The restriction threatens the Florida dream of the perpetual green lawn. The other one is in the garage. Instead of endangering large numbers of animals, the drought is simply creating new advantages and disadvantages for wildlife, biologists say. For example, the drying wetlands have concentrated food sources for wading birds, Franke said. On the down side, the birds depend on the water to protect themselves and their nests from predators.
Low water threatens their safety zone.
But amphibians can burrow for weeks and months, living off the moisture in the mud, Franke said. And as meager as the spring rainfall seems, enough has dropped to keep vegetation alive, he said. Tammy Wactor, a Fish and Wildlife biologist in Hernando County, said she has noticed some stress on trees and vegetation but nothing that would threaten the food supplies of animals, such as the gopher tortoise. The dry weather will force some animals to travel in search of water, biologists said. For adult gators, who are in their mating season, traveling several miles is not a big deal, Franke said.