Fish are spinning to death in the Florida Keys—again. Why is history repeating?
Now, fish are spinning again, though in smaller numbers and happening in a much smaller geographic area, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). One question is whether these fish are experiencing new symptoms or if they're still suffering from last year's exposure. What's perplexing is that algae levels in the water are relatively low, unlike during the 2023-2024 event, says Matthews.
Since December 2024, FWC has received 44 reports of fish exhibiting spinning behavior, adding to more than 500 related reports since December 2023. Among these new reports, 22 have involved sawfish, including six confirmed deaths, with another likely occurring on March 20, according to Matthews. 'There's a sawfish 200 yards from me on the shoreline right now that we've got a team taking blood from to figure out what's going on,' he said. 'It's so sad, these are amazing animals.'
(Here's how scientists are trying to save the last sawfish stronghold.)
What we know about the toxins
Mike Parsons, a researcher from Florida Gulf Coast University, has been regularly sampling water for algae species suspected to be behind the toxins. One algae genus, Gambierdiscus, has been flagged as a possible toxin source, though the exact species hasn't been identified and doesn't match known species.
To definitively link the Gambierdiscus species to the events, scientists are working to identify the chemical makeup of the toxin, or toxins, at play too. 'You can't see it in the water, so it's a lot harder for us to track it down,' Matthews says, meaning they need to collect samples when the fish are still actively spinning. Researchers have found Gambierdiscus algae on the gills of the fish, and water and fish tissue tests found evidence of neurotoxins. 'We just really want to connect that smoking gun,' says Matthews.
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05-08-2025
Florida snake hunters deploy robotic rabbits to capture invasive Burmese pythons
A team dedicated to controlling populations of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida has deployed another unique method to find the elusive predators: robotic rabbits. The robots are remote-controlled, solar-powered and designed to look like marsh rabbits, a preferred choice of prey for the pythons, according to the South Florida Water Management District, which is funding the project as part of its Python Elimination Program. Researchers designed the devices to produce a heat signature and emit a smell designed to attract the pythons, according to the utility company. They are also equipped with cameras to monitor for the pythons' movements and alert officials when one is detected -- who can then send out a snake wrangler to detect and euthanize the animals. The robots were strategically placed throughout South Florida, according to the utility company. "We want to capture all of the processes that an actual rabbit would give off," said Robert McCleery, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Florida, told the Palm Beach Post. Scientists at the University of Florida conducted the research, which was partly funded by the FWC. The South Florida Water Management District is funding the experiment. "Our partners have allowed us to trial these things that may sound a little crazy," McCleery said. "Working in the Everglades for ten years, you get tired of documenting the problem. You want to address it." The researchers replaced the stuffing in 40 toy rabbits with electrical components powered by solar energy and waterproofed them to withstand the rain and humidity, according to the Post. This isn't the first time snake hunters have used creative means to capture their prey. In 2020, the FWC deployed python-sniffing detector dogs to track pythons in South Florida. In 2022, University of Florida researchers put live rabbits in cages in the Everglades to lure the snakes. Over 90 days, nine rabbit pens lured 22 pythons, leading the snakes to stay in the area for more than an hour on average, according to a state report. Trackers have been placed on dozens of preferred python prey, such as rabbits, raccoons and opossums, which lead snake hunters to the pythons after they've swallowed the prey. Officials around the state pay bounty hunters to help control Burmese python populations and have attached tracking devices to male snakes, which leads them to egg-laying females. The introduction of Burmese pythons has decimated the local ecosystem in South Florida as they breed rapidly and compete with native wildlife for food, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. An estimated 180,000 were brought into the country between 1975 and 2018, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Many entered the ecosystem through accidental or intentional release. As of 2000, the species had established a self-sustaining breeding population in the South Florida ecosystem, according to the USGS. The species is now distributed across more than 1,000 square miles of South Florida, including all of the Everglades National Park and across the southern coast to Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, according to the USGS. But Burmese pythons are notoriously difficult to detect and capture, experts say. Detectability of Burmese pythons is an estimated 1% to 3%, meaning out of 100 snakes in a survey area, there could be a chance of spotting between one and three individuals, research has shown. At Everglades National Park, the frequency of Burmese python detection is about one python per eight hours of searching, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. banned the import of Burmese pythons in 2012. But chances of eradication are likely low at this point, according to the USGS. At least 76 prey species have been found in the guts of Burmese pythons over the past several decades, including mammals, birds, iguanas and alligators, according to USGS scientists. A 2012 study found that raccoon populations in the state had declined 99.3% since 1997, while opossums saw a decline of 98.9% and bobcats an 87.5% decline. Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits and foxes have effectively disappeared, a 2015 study found. In December 2022, a group of biologists stumbled upon a nearly 15-foot Burmese python in the midst of devouring an adult white-tailed deer. Black rats seem to be the only species of mammal resistant to the pythons. Also an invasive species, they arrived centuries ago aboard ships from Europe. They reproduce quickly and can scavenge carcasses as well as eat plants, insects and scraps from humans -- allowing them to thrive, according to the USGS. But native predators may be starting to fight back, according to researchers who have documented cases of alligators, cottonmouth snakes and bobcats killing Burmese pythons.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- CBS News
Pink boba blobs or "world's worst invaders?" What to know about Florida's apple snails
Florida is home to several species of animals — some native and some invasive. From alligators and iguanas to pythons and panthers, the Sunshine State boasts a diverse ecosystem that supports a wide range of fauna. However, suppose you've ever come across what appears to be pink blobs of boba attached to concrete or plants near bodies of water. In that case, you've come across what the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dubs one of the "world's worst invaders": the apple snail. According to the FWC, Florida is home to several species of Pomacea apple snails, including the native Florida apple snail, and four exotic species native to South America: the island apple snail, channeled apple snail, spike-topped apple snail and the titan apple snail. As of 2013, exotic populations have been seen in at least 29 watersheds in 38 of Florida's 67 counties, with the most abundant species being the island apple snail. Although these snails are typically found in freshwater, the FWC said some can tolerate brackish water. For example, the island snail has been observed in tidally influenced portions of rivers and along sea walls of South Florida canals. In the last decade, apple snails have received the FWC's attention because of their ability to damage wetland crops through foraging. "Channeled and island apple snails are opportunistic feeders that consume a variety of aquatic vegetation, fruits and vegetables, algae, remains of decaying organisms, and other snail eggs," the agency said. "Because of damage to crops, the channeled apple snail is listed as one of the world's worst invaders." The FWC also said there is concern that the snail's "haphazard appetite" for large aquatic vegetation could alter aquatic ecosystems. In Florida, especially, there is also concern that the native Florida apple snail's population could be displaced. Currently, there is little the FWC can do to curb exotic apple snail populations, especially because most established exotic species are often a part of the exotic pet trade. According to the FWC, federal law states that it is illegal for apple snails to be imported across state lines and the agency suggests that pet owners refrain from releasing them into the wild. According to the FWC, apple snails vary in size and shape, with the Florida apple snail being around two to three inches long and having a shell that is often flat across the top. Meanwhile, the island and channeled apple snails are typically larger and have a distinct channel between the whorls. Specifically, the island apple snail is the largest known species in the state, with shell sizes alone growing up to five inches in length. The FWC said similarities in appearances among the non-native apple snail species make identification "very difficult." Wild snail populations range in shell color from yellow to brownish-black and may contain stripes or dimpling. Also, the FWC said selective breeding in the aquarium trade has led to other color variations and patterns, with some snails having bright shell colors like yellow-orange, yellow-green or copper, and their foot tissues having pigment variations ranging from yellow to orange to gray. While the Florida apple snail can take up to six months to reach sexual maturity, the exotic apple snail species — island and channeled — can reach sexual maturity at around two to three months of age. "These species lay eggs above the waterline on almost any hard surface," the FWC said. The agency said that the size, shape and number of eggs can help identify species, but egg clutches can also vary in size, color and number of eggs depending on water conditions, season, food availability and the snail's age. The FWC said the egg clutches of Florida apple snails have the largest individual eggs at around the size of a pea, but the fewest per clutch at around 20 to 80. Meanwhile, the egg clutches of exotic island apple snails tend to have smaller eggs, slightly larger than a pinhead, and are more densely packed with many egg layers. Typically, the clutch's length may be several inches and can have up to 2,000 eggs, the FWC said. Channeled apple snail egg clutches have slightly larger eggs and few total eggs, up to 800. When laid, Florida apple snail eggs are a pale salmon color that quickly turns white. However, island and channeled apple snails lay pink eggs that turn white-gray before hatching. "Unfortunately, using egg masses for apple snail identification can be difficult because of variations caused by environmental factors and all turn white before hatching," the FWC said. The FWC advises that when anyone comes across island and channeled apple snail egg clutches, they should "be crushed whenever possible." "Scraping eggs and letting them fall to the water does not prevent them from hatching," the agency said. The FWC also said that if you come across Florida apple snail egg clutches, they should be left undisturbed.
Miami Herald
23-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Five times sea creatures captivated an audience. See the ‘phenomenal' sightings
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