Have you ever been to the
Everglades? I don't mean traveling along area roadways and taking a
gander: Have you ever taken in Everglades National Park, or the sites
around it? Chances are, you've never gawked at a gator wrestling show,
taken an airboat tour, or enjoyed activities in the park – hiking
and bicycling trails, camping, ranger-led activities, fishing, boating,
canoeing, and more.
Having stated that, I am certain some of you
have enjoyed a bit of what the gorgeous wetlands offer. You are to be
applauded for your interest in getting away from the TV and computer,
tour packages and amusement parks, and taking in some raw, rambling
outdoor fun. Yet, so many folks, living so close to this unique park,
retain only a small appreciation for what the Everglades offer. Like
Parisians who have never visited The Louvre, South Floridians take the
Everglades a bit for granted. That, or folks have been swatted away
by a sense that the Everglades are off-limits. The word "endangered"
is indeed tied to the Everglades, and for many good reasons. But is
it to be avoided for that reason? Not at all, mates.
It’s true that the subtropical wilderness
to our west contains many endangered species of wildlife and plants.
Perhaps in that there's the greatest reason to visit: One can hardly
appreciate something one doesn't understand or experience. Living vicariously
is not my bag (while I do love a great story), and with it being so
accessible, I urge you to not look upon the Everglades through others’
eyes, but your own. The story of the Everglades is as large and complex
as its ecosystem. I hope to give you a sense of that story, one enjoyable
piece per month.
When asked to do this column, I considered the
time I took on an archeological dig in the Middle East, as a bit of
a distraction from my tropical exploits. It was in Israel, and I was
enjoying the dry heat and sandy grit of the desert in contrast to the
humidity of Florida, the Amazon Basin, and other places I’ve been.
Seeing the great wall of Jerusalem, and hearing many stories of this
ancient land, I gained a new perspective about something that I took
for granted. I was humbled by the goodness of all the people I met,
and realized how tragic the conflicts there were, and are, not just
for the residents, but for me, as their fellow man. Once I had a connection
to that place that was beforehand just a place I'd heard about, I cared
about that place.
So it is with the Everglades: you know it's there,
you know it's endangered, but what on Earth does it have to do with
you? Well, it could be plenty. If you take advantage of the place, you'd
understand what a wonderful wilderness we have, very nearly in our own
backyard. Maybe you'd want to visit it often, and maybe you'd care about
its story and its plight.
The Everglades is a diverse and fascinating park.
Every month, I hope to make you a bit more familiar with this ecological
wonder. Up to now, you might have only heard about the fights for its
survival, against surging development and for funding to retain and
revamp its condition. Well, I am going to try my best to skip the rough
spots that you hear so much about in the local news, and show you why
the Everglades are, in a word, awesome. The news media's job is to present
issues, and sure, this is a magazine you're holding, but with my column,
I want to make you toss off your suit, throw on some boots and take
on an airboat ride, try to spot a wild Florida panther (they're rare,
so you'd be blessed to see one), or spend a weekend camping in a place
like few others.
Here's some good news: it's high time to have
some low-cost Everglades fun! Expense-wise, it's almost the best time
of the year to visit the Everglades. There's no fee for camping from
June to August. Still, any time of the year, camping for a group of
15 or less costs much less than one ticket to Disney World. Now, that's
a vacation!
To learn more about the Everglades and its activities,
ecology, protection, plants and wildlife, check out these: Friends of
the Everglades has lots of information and links on their website, http://everglades.org,
you can contact the group by phone at (305) 669-0858; Everglades National
Park, operated by the National Park Service, website is http://nps.gov/ever/.
A few more places online to uncover some Everglades information: U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Program, at http://endangered.fws.gov
; the Florida area of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service online at
http://southeast.fws.gov/maps/fl.html.
A few of my mates are in a bit of a rush to get
into a Jeep to locate a group of iguanas that’s been sighted,
so I’d better run so I don’t miss the fun. I hope you’ll
join me next time!
Will "Gator" Wade
is a freelance writer and adventurer with interests in wildlife, history
and dangerous pursuits.
He is currently based in South Florida.