Writer/Producer: Rosie Emery

People are often drawn into environmental activism by their passion for a particular species.  The individuals featured in this segment are all passionate about wildlife and they share similar concerns for the continued preservation of  vital habitats.  Through their work with organizations and as individual citizens, they are helping to ensure that the endangered Florida panther and the manatee continue to survive here in Southwest Florida.

Jennifer Hecker uses her knowledge and experience as a professional lobbyist and advocate to represent the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on panther conservation issues.  Bobbie Lee Gruninger devotes much of her precious free time to attend meetings that will ensure the protection and preservation of panther habitat.

Their love of manatees led Wendy Rex and Anita Buff to volunteer at Lee County’s Manatee Park Recreational facility. Today they both work at the Park and continue to educate the public about these gentle giants of the ocean.

Resources:

Florida Panther

Jennifer Hecker
Natural Resource Policy Manager
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Tel: 239 262 0304
www.conservancy.org

Bobbie Lee Gruninger
BobbieLee.Gruninger@nchmd.org

Florida Fish and Wildlife Education website:
www.floridaconservation.org/panther

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge:
www.fws.gov/floridapanther/

Manatees

Manatee Hotline:1-888-404-3922

Denise Boyd
Research Associate
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Southwest Field Lab
Tel: 941 613-0944
 denise.boyd@myfwc.com

Anita Buff
Store Manager
Manatee Park Recreational Facility
Tel: 239 728 3422
www.leeparks.org

Wendy Rex
Staff Naturalist
Manatee Park Recreational Facility
Tel: 239 810 4742
www.leeparks.org

Save the Manatee Club
www.savethemanatee.org