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Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Refuge Director Steve Klett presented with TWO (well-deserved) awards! On Saturday, March 21st FAVOR members of Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge met for lunch after a morning working in the butterfly garden. Lunch was provided by USF&W Service with volunteers supplementing their sweet tooth by bringing dessert! Anne Morkill, Commissioner Sylvia Murphy and her granddaughter Natasha joined in for a pleasant gathering to recognize the year’s activities and celebrate Steve Klett’s accomplishments. Great weather, great
food, great company. It just does not get any better than that!
2009 Croc Lake Photos
Click HERE for the Monroe County Mayor's Proclamation for the Year of the Key Largo Wood Rat!!! Click HERE for Volunteer Schedule!
The American crocodile is the second most widely distributed of the New World crocodiles, ranging from the southern tip of Florida, southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. The habitat of the American crocodile consists largely of freshwater or brackish water coastal habitats such as the saltwater sections of rivers, coastal lagoons, and mangrove swamps. The American crocodile males have maximum lengths of 15–18 ft. range, although some 21 ft. individuals have been reported. This species is characterized by the most reduced and irregular dorsal armor of any crocodilian. http://www.fws.gov/southeast/CrocodileLake/ The refuge is also habitat for the endangered Key Largo woodrat (below.)
Protecting the Key Largo Woodrat: The Key Largo Woodrat project at Disney Animal Kingdom By Christina Alligood, PhD, Anne Savage, PhD, and Andre Daneault Published in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums August issue of AZA ConnectClick here for the article (328 k PDF)
Here is some exciting footage of a new female with pups
attached avoiding a ratsnake. To our knowledge, this has never been seen
before. The snake hung around for a few days and never got a meal. The pups
are still running around with mom today. (Note, file size is about 4 Meg.)
Click here for a photo album from the Crocodile Lake Refuge album, by Clay DeGayner. Clayton and Ralph Degayner have also been leading projects to construct nesting habitats for the woodrat. Click HERE for a picture of a nest.
Keystone Point
documents: Last modified: February 23, 2010 |
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The
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1987, hosts one of the
last 3 breeding populations of the American Crocodile.
(Photo courtesy of Clay DeGayner)
(Photo courtesy of Clay DeGayner)
(Photo courtesy of Clay DeGayner)