I used to see a certain number of sandhill cranes in my neighborhood, and now there are fewer. Why?
It’s common to see sandhill cranes in neighborhoods and even parking lots, as development has taken over their natural habitat. People usually assume that when they see fewer cranes than usual, the “missing” ones have died. However, that’s not always the case. With wildlife, which come and go as they please, you never really know whether an animal has died or left the area. They may move on to look for a better food source, for example. Some sandhill cranes are migratory and visit Florida only for the colder months, while others stay all year. Many people who have e-mailed this question, knowing that sandhill cranes mate for life, are concerned that a crane has lost its mate. This may or may not be the case. If it is, the single crane may seek out a new mate when mating season starts again. Remind your neighbors that cranes can take care of themselves and that it’s against the law to feed sandhill cranes, punishable by fines and jail time.
