It is mid-spring and time of nesting for much of the wildlife in the area. It is also noticeably warmer than our previous hikes. Due to my work schedule, and the surveys for other nesting activity, I did this hike earlier in the month and ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
EDRR Invasive Species Guinea Grass (Megathyrus maximum) Define Invasive Species: must have ALL of the following – Is non-native to the area, in our case northwest Florida Introduced by humans, whether intentional ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources
I love bogs. The mucky, sunny spaces here in northwest Florida are inevitably full of beauty and surprises. Due to the sopping wet, acidic, and nutrient poor soil, plants in these areas must make some unusual adaptations. As I have written ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
Imperiled (verb) – put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed. In 2021 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection classified 44 area waterways in the Pensacola Bay System as imperiled. Such designations are based ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
As I looked out the backseat of the car window as a kid in Mississippi, it covered everything along the highways—the gullies in the shade, the ridges and hills, abandoned buildings, telephone poles. My imaginative mind easily pretended ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources
I recently saw a news clip about a new Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) ruling for shrimpers. I was interested in this new ruling but also asked the question – “Where did all of the shrimpers go?” What I mean ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Having a quality turf or plant sample is important to help us at UF IFAS Extension diagnosis a problem or identify a plant. Learn how to collect a sample of both turf and plant material if you will be bringing a sample to your local UF IFAS ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
Ugh, cogongrass. It is a beast of a plant—insidious, stubborn, and overwhelming. Once introduced to an area, it slowly takes over, crowding out native species and reducing previously diverse habitat to an unwelcome monoculture. Like most ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
This began with a call from one of my volunteers who was checking salinity at Shoreline Park. She reported the salinity, but also reported to smell of dead fish – though she could not see them. I visited Shoreline Park the following day ... READ MORE
Category:It is now spring, and wildlife is beginning to stir more. However, on this April day another cold front had just past the area and the morning temperature was 59°F. To add to this, there was a strong west wind that made it feel colder. ... READ MORE
Category: , Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources