Students dug through algae to find brittle stars, worms, sea cucumbers, crabs and even shrimp. Staff assisted as students practiced snorkeling in the swim area before going out on the boats in the afternoon.

An afternoon snorkeling close to the mangroves gave the fifth graders a closeup look at lobster, moon jellyfish, different types of coral and sponges, snapper, and sea grasses.

Students learned how pollution causes harm to the near shore environment, and why certain sponges cause rashes. They even got a chance to practice some science, learning about the structure of sponges.

Sea Camp donated the trip for 88 Switlik students, teachers, and chaperons.

Seacamp is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that operates on the cooperative effort of parents, scientists, businessmen, camp leaders and others dedicated to the education of youth in marine science.

Located at Newfound Harbor on Big Pine Key, Sea Camp includes a science lab, recreation hall, dining hall, arts and crafts building, four dormitories and staff housing, along with other services including an infirmary.

Anyone interested in Sea Camp's mission, or working as a volunteer is invited to join the Seacamp Association, located at 1300 Big Pine Ave., Big Pine Key. For more information, call 872-2331.

via Sea Camp kids learn nature’s lessons.

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With the winding down of the fawning season in July, quite often we feel that the fawns have had time to adjust to vehicles. However, the Lower Keys has on occasion experienced a crop of new fawns in August. Residents are being cautioned to watch out for new fawns during this time.

Residents living in Key deer habitat need to be aware that as a doe crosses a road, a fawn may be following and the fawn will not understand the threat that a vehicle can present and may run in front of the vehicle. These new fawns have not had time to experience vehicles and may dart across a road unexpectedly. Other hazards to deer and fawns in particular, include free-roaming dogs. Even if a dog does not catch a fleeing fawn, it may die from being chased into traffic or a canal. Residents are reminded that dogs on refuge lands must be on a leash. Residents seeing free-roaming dogs are encouraged to report them to animal control (305-743- 3779).

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Staged by local radio station WWUS 104.1 FM, the fish-friendly festival features the station’s selections broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned at the reef. The playlist is to include ocean-themed ditties such as Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins,” authentic humpback whale song and, of course, the Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden” and “Yellow Submarine.” Underwater music “afishionados” also plan to jam on aquatic instruments sculpted by Florida Keys artist August Powers. Blending elements of sea creatures and actual instruments, Powers’ creations include a trom-bonefish, manta-lin and drumfish. To draw attention to the underlying message of reef preservation, the musical broadcast incorporates diver awareness announcements featuring tips on enjoying the ocean while minimizing impact on the marine environment.

To participate in the Underwater Music Festival’s 25th anniversary, divers and snorkelers can reserve space aboard boats run by Lower Keys dive operators or launch their own boats from public ramps and local marinas. For information about area dive charters and accommodations, call the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce at (800) 872-3722 or (305) 872-2411, or visit www.fla-keys.com or www.lowerkeyschamber.com.

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Cristler denied threatening his wife, saying he was only shooting iguanas, reports say.

After a day of drinking at a friend’s house, Cristler grew angry and said he didn’t want to be with his wife anymore, she told deputies, according to reports. They were arguing in the bedroom when he threatened to “blow a hole in her head” while she was sleeping, then went downstairs and began shooting his .45-caliber handgun, reports say. She ran to a neighbor’s house and called 911 around 9 p.m.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots coming from the Cristlers’ home, reports say. While a deputy was talking to the wife, they heard another gunshot coming from the Cristlers’ home, reports say. When the deputy approached the house, she saw a man on the porch and repeatedly ordered him to show his hands, to which Cristler eventually complied and was taken into custody without incident, reports say.

Deputies collected some spent shell casings for evidence as well as the handgun, which Cristler told them was on a shelf, reports say. Deputies also confiscated six rifles, magazines and bullets from the house, reports say.

Cristler remains in Monroe County jail on Stock Island in lieu of $75,000 bond.

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Goll has not been able to take advantage of this good fortune. In April 2008 he violated probation for failing to see his therapist, a requirement under the sentence agreement, failing to pay $50 per month for probation supervision, and testing positive for cocaine and marijuana. Goll was sentenced to 364 days in jail with credit for time served and had to complete an in-house program at the jail. This by the original judge.

In February 2009, Goll again violated his probation for failing to pay $50 per month, tested positive for cocaine, marijuana and Xanax. Fortunately, for the public, there was a new judge on the case. This time Judge David Audlin sentenced Goll to 36 months in the State prison, he gets credit for the 348 days he served in Monroe County Jail but will still have 2+ years left.

Rest easy Cola, justice has finally been served.

If you would like to read more check out “Blue Hole Gator Kllers Get 6 Months” and Kimberley Denney’s fantastic article in Key West The Newspaper.

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Last March, the USFWS hired USDA Wildlife Services to humanely trap feral and free-roaming cats and bring them to animal shelters, which then would place them in colonies or return them to their owners. The stated goal of the program is to reduce predation upon the endangered marsh rabbit. However, instead of removing cats, it turns out that Wildlife Services has been trapping and killing large numbers of raccoons and other wildlife under a program which costs taxpayers $50,000. “The irony is that the main species they are trying to protect – the Lower Keys marsh rabbit – is rarely preyed upon by raccoons,” explains Laura Simon, field director of urban wildlife for The HSUS. “The federal government is killing dozens of raccoons and other species indiscriminately, for no good reason, and taxpayers are footing the bill.”

In addition, this particular island-dwelling raccoon is extremely unique, being small and near blond in color. This misguided trapping campaign to save one unique population may actually be imperiling another. The endangered marsh rabbit gained some notoriety in the 1980’s after catching the eye of Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner—who donated funds to help the rabbit’s conservation The marsh rabbit’s Latin name (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) actually reflects the name of its Playboy patron.

The HSUS Wild Neighbors Program promotes non-lethal means for resolving conflicts between people and wildlife and cultivates understanding and appreciation for wild animals commonly found in cities and towns ( humanesociety.org/wildneighbors ).

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Jordan Milo, 21, of Big Pine Key, was returning to jail after a day’s work at a construction site Tuesday when corrections officers suspected he was under the influence of some substance. A urine test and three Breathalyzer tests showed opiates and blood-alcohol levels of 0.11, 0.12, and 0.13, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Becky Herrin and Assistant State Attorney Val Winter, who prosecuted the case. Milo could have his probation reinstated or be sentenced to serve five years in prison, the maximum he could have received for poaching the alligator in the Blue Hole wildlife preserve last year. He also risks losing the chance to have the felony charge expunged from his criminal record, one of the terms of his probation.

“The judge could do anything,” Winter said.

An arraignment has been scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Thursday at the Monroe County courthouse on Whitehead Street. Milo either can admit violating his probation or deny it and request a hearing. His attorney, Nathan Eden, did not return The Citizen’s calls for comment Thursday. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office has revoked Milo’s work-release privilege, Herrin said. Work-release inmates have more freedom than the general population, but they also are monitored more closely, she said. “They ride a bike to work and we know how long it takes to get there and back, and the employers are given a session on how to supervise the inmates,” she said, “but these things happen and we catch them when they do.”

Milo and his accomplice, 19-year-old Marathon resident Timothy Goll, began serving a six-month jail term in September, to be followed by five years on probation. Judge Mark Jones ordered them to complete eight hours of public service a month, half of which must be for environmental causes, during the first three years of their probation. The judge also ordered both receive psychological evaluations and the appropriate treatment, and banned them from the Blue Hole wildlife preserve. Both pleaded guilty in June to third-degree felony charges for blinding and bludgeoning to death a 6-foot female alligator they then ate at a backyard barbecue in March, photos of which they posted on www.myspace.com.

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Cola lived with its mate Bacardi at the Blue Hole, an abandoned rock quarry turned pond on a federal refuge on Big Pine Key. She was visited yearly by thousands, and described as “semi-tame.”

Circuit Judge Mark H. Jones, saying he rarely has seen a case with as much public interest, sentenced Jordan Milo, 20, and Timothy Goll, 19, to six months at the Monroe County Detention Center, five years’ probation, community service and a psychological evaluation. Before being led away in handcuffs, Milo, a sergeant in the 194th Army Reserve unit with orders to go to Iraq, blurted: “I will be dishonorably discharged.” That prompted an angry Jones to tell Milo: “You still don’t get it.”

The judge said he received letters from as far away as California demanding harsh punishment for the defendants. One stated they should be whipped at Mallory Square. A local petition with 4,500 signatures, also requesting harsh sentences, was presented by the nonprofit Friends, Advocates and Volunteers of the Refuge.

Jones said he didn’t give those letters or the petition consideration, but did give weight to the cruel killing’s effect on the community.

The six-foot alligator was killed March 24, 2006 in what prosecutors said was a premediated act by Milo, Goll, Theo Delerth, then 18, and an unnamed minor, then 17, to ”get a gator” at the Blue Hole.

LURED WITH BIRDS

According to court records, Goll and Milo shot birds to lure the alligator, then shot the alligator in the eyes with pellet guns and struck it on the head with a small bat, while Delerth and the minor served as lookout and getaway driver.

At the Blue Hole the next day, two native birds were found dead of pellet shots. Cola, who had been living at the refuge for about five years, was missing.

Carlene Edwards, a volunteer at the Blue Hole, later discovered what had happened to Cola: On Milo’s MySpace.com page were pictures of the alligator being held like a trophy, with a hat on its head.

Delerth and the minor were not charged, in exchange for attending a pretrial intervention program.

Goll and Milo pleaded guilty June 5 to killing the gator. They could have received up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. If the two friends meet their sentencing conditions, they will avoid felony convictions. CHARACTER WITNESSES

Milo, who appeared in court dressed in his uniform, had a bright military future ahead of him, according to his commanding officer and a top sergeant who drove to Key West on their own time and money to testify on Milo’s behalf.

Lt. Col. Donald Adsher said Milo was a ”top performer” of the terminal supervision team.

Master Sergeant Ann Marie McDonald said Milo “would be discharged if he was sentenced to jail and that would be a shame.

”He’s vital to our unit,” McDonald said. “His specialty [operator of forklifts, cranes and heavy equipment to move cargo] is rare and the government has spent a lot of money and time on his training.”

Goll is hopeful he will be able to return to his welder’s apprentice job in six months.

In a courtroom packed on one side with green-attired animal and nature advocates, the defendants’ attorneys said the young men admitted their stupidity and wrongdoing, but should get mercy due to their youth and lack of prior offenses.

However, Jones said: “This is a very serious crime that warrants a very serious punishment.

”This Blue Hole is a very special place,” Jones said. “This isn’t Broward, not Tampa. It’s the Florida Keys. . . . What you did was invade that. You brought your trucks, and guns and MySpace and callous disrespect for the law. You damaged this community. Killed a living creature.”

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