Ask Ranger Mike
A project in Everglades, FL by Ted Hall000days
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Last Updated: March 15 @ 21:09 -0400 GMT
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Latest News
Getting Along with Biologist, Mike Owen 
March 15th - via: kickstarter.com
Alright, so getting along with Ranger Mike is pretty easy. Keeping up with his mind may be more difficult. He's a whirlwind of ecological knowledge dispensing. Think auctioneer meets scientist meets Special Agent Dale Cooper. He is earnest, yet... (Read More)
Small Makes a Big Difference in Ecology
March 14th - via: kickstarter.com
Connected systems, life and decay in the present moment. These are some of the elements in the Fakahatchee Matrix which create a sense of wonder for me. In 2017 or so (yes I'm obsessed with this place) I used my macro lens to capture some of the... (Read More)
I Can’t Believe I Met You
March 13th - via: kickstarter.com
Because we actually make each other better! Without personal cost or argument. Wait, is this real? “Mutualism describes the ecological interactionbetween two or more species where each species has a net benefit.[1] Mutualism is a common type of... (Read More)
I've Kinda Taken a Lichen to You
March 12th - via: kickstarter.com
I tried REALLY hard to avoid writing a corny pun, but it was simply unavoidable. I mean, we're talking about relationships in both nature and in our lives. I was on the verge of describing lichens as an example of mutualism, when I revisited the... (Read More)
Relationships are Complicated
March 10th - via: kickstarter.com
Even in the Fakahatchee Strand, relationships are not always straightforward. Sometimes you just hang out near one another, sometimes you help each other out, and sometimes the relationship squeeze is... a little too tight. I'm working on a Ranger... (Read More)
Part 3 The Pterodactyl Car Thief
March 9th - via: kickstarter.com
After moving on from the roaring bushes and the hunters with dubious intention, I made my way back towards the borrowed car. I could see glimpses of it far ahead. And then I could see something else. Someone was looking in the windows of the car. Now... (Read More)
Part 2 The Hunters and the Pterodactyl Car Thief
March 8th - via: kickstarter.com
So, after nearly tripping over wildlife, I make it to the Fakahatchee Ranger Station. Here, I receive a friendly welcome from Ranger Steve. He tells me a bit about the park and gestures for me to grab a walking stick from a bucket. I explain that my... (Read More)
Animal Break
March 7th - via: kickstarter.com
Before getting to Part 2 of the Fakahatchee Intro Story, I'd like to share a few images. (Read More)
The Fakahatchee Wildlife is the Least of Your Worries
March 6th - via: kickstarter.com
This is a story about my first trip to the Fakahatchee, probably in 2010 or so. Even the last turn into the park created more questions than it answered. There was a crumbling mansion of some kind, tucked deep back in the jungle. Large concrete lions... (Read More)
The Log is Not a Log
March 5th - via: kickstarter.com
When you're in the Fakahatchee Strand, it's always a good idea to stand really still and take in your surroundings. There is life both obvious and hidden right where you are standing. Much like the wading birds, you should be mindful when walking... (Read More)
The Ghost Orchid
March 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Did you know that the Fakahatchee Strand is the Orchid Capital of the United States? If you've read the book, "The Orchid Thief," or seen the related film, "Adaptation," the Fakahatchee Strand was the inspiration for those stories! In this video,... (Read More)
Jed Spots an Everglades Mink!
March 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
The Everglades Mink is a rare creature to see. There are estimated to be only between 25-40 of this particular specie of mink-- and Jed saw one. On day one. On our initial drive down Janes Scenic Drive. Unheard of. Jed and the Mink:... (Read More)
When You're Lost in a Panther Refuge...
March 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
... you may as well bust out your 4x5 camera. Tobin and I had arrived at the Fakahatchee Strand in his hand-me-down Volvo station wagon. It was an old 80s model, sturdy, but not technically an off-road style of vehicle. I had been traveling a ton... (Read More)
Ranger Mike Speaks on Fire and Water!
February 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Here's an "Ask Ranger Mike" video segment (in progress). Let me know your thoughts! I will be adding thunderstorms sounds and perhaps some lightning with movement. https://vimeo.com/683000924 (Read More)
The Place Comes Alive When You Stay Put
February 27th - via: kickstarter.com
At first glance, Janes Scenic Drive is just another dusty dirt road. And if you drive to the end and back, without stopping at the ponds, you depart wondering what it was all about. Granted you will undoubtedly disturb a few birds or see a gator, the... (Read More)
Swampland for Sale!
February 26th - via: kickstarter.com
When you explore along Janes Scenic Drive, make sure that you depart the same way that you entered. If you don't turn around, you will drive into the Picayune Strand and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Just like Tobin and I did in 2014.... (Read More)
Counting Panthers
February 26th - via: kickstarter.com
May not be as relaxing as counting sheep, but the estimate is that between 150 and 200 of these awesome cats roam south-western Florida. This was not always the case. Great efforts have been made to keep this population genetically diverse and... (Read More)
Speaking of Panthers
February 25th - via: kickstarter.com
When I was down in the Fakahatchee Strand in March of 2017, I spent the day doing a wildlife count with Ranger Mike. We started at a water level pan, where Mike assesses water levels (crucial information in a slough / wetland). Then we wrote down... (Read More)
Ghost Cats are Difficult to See
February 25th - via: kickstarter.com
The Florida Panther really does roam through the Fakahatchee Strand, even though you might not see one. Also known as the "Ghost Cat," these crafty predators silently stalk deer, rabbits, and wild boar. On one of our sojourns, Ranger Mike was in the... (Read More)
The First Step is a Doozy
February 24th - via: kickstarter.com
Jed and I learned that when walking through a slough, it's a good idea to bring a trekking pole or walking stick. The first reason is to help you keep your balance traversing that waist-deep brackish water. As you explore, you're stepping down into... (Read More)
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