Page 7 - PGA Community News - November '24

November 2024
November 2024 2 Spaces PGA C.A.N.!, Page 7

Northern Notes from page 6

They have been around Pesticides in yards and urban areas can also be of concern
for a very long time. The first as they forage for food in the ground. Feeding them can
known sandhill crane fossil disrupt their natural foraging behavior, making them more
was found in the Macasphalt susceptible to these dangers.
shell pit in Florida. It was Look around and enjoy these beautiful birds interacting
estimated to be about 2.5 with our Florida environment. Give them space if you
million years old. They encounter them and be mindful of them crossing or walking
are not endangered, but in our roadways. Finally, please do not feed them for the
due to habitat loss, their good of the cranes and Florida’s delicate ecosystem. For
populations can be of more information, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife
concern in certain areas. Conservation Commission website at www.myfwc.com.
They are attracted to open NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If all
areas in urban settings of the pesticide cannot be properly used, check with your
such as golf courses, solid waste management authority to find out when and
parks in subdivisions where to properly dispose of this type of hazardous waste.
and undeveloped land in
commercial areas.
As omnivores, sandhill cranes play a crucial role in
Florida’s ecosystem. Their diet, which includes plants
and small animals like snails, frogs, worms, and grubs,
provides natural biological control for their grazing
areas. This unique pest control service they offer is one
of the many reasons we appreciate their presence in our
environment. Sandhill cranes spend most of the daylight
hours in areas where food is most abundant, generally
walking several miles a day through dry pastures, fields,
wet meadows, or marshes in search for food, eating as
they go.
People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when
feeding them, thinking they are being kind. It is never a
good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it illegal to
feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife Code 68A-
4.00(3)). Why was this done? Cranes can become aggressive
when fed by people. When they are used to a free meal,
they will continue to return and demand it when it is not
offered. Cranes returning to a yard where they have been
fed are prone to injury by cars as they cross the street to get
to the yard. They are also more vulnerable to predation by Veteran’s Day
dogs or cats, especially young cranes. Occasionally, birds November 11
cause damage to property as a territorial defense behavior
upon seeing their reflection in cars or window screens.

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