Journal Entry 1
I have found myself on the brink of a grand adventure. Thanks to my workings within Miami University’s own Project Dragonfly, I will be visiting the mysterious, watery lands known as the Everglades within a fortnight. This will be my first trip to the area and while I am excited to explore the ecosystem, my inexperience has also caused me great worry. What will I truly face in the marsh and forest and water? Will my research, journaled here to take with me, help at all? Am I doomed to encounter the most dangerous creatures that inhabit the Everglades? What will become of my work should I not make it out? In preparation for my upcoming expedition, I have decided to journal any and all of my thoughts and research in the hopes that it will be useful to me as I trek through the landscape.
Firstly, it is worth noting that The Everglades, this “river of grass” – as dubbed by renowned author and conservationist Marjorie Stoneman Douglas – is located at the southern tip of the state of Florida. They once spanned as far North of Orlando, but humanity has once again got in the way of a thriving ecosystem, and fragmented it significantly.
In sifting through pages and pages of history, ecological data, and stories, I found many spellbinding species in the area that I thought would be worth logging here before embarking on this journey.
First, we have the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi). The carnivorous cats were once quite prominent throughout the United States. Sadly, we humans misunderstood these creatures and placed a bounty on their heads nearly 200 years ago. We were far too worried about their perceived threat to livestock and to ourselves, that we nearly hunted them to extinction. Nowadays, we are still the worst enemies of these fascinating felines by stealing and degrading their homes to make space for more of us, creating row upon row of agricultural land in their living spaces, and injuring – or worse, slaughtering – them, albeit unintentionally, with our noisy vehicles.
(Image of Panther, “Lucy”, taken from ZooTampa website)
While the beginnings of this story show great loss, I have also read many pages showing promises of hope for the future of the Florida Panther. There is evidence that we are– and will continue to – amend the error in our ways. Areas of the Everglades that are significant habitats to the Florida Panthers have been protected by our government as National Park space. I stumbled upon articles describing the Florida Wildlife Corridor as well. Researchers have established sections throughout the state of Florida that will allow a great number of animals to roam North, South, East, and West. Efforts such as these will be critical to ensuring that our children and their children will live in a world alongside these majestic, elusive panthers.
The second species that piqued my interest is the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Lovingly named sea cows by locals, these marine dwellers are mammals who feast strictly on vegetation, very much unlike their distant dolphin cousins. Due to their diets, they have no need to dart quickly through the water and have developed a paddlelike tail. These mammals have been found in many other areas of Florida, The Everglades being no exception. Manatees enjoy the tidal creeks of these lands in search of freshwater to quench their thirst. I’ve seen these gentle giants in my explorations throughout other areas of Florida, but it would be all the more uplifting to see them thriving in this environment too.
(Image of manatee patient, “Remy”, taken by Viviana Moreno at ZooTampa’s Manatee Critical Care Center on Feb. 8th, 2022)
Due to their typically snail-like speed through the water, they are susceptible to strikes from fast moving watercrafts, likely from vacationers or locals as this area is also known for its recreational – and arguably therapeutic – value. On a happier note, the sea cows of Florida have been removed from the Endangered Species List and have remained off of it for the past six years, thanks to efforts of citizens and scientists alike and collaboration among various organizations in Florida. Only time will tell if such work will be enough to keep the West Indian Manatee off of the dreaded list permanently.
Of course, you cannot think of The Everglades without thinking of one creature in particular: the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The males of this species can reach a whopping 13 to 15 feet in length. This is as terrifying as it is exciting, I do hope to get the chance to witness this crocodilian in the wild. I have truly only ever seen them under human care. The courtship rituals include deep bellowing sounds to attract mates. I truly wonder what these songs sound like. I may have to do some further exploration to find some audio recordings if I do not encounter these on my expedition. Mother alligators will create massive nests, perhaps ones that could compete with our primitive carriages. These mounds are about 3.5 feet high and double that in width!
American Alligators are considered keystone species in the Everglades for several transfixing reasons. They create what are known as “gator holes” in the swamps. During both the wet and dry seasons, these holes serve as water sources and habitats for numerous other species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. The nesting alligators help in creating peat and ensuring the survival of red-bellied turtles, who lay their own eggs in gator nests. Fortunately for this species, they have remained off the Endangered Species List.
(Image of an alligator hiding in duckweed taken by Viviana Moreno at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Sept. 8th, 2022)
In addition to scouring the record for significant species, I have also researched numerous legends that exist within The Everglades with each name just as mysterious and exciting as the next. The Devil’s Swamp, The Alligator Men, The Headless Men of the Everglades. While their titles alone are enough to send shivers down the spine of the strongest men and women, one legend in particular sang louder than them all…… The Skunk Ape. I have read of all manner of beast and bird, but by far this bigfoot-like behemoth brings me terror as I’ve never before experienced. There is footage and articles on this Florida equivalent of sasquatch. Recent encounters have placed this legend in Big Cypress Nature Preserve, just within the bounds of The Everglades. This creature has both piqued my anxiety and interest. My hopes on seeing or avoiding this legend are significantly divided, and my belief in the creature as well. Perhaps my feelings will change for better or worse based on my experiences in this swampy landscape.
Surely the research I have done and will continue to do will not be enough to prepare me for this upcoming adventure. All I can say is that I am waiting with much anticipation and excitement!
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Resources:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/floridapanther.htm
https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/manateepage.htm
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/trail-floridas-bigfoot-skunk-ape-180949981/
