The “Pepper Busters” are a group of dedicated volunteers that head out one morning each week with loppers, saws, gloves and a mission to remove Brazilian Pepper plants from neighborhoods on and around the islands. Their method is simple and effective, cut the plant down and carefully treat the remaining stump with herbicide to prevent regrowth. It is “getting your hands dirty” conservation, one pepper plant at a time.

​The effort has deep roots.Pepper busting began over 20 years ago as an effort by members of the Cedar Key Garden Club to remove peppers from Cedar Key. In recent years, Brazilian Pepper removal has been a key initiative of Friends. The work continues to grow. Friends recently assisted in the purchase of a trailer for use by the “Pepper Busters” to haul tools and equipment, enhancing their work and helping to expand their reach and impact across Refuge and islands.

The pepper plant has a somewhat festive origin story. Introduced into Florida during the mid-1800s as an ornamental plant it was prized for its bright red berries that appear around the holidays, earning it the misleading nickname “Florida Holly,” which it is not. An aggressive invader underneath the cheerful facade, the plant soon became out of control, spreading rapidly throughout much of the state and pushing steadily all the way up the east coast and expanding up the west coast of Florida.​​

Eradication of the pepper plant is biologically important because of its highly invasive nature. Its ecological impact is significant. The plant grows very rapidly, forming dense thickets crowding out and over shadowing its native neighbors. More insidious, the pepper secretes a compound into the soil that inhibits growth of nearby native species, giving it further advantage.

Indeed, berries from the plant can be used to make jelly and honey for cooking as well as in hot sauces. But while most people can handle the plant without issue, some individuals may experience strong allergic reactions upon contact. 

​Wildlife interactions are a mixed story. The berries are attractive to birds and some mammals who can consume large quantities of the raw berries and become ill because of a neurotoxin in the fruit. Older berries ferment on the plant and intoxicate birds that consume the berries. Drunk robins and cardinals may sound amusing, but it is a sign of an ecological imbalance. 

​In addition to growing fast, peppers do not just stay put. Birds act as long-distance couriers, spreading seeds across wide areas, while mammals are responsible for more local distribution. Add in hurricanes with their powerful winds and flood waters and the pepper's reach expands even further, spreading into new territory with every storm. 

This is why the work of the Pepper Busters is so important. Concentrating eradication efforts on the islands as well as the mainland anywhere pepper plants are in abundance, volunteers help stop new infestations before they take hold. Each plant removed is a small but meaningful victory, making space for native species to return and restoring balance to the local ecosystem.
​
It is not glamorous work, but it is important work powered by people who show up, week after week, ready to dig in. 

​A great deal of activity continues on the refuges right now. Here is a sample of just some of the work being conducted. 

Wildfire Preparedness
Out on the refuge, preparedness is front and center. Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are currently staged on-site. Should wildfire threaten, response will be immediate and coordinated, protecting both habitat and the surrounding communities.

​Hunt Program Updates
Change is also coming to the refuge’s hunt program, with a focus on making the permitting process faster, simpler, and more user-friendly. The current staggered permit release system will be phased out, streamlining access for participants. Full details will be shared on both the Refuge and Friends websites as these updates take effect.

​Maintenance, Repairs, and New Builds
There’s a steady hum of progress in the air as infrastructure projects move forward. In partnership with the Department of Transportation and contracted engineers, plans are underway to redesign the Vista dock, resurface Fishbone Creek Road, and replace the aging walking bridge at Shired Island.

​Behind the scenes, preparations are also underway for a significant effort to maintain the refuge’s fire lines. Contracts have been arranged to bring in multiple excavators, and equipment operators from other refuges will soon arrive, creating a collaborative, boots-on-the-ground push to strengthen these critical safeguards.

​Habitat Restoration
An exciting development is the imminent launch of a $2.1 million habitat restoration project. This ambitious effort includes several pine seedling planting initiatives, laying the groundwork, quite literally, for healthier, more natural and sustainable ecosystems in the years ahead. It’s an investment not just in land, but in legacy.

​Snake Key Surveys
Fieldwork continues with Snake Key surveys set to begin soon, contributing valuable data to ongoing conservation and management efforts.

​Seahorse Key Developments
Seahorse Key is seeing a flurry of promising activity. Tentative plans are being laid to host a lighthouse open house during the week of July 4th. We hope that this can happen as it is a rare opportunity for visitors to step inside a piece of living history. More info to follow.

​There is also progress on cultural permitting for the University of Florida’s pavilion project, signaling forward movement after a period of delay. Additionally, an engineer has been assigned to develop bid proposals aimed at protecting the historic cemetery on the island, ensuring that this important site is preserved with the care and respect it deserves.

​Taken together, these efforts paint a picture of a refuge that is not standing still. Our refuge staff continue preparing, repairing, restoring, and reimagining. Their efforts ensure that both wildlife and people will continue to find something enduring and meaningful here for years to come.

How the project came about.
Some months ago, Professor Charlie Hailey called Lower Suwannee Refuge Headquarters and asked to tour the Vista Camp for his upcoming book about Florida fish camps. Friends volunteer Debbie Meeks helped Professor Hailey get the information he needed, and the two discussed the needs and challenges of Vista. You could say Charlie's fish camp book sparked a mutually beneficial partnership between UF and the Refuge that was facilitated by the Friends.

What these students were asked to do was genuinely hard.
Work on the Refuge presents difficult parameters: no digging since the site has possible archaeological importance; a location that experiences periodic flooding; and being short-handed requires little or no ongoing maintenance. The students rose to meet all these challenges, then added a few of their own, carefully weighing environmental impact and aesthetic appeal in every decision.

The material choices alone show deep thinking.
They  used cypress — not just for its natural resistance to rot and insects, but because it mirrors the materials of Vista's historic structures. The Cummer Lumber Company, original owners of the Vista Camp, logged cypress throughout Florida, so the remaining buildings are constructed almost entirely of cypress from their sawmills. The students designed their work to belong here, practically and culturally.

That's the through-line in all of it: presence.
Every decision — material, angle, height, footing — was made in service of helping people actually be somewhere. Not pass through, not glance at, but inhabit. These students designed for slow attention in a landscape that deserves it.

We are so grateful to Professor Charlie Hailey and the entire Reflective Building: Design/Build with the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge studio for pouring their time and thinking into the Vista Camp. The studio included Sara Abdo, Carla Caballero Alvarez, Ryan Chillinsky, Clowey Jabour, Brielle Jean Baptiste, Francesca Meza Venegas, Alexander Mirenda, Ahmik Paul, Jazlyn Perloff, Noa Tako, Natalie Ulmer, Hannah Vogel, Julie Waldrop, and Kya Williams. ​Although this special place is not open to the public yet, it is a step closer thanks to them. What they've built will outlast the semester many times over.

It was perfect butterfly viewing weather for Barbara Woodmansee's  popular walk on April 4 down Cabin Road. The day was sunny to warm the butterflies and with a light breeze to keep sand gnats away. We walked slowly down Cabin Road and observed an estimated count of 50 Sweadner's Juniper Hairstreaks!

Other species we saw included:
Swallowtails:  Palamedes and Eastern Tiger
Crescents:  Pearl and Phaon
Satyrs:  Carolina and Viola's Little Wood Satyr
Skippers:  Palatka, Least, Northern Broken-dash, Tawny-edged, Saltmarsh, Whirlabout and Zarucco Duskywing
Nymphalids:  Common Buckeye and Queen
Hairstreaks:  Sweadner's Juniper, Red-banded and Gray

It was an excellent list for 2 hours in one small area.

Barbara surveys butterflies on the Lower Suwannee NWR. She started over 20 years ago and her data has helped Refuge staff better understand how to manage pollinator habitat. A picture guidebook featuring Barbara's photos is published and sold by the Friends for $20.

The weather was perfect, the views were stunning, and attendance was strong at this year’s Friends Annual Meeting—held at a new venue, the beautiful Emmitt’s River Retreat in Fowlers Bluff. This year’s gathering was especially meaningful, as it was held in conjunction with the Manager of the Year ceremony honoring our own Andrew Gude.

The event began with official Friends business. President Ron Kamzelski welcomed members and guests and provided an update on the organization’s status, highlighting many accomplishments from the past year. Ethan Bittner followed with a brief overview of the group’s fiscal health. Ron then presented the slate of new board officers; after a vote, the new leadership was confirmed.

​Ron introduced incoming President Tara Barney, who spoke about the organization’s current initiatives and future goals. She emphasized the importance of member participation, offering simple but powerful advice: don’t try to do everything—“Do one thing.” By focusing on a single area of passion and contributing there, members can collectively make a meaningful impact. With the wide range of talent and experience within the group, the future looks bright.

John Stark, Interim Refuge Manager, provided a positive update on the status of the refuges. He noted that important work continues despite reduced staffing. While not at the same scale as in previous years, the staff are getting results. He stressed the need for creativity, flexibility, and collaboration—highlighting the critical role of Friends volunteers, partnerships, and outside support in meeting ongoing challenges.

​A special moment followed as Debbie Meeks, a longtime Friends member and past president, was recognized for her extraordinary contributions. Debbie has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives, including the Vista Project, Junior Rangers, hunter engagement, website development, the News Brief, membership growth, and more. Her impact on both the Friends group and the refuges has been profound.

With that, the Annual Meeting concluded, and attendees—board members, guests, and dignitaries—gathered to enjoy a hearty lunch featuring barbecue catered by Kenny McCain, along with sides provided by the Treasure Camp.

Lunch was followed by the ceremony recognizing Andrew Gude as Manager of the Year. It is not hard to see that Andrew is an exceptional refuge manager. Recognizing that, our Friends group submitted the nomination of Andrew for Manager of the Year. This nomination was accepted by the National Wildlife Refuge Association and he was selected for the award.. 

​The event brought in dignitaries and key leaders in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service including Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Holly Gaboriault, FWS Southeast Region, Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Jeannie Rickman, Economic Development Coordinator for Representative Kat Cammack (R-Florida's 3rd District) and others.

​The fact that these people did not have to be here but decided to visit our Refuge personally to recognize the good work of Andrew Gude, to speak at our event, and to tour our Refuges with Refuge staff and Friends board members, speaks volumes about the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and our Friends group. 

This was a fabulous opportunity to speak to individuals who operate at a national level, not only for them to hear our concerns but for us to hear theirs. This was reflected in the words of Desirée Sorenson-Groves speaking at Andrew’s event. To paraphrase;

“As acting refuge manager, John Stark was right to say that the Refuge is doing great things.

But honestly, as president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, I have to say that despite all the hard work and success of the refuge staff, things are not All Okay with the refuges! Staff is down. Funding is down. Threats are all around all the time.

We, the public, are concerned about the ability of the Refuge System to meet it mission to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. And so, while we celebrate Andrew as Refuge Manager of the Year, we also emphasize the value and importance of the refuges to all of us.”

​These conversations also allow us to learn and understand the future direction of the refuge system, to find where we fit in the larger whole, find where our support is needed and know what support we can expect. We also introduced our visitors to city officials, aquaculture staff, UF scientists and community members  who emphasized the importance of the refuge and how its many natural ecosystems are vital to and inextricably meshed with the regional economy and our very way of life. All feedback indicates that they were impressed and that Friends, the Refuge and the community presented very well. 

Back to the meeting and award ceremony... several took the microphone to relate their experiences and tell anecdotes about Andrew, to talk about the the significance of the award being presented and importantly to  simply congratulate Andrew.

​Holly Gaboriault said it well in her comments.

"Andrew Gude:  An incredible conservation leader, person, and friend.
In 2011 Andrew stepped into one of the most complex Florida landscapes to manage the 53,000 acre Lower Suwanee NRW Complex surrounded by 250 miles of coastline, a 240 mile unimpeded river, a 1 million acre seagrass preserve, and nearly 2 million acres of undeveloped coastal habitat under mixed ownership.  When he arrived, everyone quickly knew something was different, but they had no idea.
  
Andrew’s partnership work is extraordinary . . . (his) ability to approach challenges from angles that would surprise an ordinary person . . .His steady presence, and a smile that opens doors even before a conversation begins . . . are embraced by his staff, his partners, and reflect how he genuinely cares for people and the mission of the Service.”

​Accepting the award, Andrew spoke. His talk was humble, thoughtful and engaging. Andrew stated he was “just doing his job” and that the award speaks to all of us. He related about his early years and how he gravitated to environmentalism and conservation through an “Earth Day every day” attitude learned from his father. He gave us three rules;

1. Blame the innocent and shoot the messenger.
2. Credit is infinitely divisible – give credit where credit is not due. 
3. Volunteer others to do the things that you can’t or won’t do yourself. 

There were more anecdotes spun by Andrew, one involving Skunk Apes and the official hunting guidelines regarding them. His closing comments regarding his service "I am grateful and proud to have been a US civil servant." told us a lot about the man. 

Please join us as Friends Member and butterfly expert Barbara Woodmansee leads a 90-minute butterfly walk at Lower Suwannee NWR on Saturday April 4th, starting at 9:30am.  We will meet at 9:15 at Gate 37 on Cabin Road, which is about one and a half miles from the south entrance to the Nature Drive.  

Binoculars and cameras will be helpful, but are not required.  Bring a hat, a drink and bug spray if you are sensitive to sand gnats.  Early spring is a perfect time to see many of the beautiful and sometimes rare butterflies in the Refuge. 

Details:
​Date: Saturday April 4th
Time: 9:30am
Where: Gate 37 on Cabin Road

If you have questions, please reach out to Barbara Woodmansee at "[email protected]".

In case of inclement weather we will plan an alternate day.

Work is underway at Vista to open the site to the public. The results will provide a pathway and dock providing access to the Suwannee River, a welcome replacement for the beloved River Walk, located a few hundred yards away, which was destroyed during the 2024 hurricane season.

Vista has become the site of an exciting academic partnership. The Friends helped bring a University of Florida architecture project to the refuge. A 4th year undergraduate design/build course called Reflective Building: Design/Build with the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, taught by Professor and author Charlie Hailey uses Vista as a project site. We hope they will continue to do so in future years. It's a good fit since students get a real-world building experience in an impactful setting, and the Refuge benefits directly from their work. We hope this collaboration continues for years to come.

The concept includes loungers along the riverbank and seating at points along the path where narrative panels will one day be installed describing the history of the place.​

​Much of their work involves hand tools. Here, tenons are being cut in cypress boards.

The dock itself is a major project in its own right. Now in the engineering phase under a FL Department of Transportation grant, it is scheduled to be rebuilt and open to the public in 2027. The new structure must stay within the footprint of the original dock, which historically included a floating section. We're hopeful that a floating dock can be incorporated into the new design to provide boat access, though that is still to be determined.

Some of the pieces are falling into place at Vista, and we look forward to welcoming the public to this new gateway to the Suwannee River at the Refuge.

Friends went the extra mile to set up Rover at the Suwannee Arts and Nature Festival in the town of Suwannee. We always enjoy talking about the Refuge. 
​
​Next stop for Rover is the Cedar Key Arts Festival on April 11 and 12. Come see us or even volunteer to man the Rover! 

​The Refuge Rover and Friends volunteers greeted visitors to the Three Sisters Springs Open House during the Florida Manatee Festival for the second year in a row on January 17th & 18th in Crystal River. Both years had perfect weather on Saturday but torrential rain on Sunday, what were the chances!

​Refuge coloring books and Junior Ranger activities were a big hit as well as maps and recommendations for exploring our area. 

SUPER news arrived March 17 from Gina Kent at the Avian Research and Conservation Institute!! Our Friends group has been concerned about his well-being because his tracker had not sent any messages in ages. At that time Gina reported: "Suwannee Scout is alive and back in the USA!  He slept in Alabama last night.  He'll start his over land trek back to the Refuge today.  What we now know is that his tracker was not compatible with the cell network where he was migrating and wintering in Central and South America.  All his location data is accounted for, saved during the duration away from cell towers.  Main thing is he's ok and on his way home!  Celebrate!!!"

Follow up reports as of March 25th tell us that Suwannee Scout tested the migration conditions for a few days before crossing the Gulf on March 14, 2026, departing from the northern tip of the Yucatan. It then took 32 hours to fly across the ocean, due north, to Mississippi. He rested there nearly five days, foraging in the big river swamps of the Pascagoula and Escatawpa Rivers before making his way east, through the Panhandle then south to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. He arrived on March 23 and seems to be close to his territory from last year.  Wishing him and all kites a good nesting season!

Celebrate, we will. Hooray for Suwannee Scout!

One of the many calls he got on his personal cell phone, the number of which he made available to the public, was from a hunter who insisted he had seen a skunk ape or a swamp ape on the Lower Suwannee Refuge.

Those of us listening to the story laughed, and wondered how Andrew would deal with someone who believed the swamp ape myth. Andrew, being Andrew, said something like, “Oh really! Where did you see it? We see them all the time too.” Andrew said he frequently used such bald-face lies because they often led to his having a great laugh with a shocked caller.

In the audience, we were applauding and laughing. Fantastic as the story seemed, it was no surprise to the many of us who know Andrew and appreciate his sense of humor, and mischief.

Just as the laughter began to fade, Andrew did something that was not at all the Andrew we knew and expected. He went serious on us.

He told us that at the end of the day, in thinking about Friends and the community having nominated him for this award, he was extraordinarily proud to have been a US civil servant. Civil servants, every day, bring ethical standards, passion, knowledge, and skills to the work the American people ask them to do. The ethics and commitment of US civil servants are what make American democracy rise above all the others of the world. Andrew looked at all of us and said "I am grateful and proud to have been a US civil servant."

​The Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Wildlife Refuges marked the winter solstice with a memorable gathering at the Shell Mound archaeological site, drawing nearly forty participants to one of the most meaningful days of the year.

The event began at 4:30 p.m. with a guided walk along the Shell Mound Trail led by Friends board member Lukas Desjardins, M.A. Anthropology (in progress), who is currently conducting field work at Shell Mound. His presentation along the trail was engaging and informative, bringing the landscape to life through careful explanation and thoughtful storytelling.

​During the walk, Lukas explained that the shell mounds were purpose-built by the area’s ancient inhabitants and highlighted archaeological features that reveal how, when, and why they were used. 

​Through these observations, participants were offered a glimpse into the daily lives, practices, and ingenuity of the Indigenous peoples who lived and gathered here for generations. His insights helped connect the physical remains of the site with the human stories behind them.

​Following the walk, the group gathered on the landward side of the pier for snacks, beverages, and conversation before moving to the end of the pier as the sun lowered in the sky. The air was cool and comfortable, the sky clear, and the shortest day of the year unfolded toward the longest night. While the no-see-ums made a brief appearance, they did little to detract from the moment. Against this setting, Lukas spoke about the extraordinary archaeological and historical significance of Shell Mound, the Palmetto Mound burial site and similar sites, emphasizing their spiritual, cultural, and practical importance to ancient peoples who traveled from far south in the peninsula and well to the north to gather here.

Lukas' remarks wove together past, present, and future—touching on modern  techniques used to study the site and why this work matters today. By learning about the people of the past, we gain insight into ourselves and our shared human story. 

As Lukas' talk came to a close, beyond Hog Island, the sun settled on the horizon, 240 degrees east of north, a breathtaking sight and a powerful reminder that this same spectacle would have been witnessed by the site’s ancient ancestors, connecting generations across time on the winter solstice.

At the Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 21, the members of Friends will elect the officers and directors of the Board for 2026. Some Board members will be elected to continue their role, others will be new members or will take new roles, and some will end their terms and rotate off the Board.

These are the people who will be new to the Board or taking a new role on the Board:

On Dec 16, 2025, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik issued a Director’s Order to conduct a review of the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System. The stated purpose is to assure that each refuge still “aligns with the mission.” That mission is “to administer a national network of lands and waters to conserve, manage, and restore fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for present and future generations, while also providing compatible, wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.”

Refuge managers were directed to provide a preliminary response by January 5, 2026 specifying:

• Their refuge’s alignment with the mission
• Recommendations for restructuring to achieve efficiencies in governance, oversight, and span of control
• Data on resource and staffing levels
• Comments on structural barriers to success
• Evaluation of the refuge’s capacity to build and maintain partnerships

On January 15 2026, Friends groups received a survey to gather input from us and other stakeholders with whom we would like to share it. Responses are due by Feb 6.

By Feb 15 2026, the director’s order calls for a “detailed narrative of the results of the review,” including a "list of actionable recommendations with associated necessary actions required for implementation.”  

When these recommendations come out on February 15 . . .  after only two months to gather data, analyze it, and develop actionable plans . . . we advocates for the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys NWRs will want to be alert to how they impact our Refuges and our region.

Several media have indicated concern:

• Interior to Spend Holidays Studying Refuges for Possible Closure, Bloomberg Law December 22 2025
• They’re coming for Your Wildlife Refuge Wes Siler’s Newsletter, Dec 29, 2025. He is an environmental journalist and avid hunter. The article talks about how hunters helped found the National Wildlife Refuge System and how they provide significant funding for it.
  
• USFWS December Review of Refuges, Monuments, and Hatcheries, Wenning Environmental Jan 7, 2026
  

On January 10, 2026, the Board of Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges gathered at Refuge Headquarters for a full-day planning retreat focused on setting priorities for the year ahead. With guidance from Refuge Manager John Stark and a briefing from Senior Federal Wildlife Officer Matt McDonald, board members and core volunteers worked to identify projects that are meaningful, achievable, and connected to our members, donors, and community. The meeting emphasized keeping initiatives light on staff time, focused on clear deliverables, and grounded in visible conservation impact.

Participants explored a wide range of potential initiatives, including the Junior Rangers program, Vista improvements, longleaf pine restoration, interpretive signage, community events, joint programming with Audubon, and support for biological research on Seahorse Key. Special attention was given to projects that combine environmental protection with public engagement, such as butterfly walks, bat house events, and expanded educational opportunities with the Cedar Key Library and local schools.

Equally important was planning for the future of the organization itself. The board focused on leadership continuity, volunteer development, and membership growth, recognizing that a strong Friends group is essential to long-term conservation success.

By the end of the day, the group had established a clear, mission-driven framework for 2026. While specific initiatives and priorities will be shared at our upcoming Annual Meeting in February, members can be confident that the year ahead will be guided by purpose, partnership, and a deep commitment to protecting our refuges.

An article titled "Lessons from Shell Mound" was published by in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of Ytori, the official magazine of the UF's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The article features interviews from Dr. Ken Sassaman and board member Lukas Desjardins. Check out the article at the link below:

https://news.clas.ufl.edu/lessons-from-shell-mound/