My new work place is a gold mine of herps

[burmer]

I have been doing a security job for a month or so now. My job is to ride around a 5000 acre undeveloped wooded area on an ATV. Just riding around on that is cool enough. This place is the ultimate herp playground though. In the last few weeks I've seen Indigos, ratsnakes, kings, racers out the @ss, as well as pygmy and eastern diamond back rattlers and one coral snake. There is also a monster lake on the property and you come across gators all day and some are well over ten feet long. If you shine a light on the lake at night you can see red eyes all over. Pretty cool stuff.

There are also soft shells and sliders everywhere as well as some of Floridas other wildlife birds, bobcats and maybe a panther. We've seen some large cat tracks and heard the scream but not seen the cat yet.

Everyone on the job is either current or retired law enforcement so we all know which ones are off limits to touch so there is no problem there. The only bad part is in the next few months it's all going to be taken away and turned into million dollar homes and a golf course community. I've taken some pics and will post when I get a chance. Just wanted to share.

[shaggybill]

Man, that is awesome! How'd you find that job? Are they hiring? Hehe

Seriously, if there is an florida panther on that land, cant some animal rights group or something fight for the land? I'm not an animal rights activist or anything, but I'm getting to the point where I cant stand land developers. I mean, its their property so they have a right to it, but to have such blatant disregard towards wildlife ticks me off big time.

[mark129er]

that sounds great, enjoy it while you can

[gonesnakee]

There should also be grounds for sancuary for the Eastern Indigos as they are federally protected also. Gladness of you seeing them in the wild turned to sadness as I read their habitat is to be destroyed. They call it "Progress" LOL even though it ain't funny. : ( Mark I.

[burmer]

I think people have been out to investigate and haven't found any panthers but there is a huge wooded section it can hide in. I'm not sure that it's a panther though. They aren't supposed to be this far north. But one of the guys I work with is with Fish and Game and said there have been reports.

I new someone who worked there and I just got my law enforcement certification and they were looking for people with law enforcement training that would have no problem with weapons training and so forth. I thought it would be a good job to kill time until one of the Sheriffs Office jobs I applied for opens up. I'm just waiting for a spot to open up at one of the two places I've applied.

This job is alot of fun though. It's one of Floridas most well known dirt bike and 4 wheel trails. They have some incredible trails and hills to climb. Thats pretty much what I do all day is haul around on a 4 wheeler. We just let people know they can't ride there anymore. The only problems we have are drunks that come out at night and want to start a bon fire but they usually don't give any problems.

[crimsonking]

Sounds like you have a fun job. Mind if I ask where in FL.? Recently a panther was hit and killed on I-4 in Hillsborough Co. and they are not usually found this far north either. Look for eagle nests? There's a lot of protected species and we need to protect their habitat first and foremost.
:Mark

[burmer]

The property is on the Lake county and Orange county boarders about 15 miles west of Orlando. I did actually see the panther last night while I was working the overnight shift. It was a 100ft or so ahead of me and when it caught sight of me and the ATV it motored into the high grass. The guys that I relieved saw it twice yesterday and think there may be more than one. We see eagles quite a bit too the make runs on lake Apopka for fish.

[ChokeOnSmoke]

I'll trade you jobs up here in canada in a cemetery, lots of...... well canadian geese and crows and thats about it
You should get a camera and post some pictures
I'm jealous

[burmer]

I've taken some pics. I didn't do it with a digi cam though. I still have a few more to take. When I get them developed I'll post some. I think they are mostly landscape pics no animals yet.

[JD@reptiles]

next time im in florida, you have to show me that place!

[burmer]

Hey JD, if it's still here then I will show you. They are making a huge community out of it. I met the owner and he told me they will be selling lots starting out at $700,000. The place will have two golf courses a horse stable and a winery on site. I wish they'd leave it how it is.

[icex19]

Bah, development :(

Sounds like a real hot spot, eh?

[JD@reptiles]

is there any way you can protect it?

[burmer]

Not that I know of. Besides the guy that owns it pays my salary and I wouldn't want to mess it up by rocking the boat. The state has been out and did the gopher tortise check and other stuff along that line. I don't even think they are going to start anytime soon.

[JD@reptiles]

oh.... i should still get there FAST.

[Jeff Hathaway]

A winter trip to Florida would sure be nice...

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!