Wildlife Online South Central Regional Center Edition

Friend of Wildlife,

The first signs of spring are starting to appear! As flowers begin to peep above ground and wildlife awaken from their wintry slumber, it can often energize people to get outdoors.

With this renewed interest in nature, I welcome you to take a deeper dive into our on-the-ground programs which are already off to a great start this year. I hope you feel inspired by our initiatives to educate and engage people on the importance of protecting, maintaining, and restoring forests across the region. Discover wildlife facts like how turning off non-essential lights on the coast can protect sea turtles and birds during migration season, or take the quiz to learn more about the endangered red wolf who used to roam much of our region. Finally, advocate alongside our Texas team to encourage science-based solutions to managing water issues in the Lone Star State.

Our NWF team works tirelessly each day to educate and protect wildlife, wild spaces, and our communities. I encourage you to follow, share, like and comment on our social media accounts listed at the end of this newsletter.

Thank you for being a champion for wildlife and our communities.

John DeFillipo
   

Happy Trails,

John DeFillipo
Regional Executive Director, South Central Region
National Wildlife Federation

woman carrying turtle

Saving Sea Turtles in Florida

Local experts recently rescued hundreds of sea turtles after a cold snap cooled their Gulf water habitat to a chilly 50 degrees. Cold-stunned sea turtles can become lethargic and develop infections of the lungs and bones. The Gulf World Marine Institute was able to rescue, care for, and eventually release 400 sea turtles when the waters warmed again. NWF’s Gulf program, Kathleen McCrea, worked with the Institute to release the sea turtles back into the wild. She is also working with communities in Escambia County, FL, to improve lighting conditions on beaches that often disorient sea turtles. Learn more about this initiative in the blog below.

Good Read: Hope for Sea Turtles Amid Wildlife-friendly Lighting Ordinances

 
small mammal

Help Wildlife and Wild Places in Our Communities

Your donation today can help our on-the-ground conservation and education programs across the region to:

  • Expand the restoration of monarch and pollinator habitats in communities along the I-35 corridor.
  • Connect thousands of students to nature through outdoor classrooms and STEAM curriculum.
  • Ensure there is enough water in local rivers and streams for fish, wildlife, and the communities that depend on clean and abundant water.
  • Protect and restore wetland habitats vital to migratory and local fish and wildlife.
  • Engage with coastal communities to build resiliency using nature-based solutions.

Donate Today

 
wild fire

Reshaping Public Perspectives of Prescribed Fire

While wildfires instill an understandable fear in people, lower-intensity fire is natural–and necessary–for many ecosystems to thrive. Our Southeast Forestry team is working with state affiliates and experienced forestry landowners across the longleaf pine range to educate communities on sustainable land management practices, including how to safely conduct prescribed burnings on private lands to improve the health of their forests.

Learn More

 

Meet Our State Affiliates

We work with state and territory affiliates, autonomous organizations, that take the lead in local conservation efforts and collaborate with us on broader issues. We encourage you to learn more about the affiliate where you live.

Featured Affiliate: Louisiana Wildlife Federation

The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) has been a conservation leader in the Bayou State for more than 80 years. This independent organization represents a broad constituency of conservationists including birders, outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, anglers, and more who believe in protecting the state's natural resources and the environment. Recently, LWF was bequeathed $5 million that will help LWF to establish additional partnerships to advance habitat conservation, collaborate on education and policy, and engage more citizens throughout the state. Learn more about Louisiana Wildlife Federation at lawildlifefed.org.

 
National Wildlife Week in Partnership with blink. Click here to learn more.
 

Find Us on Your Favorite Social Platform

South Central Region: Instagram | Bluesky

Earth Tomorrow: Facebook | Instagram

Gulf Program: Facebook
(member of Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition: Facebook | Instagram)

Monarch Heroes: Instagram

Southeast Forestry: Facebook | Instagram

Texas EcoSchools: Facebook
(part of EcoSchools U.S. - Facebook and NWF Education - Instagram)

Texas Living Waters: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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