Page 8 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - October '22

Page 8, Jupiter Ocean Mile
Northern Notes

Preserving The Preserves behind a resident’s home. When one of the palms dropped to
the ground, seven newborn squirrels fell out of it. Staff had to
By Katie Roundtree, build a temporary “home” for the babies close to the tree and
Director of Finance and hope that the mother came back to find them. Many bird nests
Administration, Northern can also be lost because of cutting plants down.
Palm Beach County A 2019 study in south Florida found that cavity nesters,
Improvement District native woodpeckers specifically, favored palm snags over pine
Northern owns and trees or maples in urbanized tropical regions. A snag is a dead
maintains approximately tree. This is even more of a reason to keep standing snags in
2,000 acres of preserves the preserve. We had a resident request to take out a maple snag
throughout the 128-square- from behind his home. It wasn’t threatening any property, just
mile district. It is an integral was a bit of an eyesore. Northern staff went to check it out and
part of many of our residential as soon they got close to the tree, a woodpecker flew towards
communities and a pristine them and into a small cavity it had built in the tree. Not only exposure to the poison and will likely die. If we start targeting
area of native Florida that we strive to protect. Since these was there a nest, but there were several baby chicks inside that organisms on the lower end of the food chain, this will disrupt
areas sometimes lie behind residents’ houses, we get many the woodpecker was feeding. Even more importantly, many of the rest of the food chain and could cause serious harm to the
calls to trim back trees or take out trees that are not aesthetically these birds and their nests/eggs are protected by federal law health of the preserves.
pleasing. If it is warranted or threatening to property, we will (The Migratory Bird Treaty Act). An essential part of preserving the preserves is to let
trim back or remove vegetation, but in most cases, trees should We also get requests to remove rodents from preserves. nature be nature. Removing exotic species of plants and
be left in their native state. Why is this? Why can’t we make Northern staff does not treat for rodents or any other pests in allowing for nature to take its course are important for the
the preserve areas look like parks? the preserves. The baits and poisons used for that purpose are health of the preserves and the rest of our environment in
First and foremost, we are required through permit with designed to attract and kill rodents but are also known to attract South Florida. Nature is not always perfectly groomed, but
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), not to other nontarget mammals. Aside from the risk of primary for everything there is a purpose. What may seem like an old
remove or kill any native trees or plants in the preserve. As for exposure to nontarget mammals in the preserves, there is also ugly tree to you, may be home to birds and other wildlife.
other more ecological examples, native trees and vegetation the risk of secondary exposure. Leaving the preserves in their natural state is required and
provide many benefits to wildlife. Cabbage palms are Florida’s Rodents, including mice and rats, are a key component the right thing to do.
state tree. They provide housing for many animals such as of the food chain in the natural ecosystems throughout the NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
squirrels, racoons, frogs, lizards, etc. Small rodents, lizards, preserves. Many of the desired animals in the preserves rely somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in the
insects, and even rare plant species rely on the uncut “boots” on on rodents as food, including animals such as hawks, owls, ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into the
a palm for a home. Squirrels and birds will use the palm thatch bobcats, foxes, and snakes. When the rodents are poisoned, drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your garden
as nesting material and will often nest in the palm. Recently they become weak and are easy prey for predators. If these further protects and brings health to your yard and all the
staff and preserve crews removed three cabbage palms from predators eat the poisoned rodents, they will get secondary species living there.
Financial Focus

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By Sally Sima Stahl susceptible to swings in the financial markets. income more effectively.
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