey for the gargantuan reptiles, have almost been entirely eradicated from the area, with just 1% or 2% left intact, according to a 2012 study by the United States Geological Survey. Originally published as Florida deploys furry robot rabbits to fight invasive Burmese python overpopulation
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Florida: Woman miraculously survives brutal alligator attack during swim with her dog
A woman has miraculously survived a brutal alligator attack. The unnamed 27-year-old was swimming with her dog in Saint Lucie River in Florida as her boyfriend watched from their boat on Wednesday when the terrifying incident unfolded. The alligator bit her hand and wrist, suddenly dragging her below the surface. Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted to Facebook that the alligator eventually released the woman and her boyfriend was able to help her pull of the water and drive her back in to the boat ramp at Charlie Leighton Park. She was treated at the scene for serious injuries at 7.51pm before being flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce as a precaution. Her boyfriend and dog were not injured. The Martin County statement said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had responded to the attack and are 'awaiting their trapper to locate the alligator'. Florida is known for its alligators, having an approximately 1.3 million of them. On average there are eight unprovoked alligator attacks in the state each year, according to FWC. This latest incident comes after a young boy died in front of his family when he fell into a waterway and was brutally attacked by crocodiles. Andres Alejandro Santana Hernandez, 14, was walking with his family by the waterway in Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, when tragedy struck on July 18. Before his parents could intervene, crocodiles hidden by the swamp waters launched at him and dragged him beneath the surface. Andres' family watched in horror as the crocodiles pulled the boy further from the water's edge and began tearing into his body. The Mirror reported that it is believed the boy was attacked by a group of Morelet's crocodiles, also known as the Mexican or Belize crocodile, which can grow up to three metres long and typically weigh a staggering 200kg. The species is known for being particularly vicious, and once they reach maturity, they will prey on nearly any animal that enters their territory. Police divers have begun to search the canal for the boy's remains, but it is unclear if they have managed to recover his body.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
State wildlife officials to approve rules for Florida's first bear hunt in 10 years: "A more structured format"
State wildlife officials next month could approve rules for a three-week bear hunt in December that would have "a more structured format" than a hunt halted a decade ago after a limit was quickly reached on bears that could be killed. The proposed rules, which will be considered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during a meeting Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 in Havana, would include a lottery-style permitting process and up to 187 bears being killed in four areas of the state. The rules also would include guidelines to encourage hunters to kill male bears. George Warthen, the commission's chief conservation officer, said the proposed hunt — the state's first since 2015 — is an additional method to manage bears as they coexist with humans. "When we look at game species across North America, there's not a single game species that has gone extinct or come close through regulated hunting," Warthen said. "Instead, we see more money, more attention and a lot more benefits for that animal. And this can be a tough conversation to have. And so the why, for Florida, becomes we're one of the only states that is not participating in regulated bear hunting in states that have abundant bear populations." Bear hunting has long been a controversial issue in Florida, with opponents saying that killing bears for sport won't reduce human-bear interactions. They also say the commission should expand the use of non-lethal options, such as bear-proof trash containers, to help keep bears from being drawn to residences and businesses and should increase land-conservation efforts. But calls to hold a hunt have been growing. The 2015 hunt ended after two days, when 305 bears were killed in what was expected to be a weeklong endeavor. The state had an estimated 4,050 bears in 2015, considered the most recent figures by the commission. Bears were on a state list of threatened species from 1974 to 2012, until a state biological status review determined they were no longer at high risk of extinction. During the past 50 years, the state has recorded 42 incidents in which wild bears have made physical contact with people, with the first recorded fatal bear attack occurring in May, when an 89-year-old Collier County man and his dog were killed. The commission on May 21 voted 4-1 to support a draft proposal for the December hunt. Commission Vice Chairman Steven Hudson voted against the proposal, suggesting that non-Floridians should be prohibited from getting permits and raising concerns about allowing people to hunt bears at feeding stations. A notable change in this year's proposals involves permits. In 2015, permits were open to anyone willing to pay and participate until a quota for bills killed was reached. "This new proposal only gives out a specific number of tags that meet that (187-bear) quota, to a finite number of hunters, who can then take one bear," Warthen said. "That's a big change, so that people feel that we see … a more structured format that allocates a permit per hunter, so people can see that and it gives hunters more time." The proposed permit-drawing process would be open to anyone who pays a $5 entry fee. It would not limit the number of times a person could enter, but people whose names are drawn would only be able to purchase a single permit. Also, non-Floridians would be limited to 10 percent of the permits, which would cost them $300. Permits would be priced at $100 for Floridians. Chuck O'Neal of the environmental group Speak Up Wekiva has suggested opponents of the hunt enter the drawing to reduce the number of bears killed. "If every Floridian entered the lottery, only 1.87 bears --- rounded to 2 --- would be killed because only 1 percent of Florida citizens actually hunt," O'Neal posted on Facebook. Warthen said not reaching the December quota could lead to a boost in permits for future hunts. The 187-bear quota is based on a formula that takes into account female bears being killed. "It's highly unlikely and probable that the harvest will be all female or that all hunters will harvest a bear," Warthen said. "What we'll see is a very conservative approach that allows for continued growth within bear populations in Florida, but at a more managed rate." The hunt is projected to be limited to 68 bears in the Apalachicola region west of Tallahassee; 46 in areas west of Jacksonville; 18 in an area north of Orlando; and 55 in the Big Cypress region southwest of Lake Okeechobee. Warthen said hunting around feeding stations is expected to allow hunters to be more selective. "We're skewing this harvest, or having the rules set so it encourages more male bears harvested," Warthen said. "This would allow that hunter their time, to make sure that it's not a female with cubs, which would also be prohibited." Hunters would not be allowed to use dogs to pursue bears in December, but that would change in subsequent seasons. "It's very important that those dogs are properly trained and there's time to do that," Warthen said.
