Sarasota News Leader

02/22/2013

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Sarasota News Leader February 22, 2013 Page 68 track the nesting of the endangered snowy plovers on Siesta Key, they said. ���We are starting to lose a fair number of [snowy plover nests] to fire ants��� each year, Luckner explained. The ants will bite into the eggs with their saw-like jaws and suck the eggs dry. Moreover, Luckner pointed out, the fire ants will attack a chick that is lying in a nest, drying out after it has hatched, ���and it���s an ugly death.��� ���We���re losing at least 10 percent of the nests every year to this kind of thing,��� Luckner added. Mote Marine Laboratory has recorded the loss of some turtle eggs to fire ants, Luckner said. Allan Worms/Photo by Rachel Hackney The red marker shows the location of Tivoli by the Sea in relation to the Gulf of Mexico on Siesta Key. Map courtesy Google Maps

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