TRT - Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Ospey, FL

Let's Talk!

 HRT For Men Ospey, FL

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.

When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:

  • Facial Hair
  • Body Hair
  • Deeper Voice
  • Muscle Strength
  • Increased Libido
  • Muscle Density

As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.

 Human Growth Hormone Ospey, FL

How Does TRT Work?

TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.

Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.

Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.

When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.

 Ipamorelin Ospey, FL

What Causes Low T?

For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.

When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.

If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.

For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.

 Sermorelin Ospey, FL

Low Sex Drive

One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.

The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.

 TRT Ospey, FL

Inability to Achieve and Maintain an Erection

Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.

Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.

Hair Loss

 Hormone Replacement  Ospey, FL

Loss of Strength and Muscle Mass

Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?

Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.

Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Ospey, FL, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.

Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Ospey, FL

Hair Loss

If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.

Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Ospey, FL, is now available to address hair loss for good.

While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.

 TRT For Men Ospey, FL

Gynecomastia

Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.

If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.

 HRT For Men Ospey, FL

Decreased Energy

Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.

If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.

Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.

 Human Growth Hormone Ospey, FL

Lack of Sleep

A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.

The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.

TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.

 Ipamorelin Ospey, FL

Depression

You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.

A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.

Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.

 Sermorelin Ospey, FL

Inability to Concentrate

Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.

However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.

Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.

 TRT Ospey, FL

Weight Gain

Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.

Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.

Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.

 TRT For Men Ospey, FL

What is Sermorelin?

Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.

 HRT For Men Ospey, FL

Benefits of Sermorelin

Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.

Benefits of Sermorelin include:

  • Better Immune Function
  • Improved Physical Performance
  • More Growth Hormone Production
  • Less Body Fat
  • Build More Lean Muscle
  • Better Sleep
 Human Growth Hormone Ospey, FL

What is Ipamorelin?

Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.

Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.

 Ipamorelin Ospey, FL

Benefits of Ipamorelin

One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.

Some of those benefits include:

  • Powerful Anti-Aging Properties
  • More Muscle Mass
  • Less Unsightly Body Fat
  • Deep, Restful Sleep
  • Increased Athletic Performance
  • More Energy
  • Less Recovery Time for Training Sessions and Injuries
  • Enhanced Overall Wellness and Health
  • No Significant Increase in Cortisol

Your New, Youthful Lease on Life Starts Here

Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.

Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!

Homes-for-Sale-phone-number866-793-9933

Request a Consultation

Latest News in Ospey, FL

New Weekly Market From Coquina Beach Organizer Launches In Osprey

After Manatee County abruptly ended her contract, the Coquina Beach Market organizer is launching a new market in Sarasota County.Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff|Updated Fri, Jan 13, 2023 at 5:04 pm ETOSPREY, FL — After Manatee County abruptly ended its contract with the organizer of the Coquina Beach Market last summer, she’s launching a new weekly market in Osprey on Friday.The Market at The Point ...

After Manatee County abruptly ended her contract, the Coquina Beach Market organizer is launching a new market in Sarasota County.

Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Jan 13, 2023 at 5:04 pm ET

OSPREY, FL — After Manatee County abruptly ended its contract with the organizer of the Coquina Beach Market last summer, she’s launching a new weekly market in Osprey on Friday.

The Market at The Point kicks off Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and runs weekly Jan. 13 through April 28. The Point restaurant is located at 131 Bayview Drive in Osprey.

Nancy Ambrose, who ran the Coquina Beach market for nine years, said the county caught her off guard when it terminated its contract with her without cause on Aug. 1. The market ran from November through the end of July last year.

Find out what's happening in Bradentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It came from someone I had never even heard of,” she told Patch. “The commissioners didn’t even know what was going on. We were all ready to go with our tent. We were all set to go. It blindsided me totally.”

In July, Ambrose met with various county departments for their annual review of the market, which ran

Find out what's happening in Bradentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Everything was good,” she said. “Nobody had any problems with the market.”

When Patch reached out to the county’s information outreach manager, he didn’t have a comment about the contract termination.

The market was actually thriving at the time the contract was terminated and had remained busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ambrose.

“Believe it or not, COVID was actually good for the vendors, as far as sales go,” she said. “People were working from home. Kids were going to school from home. Where were they going? Anna Maria Island and they were going to the beach. And it was safe going to the Beach Market. There was social distancing at all booths, everybody was wearing masks and we were outside.”

And the vendors, who closed down for three months from March through May of 2020 because of the pandemic lockdown, “were thrilled to be back in business,” she added.

When her contract with the county was first terminated, Ambrose’s initial concern was about her vendors.

“My first thought was, ‘What’s going to happen to them?’” she said.

She relaxed a bit when she learned that the county would take over the market and began wondering if it was maybe a good time to retire.

“At the time, I felt good about it because I thought the vendors would have a place to vend still,” she said. “I’m like a mama bear. You don’t mess with them. Those are my kids. Unfortunately, as time went by, it appeared more and more likely that there wasn’t going to be a market.”

And the market the county talked about organizing was scaled down to 50 or less vendors. Under Ambrose, the market ranged from 120 to 180 vendors.

When asked about the current timeline for the beach market, Logan told Patch, “There is no information to share at this time regarding the Coquina Beach Market.”

The market was initially set to open Nov. 1, but was delayed because of damages from Hurricane Ian, which hit the Gulf Coast at the end of September, the Anna Maria Island Sun reported.

Ambrose sprung to action to find a home for her vendors.

“We were like a family,” she said. “We were all doing well there. They loved it there.”

While some vendors found spaces at other markets, many events had long waiting lists, she added. So, she began seeking a venue, searching several counties – Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Hillsborough and Pinellas – for the ideal host.

Her biggest concern was parking. Not only was enough parking for her vendors required, there also needed to be substantial space for shoppers to park.

Eventually, she connected with The Point in Osprey, which has a restaurant and tiki bar by the water, as well as boat dockage at Channel Marker 38.

The market, featuring more than 100 vendors, will set up in the grassy area closer to U.S. Highway 41.

Shoppers will find a range of local artists, arts and crafts, jewelry, fresh produce, baked goods, assorted foods, apparel, pottery, purses, collectibles, woodworking, health and beauty items, unique gifts, and more! Come and watch local artisans creating and find that perfect souvenir of your trip to Florida.

There will also be entertainment throughout the day, including the Market String Band and roaming clowns strolling the market.

“We’re excited about it and the best part is just getting our Beach Market family back together,” Ambrose said.

For more information, join the Facebook group for The Market at the Point.

WILD THINGS: THE GRAND OLD OSPREY

An osprey does not express his love quietly. He screams it in decibels as sharp as glass shards that carry for miles. He does not proclaim his love from the rooftops, but from several hundred feet above the rooftops. And it’s not all just proclaiming. There’s a lot of hovering, as well as swooping, diving and climbing. And it usually involves a fish, gripped in specialized talons, though that’s tough to see from the ground. All that drama can come off as formalized and indecipherable as a German opera – though perform...

An osprey does not express his love quietly. He screams it in decibels as sharp as glass shards that carry for miles. He does not proclaim his love from the rooftops, but from several hundred feet above the rooftops. And it’s not all just proclaiming. There’s a lot of hovering, as well as swooping, diving and climbing. And it usually involves a fish, gripped in specialized talons, though that’s tough to see from the ground. All that drama can come off as formalized and indecipherable as a German opera – though performed at a much higher octave – with more sturm and drang than you’d expect from a 4-pound bird with a 5-foot wingspan.

As with a lot of avian mating rituals, the craziest thing about it is: it works. And it has worked for thousands of years. If the performance pleases her, a female osprey will give her assent and the two will spend the next four months bringing a clutch of chicks out into the world. (They may copulate up to 130 times in the process, but they generally produce two to four eggs.)

Osprey are some of the most widely distributed raptors in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica. Though they sometimes winter in South America, they don’t breed there.

While most birds have some kind of descriptive term attached to their name, osprey are one of the bird world’s few mononyms. Like Cher, Madonna and Bono, their whole name is the single word. The name mutated from the Old French “ospreit,” which somehow mutated from the Latin “Avis praedea,” meaning bird of prey. But the name also mutated from the Latin “ossifrage,” which means “bone breaker,” because osprey look kinda sorta like bearded vultures who have a habit of picking up the bones of dead lambs, flying them up to a great height, then dropping down onto the rocks to crack them open and gain access to the marrow. Even though that’s not what osprey actually do. (Etymology and early natural history are not always precise sciences.)

Almost any paper you read about osprey will say they are nearly pure piscivores, with fish being at least 99% of their diet, but that 1% is probably something of an overstatement. One hundred percent is not a number scientists are generally comfortable with. There are reports of them occasionally eating snakes, very young alligators, or small mammals, but those are nearly always anecdotal.

As a result, osprey are occasionally called fish hawks or sea hawks (as in, the Seattle…).

Osprey fish by diving, usually from 30 to 120 feet up. They spot their fish from on high, often while hovering, then fall, talons out in front of their face. Sometimes they snag their fish in the top few inches of the water and haul them out seemingly without breaking their momentum. Sometimes they will dive as deep as 3 feet. The fish they catch are often 10% to 15% of their body mass.

Everything about their bodies works toward the goal of snagging fish from the water. Their feathers contain an oil that makes them water-resistant, though not waterproof, so after a series of dives they often have to perch and dry them out. Their eyes – a rich golden yellow – have nictitating membranes that slide over them like translucent protective curtains when they hit. Their nostrils can close to keep the high-pressure water from a splash from going into their respiratory system.

Their feet are large, muscular and double jointed, with long, sturdy talons that can pierce and grip their slick and often thrashing prey. Their wings have a telltale kink in the wrist and are long enough to seem almost rubbery when seen flapping from a distance, the length providing the power they need to pull the fish out of the water.

Once in the air, the flexibility in their joints allows them to turn the fish face forward, and it can often look as if they are riding a surfboard or a torpedo. They usually perch somewhere nearby and begin to devour their prey quickly. They tend to save the tail for last and often abandon it.

Because of all this, an osprey’s main environmental requirement is open water. In most of North America this means they fly north in the summer to breed, then south in the winter to avoid ice. As ice is not an issue in Florida, our populations tend to be non-migratory, and here they breed in the winter.

Most courtship tends to happen in December and early January. Hence all the aerial theatrics around here this time of year.

On the mainline Keys, osprey often use manmade structures for nesting. You see nests on radio towers, telephone poles and channel markers. But you also often see them on structures specifically constructed to be osprey nests – usually an old telephone pole with about a 4-foot-square platform on top.

In the backcountry they will often build nests in the mangroves and, occasionally, directly on the ground.

Mostly they build nests out of sticks, but will occasionally include manmade objects such as plastic bags, rope, nylon mesh bait bags and, in the Keys, the occasional bra or scrap of an American flag. Fishing line is also sometimes incorporated, which can be hazardous, as chicks can get fatally entangled.

A study done in the late 1980s showed that osprey had the highest breeding success in the Upper Keys when they nested on manmade structures, rather than on the undeveloped islands in Florida Bay. While that may lead you to think manmade structures were superior, those success rates leveled out between the mainline islands of the Lower Keys and the backcountry islands south of Marathon, which leads me to believe it wasn’t the structures that made the difference, so much as the fishing grounds.

Osprey seem to have adapted well to breeding around humans.

When at Fort Zach a few weeks ago, a pair looked to be nesting on the pole across the field in the northwest corner of the park. It wasn’t clear exactly which part of the breeding process they were in, but hopefully they’re going to move beyond the drama soon and we might all get to see them raise a couple of chicks.

Osprey Is Emerging as a Wine and Food Destination

Mel Weber recently opened Southern Vines Fine Wine & Spirits, among other new ventures in the town.This appears to be a great year for the Census-designated place of Osprey. Only six square miles in area, and with less than 10,000 residents, the community is experiencing tremendous growth in hospitality and retail venues.Chef Rolf Zahnd moved his New Florida Kitchen to Osprey from Sarasota a few months back, Mel Weber opened ...

Mel Weber recently opened Southern Vines Fine Wine & Spirits, among other new ventures in the town.

This appears to be a great year for the Census-designated place of Osprey. Only six square miles in area, and with less than 10,000 residents, the community is experiencing tremendous growth in hospitality and retail venues.

Chef Rolf Zahnd moved his New Florida Kitchen to Osprey from Sarasota a few months back, Mel Weber opened Southern Vines Fine Wine & Spirits on Tamiami Trail and now the Phelan family is opening a seafood restaurant, Deep Lagoon, on Blackburn Point Road.

Statistics will tell you that Osprey harbors a fair amount of wealth and, since it controls the northern access to Casey Key, it’s not hard to imagine why. A large plaza sat mostly vacant for years at the corner of Blackburn Point Road and Tamiami Trail, before Benderson Development purchased it, brought the plaza up to modern standards and added a Publix anchor. After that, the tenants, like Southern Vines, rolled in.

Southern Vines is owned by Mel Weber. It’s a full-service store selling wine, liquor, beer and more. Weber has worked in the hospitality and retail business for many years. As with many of us, she left the cold north for the sun in Florida, but, unlike most of us, she arrived from Alaska. Her retail wine operation in Fairbanks was named Northern Vines and she reworked that name for her new project. Her vision is to create a welcoming neighborhood store with a wide selection of popular, affordable wines, plus special personal selections.

A recent celebration marked Weber’s first month in business. Her goal is to present the finest wines and spirits, as well as artisan cheeses, various charcuterie products and other deli items to create an upscale tasting.

“We want everyone to have fine wine, bread, jams and jellies, and custom baskets,” she says. While she is aware that Publix has extensive wine offerings, she says her unique selections, wine tastings and outside events can more than make up for the competition. Her extensive experience provides her with contacts at small wineries, and her focus is on highlighting these producers, as well as other niche winemakers that small Florida distributors provide.

Deep Lagoon, meanwhile, is a concept begun by the Phelan family, creators of Pinchers. The new location on Blackburn Point Road joins others in Naples and Fort Myers. The concept is to provide upscale dining with a focus on fish. Located just before the swing bridge, the location is amazing, with great views of Blackburn Bay. Wines will be priced below $12 per glass, with six-ounce pours costing $8 and nine ounces costing $10-$12.

Chef Rolf’s New Florida Kitchen, meanwhile, is now located in the Casey Key Resorts Mainland. Before leaving for Sarasota, Zahnd ran the Saltwater Cafe and produced a number of TV cooking shows. According to the restaurant’s website, the menu is extensive, as are the wine selections. Another reason to steer your way to Osprey soon.

Bob McGinn has spent his entire career in the wine industry—forming wine clubs, working in wine sales marketing and engaging in all facets of the winemaking process, including vine management, fermentation and yeast analysis. He has developed wine programs for companies such as Marriott, Sheraton and Smith & Wollensky, and consults with local restaurants. You can read more of McGinn’s work at gulfcoastwinejournal.com.

Florida Wildlife With Ali: Rats

By Ali HoltonFlorida is home to many different species of mammals, including rodents. Rodents in general account for almost 40 percent of the mammal population worldwide. These critters have a bad reputation of being unwanted pests and vermin; however, they are incredibly smart animals.One of the most widely distributed of these intelligent animals are rats. Within the state, there are three species of rats which are the most commonly and frequently encountered by humans: the Norway rat, roof rat and wood rat. These sp...

By Ali Holton

Florida is home to many different species of mammals, including rodents. Rodents in general account for almost 40 percent of the mammal population worldwide. These critters have a bad reputation of being unwanted pests and vermin; however, they are incredibly smart animals.

One of the most widely distributed of these intelligent animals are rats. Within the state, there are three species of rats which are the most commonly and frequently encountered by humans: the Norway rat, roof rat and wood rat. These species are also referred to by dozens of more common and regionally popular names. For example, the roof rat is also known as the black rat, gray rat, fruit rat, citrus rat and palm rat.

Roof rats average around 12 to 14 inches in length, which includes their long, bald tails. They are the species typically found nesting in garages, attics and walls or ceilings. Dark, dry, insulated spaces are appealing to these elusive creatures. Roof rats are very nimble climbers and jumpers and live in treetops, which is why they are commonly found in attics. These furry critters are scavengers with an omnivorous diet that consists mostly of fruits, nuts, berries, seeds and even insects and slugs.

Rats are warm-blooded animals that can be found almost anywhere in the state. They are incredibly resilient and adaptable to urban sprawl. They are also very prolific and can reproduce over 20 babies a year each. Most rodents are nocturnal, making them most active between dusk and dawn. They spend their days sleeping in their cozy nests. Sometimes, those cozy nests are in our homes, where these cute critters may be unwanted. Rats inhabiting residential homes have been known to cause damages, such as gnawing through wood, insulation and wiring.

These animals typically enter homes through small openings, commonly within attics. While calling pest control may be appealing, it is also incredibly inhumane as these animals are typically poisoned or baited with glue traps. These malicious forms of pest control can have a devastating impact to the many species who prey on rodents. Rodenticides and glue traps have been responsible for the death of many birds of prey, such as owls and eagles, and glue traps have claimed many lives of nationally protected bat species.

Be sure to have your home inspected thoroughly for access points and remember that there are humane methods such as live traps available to opt for trap and release.

Florida pulls Keys' ospreys from endangered animals list as numbers climb statewide

The Florida Keys' ospreys, the fierce fish hawks whose massive nests dot utility poles, channel markers and nesting platforms up and down the ribbon of islands, will no longer be listed as an imperiled species by the state.State wildlife officials announced Monday that a rare resident population of the migratory birds in Monroe County had been removed from the list in December after a yearlong review found the number of birds rising statewide. While some have argued the Keys' clan should be classified as their own subspecies, ...

The Florida Keys' ospreys, the fierce fish hawks whose massive nests dot utility poles, channel markers and nesting platforms up and down the ribbon of islands, will no longer be listed as an imperiled species by the state.

State wildlife officials announced Monday that a rare resident population of the migratory birds in Monroe County had been removed from the list in December after a yearlong review found the number of birds rising statewide. While some have argued the Keys' clan should be classified as their own subspecies, state wildlife officials said there's no evidence that the ospreys are genetically distinct. It's still illegal to kill the birds, but the designation means fewer rules for developers.

Conservationists welcomed the reported increase. Three decades ago after a seagrass die-off created a 100-square-mile dead zone across Florida Bay oozing pea-green algae, the population plummeted. But they worry about stripping protections while the bay's health remains fragile following a similar seagrass die-off just three years ago.

"The scary thing is we just had a big seagrass die-off followed by algae blooms. This is the same process that led to the declines of the osprey in the '80s and '90s," said Jerry Lorenz, state research director for Audubon Florida. "So I'm going to remain optimistic, but I'm also going to say let's wait and see."

In 2015, the seagrass die-off blanketed 62 square miles in the bay, triggered by a seasonal drought and compounded by decades of flood control that has choked off the supply of fresh water from the north. Lorenz pointed out that seagrass is recovering faster than it did after the 1980s and early '90s crash, when it took 20 years. Algae blooms have been smaller and more sporadic. Water management has also improved as efforts to restore water flows through Everglades restoration work progresses. But the bay remains vulnerable.

"It's pretty clear we're still in crisis mode," said attorney Jaclyn Lopez, the Florida director for the Center for Biological Diversity. "By removing protections, we're potentially losing resources."

The last time the bay crashed, the birds vanished quickly. Lorenz, who has been monitoring roseate spoonbills and other wading birds in the bay for 30 years, remembers passing a string of nests along a mile-long stretch on his way to visit tiny mangrove islands in the bay where wading birds nest.

"First there were 14 nests, then 12 then nine," he said. "Then there were three, then two and then none."

When they looked into the decline, scientists found birds that fed on the ocean side of the islands fared better than those hunting on the bay side. The ospreys hunt by circling over water, then swooping down to snatch fish with talons that include a reversible fourth claw and toes lined with short spines to better grip fish.

Scientists think that as fish disappeared, the birds became vulnerable. Lorenz said numbers around the Keys have still not rebounded to what they were before they crashed. Florida also provides a major winter home for nesting ospreys, with about 20 percent of the U.S. population outside Alaska nesting in the state.

"Development is only continuing to ramp up in Florida," Lopez added, "so we'll only see continued loss of habitats, more roads and more mortality just by being hit by cars."

©2019 Miami Herald Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

Global Life Rejuvenation is Here to Help You Get your young life back.

Want to feel younger, want to decrease the feeling of your age. Give us a call at 866-793-9933 to chat with us, or contact us via the form below. We’re here to help in any possible way.

CALL US

booking image new

Call Us

Call 866.793.9933 for a hormone
replacement consultation or email us!

Email

[email protected]

Service Areas

Copyright Global Life Rejuvenation. All rights reserved.