In the early 1800’s, the Spanish divided us into East and West Florida. St. Augustine was the capital of East Florida, while Pensacola was the capital of West Florida. The peninsula was Seminole territory, and very few European settlers ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation, Water
My husband’s best friend was a nature nerd like me. If I didn’t know what something was, Anthony was the first person I’d send a photo to for identification help. We lost him unexpectedly last year, but he shows up in small ways for ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation
I have always had a sweet tooth. While some folks prefer their sweetness in fruit or fruity candy, my go-to has always been chocolate. So, you can imagine my delight upon learning our national meeting for Extension natural resource agents ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Conservation, Crops, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation
Florida is blessed with an abundance of ecologically diverse state parks. Among them are opportunities to hike, camp, and see wildlife lush forests and wide-open savannas or fish, swim, and paddle through pristine bayous and rivers. One ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
The summer after my junior year of college, I took part in a nearly 40-day road trip with the geography department at my university. We headed west from Birmingham to New Mexico, then north to Banff National Park, traveling through fourteen ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Wildlife
My favorite place in Escambia County is a waterlogged stretch of the coast near Perdido Key. Known formally as Big Lagoon State Park, the over 700-acre property has hiking, biking, and paddling trails, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation
As a mostly land-locked state with a relatively tiny coastline, going to a university in Alabama to earn a degree in marine biology seems like an unusual choice at first. However, both our Sea Grant Agent, Rick, and I can attest it works ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Like any Florida nature trail worth its salt, the approach to the Edward Ball Nature Trail on the University of West Florida (UWF) campus includes a sign asking visitors not to feed the alligators. UWF sits along Thompson Bayou, which flows ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
It’s peaceful out there. At the end of the boardwalk, you can look over one of the few completely undisturbed shorelines in the Perdido Key area. Almost every time I’ve visited, an osprey or bald eagle has flown past, hunting for its ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
I am always on the lookout for easily accessible places to get out into nature. Much of my job entails leading other people outdoors and teaching them more about what they're seeing. I've found in my years with Extension that if someone ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife