What’s that big lizard on my seawall?  Can someone get rid of it?
It’s either an iguana or a Nile monitor.  See this page to learn how to tell the difference.  ERD has a trapping program for Nile monitors; call us at 574-0785 if you have one in or around your yard.  We do not trap iguanas – but don’t worry about them, they’re herbivores!

Who do I call to report problems in my canal – trash, dead fish, oil slicks?
For trash: Please feel free to use a net and pick up trash in your canal!  For major trash problems, call the Stormwater Division: 547-0748.

If there’s a fish kill, call us at 574-0785.  You can help us determine the cause by making note of when the fish started dying, what time of day they seem to be dying, which sizes or species die first, any strange behavior they’re exhibiting, and anything unusual about the canal itself, such as color or odor.

If there’s a large fuel spill or a major, potentially harmful oil slick, call the fire department: 242-3264

What causes a fish kill?
A fish kill is a major death event – large amounts of fish and crabs die and wash up on shore.  Fish kills in Cape Coral’s canal system are usually caused by low dissolved oxygen.  This can happen during an algal bloom – algae produce oxygen while they’re photosynthesizing during the day, but they use oxygen at night.  This can continue after the bloom, when bacteria decompose the dead algae and deplete the oxygen in the water. 

Fish kills can also happen when there is a sudden decrease in air temperature.  Water at the top of the canal cools rapidly and sinks to the bottom of the canal, thus stirring up the water column.  If the water at the bottom of the canal had low oxygen levels, this mixing drastically reduces available oxygen over a wide area.

Red tide can also cause fish kills.  Red tide is a bloom of a single-celled diatom called Karenia brevis, and blooms start offshore.  K. brevis cannot survive in freshwater.  This organism releases a toxin that can cause respiratory irritation (annoying, but not dangerous) in humans and is fatal to fish, crabs, birds, and manatees.

For more information on fish kills, see the FWCC’s page.  Give us a call at 574-0785 if there is a fish kill in your canal or lake.

What causes algae blooms in the canals?
A combination of lots of nutrients (in developed areas, this comes from lawn fertilizers!) and plentiful light.

Who do I call if I see a sick manatee?  Or if somebody’s harassing a manatee? 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: 1-888-404-3922.

What if someone is harassing a burrowing owl, or doing something to a burrowing owl nest?
Call the Wildlife Alert at 1-888-404-3922 or the City’s Planning Division at 574-0589.

Who do I call if I find an injured animal?
472-3644 is the number for CROW, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, located on Sanibel. Several local vets have agreed to provide drop-off points for injured wildlife in case you can’t make it all the way out to Sanibel.

If you’re closer to Punta Gorda, you can call the Peace River Wildlife Center at 637-3830.

Here are some tips for what to do when you find an injured or orphaned animal.

There are a lot of weeds in my canal.  Who will get rid of them?
Lee County Hyacinth Control District – 694-2174.  Aquatic plants can grow extremely rapidly during the dry season when the water is clear, but will die back during the rainy season due to increased turbidity.  LCHCD will remove weeds that interfere with boat operations in a canal’s channel, and will spray for hyacinth, but will not remove submerged vegetation if it is merely an aesthetic nuisance.

I want to help the environment.  What can I do?
Compost.  Recycle.  Xeriscape.  Attempt natural pest control methods rather than resorting to chemicals, and don’t overfertilize your lawn.

When is my trash pick-up day?  What about recycling?
Garbage pick-up.
Recycling pick-up.
Yard waste pick-up.
Call 334-4115 for more information or to receive a recycling bin.

Where can I dispose of old paint, oil, or other hazardous waste?
Lee County’s Solid Waste Management Program hosts several hazardous waste collection days.  Make sure your waste is properly labeled, and check out their website for a collection schedule.  You can also call 242-3304 for more information.