Reasons To Smile

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing the reminder that sea turtles are starting to nest on our beaches.

Residents and visitors can play a big part in helping to protect vulnerable nesting sea turtles this spring and summer while visiting Florida’s coastal habitats. Because our state’s shorelines provide important nesting habitat for several species of threatened and endangered sea turtles, beachgoers can have a significant impact on their nesting success. To help nesting sea turtles, people can take easy steps to protect them, including giving them space, minimizing disturbances and keeping beaches clean and dark.

Sea turtles typically return to nest in March along Florida’s southeast Atlantic coast from Brevard County south to Broward County, while nesting begins on Gulf Coast or north Florida beaches in April or May.

For more information about nesting sea turtles and how you can help, visit MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle. Other ways to help sea turtles include reporting those that are sick, injured, entangled or dead to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Manatees are aquatic mammals known for their immense size, jowly appearance, and their lumbering way of moving while they graze the seafloor. These mammals might not make the list of cutest animals, but there are enough manatee enthusiasts for there to be a Manatee Appreciation Day on March 27 — a day that is devoted to raising awareness about these creatures that live under the water. Manatees carry the affectionate nickname of ‘sea cow’ and are on the list of threatened species. Visit https://savethemanatee.org/manatee-awareness for more information.

National Floral Design Day on Feb. 28 recognizes the art and history of floral design. For thousands of years, floral design has been an important cultural art form, which can be celebrated in a bouquet, painting, in textiles, a garden or a floral arrangement.

The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), in collaboration with SeaWorld Orlando and six other zoological and manatee care organizations, released five orphaned manatees to Blue Spring State Park in Florida after a years-long journey of rehabilitation by multiple members of the partnership, according to a news release.

MRP is a cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state and federal entities who work together to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and monitor sick and injured manatees. The manatees originally were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and MRP Partners between 2020 and 2021.

Every animal returned will be fitted with a GPS tracking device that will allow researchers the ability to monitor their movements and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year.

Manatees that were transferred back to Florida waters are:

• Squirrel: originally weighed 116 pounds and was released at 960 pounds
• Lizzie: 63 pounds, released at 855 pounds
• MaryKate: 107 pounds, released at 815 pounds
• Clank: 128 pounds, released at 725 pounds
• TinkTank: 124 pounds, released at 840 pounds

Published February 21, 2024

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club serves lunch at the Trinity Cafe in Tampa every month. The women greet the homeless and food-insecure with a warm smile, and serve chef-prepared meals, in a comfortable setting, with dignity and grace. For more information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page. From left: Shirley Willhite, Pam Blumenthal, Deb Cardona, Jeannie Sheets, Melba Pineiro, Gina Caper and Nancy Branham.

Around the country, Feb. 7 is National Girls & Women in Sports Day, recognized by schools, organizations and teams during the first week of February. Athletics play an important role in female lives, no only by establishing a routine for a healthy, active lifestyle, but sports build confidence, leadership skills and the ability to work with a team. The Laker/Lutz News gives a shout out to all female athletes and their strength of accomplishment, no matter what sport they take part in.