Native Plants
Our local SWFL native plant finder, with photo cards and local nurseries, on AWE's Nature Where We Live page.
Owls & Tortoises
AWE's burrowing owl program on Marco Island: burrows, volunteers and rules.
FWC guidance on burrowing owls for realtors and property owners.
SCCF's short list of native plants tortoises eat, from gopher apple to saw palmetto.
FWC's forage plant guide for Lee and nearby counties, with forage ratings.
Global status: Critically Endangered since July 2026, after an estimated 80% decline.
Birds & ID
Quick ID sheet for the small shorebirds working our tidelines.
Living with Wildlife
Call von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Naples at (239) 262-CARE (2273), 8AM–5PM daily, 365 days a year.
For injured manatees, sea turtles, panthers or black bears, call FWC at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).
Why birds hit windows, and how exterior patterns spaced about 2 inches apart help them see glass.
DarkSky's five principles for responsible outdoor lighting.
Secure trash, pick up fallen fruit, keep pet food indoors and never feed wildlife.
Poison-Free Rodent Control
Poison harms owls, hawks and pets, and it leaves the gaps open. A structural problem needs a structural fix: seal the building.
Roof rats are the only rat that invades SWFL homes. AWE's guide to sealing them out, poison-free.
Why rat poison harms wildlife, three poison-free steps, and results from our Marco Island pilot.
2023 study: rat poisons found in 92% of owls and frogmouths tested, in cities, farms and forests.
How rat poison moves up the food chain and harms owls, hawks, pets and other wildlife.
Local poison-free rodent exclusion: seals homes so roof rats stay outside.
Plant-based rodent fertility control, a poison-free way to reduce rats after sealing.