PLEASE NEVER TOUCH ANY WILDLIFE DUE TO RESIDUAL CHEMICALS ON OUR SKINS FROM SOAPS, PERFUMES, SUNSCREEN, AND BUG SPRAY.
There are many varieties of wildlife throughout North Captiva from the slow shy gopher tortoise to the friendly manatees, and if you’re lucky you may even see the playful dolphins that like to nurse their young in the shallow waters around the island. We ask that you enjoy the sites of all the creatures that call North Captiva home but please refrain from feeding, chasing, or picking up the animals throughout the island.
Recognition to Kathy Rowlands for beautiful photos..
North Captiva Bird Brains
“Ask us About the Birds!”, is the motto of this newly formed volunteer group consisting of eight members. The North Captiva Bird Brains have trained and work closely with the Florida Audubon Society, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), and the Florida State Park Service. Their mission is to conserve and protect our island’s bird population, as well as educate island homeowners and their guests. You may see them out and about wearing their bright green shirts, monitoring and conducting surveys of our nesting Bald Eagles, or roping and staking off nesting shorebirds. They also can assist in the transport of sick or injured birds to CROW.
The North Captiva Bird Brains would like to remind everyone of the following guidelines for the safety and protection of our island’s beautiful birds.
1. Please remain 350 feet away from nesting Bald Eagles and their eaglets. Nesting in Florida can occur from October to May.
2. Watch where you step on the beach. Nesting shorebirds and seabirds lay their eggs in small indentations in the sand.
3. Never ever drive a golf cart on the beach! This is unlawful and can harm our endangered shorebird eggs and sea turtle nests.
4. Please do not enter or tamper with an enclosed nesting area.
5. Please don’t feed the birds or other wildlife on our island. It causes human dependency, and they struggle to survive on their own.
6. Always let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding our bird population. We are here to help!
Thanks from The Bird Brain Team!
Pam West, Sara Hammond, Nancy McBride, Alice Williams, Sarah Boline, Robert Hipkens, Dave and Maria Wilcox
Key Phone Numbers:
Sara Hammond
(303) 817-0796
Pam West
(239) 910-1011
CROW
(239) 472-3644
Manatees
PLEASE NEVER GIVE FRESH OR BOTTLED WATER TO THE MANATEES. These are endangered animals that are protected by federal and state law.
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) that lives in and is native to Florida. Florida manatees are large, gray, aquatic mammals. Adult manatees are typically 9-10 feet long from snout to tail (2.7-3 meters) and weigh around 1,000 pounds (453.6.6 kilograms); however, they may grow to over 13 feet long (4 meters) and weigh more than 3,500 pounds (1587.6 kilograms). At birth, a manatee calf weighs around 60 – 70 pounds. Manatees have two fore-limb flippers that they use for steering movements and to hold vegetation while eating and a large, round, flattened paddle-shaped tail that is used for swimming.
Algae often grows on the backs and tails of manatees, which makes their skin color appear green or brown. Barnacles (found mostly on coastal dwelling manatees) often leave round scars from attachment sites; movement from saltwater to freshwater habitats clears the animals of these saltwater hitchhikers. Nostrils are located above the snout and have valves that tightly close when the manatee is under water. Their small eyes have a membrane that can cover the eyes for protection. The ear openings are small and they have no external lobes. Manatees have a flexible lip pad that is used to move food into their mouth. Manatees have back teeth (molars) for chewing but no frontal teeth. Teeth are continuously lost and re-grown throughout the manatee’s life.
Molars form at the back of the jaw and slowly progress to the front of the jaw where they will fall out. This is seen as an adaptation trait for feeding on vegetation that grows in sandy soils. Manatees can hold their breath up to 20 minutes when resting, but when active they surface to breathe every three to five minutes.
DO NOT TOUCH OR FEED THEM FRESH WATER
Gopher Tortoises
These are endangered animals that are protected by federal and state law. Please never touch or pick up these tortoises.
Belong only on land, please do not place these in water.
For more information visit the following website: https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/tortoise-sightings/
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtle nesting guidelines:
These are endangered animals that are protected by federal and state law.
Throughout the island you may also see sections closed off for turtle nesting. Please do not disturb this area as they contain turtle eggs.
Please help sea turtles get safely to the water!
April 15th – October 31st 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
Shield all point sources of light visible from the beach
Use amber colored LED lights
Close blinds/curtains after dark, to prevent light spilling out on the beach
Remove all beach furniture/equipment from the beach each night
Fill in any holes dug while enjoying the beach each day
Thank you for your help ensuring the continued survival of our threatened and endangered marine turtles.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Facebook page North Captiva Sea Turtle Foundation
Throughout the island you may see sections closed off for turtle nesting. Please do not disturb this area as they contain turtle eggs.
Please help sea turtles get safely to the water!
April 15 – October 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
*Shield all point sources of light visible from the beach
*Use amber colored LED lights
*Close blinds/curtains after dark, to prevent light spilling out on the beach
*Remove all beach furniture/equipment from the beach each night
*Fill in any holes dug while enjoying the beach each day
Thank you for your help ensuring the continued survival of our threatened and endangered marine turtles.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Dolphins
PLEASE NEVER FEED OR TOUCH THE DOLPHINS.
Several dolphin species occur in Florida costal waters. The most common of these is the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), mistakenly called porpoises. Bottlenose dolphins have robust, powerful bodies that are blue-gray on top with lighter sides and bellies. As adults they are typically 6 to 12 feet long and can eat more than 20 pounds of mullet, sheepshead, pinfish, flounder and marine invertebrates each day. Bottlenose dolphins show a high degree of intelligence, have a wide range of vocalizations, and may cooperate in fishing or taking care of injured conspecifics.
Please do not attempt to swim up to a dolphin.
Indigo Snakes
These are endangered animals that are protected by federal and state law.
Most adult Eastern Indigo Snakes are about 60-82 inches (152-213 cm) in total length. These large and thick-bodied snakes are glossy black and have iridescent purple or blue highlights when viewed in sunlight. The chin and throat are typically red or orangish, and the color may extend down the body. Juveniles are glossy black with narrow whitish-blue bands.
Non-venomous. Eastern Indigo Snakes are not dangerous to people or pets. These snakes are not aggressive and avoid direct contact when possible.
If cornered or captured, Eastern Indigo Snakes will seldom bite in defense. However, they may flatten their neck vertically, hiss loudly, rapidly vibrate the tip of the tail, which produces a buzzing sound in leaf litter, and release a foul-smelling musk from a pair of glands in the base of the tail.
Imagine being outside and a snake comes slithering toward you. Your immediate reaction is to run and scream, right? Stop! The snake your running from is just as scared of you as you are of it! First, the best thing to do if you encounter a snake is to leave it alone. Second, understand that ALL snakes are good. Florida snakes help keep our ecosystem in balance. Without snakes, we would be over ridden with rodents and disease, and no one wants that!
Coyotes
Coyotes are not large animals and rarely pose a threat to people, especially adults. They can be curious but are also timid and generally run away if challenged. If a coyote approaches too closely, there are methods you can use to deter it and frighten it away. Hazing the animal by making loud noises and acting aggressively will typically cause a coyote to leave an area, but you may need to increase and continue hazing efforts until the coyote is effectively deterred and leaves the area for good. There are several methods of hazing that are effective with coyotes.
For more information visit the following website:
Blue Herons
Blue Herons:
We have a beloved Blue Heron on the island Our Beloved Bruce: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2999070630376818/
Bobcats
Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. They are generally tan to yellowish brown with dark brown or black streaks. The under parts are usually white with black spots and the insides of the legs are marked with black bars. The bobcat’s ears are pointed with short, black tufts while the tail is short and gives the appearance of being “bobbed.” The young have mottled or spotted fur with more distinct facial marking than the adults.
For more information visit the following website:
No-See-Ums
No-See-Ums have multiple aliases: Biting Midges, Biting Gnats, or Punkies. Sometimes, people call these teeny, tiny insects “Sandflies,” or “Sandfleas,” but they are not. Technically, No-See-Ums are winged bugs from the “Ceratopogonidae” family which has more than 4000 species.
It’s not hard to figure out why they’re called “No-See-Ums.” These biting gnats are tiny, just 1–3 millimeters long, or .03 of an inch, small enough to get through window screens. They’re so small they aren’t easily visible. They fly in warm months and are most active at sunrise, sundown, and on cloudy, still days.
Six Things To Do If You’re Bitten
- Wash the bites with cold water to eliminate any trace of the saliva of No-See-Ums.
- Rub affected area with Isopropyl alcohol.
- Put cold packs of ice or frozen veggies on the bites for ten minutes.
- Some people believe that putting very hot water on the tip of a cotton swab and applying it to the bite eases the pain and itch.
- Victims of No-See-Um bites suggest rubbing Vicks Vaporub on the bite or misting the itchy areas with Lemongrass Spray.
- Over-the-counter antihistamines and topical ointments like Benedryl can help with the itch and inflammation.
Take Preventative Measures
We can’t eliminate the bug population, but if we know that those itch-inducing insects are out there waiting to pounce, we can take preventative action.
Wear long sleeves and pants when you’re going to be out in the prime biting times of sunrise or sunset. If you’re an avid outdoors person, you know about special tightly woven fabrics that wick sweat and help keep your body temp constant. Such fabrics are made into “wilderness wear.” This special apparel will keep the No-See-Ums out.
If you know that you’re going to be outdoors around water, douse yourself with a repellent containing DEET, known to prevent No-See-Um bites. Avon’s Skin-So-Soft has been reported to repel Biting Midges, and others say that natural chemicals like Pyrethrum, derived from the flowers of Chrysanthemums, or the common garden herb, Rosemary, can deter No-See-Um bites. Citronella is also noted as a helpful repellent.
Be aware that the biggest bite times are in the early morning and evening, and prepare accordingly. Apply repellent liberally.
What to use to help no-see-ums
- Bug Spray
- Raw Coconut Oil
- Insect Repellent
- Bug Guard
Palmettos
Floridians are bound to encounter palmetto bugs in and around their homes. It’s a fact of life in Florida. Palmetto bugs are everywhere and won’t think twice about making themselves at home, in your home.
