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Imagine Our Florida, Inc.

Our purpose is to bring people together in a shared vision to preserve and protect Florida's wildlife, habitat, and ecosystems. We accomplish this via science-based education and the development of appreciation and respect for the natural world and our place within it.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.2 days ago
This is how to deal with a Black Bear who is bluff-charging you. Calmly with confidence. 😊🐻
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.3 days ago
- Saturday Saunter -
Located on the barrier island of Key Biscayne, Crandon Park is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, Crandon Park was acquired by Miami-Dade County from the heirs of Commodore William John Matheson in 1940. The gift came with the stipulation that the land must be used as a public park, and in 1947, Crandon Park was ready to receive its first guests.

Crandon Park is a nature lover's paradise. Its unique fossilized mangrove reef, two and a half miles of state historic highway, protected wetlands, estuaries, coastal hammocks, Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trails, and spectacular shoreline provide countless opportunities to be engulfed in nature.

The earliest known inhabitants of Crandon Park were the Tequesta Indians. Hurricane Andrew exposed three archaeological sites, one of which appears to indicate the sites of poles used by the Tequesta as supports needed for their thatched homes. In 1513, Juan Ponce de LeΓ³n included Key Biscayne in his chart of The New World.

Commodore William John Matheson purchased 1700 acres of land in Key Biscayne in 1908, which later became Crandon Park. He used the land to build a coconut plantation and introduced the Malay Dwarf coconut, now the most common coconut in Florida. In 1948, the Zoological Gardens were established on the southern 53 acres of Crandon Park. By 1967, Crandon Park was renowned worldwide for the first successful birth of an Aardvark. The Park also successfully watched over the birth of two Indian elephants and, in 1973, the hatching of two Southern Bald Eagles.

Today, Crandon Park is a Nature Lover's delight. Wildlife freely roams in and out of the doorless zoo structures. Saunter on one of the nature trails and visit the Nature Center. Look for shorebirds, songbirds, hawks, butterflies, wild plants, coontie, and beach peanut. Bike through the Key Biscayne Archaeological Zone on a designated path. Immerse yourself in an EcoAdventure where you can bike, hike, or learn about Sea Turtles.

Soak up the sun at the two-mile beach, bring your snorkel, and explore the underwater living world. Launch your boat, kayak, paddleboard, wakeboard, or kiteboard. The internationally known Crandon Marina offers a dive boat operation. Enjoy a round of golf or a game of tennis. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in a Pavillion, eat at one of the restaurants or concession areas, or rent a cabana for a family get-together. A boardwalk to the fossilized reef and wheelchair beach accessibility is provided.

For more information: http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/crandon.asp

Photo Credit: Ileana Rodriguez-Ramirez
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.4 days ago
πŸ¦‹ Foto Friday: Orange-spotted Flower Moth (Syngamia florella) πŸ¦‹

This stunning moth is a true gem of the insect world. With its dark brown wings adorned with yellow patches and a striking red abdomen featuring two narrow bluish bands, it’s a sight to behold. That is if you look close enough. With a wingspan of about 15 mm they can easily be overlooked..

πŸ“ Habitat: Found from South Carolina to Florida and from Arkansas to Texas, this moth also makes its home in the West Indies, Mexico, and even Argentina1.
🌼 Diet: The adult moths love to visit flowers, including dotted horsemint seen in this photo.
πŸ—“οΈ Flight Season: While these butterflies migrate to northern areas during the warmer months, we can find them in Florida year-round.

Next time you’re out in a weedy or brushy area, keep an eye out for these small and beautiful moths. Share your happy spottings for this week in the comments! πŸ¦‹

Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.6 days ago
Slow Mama was a Star! She greeted 381 human guests at the Oakland Preserve Festival. Then, a female gopher tortoise came to visit her. After a lot of head bobbing, the resident gopher tortoise sauntered off, and Slow Mama made her way to a group of children. Be sure to scroll through the pictures.

*It is illegal to have a gopher tortoise. Slow Mama is non-releasable due to a car accident. Imagine Our Florida has a permit to take care of her as our Ambassador.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.1 week ago
It's never too early to start your Holiday Shopping. Or treat yourself or a loved one!
🐾🐻😊
https://www.imagineourflorida.org/our-products/
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.
Imagine Our Florida, Inc.1 week ago
- Fall and Hyperphagia -
Fall is when our beautiful black bears consume 20,000 or more calories/day. This increased consumption of food in preparation for winter is called hyperphagia.
Bears will never overpopulate their food source. Nature makes sure there are no starving cubs. When there is not enough food available, bears will have fewer cubs.
Please respect Nature by not interrupting the natural cycle.
- Store your trash inside or in a bear-resistant container until the morning of pickup.
- Clean your grills.
- Take down bird feeders. Add native plants that birds love instead.
- Keep your garage doors closed. Bears know how to open refrigerators.
- Do not store food in your car. Bears can open car doors, too.
- Feed your pets inside.
-Do not store pet food on your porch or outdoors.
Bears are opportunists. Please don't tempt them with the smell of yummy left-over human, bird, or pet food. Keep bears happy and healthy by trusting Nature to provide their food sources.

-Images courtesy of Chris Norcott and Bear Smart Society