That is what I LOVE most about FL. I grew up in WI, and do now miss that beauty since I left it, but FL is truly tropical, especially south FL. Florida has flocks of wild Quacker parrots, parakeets, all of the herons, ospreys, owls eagles, the pelicans, just everything imaginable.
I also stop for turtles if I can safely and rescue them from roads. My largest with a 36" round softshell. It took 4 men working construction guys nearby to get it in my trunk, and then I had to find someone to help me (not scared) to get her back out!
It saddens me to see them dead or alive trying to get back up on the grass after they leave a curb. It's a death sentence for them. As mean as they can be, never once has one tried to snap or bite me. That large female could have easily taken a few fingers if she wanted. Most are about 18", so she was pretty mature being over double that size and probably about 75 lbs. and glad I rescued her. We had a nice pond in the back where I lived and never seen her after that. Technically you are supposed to leave them where they are and just get them a better start in the direction heading, but she was on the side of a large 4 lane road, lots of traffic and didn't have time to search her waterway, so I took her back to a less congested place.
I really enjoy the critters down here, even the snakes...the only thing I will kill are , mosquitos (few and far between)ants and roaches, lol |
