Florida Gulf Coast University Wildlife
FGCU Campus
FGCU lists alligators, bees, black bears, raccoons, and snakes as nuisance species. Students of the school who live on campus were interviewed and asked if they had ever encountered any of these animals and nearly ninety percent of them said yes. During the peak dry winter months, bees become more prevalent than at any other time. Bees are commonly seen around trash and recycling containers. They’re attracted to the sweet liquids that might be found in the containers.
Another species of animal that you can come into contact with around trash or recycling containers is raccoons. Raccoons often forage through the garbage in search of whatever food may be found. Many students who live on campus have reported seeing raccoons on campus later at night around later at night all the way to the early hours of the morning. These raccoons are often seen on a walk to the garbage compactor in North Lake Village.
Students who frequently attend Sovi, a restaurant in South Lake Village, saw an alligator swimming in the lake outside. The alligator started to become comfortable with humans because students leaving the restaurant would feed it. This caused the alligator to become a little too friendly for some of the campus staff so it was taken off the premises and relocated to a more suitable habitat.
Another species of animal that you can come into contact with around trash or recycling containers is raccoons. Raccoons often forage through the garbage in search of whatever food may be found. Many students who live on campus have reported seeing raccoons on campus later at night around later at night all the way to the early hours of the morning. These raccoons are often seen on a walk to the garbage compactor in North Lake Village.
Students who frequently attend Sovi, a restaurant in South Lake Village, saw an alligator swimming in the lake outside. The alligator started to become comfortable with humans because students leaving the restaurant would feed it. This caused the alligator to become a little too friendly for some of the campus staff so it was taken off the premises and relocated to a more suitable habitat.
FGCU Marine Station
The FGCU marine sciences program has a research laboratory located off of Bonita Beach Road near Fort Myers Beach. The site is called Vester Marine. It is home to many saltwater marine species that you would find around the area. While you are here, you may notice dozens of saltwater tanks. In these tanks, scientists are growing and studying various parts of the saltwater ecosystem from the algae and salinity count to various fish and vegetation that can be found. There is a lot habitat to provide sustenance for life. Mudflats, seagrass beds, oyster bars, and the mangroves all intertwine and provide habitat for the wildlife around the area. Along with all of the tools Vester Marine has, they also have a large fleet of vessels. These vessels range from pontoon or center console boats with motors to canoes and kayaks. These vessels are used for their special purpose, whether it retrieving bottom samples from the shallow water in a canoe or heading out to the Gulf of Mexico in a larger boat testing the mercury levels
For more information regarding vester marine, visit
http://www.fgcu.edu/vestermarine/
The mangrove tree is what predominately makes up most of the islands you can find around the FGCU marine lab. These mangrove trees roots protrude out from the water which creates a labyrinth maze and home for popular game fish such as snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon, along with countless more. The game fish wouldn’t be attracted to the mangrove estuary if bait fish weren’t attracted to the area as well. Pilchards, threadfin herring, pinfish, and glass minnows are all attracted to the mangrove habitat. It provides cover for them from the fish that are above them on the food chain. You may also find porpoise or a manatee in the water around the mangroves.
These mangrove islands are not only home to fish under its root system in the water but also home to many birds which lie up above on its limbs. Pelicans, seagulls, ospreys, and eagles are some birds that you may see flying over water searching for their prey. The heron, ibis, andhinga, and egret are residents of some of these mangrove islands which are wading birds. They stay perched on a mangrove tree limb looking down into the water in search of any forage that may be found. Other birds will fly over the shallower water in search of a more substantial meal.
For more information regarding vester marine, visit
http://www.fgcu.edu/vestermarine/
The mangrove tree is what predominately makes up most of the islands you can find around the FGCU marine lab. These mangrove trees roots protrude out from the water which creates a labyrinth maze and home for popular game fish such as snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon, along with countless more. The game fish wouldn’t be attracted to the mangrove estuary if bait fish weren’t attracted to the area as well. Pilchards, threadfin herring, pinfish, and glass minnows are all attracted to the mangrove habitat. It provides cover for them from the fish that are above them on the food chain. You may also find porpoise or a manatee in the water around the mangroves.
These mangrove islands are not only home to fish under its root system in the water but also home to many birds which lie up above on its limbs. Pelicans, seagulls, ospreys, and eagles are some birds that you may see flying over water searching for their prey. The heron, ibis, andhinga, and egret are residents of some of these mangrove islands which are wading birds. They stay perched on a mangrove tree limb looking down into the water in search of any forage that may be found. Other birds will fly over the shallower water in search of a more substantial meal.
FGCU Lakes
Although not considered nuisance species by our university like so many of the other animals, the lakes and ponds on campus are filled with numerous types of fish. Many of of these fish are common to the rest of the freshwater lakes in Florida. Bass, catfish, sunfish, gar, bluegill, and crappie are some of the native species of fish you might find in the water. Some non native species of fish that you will also find in the water include tilapia, cichlids, oscar, and catfish. To ensure that the lakes and habitat stay in pristine condition, the school has implemented a fishing policy for the area. If you are interested in fishing, you must obtain a permit from the school. You can only receive the fishing permit if you have a valid Florida fishing license, as well as knowing all of the rules regarding the lakes and surrounding area.
For more information regarding the rules for fishing any of the lakes, visit
http://www.fgcu.edu/CampusRec/Outdoors/fishingcard.html
For more information regarding the rules for fishing any of the lakes, visit
http://www.fgcu.edu/CampusRec/Outdoors/fishingcard.html
