The gar in this video were photographed last year in February, 2024. This year the Ichetucknee State Park closed for several weeks while a crew removed fallen trees from the park waters. Fallen tree limbs, a.k.a. snags, help secure floating vegetation, provide a habitat, and protection for wildlife. Sometimes snags interfere with navigation and can be removed. In the winter months, wildlife is more depended on these snags; especially the manatee and gar.
Before the ‘clean-up’ there were several manatees in the park and the gar were just beginning their migration into the spring run for their annual spawning.
This weekend the park opened back up and a volunteer with OSFR reported “The cleanup crew definitely cleaned up the river. They removed almost all of the down trees and snags from the river. There were no manatees, no floating beds of vegetation, and very few gar… and the water level is very low. ” “ the grassy flat area of the north end of the river is now quite exposed. What used to be SAV (sub-aquatic vegetation) now looks more like land covered with mossy carpeting. ” When you watch the video, you will see how the gar get behind and below the snags for their annual spawn.
Thank you IBSS Iche Boyz Silent Sports for the use of your video.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
