Resource Management
Preserving Native Biodiversity

Native biodiversity is the variety of naturally occurring plant and animal species. Each species reinforces a vast and intricately balanced food web in its home range.
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Resource Management and Stewardship
Stewardship
Reserve resource managers facilitate land acquisition, conduct habitat and hydrology restoration projects, eradicate and control invasive plants and animals, protect listed species, manage important habitats and wildlife and conduct prescribed fires to sustain native biodiversity.
 

Historic Cemetery Research Underway
Rookery Bay resource managers, working with the Kirkland family, asked FPAN for help to locate any unmarked burials in the family’s historic cemetery on Shell Island Road. Using GPR, the process of delineating these historic cemetery boundaries and identifying any additional grave sites that were not previously recorded has gotten underway.

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Prescribed Fires in the Forecast Prescribed Fires in the Forecast
Rookery Bay Reserve’s resource management team has been gearing up for a busy prescribed fire season. Thanks to the help of the Prescribed Fire Training Center and other professionals, Reserve staff are able to prescribe fire to hundreds of acres of fire-starved habitat throughout the reserve every year. Prescribed fire is a critically important tool for managing natural areas in Florida.


Listen to a 60 second radio PSA on the importance of fire
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Isles of Capri Restoration
Capri RestorationWorking together, 30 volunteers and 8 Rookery Bay staff members planted 2,500 native plants to restore a natural wetland at Isles of Capri in Rookery Bay. Red and black mangroves, interspersed with saltmarsh cordgrass, sand cordgrass, and seaside oxeye daisy are the finishing touches on this project which reconnects waterways that had been cut off from the Gulf of Mexico near Johnson Bay. This was the culmination of a project funded by NOAA’s Community Based Restoration Program. This waterway reconnection and subsequent planting will help revitalize this estuarine ecosystem.
Mangrove Restoration
 
Have you Seen These? We Want to Know
Asian Green Mussel (Perna viridis) The Asian Green Mussel (Perna viridis) is a nonnative marine organism that has recently been found on pilings, culverts and other submerged surfaces within the Reserve. Reserve staff are now monitoring its distribution.

These mussels are not native and can damage sensitive estuarine ecosystems. To help prevent further spread, inspect your boat regularly for these organisms and dispose.

To report a sighting of these mussels go to http://nas.er.usgs.gov/sightingreport.asp. and e-mail the exact location and photo (If possible) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More information about Asian green mussels can be found at greenmussel.ifas.ufl.edu
 
Recent News

 
Florida PantherFlorida Panther Visits Rookery Bay
A female Florida panther wearing a radio collar has been documented within the Rookery Bay Reserve several times over the past few months. Identified by Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission biologists as FP-158, the cat has crossed SR 951 (Collier Boulevard) on numerous occasions in the vicinity of Shell Island Road, possibly extending her home range in search of food or a mate. When Reserve biologists were informed of her recent travel habits, a motion-activated wildlife camera was installed in the pine upland habitat south of Shell Island Road and successfully captured her on film. Tracking signals indicate she has spent some time near Hall Bay and surrounding area. This marks the second collared panther in the Reserve in 3 years. As panthers are active mostly at night, motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in this area after dark.
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Florida Panther Sign Florida Panther
Following recent panther deaths near East Tamiami Trail and Collier Boulevard, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is working with partners to get the word out to motorists and residents about Florida panthers in the area through signs and educational programs. Sightings and radio collar tracking data from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) over the past several years confirm an increase in panther use of Reserve lands west of Collier Boulevard. Florida Department of Transportation has just installed four panther crossing signs to alert motorists of panthers crossing Collier Boulevard to access the Reserve. As part of their monthly Brown Bag Lecture series, the Reserve hosted a presentation by FWC biologist Dave Oronato which informed nearly 100 attendees about panther movements in southern Collier County.
 
Americorps Volunteers Americorps on the job!

A team of 11 Americorps volunteers spent the month of March at the Reserve removing invasive exotics from barrier islands and other coastal habitat, picking up trash and providing other needed services.
 


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Visitor Use

Giant Hermit Crab

Public Access:

Guidelines, information and maps to assist you in your visit to Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
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Beach Conditions

Southwest Florida Beach Conditions

Southwest Florida Beach Conditions:

For the latest beach conditions in Southwest Florida and Collier County, check out the new beach reporting system. Updates include wind direction, surf conditions, the presence of Red Tide and more.
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