Tori Linder—a producer of “Saving The Florida Wildlife Corridor,” a documentary that travels through the titular Corridor, the 18 million-acre, statewide network of public preserves and private working lands, while examining the ongoing conflict between Florida’s explosive population growth and rampant development, and it’s green infrastructure—starts the conversation by explaining, more fundamentally, what constitutes the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and why it’s vitally important that it be protected and preserved. 
She also further defines “green infrastructure,” a central term that surfaces often in these discussions. Linder addresses the major threats to the ongoing viability of the Corridor Animals,” menaces to such Florida fixtures as citrus groves and cattle ranches: namely, the eruptive increase in the state’s populace—she says a thousand people per day are moving to Florida—and the comparably-burgeoning need to house that influx of citizens…which escalates slates of development, of housing, of course, but also attendant structures and businesses. All of which can border, or even encroach on, the Florida 
Wildlife Corridor. I observe that while Linder is a producer of the 
documentary, it’s not hard to imagine she could easily be presented as one of the Floridians presented onscreen, describing their connection to the Corridor, and why they feel it’s important to protect it. Sure enough, she points out that she’s a fifth generation cattle 
rancher, that she grew up working on her grandparents’ ranch, while noting that some of her conservation work was done in Africa, before ultimately returning to Florida to devote herself to these issues, including protecting the Florida Panther. Linder outlines how she and her fellow filmmakers approached creating the documentary, including selecting the array of Floridians (such as sixth generation rancher Cary Lightsey, above, and sibling clam farmers Ian & Gretchen Stone, left) who serve as talking heads, and the formidable challenges in editing the film down to a lean running time of less than a half hour. She also spoke to the screening and panel discussion that was to happen that evening, Feb. 23, but underscored that the movie can be watched anytime at https://video.wedu.org/video/saving-the-florida-wildlife-corridor-6atecl/ [Most photos by Carlton Ward, Jr.] (https://floridawildlifecorridor.org, https://www.facebook.com/FloridaWildlifeCorridor, https://www.instagram.com/fl_wildcorridor/)
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Suzanne King, chief organizer of Gulfport Gets Rescued, the 18th annual edition of the event, being held Saturday Feb. 26, across multiple blocks of Gulfport. King notes that there will be 30-plus rescue groups participating, fewer than in past years, but suggests this is a by-product of Covid concerns, although she says organizers have been fortunate, in that the pandemic has not forced them to suspend, or even modify, recent incarnations of Gulfport Gets Rescued. She adds that there will be plenty of adoptable animals on hand. King also mentions that a signature activity, the Weiner Dog Derby, will happen this year, featuring Dachshunds engaged in races and other competitions. (https://www.facebook.com/Getrescued/, http://getrescuedinc.org/)
COMEDY CORNER: David Huntsberger’s “The God of Ants” (DS edit) (https://www.davidhuntsberger.com)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: The Everly Brothers’ “Bird Dog”
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