Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands to sponsor Jan. 14 python presentation

SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. - Jan. 9, 2025 - PRLog -- Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands has been named the sponsor of the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's (CROW) Speaker Series, which will host its next event on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the CROW Visitor Education Center on Sanibel. The upcoming presentation, led by Mike Kirkland of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), will highlight the impact of invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades.

Burmese pythons are Florida's poster child for invasives species in the Everglades. During this presentation, attendees will hear from Kirkland on how they harm native ecosystems and discover how they are affecting native wildlife, what efforts are being made to control their population and why these animals are deserving of respect, even though we don't want them in our ecosystem.

Kirkland is the senior invasive animal biologist for SFWMD and manager of its python elimination program, with more than 18 years of experience working on Everglades restoration projects. SFWMD is the lead organization in the removal of invasive exotic pythons from Florida lands. Under Kirkland's leadership, approximately 10,000 pythons, several nests and thousands of python eggs have been removed from the Florida Everglades.

"My wife Robbie and I are avid python hunters," said Geoffrey Roepstorff, CEO of Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands. "We know firsthand these apex predators pose an existential threat to native species and the fragile balance of Florida's ecosystems. We are pleased to have someone with Mike Kirkland's background come talk to our area about the python situation in our state."

The event will take place at the CROW Visitor Education Center, located at 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road on Sanibel. Those interested in attending the presentation have the option to join in person or virtually. To register for the event or to learn more about CROW, visit CrowClinic.org.

To learn more about Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands, visit BankoftheIslands.com (http://www.bankoftheislands.com/).

About Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands

Edison National Bank is Lee County's oldest locally owned and managed community bank, serving individuals and business owners with offices in Fort Myers, as well as the Bank of the Islands offices on Sanibel and Captiva. Founded in 1997, Edison National Bank is strongly rooted in the community and actively supports civic and charitable causes through both donations and volunteerism. Bank of the Islands is proud to be the winner of more than 50 "Best of the Islands" awards including "Best Island Bank" numerous times. For more information, call 239-466-1800 or visit www.EdisonNationalBank.com or www.BankoftheIslands.com.