Florida’s Everglades Ecosystem has been making headlines lately with a one of a kind new wildlife refuge, a landmark rule against snake importation and trade, and sobering research recently published that shows just how devastating large constrictor snakes have been to native mammals in Everglades National Park. In the midst of all of this is a trio of wildlife advocates trekking from the Florida Bay, located on the south side of the Everglades, all the way to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia, on what is being called the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition (FWCE).
The trailblazing group consists of bear biologist Joe Guthrie, conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, and photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr. Their journey, which began on January 17, 2012, will take them 1,000 miles in 100 days with the hope of garnering public support and awareness for their cause. They will hike, kayak, and bike across the state while documenting the sights and meeting with Floridians along the way. The group wishes to trace a natural, un-fragmented route from the Everglades to Georgia by piecing together a puzzle like path, called the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FWC), across central Florida.
A fully realized FWC would protect critical habitat and provide necessary migration routes for Florida’s diverse wildlife. The corridor would also help return the hydrological cycle to its natural form by enhancing water security and quality with the return of water to the Everglades. Another goal of the FWC is to provide ranchers and farmers with a sustained cultural legacy while also maintaining the allure of the state’s eco-tourism and sportsman industries.
The FWCE itself, which will end on April 28th, is a tribute to David Maehr and Mason Smoak, whose plane crashed while attempting to locate a missing bear in Florida. The FWC is also building upon a legacy of scientific work from other entities such as educational institutions, conservation organizations, federal and state agencies, and private citizens.
Connect with the expedition team during the trek on its social media pages:
- Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/FloridaWildlifeCorridor
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/FL_WildCorridor
- YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/FLWildlifeCorridor
- Google+ – http://bit.ly/FWCExpeditionGooglePlus
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