After years of work, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission members have passed an imperiled species management plan. Regan McCarthy has more.
The imperiled species management plan addresses the conservation needs of 57 Florida species, including the Sherman Fox Squirrel, one of commission chair Brian Yablonski’s favorites.
Other species covered under the plan include the Everglades Mink, the white crowned pigeon, the key ring neck snake, the Florida keys mole skink, the rimrock crown snake, and the Florida brown snake. Commissioners approved guidelines for all eight of those Tuesday and they are working on the remaining species.
While animals like bears and panthers get the most attention in Florida, these important lesser known species play an important role in the state.
Environmentalists are celebrating the plan to protect these species and manage them instead of simply listing them as endangered or imperiled.
The plan required environmentalists and landowners to work together to achieve common goals which will continue to reach those goals.