Tag: Florida panhandle

Weekly “What is it?”: Big Lagoon State Park

by Carrie Stevenson
July 12, 2023

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
Tags: Coastal Wildlife, Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Florida Panhandle, Habitat Conservation, Hiking, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Prickly pear cactus

by Carrie Stevenson
June 14, 2023

When you think of cacti, you probably envision a vast desert landscape in the American southwest. Maybe there’s tumbleweed blowing by in your imaginary landscape, with the skull of a long-dead cow somewhere in the background. In reality, ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Islands, Florida Panhandle, Native Plants, Weekly What Is It

The Evening Bats of the Florida Panhandle

by Rick O'Connor
May 18, 2023

My wife and I like to sit on our back porch and watch the sunset each day. We do not make all of them, but we try to make as many as we can. We often see small bats darting in all directions feeding on bugs. Recently we were enjoying a ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Bats, Florida Panhandle

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 9 Humans

by Rick O'Connor
February 2, 2023

Humans… No one species has altered the land, sea, and sky – as well as decreased the overall biodiversity of the planet in such as short time as has Homo sapien. Since we have arrived on this planet we have slowly dispersed across ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Island Wildlife, Barrier Islands, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 8 Invasive Species

by Rick O'Connor
January 25, 2023

The definition of an invasive species used by the University of Florida IFAS has three parts. It is not native to the area. Was brought to the area by humans; either intentionally or accidentally. Is causing an environmental or economic ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Islands, Florida Panhandle, Florisa Sea Grant, Invasive Species

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 7 the Marsh

by Rick O'Connor
January 19, 2023

The land of the wet and muddy – that’s what lot of folks call the salt marsh. If you have ever experienced walking through one you know why they call it that. Salt marshes are wetlands that are dominated by grasses and are partially ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant, Salt Marsh

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 6 The Maritime Forest

by Rick O'Connor
January 12, 2023

For some the forest is a scary place; for some it is a magical one; and for others it is spiritual. For wildlife it is a popular place. There are many places to shelter and plenty of food. Though the forest of our barrier islands is not ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Island Wildlife, Barrier Islands, Coastal Wildlife, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 5 The Dunes

by Rick O'Connor
January 5, 2023

The dune fields of the panhandle barrier islands closely mimic those in the deserts of the American southwest. With rolling hills of sand (less the rock), small, spaced shrubs, and high temperatures, hiking through the dunes reminds me a lot ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Island Wildlife, Dunes, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 4 On the Beach

by Rick O'Connor
December 30, 2022

The open sandy beach is one of the hardest habitats to live in on a barrier island. There is no where to hide and almost nothing to eat. Add to this the direct wind and waves from the Gulf of Mexico and you have a barren landscape with continuous ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Islands, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 3 Here They Come

by Rick O'Connor
December 23, 2022

The classic model of ecological succession begins with new land. This could be new land formed by a sand bar, or a new landscape formed after a volcanic eruption, but new land none the less. Then the pioneer community begins. Based on ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Barrier Island Wildlife, Florida Panhandle, Florida Sea Grant

UF/IFASExtension Escambia County

Subscribe For More Great Content

UF/IFAS
Extension Escambia County