November 05, 2009 - On safari in FloridaOn
safari
in
Florida
SUFFOLKTIMES.COM I NOVEMBERS, 2009 1 9A
Armadillos are enclosed in armor, or bony plates, as protection
against predators. They live on insects and occasionally fruit, as we
witnessed at the Ortona Locks in Florida
As the days get colder, we, like many others, look
forward to heading south Years ago, we used to
move around Florida, spending time in many dif-
ferent areas like the Ocala National Forest, Ever-
glades National Park, Big Cypress National preserve
and the Keys, to mention a few. We traveled with
different types of camping equipment, from a pop -
up tent to a fifth -wheel trailer.
Today we are settled down in an area we enjoy on
the Inland Waterway, not far from the Gulf of Mexi-
co. There are many parks and preserves available to
us near where we live, so we spend the majority of
our time exploring and photographing in them
One of our more memorable experiences in
Florida years ago was the time we spent monitor-
ing manatees. We were camping at the Army Corps
of Engineers' Ortona
FOCUS ON NATURE Locks on the Caloo-
sahatchee River and
m were very concerned
about the future of
\
these slow-moving
hulks, when a three-
month job for the
Army Corps came
PAULSfOUTENBURGH along to work with the
manatees. We took it.
The slow - moving manatees take many hits from
motorboats on the river and my job was to record
each manatee as it came through the locks. The
Army Corps not only wanted to know the number
of manatees that passed through the locks but also
the identification of each one.
We identified the manatees by photographing
them as they went through the lock; their scar
marks from boat propellers then became their
"license number." These scars on their bodies re-
minded me of the brands that are put on cattle out
West for identification.
Manatees are large animals, about the size of a
cow, and are actually sometimes called sea cows.
They're having a tough time surviving in our busy
world with our high- powered speedboats and littke
regard for anything but our own enjoyment.
While on the job watching for the manatees to
move through the lock area I had lots of free time
to photograph wildflowers, snakes, birds and
Manatees are having a lot of trouble surviving in today's world We
were fortunate to work with these cow -sized animals in Florida,
counting and identifying them as they passed through the locks.
anything that might give me a better insight into
Florida's wonders.
It wasn't uncommon, while walking from the
trailer to the river where I was monitoring the
manatees, to see armadillos feeding on fallen or-
anges in the park Their head and body are encased
in armor or small bony plates; some call them a
"possum in a half shell." This shell is for protection
the young, but we weren't lucky enough for that.
I was relaxing after supper one everting, which
I do very well, and Barbara was finishing up the
dishes in the camper when she called out excitedly,
"There's a bobcat!" To which I'm sure I said some-
thing like, "Oh, yeah, sure."
She persisted saying, "Look I'm not kidding" So I
joined her at the doorway and together we could see
something twice the size of a
domestic cat come into view.
And sure enough, it was a bob-
cat! Needless to say, we were off!
Barbara grabbed her cam-
era but didn't take time to put
on any shoes — bad idea in
an area where fire ants have
taken up residency.
With hearts pounding, the
two of us stalked this bobcat
through a riverside park where
no one else was aware of what
we were up to, as they were
busy eating supper or sitting
around enjoying the evening.
Well, we walked and
stalked. I watched the bob-
cat jump up in the air and
down on a mouse, which
he promptly ate, fur and all.
Barbara continued along
the roadway, although the
bluestone was not easy on her
feet, and through grass where
she stirred up some fire ants!
Eventually we came to a pass. Barbara was ahead
of me and had crossed a narrow wooden bridge.
As she headed back toward me, the bobcat headed
across the same bridge. When they came face to face
and Barbara got close enough to get a whiff of that
wild- animal odor, she decided the bobcat could
have the bridge to itself and she backed off —but
not before getting some photos of the bobcat
Bobcats, like some other animals and birds, have
what is called "eyeshine," which helps them see bet-
ter at night. When such an animal is photographed
with a flash camera, the animal's eyes show up like
light bulbs. What an exciting fright that was!
PAUL AND BARBARA STOUTMBURGH PHOTOS
Not many have had the privilege of seeing a bobcat in the wild, but we were lucky
enough to see one up close one night while camping in Florida Events like this
make each one of our trips an exciting experience.
against their predators, one of them being the bob-
cat that is sometimes seen in the area. Of course,
two of the biggest problems the armadillo faces are
loss of habitat and speeding cars.
We enjoyed watching these slow- moving animals
so unfamiliar to us. They like to eat ants and bugs
of all sorts, so are helpful to man, but they do dig
up lawns while looking for grubs and other good
things to eat. They burrow into the soft soil to make
a place to raise their young. We followed one to
we if we could find its home. Sure enough, on the
side of a small hill along a drainage ditch coming
from the pasture in back of our park, the armadillo
crawled into its hole. It would have been fun to see
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SUFFOLKTIMES.COM I NOVEMBER 5, 2009
On
safari
in
Florida
�s the aays get colder, we, like many others, loc
ward to heading south. Years ago, we used to
eve around Florida, spending time in many dif-
ant areas like the Ocala National Forest, Ever -
des National Park, Big Cypress National Preser
1 the Keys, to mention a few. We traveled with
Went types of camping equipment, from a pol
tent to a fifth -wheel trailer.
,d
PAUL AND BARBARA STOUTENBURGH
many have had the privilege of seeing a bobcat in the wild, but we were lucky
igh to see one up close one night while camping in Florida. Events like this
make each one of our trips an exciting experience.
We identified the manatees by photographing
them as they went through the lock; their scar
marks from boat propellers then became their
"license number." These scars on their bodies re-
minded me of the brands that are put on cattle out,
West for identification.
Manatees are large animals, about the size of a
cow, and are actually sometimes called sea cows.
They're having a tough time surviving in our busy
world with our high- powered speedboats and littlE
regard for anything but our own enjoyment.
While on the job watching for the manatees to
move through the lock area I had lots of free time
to photograph wildflowers, snakes, birds and
anything that might give me a better insight into
Florida's wonders.
It wasn't uncommon, while walking from the
trailer to the river where I was monitoring the
manatees, to see. armadillos feeding on fallen or-
anges in the park. Their head and body are encase
in armor or small bony plates; some call them a
"Possum in a half shell." This'shell is for protectior,
against their predators, one of them being the bob-
cat that is sometimes seen in the area. Of course,
two of the biggest problems the armadillo faces are
loss of habitat and speeding cars.
We enjoyed watching these slow - moving animals
so unfamiliar to us. They like to eat ants and bugs
of all sorts, so are helpful to man, but they do dig
up lawns while looking for grubs and other good
things to eat. They burrow into the soft soil to make
a place to raise their young. We followed one to
see if we could find its home. Sure enough, on the
side of a small hill along a drainage ditch coming
from the pasture in back of our park, the armadillo
crawled into its hole. It would have been fun to see
iatees are having a lot of trouble surviving in today'
e fortunate to work with these cow -sized animal
nting and identifying them as they passed through
the young, but we weren't lucky enough for a
I was relaxing after supper one evening, which
I do very well, and Barbara was finishing up the .
dishes in the camper when she called out excitedly,
"There's a bobcat!" To which I'm sure I said some-
thing like, "Oh, yeah, sure."
Armadillos are enclosed in armor, or bony plates, as protect
against predators. They live on insects and occasionally fruit, as
witnessed at the Ortona Locks in Florida.
She persisted saying, "Look! I'm not kidding!" So I
joined her at the doorway and together we could see
something twice the size of a
domestic cat come into view.
And sure enough, it was a bob-
cat! Needless to say, we were off!
Barbara grabbed her cam-
era but didn't take time to put
on any shoes — bad idea in
an area where fire ants have
taken up residency.
With hearts pounding, the
two of us stalked this bobcat
through a riverside park where
„ no one else was aware of what
e were up to, as they were
busy eating supper or sitting
around enjoying the evening.
Well,. we walked and
stalked. I watched the bob-
cat jump up in the air and
down on a mouse, which
he promptly ate, fur and all.
s world. we Barbara continued along
s in Florida, the roadway, although the
the locks. bluestone was not easy on her
feet, and through grass where
s e stirre up some fire ants!
Eventually we came to a pass. Barbara was ahead
of me and had crossed a narrow wooden bridge.
As she headed back toward me, the bobcat headed-
across the same bridge. When they came face to face
and Barbara got close enough to get a whiff of that
wild- animal odor, she decided the bobcat could
have the bridge to itself and she backed off— but
not before getting some photos of the bobcat.'
Bobcats, like some other animals and birds, have
what is called "eyeshine," which helps them see bet-
ter at night. When such an animal is photographed
with a flash camera, the animal's eyes show up like
light bulbs. What an exciting night that w & —