Happy Estuaries Week! Begun in 1988 to educate lawmakers and citizens about the importance of estuaries nationwide, the third week of September celebrates all things estuary. But what is an estuary, exactly? The most frequently cited ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
As many of you know, I do programs with snakes and receive a lot of calls about them. But in recent weeks I have seen an increase in the number of calls and the number of encounters inside of homes. Though most of the home invasions have ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Kayaking through a crystal blue spring, hiking among longleaf pines and discovering gopher tortoise burrows, gliding past alligators by boat in Mobile Bay, private tours of the EPA lab on Pensacola Beach, meeting hundreds of fascinating, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
This fall is all about pollinators. On Wednesday, September 21, Master Gardener Volunteers will share information on pollinator plants and native milkweeds for your yard. Join Beth on Wednesday, September 28 for tips on attracting some native ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Wildlife
Most of you – okay… ALL of you who read this column like the outdoors. Some like it for its peace and beauty, some for recreation opportunities, some like it for both. One activity I have found many enjoy is seeking creatures from a ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Sea turtles are what biologists like to call “charismatic megafauna”—a jargony way to describe large, easily identifiable wildlife that draw a lot of interest. Like tigers, polar bears, and pandas, sea turtles are fascinating ambassadors ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Boy, oh boy is it hot this week. Temperature predictions for today in the deep South look like the grades of a high achiever trying to earn extra credit for everything. I’ve been seeing highs of 104, 103, and 101--and many of these are ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
I have a soft spot for bats. I know, I know, they give people the creeps and can show up in unwanted places (like attics and sheds). But collectively, the bats in our community eat millions of mosquitoes and agricultural pests every night. ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
When hiking around the Florida panhandle in midwinter, most snakes are undercover trying to avoid the chilly cold fronts that pass through and can drop temperatures close to freezing. So, the probability of seeing one is low. But one species, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
In a garden with a variety of flowers, pollinators will be abundant. Sometimes we don’t always recognize the specific pollinator when we see it, but there are some native pollinators that leave other signs of their activity. One of our medium-sized ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Wildlife