Our heroes
May 18th, 2007 by admin
If there were awards for activism, we’d nominate Marcotta Miller.
Ms. Miller and her family have grown fond of a gopher tortoise who lives in a vacant lot near their home in Palm Coast. They’ve named the tortoise, “Donatello.” On Tuesday afternoon, Marcotta noticed city workers on the property. When she learned that the lot was to be dug up for a new drainage pipe, she quickly called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the city’s utility department.
Thanks to her efforts, Donatello is safe for now. The city has delayed the project and has pledged to either relocate the tortoise or install the pipe a safe distance from Donatello’s burrow. Marcotta told the Dayonta Beach News-Journal, “For that tortoise, I don’t care (what I had to do). It feels good to help out because that’s our responsibility.” If only more people felt (and acted!) like Marcotta!
We’d also like to express our thanks to an anonymous Cape Coral resident who witnessed a man shoot a burrowing owl with a paint ball gun earlier this month. The bird died. After the witness reported the crime to the FWC, officers investigated and charged 20-year-old Gerrit Richelson with killing a protected species.
Add this number to your address book: 1-888-404-FWCC. It’s the number for the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Reward Program. If you witness illegal hunting or fishing, or the capture or killing of a protected species, please report it. Phones are answered 24-hours a day, seven days a week. You may remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward. You can also report less urgent incidents online: http://myfwc.com/law/Alert/MailMap.asp?region=CTY