People have a lot of strong feelings about snakes. Whether it be fear, alarm, hatred, or wonder, it’s rare someone doesn’t react at all to seeing a snake in front of them. I will say, though, that when one of our volunteers sent a photo ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
University of Florida football games are a lot of fun to watch in person. Being in The Swamp, yelling for the team, singing “I Won’t Back Down” with 88,500 other fans acapella; these are experiences every Floridian should have. But ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
It’s warm here in northwest Florida, which means our cold-blooded reptile friends are on the move. In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a snake at work, one at home, and received snake photos from my neighbors' and parents’ yards. A fear ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Years ago, we took a family canoe trip down the Suwannee River. It’s a gorgeous place to paddle, with cypress draping over the banks and crystal-clear springs feeding into the main channel. At one point, we heard a splash that sounded ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Sometimes I plan my blog subject well in advance, and sometimes the universe drops a topic literally at my feet. Walking into my office yesterday morning, I was startled to find a dead mockingbird lying on the doormat directly in front of ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Bugs love weeds. This combination is likely the bane of most homeowners—the stereotypical lawn is typically bug-free and a bright green monoculture of one turf species. But when it comes to the health of the ecosystem, bugs and weeds are ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Natural Resources
All my life, I’ve known them as mosquito hawks. Built like extra-large, spindly-legged versions of mosquitoes, they look a bit intimidating. However, growing up we were told they were harmless and actually fed solely on mosquitoes. In ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Beachcombing is a fun way to spend time on our local shorelines. While most people are interested in unusual shells or intact sand dollars, other fascinating organisms will wash up in the wrack line as well. One of my favorites is the unassuming ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, 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
One of the programs I do with Florida Sea Grant is Restoring a Healthy Estuary. There are four focus areas within this program: improving water quality, restoring habitat, managing invasive species, and enhancing wildlife. For those who ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife