The City of Oviedo Public Works Department unveiled its “Wildlife Whereabouts” program, as school is letting out for the summer.
The program, created by the Public Works Stormwater Division, was an initiative within the Community Rating System guided by FEMA (more on the program can be found under the stormwater web page). The city saw a way to combine the basic idea of outlining what habitats could potentially be within the floodplains and take it a step further and involve city residents and visitors to the local trails and parks by observing wildlife in its natural habitat. The program is interactive and provides the ability to send pictures of wildlife spotted and pinpoint locations to track the various species in the city.
Wildlife Whereabouts is an exciting new citizen science initiative that encourages residents to explore the outdoors and contribute to wildlife conservation. Citizens can use the online, interactive map to see not only what type of rare or endangered wildlife they could be viewing, but can also see more common species of local interest and where wildlife can be found. The city houses several bird species such as bald eagles, sandhill cranes and owls. In addition, other species such as otters, alligators, deer, snakes, turtles and many more are also part of the city’s ecosystem, along with valuable native plants that help the local wildlife thrive. The full list can be found here: cityofoviedo.net/1203/stormwater
Wildlife Whereabouts will be a fun summer activity for families that will educate them about species and their habitats. Residents can use the online form to fill out where they found the species on the map and upload their pictures with a photo credit displaying the photographer’s name. The online form can be used on cellphones, laptops and desktops and can be found in the link listed above. There is also a direct link on the City’s homepage in the “City News” section.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to keep kids engaged over the summer while supporting environmental education and wildlife conservation,” said Floodplain Administrator Amanda Kortus. “We hope to inspire a greater appreciation for nature right here in our own backyards.”
Safety First
Anyone wishing to participate and submit a form is asked to observe the rules and Florida State laws when it comes to wildlife.
- Keep a safe distance from all wildlife, especially dangerous species such as alligators, snakes and bears.
- Do not feed the wildlife to get a good picture. That is against the law.
- Keep children at a safe distance.
- Do not disturb nests or offspring.
- Observe, don’t interact.
The city wants to inspire young biologists, nature lovers and photographers to explore and reconnect with nature through this ongoing program. Submit what you saw to https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/ea14d4a548e84870a7d061d5a8cb03b0
