3 To Know: Expect traffic delays Wednesday leaving Marco

1. Expect traffic delays Wednesday leaving Marco

There will be a temporary lane closure from 6 p.m. on Tuesday until 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to an email from the Marco Island Police Department.

Northbound traffic on Collier Boulevard near Isles of Capri can expect delays leaving Marco Island on Wednesday due to the ongoing construction project.

2. Snakes: Can you tell the difference?

Out of the 50 species of snakes native to Florida, only six are venomous. But some harmless snakes avoid predators by impersonating their dangerous counterparts.

Can you tell the difference between a dangerous coral snake and a mild-mannered king snake? Is that angry-looking "viper" in the flower bed really as vicious as it seems? 

Visit marconews.com, for a guide on how to spot the differences between venomous snakes and harmless fakers.

3. Proposed Clam Pass parking garage draws concerns from environmentalists

A proposed parking garage at Clam Pass Park that Collier County officials say would bolster beachgoers’ access to the county park is ruffling some feathers. 

County officials are proposing to build a three-story garage on the popular park’s existing lot on Seagate Drive to double the amount of spaces, from 198 to 396. 

But some environmentalists are concerned that more beachgoers at Clam Pass will have negative impacts on black skimmers who use the park to rest and fatten up during the winter months.

Adam DiNuovo, shorebird monitoring and stewardship program manager for Audubon Florida, said the birds, which are listed as a threatened species in Florida, are more numerous at Clam Pass during the winter than almost anywhere.

Before the county could build the proposed garage, it would need to get approval from the Pelican Bay Foundation. 

County officials plan to meet with some of the neighborhoods and communities nearby, continue talks with the foundation and eventually return to county commissioners for more direction.