Page 4 - PGA Community News - October '22

Page 4, PGA C.A.N.! October 2022 October 2022
Northern Notes

Preserving The Preserves in the preserves. The baits and poisons used for that purpose An essential part of preserving the preserves is to let nature
are designed to attract and kill rodents but are also known be nature. Removing exotic species of plants and allowing
By Katie Roundtree, to attract other nontarget mammals. Aside from the risk of for nature to take its course are important for the health of the
Director of Finance and primary exposure to nontarget mammals in the preserves, preserves and the rest of our environment in South Florida.
Administration, Northern there is also the risk of secondary exposure. Nature is not always perfectly groomed, but for everything
Palm Beach County Rodents, including mice and rats, are a key component there is a purpose. What may seem like an old ugly tree to
Improvement District of the food chain in the natural ecosystems throughout the you, may be home to birds and other wildlife. Leaving the
Northern owns and preserves. Many of the desired animals in the preserves rely preserves in their natural state is required and the right thing
maintains approximately on rodents as food, including animals such as hawks, owls, to do.
2,000 acres of preserves bobcats, foxes, and snakes. When the rodents are poisoned, NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
throughout the 128-square- they become weak and are easy prey for predators. If these somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in the
mile district. It is an predators eat the poisoned rodents, they will get secondary ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into the
integral part of many of our exposure to the poison and will likely die. If we start targeting drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your garden
residential communities and organisms on the lower end of the food chain, this will disrupt further protects and brings health to your yard and all the
a pristine area of native Florida that we strive to protect. the rest of the food chain and could cause serious harm to the species living there.
Since these areas sometimes lie behind residents’ houses, health of the preserves.
we get many calls to trim back trees or take out trees that are
to property, we will trim back or remove vegetation, but in Panhellenic Alumnae Officers Meet
not aesthetically pleasing. If it is warranted or threatening
most cases, trees should be left in their native state. Why is
this? Why can’t we make the preserve areas look like parks? To Finalize Upcoming Year’s Events

The Panhellenic Alumnae Chapter of
Palm Beach County met at P.F. Chang’s at the
Gardens Mall on Aug. 27 to finalize its meeting
schedule for 2022/23. Six officers were able to
enjoy lunch as they brainstormed ideas during
the 90-minute gathering, and while some
meetings will be the same, there will be new
locations and events planned.
The biggest event can finally be held after
two years. The Annual Scholarship Luncheon
will again be held in March with raffle baskets,
a silent auction, a lottery hat, a guest speaker,
First and foremost, we are required through permit with door prizes, a 50/50, and a buffet lunch. More
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), not information will be forthcoming especially how
to remove or kill any native trees or plants in the preserve. a young woman from Palm Beach County can
As for other more ecological examples, native trees and apply for the college scholarship.
vegetation provide many benefits to wildlife. Cabbage palms For more information on this active alumnae Officers of the Panhellenic Alumnae Chapter of Palm Beach County at their
are Florida’s state tree. They provide housing for many chapter of women who are members of one of planning meeting in August. Left to right: Mary Ann William, Carol Davis,
animals such as squirrels, racoons, frogs, lizards, etc. Small the 26 National Panhellenic Chapters, check it Julia Pichette, Jeanne Hibbard, Patty Hiscock, and Samantha Kelly. Missing:
rodents, lizards, insects, and even rare plant species rely on out at www.panhellenicalumnaepbc.com. Nancy Stainback, Kimberly Brock, Lee Ann Meltzer, and Debbie Nuessly
the uncut “boots” on a palm for a home. Squirrels and birds
will use the palm thatch as nesting material and will often nest
in the palm. Recently staff and preserve crews removed three
cabbage palms from behind a resident’s home. When one of
the palms dropped to the ground, seven newborn squirrels
fell out of it. Staff had to build a temporary “home” for the
babies close to the tree and hope that the mother came back
to find them. Many bird nests can also be lost because of
cutting plants down.
A 2019 study in south Florida found that cavity nesters,
native woodpeckers specifically, favored palm snags over pine
trees or maples in urbanized tropical regions. A snag is a dead
tree. This is even more of a reason to keep standing snags in
the preserve. We had a resident request to take out a maple snag
from behind his home. It wasn’t threatening any property, just
was a bit of an eyesore. Northern staff went to check it out and
as soon they got close to the tree, a woodpecker flew towards
them and into a small cavity it had built in the tree. Not only
was there a nest, but there were several baby chicks inside that
the woodpecker was feeding. Even more importantly, many of
these birds and their nests/eggs are protected by federal law
(The Migratory Bird Treaty Act).
We also get requests to remove rodents from preserves.
Northern staff does not treat for rodents or any other pests
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