Kids` Fishing and Tortoises Highlighted Saturday

April 19th will be a big day for the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys NWR, along with the Friends of the Refuge ( FAVOR) and the Cedar Keys Oystermen's Association. In the morning at 9AM the kids will descend on Shell Mound and have a fun filled morning fishing, learning about the different kinds of fish and winning prizes. Both the prizes and bait are being supplied by the Oystermen's Association along with people to identify the various fish that may be caught at Shell Mound. So bring your kids, grand kids, the neighbor's kids and have a ball!

It would be a good idea to bring bug repellent, sun screen, water and shoes that will not be harmed if they get wet. For more information, call Jim Hess at 352-493-7468.

After the morning of fishing, head out to Cedar Key for a talk on the Gopher Tortoise by Ray and Patricia Ashton. This program, at 3 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Cedar Key Public Library, is co-sponsored by the Library, the Cedar Key Garden Club and FAVOR.

Ray and Patricia are world experts on tortoise forage and feeding behavior. Ray has served several terms as chair of the Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals. Ray and Patricia formed the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative, the leading organization in the effort to get the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to up list the Gopher Tortoise to threatened status and to stop incidental take. This promises to be a fascinating talk.

Meet for the Kids Fishing Tournament at Shell Mound, 9AM on April 19th. Finish the day off with a 3PM talk on the Gopher Tortoise at the Cedar Key library.

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