The devastation delivered to people in the mid-Florida Panhandle by Michael is still very evident if you look around our area. Cleanup in Franklin County has been amazingly rapid as citizens and local governments work to restore a sense of normalcy. ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesI received a call the week before Earth Day to let me know that an alligator was laying on Pensacola Beach, on the Gulf side, near the gate to Ft. Pickens. This is certainly not something you see every day. Alligator basking on the Escambia ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Beach Vitex Blossom. Photo credit: Rick O’Connor Research shows that the most effective time to deal with an invasive species, both in terms of controlling or eradicating the species and money spent to do so, is early on…. What ... READ MORE
Category: HOME LANDSCAPES, Pests & DiseaseEarlier this year, Bay County completed an artificial reef project in Gulf waters approximately 3 nautical miles (nm) south of the Panama City Beach Pier (Pier Park) and 11 nm west of St Andrew Bay Pass in Small Area Artificial Reef Site D. ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WaterBirds, migration, and climate change. Mix them all together and intuitively, we can imagine an ecological train wreck in the making. Many migratory bird species have seen their numbers plummet over the past half-century – due not to climate ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeThe sugary white sands along the Panhandle, attract millions of visitors to our area throughout the year. It is important for locals and visitors to understand and consider the following tips for safety at the beach. The danger of rip currents ... READ MORE
Category: WORK & LIFESummertime and swimming at the beach just go together naturally in Florida with our state’s more than 1,000 miles of coastline. Many fond memories are created along these salty margins and the Panhandle region of the state has some of the ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeIt is that time of year again. Spring Break brings locals and visitors back to the beach for fun in the sun. It is important to remind folks that part of having fun is playing it safe. At the beach, this means knowing and following some pretty ... READ MORE
Category: WORK & LIFEThis yard on Pensacola Beach has become over run by vitex. Photo courtesy of Rick O’Connor. In 2013 we began writing about a potential invasive plant in the Florida panhandle called Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia). The first record we ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural ResourcesAll Photos by Molly O’Connor We began our series on Nature Tourism along the ICW at the Alabama state line on Perdido Key and discussed the ICW itself. This month we will continue in Escambia County with a visit to Pensacola Beach. ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation