Animal Law Section, The Florida Bar

Congratulations to ZooTampa at Lowry Park for their Manatee Rescue team! They received the FAZA FWC Collaborative Conservation Award for their Manatee Critical Care program.

As the new year approaches, this is a good time to celebrate the 2024 conservation achievements of Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, detailed here:

Last chance! Register today for Tuesday's FREE CLE! Register now for “Animal Cruelty: What is it and Which Animals are Protected?” with Julia Williams and Nathania A. Beltran Vosler on December 17, 2024, from 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. This CLE is being presented for FREE through the Animal Law Section and the Criminal Law Section.   Florida’s animal cruelty laws aim to protect animals from cruelty, torture, and neglect. But what actions are actually prohibited, and which animals receive protection? The answers may surprise you. In this webinar, we explore how animals can be treated under state law and how that changes based on whether those animals are found in homes, labs, the wild, or on farms.   Course number 8830 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, 1.0 Criminal Appellate Law Certification credit and 1.0 Criminal Trial Law Certification credit.   

Time to vote! For amazing wildlife, that is. Help choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award 2024. The Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition gets almost 60,000 entries every year, but their judges can only select 100 finalists. They have picked another 25 photographs to put to a public vote. So, browse the gallery at the link below and vote for your favorite. Voting closes at 14.00 GMT on Wednesday, January 19, 2025.

Congratulations to Matthew Pietroburgo, who was named Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year! Shikar-Safari Club International is a conservation-based organization that presents awards annually to wildlife law enforcement officers in all states, provinces and territories in the United States and Canada. The annual award honors a state officer whose efforts show outstanding performance and achievement among sworn conservation law enforcement personnel.

The holidays are upon us, and this month's issue of Kite Tales (The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Newsletter) is highlighting its holiday merchandise sales. Find the perfect gift for the nature enthusiasts in your life!

It has arrived! See below for The Wrack Line, the Newsletter of the Florida Shorebird Alliance for December 2024

Have you ever wanted to a meeting of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission? Now is your chance! They are meeting on December 11 and 12, 2024 at the RP Funding Center, Sikes Hall, 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, Florida, 33815. The agenda can be viewed at the link below. It is chock full of interesting topics, including ·      a 5-year update on implementation of the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan ·      an update and rule proposal on the implementation of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan (2012) ·      proposed rules to modify Manatee Protection Zones located near the mouth of the Withlacoochee River in Levy County ·      proposed rule amendments to revise select statewide hunting regulations and specific area regulations on wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas, and miscellaneous areas to accomplish management objectives ·      Federal Consistency changes related to Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack and Atlantic Gag and Black Grouper Recreational Changes.  These topics are just Day One! Day Two topics include Final Rules on the Marine Special Activity License (SAL) Program, and staff reports on Stone Crab and Lobster Trap Endorsement Programs, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) Report, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Report. The Consent Agenda includes Staff propose members of the Biological Review Group for the Wilson’s plover, Okaloosa darter, and blackbanded sunfish. View the agenda, ways to participate and the supporting documentation at the link below.

Hard to believe that we already have twice as many panther mortalities in 2024 as we did in 2023! See the stats below on the Panther Pulse from Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. The most recent involved the remains of a 3- to 4-year-old, male Florida panther (UCFP473) collected November 22, 2024 on SR-29 in Collier County (UTM 465369 E 2877377 N). The suspected cause of death was vehicle collision. So as you drive somewhere for the Thanksgiving holiday, please remember that vehicle collisions are the primary cause of death for Florida panthers. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages motorists to slow down and observe all posted speed limits, especially in panther zones, which are in place in several counties across South Florida and coincide with areas where panthers are known to cross. These panther speed zones help ensure the survival of the endangered Florida panther and protect motorists from personal injury.

More FREE CLE! Don't miss out on our latest webinar, "Animal Cruelty: What is it and Which Animals are Protected?" It is on December 17, 2024 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada). This is a FREE webinar through the Animal Law Section and Criminal Law Section by Julia Williams and Nathania Vosler. Florida’s animal cruelty laws aim to protect animals from cruelty, torture, and neglect. But what actions are actually prohibited, and which animals receive protection? The answers may surprise you. In this webinar, we explore how animals can be treated under state law and how that changes based on whether those animals are found in homes, labs, the wild, or on farms. Course number 8830 is approved for 1.0 General CLE credit, 1.0 Criminal Appellate Law Certification credit, and 1.0 Criminal Trial Law Certification credit. Sign up here: