Urban Wildlife

Sarasota County homeowners told forget lawn maintenance and go to the beach

Submitted by Isabel Mascarenas, Reporter

Sunday, May 12th, 2013, 12:43am

Sarasota, Florida-Sarasota County officials ask residents to skip lawn mainetnance this summer by not using fertilizer products containing nitrogen and phospherous. Stormwater washes excess fertilizer into storm drains and out into the bay. Environmentalists say the excess nitrogent and phosphorous can fuel the growth of algae and stop the growth of vegetation altering some plant communities.

Beginning June 1-September 30 no fertilizer using phosphorous or nitrogen can be used on lawns or plants in Sarasota County.

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Early Valentine's treat for manatees and turtles

Submitted by Kathryn Bursch, Reporter

Saturday, February 9th, 2013, 3:55pm

Early Valentine's treat for manatees and turtles

Sarasota, Florida -- Forget the chocolate, manatees and sea turtles at Mote Marine Laboratory prefer beets and fishy flavoring for Valentines and on Friday they got some early presents.

Manatees Hugh and Buffett enjoyed heart-shaped treats full of beets. Resident sea turtles, Shelley and Montego, also got to eat their hearts out. They enjoyed special ice treats flavored with squid and fish.

The resident manatees and sea turtles in The Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory enjoy heart-shaped treats to get ready for Valentine's Day. (Photo credit: Mote Marine Laboratory.)

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Mote Manatees predict Ravens to win Super Bowl

Submitted by Kathryn Bursch, Reporter

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013, 1:23pm

Mote Manatees predict Ravens to win Super Bowl

Sarasota, Florida -- We all have our favorites and two Mote Manatees predict the Baltimore Ravens to win Sunday's Super Bowl.

Hugh and Buffet both selected the Ravens during a training session on Friday, by swimming up to a target marked with the Ravens' team logo, instead of the one with the 49ers' logo.

Buffet has selected the correct team every year for the past five years. Hugh has picked correctly three out of five times.

(Photo credit: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.)

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Endangered sea turtle arrives at Mote

Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Monday, January 28th, 2013, 12:25pm

Mote Marine Laboratory

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Big Cat Habitat Animal Extravaganza Fundraiser

Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Monday, January 7th, 2013, 7:05pm

Big Cat Habitat Animal Extravaganza Fundraiser

Sarasota, Florida -- Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, a nonprofit safe haven for big cats, bears and other animals in need, will hold its annual Animal Extravaganza fundraiser for six weekends from Saturday, Jan. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 24.

The Habitat will also be open regular hours Wednesdays through Fridays during the Extravaganza.

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Hawk released after miraculous recovery

Submitted by Kathryn Bursch, Reporter

Monday, September 24th, 2012, 11:30am

Sarasota, Florida -- The group SOS, Save Our Seabirds, doesn't discriminate and it has saved the life of a Red Shoulder Hawk.

Sparky, as the hawk was named, came to the Sarasota rescue group in September of 2011. She'd been severely injured by a methane gas burner at a local landfill. Her feathers were singed and her feet and beak terribly burned.

Photo Gallery: Sparky, the hawk at Save Our Seabirds

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