Ever notice the little air bubbles that form in the wet sand after a wave retreats? These are created by thousands of coquina clams buried just under the sand. When covered by an incoming wave, they open their shells to feed and clap closed ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Though encounters with Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are rare, bites from them are even more rare, and deaths from those bites almost nonexistent, it is worth discussing the issues and remedies of a bite. About 8000 people are bitten ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
I spent three days in prison this year. Razor wire lined the exterior fences and along the drab concrete building rooftops. A 3-story guard tower was visible from every point in the compound, and we were at the mercy of a guard to notice ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Natural Resources
As many of you know, Escambia County Extension logs snakes people encounter when out and about during their day. We do not send people out to look for them but rather log those that people encounter when doing their normal activity. The ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Almost everyone has heard of red tides and know they periodically occur off the coast of Florida. The more frequent events occur off southwest Florida between Tampa and the Keys, but they have occurred in other parts of the state. When ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
It is understood that rattlesnakes are carnivores and will select some form of meat for their food. The general principle is to select something that is easy to kill and requires less energy to do so. Most rattlesnakes will select rodents ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
In 2025 Florida Sea Grant trained 100 residents from Escambia and Santa Rosa County to survey for nesting horseshoe crabs in the Pensacola Bay area. Of those 21 (21%) participated in at least one survey. The objective of this project is ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WildlifeWe will begin with a statement most know, but bears repeating… Snakes are just another animal trying to get through the day. They need to eat, avoid being eaten, find a place to sleep, and – at some point in the year – find a mate. ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
When maintaining a garden, knowing the difference between your enemies and the “good guys” is half the battle. Once, I was teaching a group of landscape maintenance folks about beneficial insects, and quizzed them on their bug identification ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
Over the last decade human-bear encounters have increased across Florida, including the Panhandle. Recently the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) posted advice on how we can prepare for the fall season. They mention ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife