Florida wildfires forcing wildlife from their natural habitats

The largest active fire in Florida is the Cowbell Fire, a blaze that began March 30 in the Big Cypress National Reserve. It has now grown to nearly 16,000 acres and is only 11 percent contained as of Wednesday, according to the Weather Channel.

Over 25 percent of the fires burning are larger than 100 acres in size, and as Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said yesterday, it is the worst fire season since 2011, with 27 homes being lost. “From St. George Island in the Panhandle to just north of one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions in Orlando, we’re seeing that every area of our state is susceptible to fire,” Putnam said.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Based on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), as seen in image above, which is updated daily by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the dry conditions in Florida, ranging from the central part of the state and southward looks pretty serious.

Some estimates put the number of Burmese pythons living in Florida at as many as 300,000.

Geo Beats News

Wildlife movement during wildfires
Most of the fires have started between Lake Okeechobee to the south and the Ocala National Forest to the north. Polk, Collier, Marion, Nassau, Broward, Hernando and Glades counties have been hard hit. However, an unwanted side-effect of the wildfires has been the movement of wildlife out of their normal habitat.

In contrast to “controlled” fires, uncontrolled wildfires can have negative effects, especially when they occur at the wrong place and at the wrong time. Besides moving away from the fires, animals also go in search of food, from insects on up to small animal prey when their habitat is destroyed.

Florida panthers primarily eat white-tailed deer and wild hogs, but smaller mammals such as raccoons, armadillos, and rabbits are also an important part of their diet. Panthers are opportunistic predators and unfortunately they will also prey upon unsecured livestock and pets.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Service

As an example, Chris Wirt with A All Animal Control of Tampa Bay recently received calls from homeowners in Wesley Chapel neighborhoods for wild hogs that were displaced. Wild pigs have become quite a problem in Florida, along with other non-native species.

The Eastern Diamondback lives in the coastal lowlands, ranging from southeast North Carolina to eastern Louisiana, and throughout Florida, including the Florida Keys.

Florida State University

With the wildfires raging in the many wildlife reserves, residents living nearby need to be aware of what may show up in the yards, as animals from rattlesnakes to pigs, bears, raccoons, and even panthers flee their habitats for safer places.