Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer Hooded Mergansers are a fairly common winter resident of Lake Ashton. Small flocks can be seen fishing on the retention ponds of the West Course. They dive for and enjoy the fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects the retention ponds have to offer. The male is breathtaking in its garb that rivals even the Wood Duck. With a large white fan-shaped head patch it is a species that does not go unnoticed. The drake raises its crest when it wants to impress the ladies. The females and juveniles sport the same shape and are brownish overall. These are diving ducks in the Merganser family. All Mergansers are diving ducks that have long, thin, serrated bills to help them catch their prey. North America has three Merganser species and Lake Ashton is fortunate to have the smallest and perhaps most beautiful of these three, the Hoodies at Lake Ashton each winter. LIVING WITH WILDLIFE There are many types of wildlife at Lake Ashton. During the spring many young animals, including sandhill cranes (also called colts), are seen roaming around Lake Ashton. At times residents may see a baby on its own and think it has been orphaned by its parents. Generally, if you find a baby animal it is best to leave it alone. Rarely are animals actually orphaned; the parent may be searching for food or observing its young from a distance. Do not pick up baby animals or remove them from their natural environment. Instead, report wildlife you think may be injured or orphaned to the nearest FWC Regional Office at 863-648-3200. Removing the baby could be dangerous for the baby as well as the person removing. Reference https:// myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/ injured-orphaned/ While some residents may think it is innocent to throw some pieces of old bread in their back yard to feed the birds or maybe in a pond to feed the ducks; it is illegal to feed wildlife and can create an unfavorable situation. Species with rules related to feeding include bears, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, pelicans, alligators, crocodiles, and sandhill cranes. Feeding wildlife can reduce their fear of humans which may result in aggression and the need for the animal to be removed or killed in order to protect public safety. Why is feeding cranes prohibited? • Cranes fed by humans can become aggressive toward people. In several instances, children have been attacked by cranes. • Cranes also have been known to damage window screens and do other property damage such as scratching at windows. • Cranes attracted to people's yards for feed are put at risk as they walk across roads. Many sandhill cranes are killed each year on Florida roads. • The cranes' diets, which normally are quite diverse, are disrupted when they eat one food item (such as corn), consistently. • Heavy pesticide use in urban lawns also is of concern. Young sandhill cranes have died from pesticide poisoning. 16 People may inadvertently put sandhill cranes at risk when they attract them with feed. This includes accidental feeding, such as when bird seed is spilled from bird feeders onto the ground below. In 2002, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it illegal to intentionally feed sandhill cranes (Florida Administrative Code 68A-4.001(6)). It's never a good idea to feed wildlife. Florida sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods (insects and small animals) and they do not need handouts from humans. Reference https://myfwc.com/ conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/sandhillcranes/
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