Category: Conservation

Florida panther by FWC

Wildlife Watch: Learn to protect the Florida panther during critical breeding season with Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide

by Lourdes Mederos
February 12, 2026

About this series As residential and commercial development expands across Florida, wildlife is adapting to live closer to people. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shares tips through Ask ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agricultural Areas, Ask IFAS, Big Cats, Breeding Population, Caloosahatchee River, Conservation Strategies, Endangered Species, Endangered Species Act, Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Panther, Forests, FWC, Habitat, Habitat Loss, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Kittens, Neighborhoods, News, Panther Behavior, Prairies, Public Awareness, Ranchlands, Research, Species Survival, U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, University Of Florida, Vehicle Collisions, Wetlands, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation
This is a close-up photo of a cougar, also known as a mountain lion or puma. It has a sleek, tawny coat and striking blue-green eyes. The background is blurred, emphasizing the focus on the cougar's intense gaze and muscular build.

Descubriendo la Vida Silvestre: Aprenda a proteger al puma de Florida durante su crucial temporada de reproducción con la guía bilingüe de Ask IFAS

by Luz Bahder
February 12, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Acerca de esta serie A medida que el desarrollo residencial y comercial continúa expandiéndose en toda Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Amenazas, Ask IFAS En Español, Comision De Conservacion De Pesca Y Vida Silvestre De Florida, Conservacion, Descubriendo La Vida Silvestre, época De Cortejo, época Reproductiva, Español, Felino, Habitat, Hoja Informativa, Hoja Informativa Sobre La Vida Silvestre De Florida: El Puma De Florida, Lago Okeechobee, León De Montaña, Medidas De Conservación, Pantera De Florida, Peligro De Extinción, Población, Protección Federal, Puma, Puma Concolor Coryi, Puma De Florida, Requerimientos De Hábitat, Servicio De Pesca Y Vida Silvestre De Estados Unidos, Spanish, Subespecie, Supervivencia, Sur De Florida, UF-IFAS
A four-panel collage of different invasive and common ornamental plants: Bright pink, star-shaped flowers clustered among glossy green leaves. A branch with feathery, pale pink puffball blossoms and fern-like leaves. A lush variegated houseplant with green and creamy white leaves in a pot on a metal bench. A trailing plant with silver-and-green striped leaves and small pink flowers growing along the ground.

¿Sabe qué plantas invasoras se venden con frecuencia en los viveros? Expertos de University of Florida identifican las ocho principales y explican por qué evitarlas

by Luz Bahder
February 11, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. El exuberante clima subtropical del sur de Florida favorece la jardinería y la vida al aire libre durante todo el ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Acacia Persa, Albizia Julibrissin, Alcaloides Tóxicos, Almacenes, árbol De La Seda, Árbol De Mimosa, Asparagus Aethiopicus, Catharanthus Roseus, Consejos, Desplazamiento De La Vegetación Nativa, Diversidad Vegetal, Eichhornia Crassipes, Epipremnum Aureum, Español, Evaluación De Plantas No Nativas De UF/IFAS, Helecho Espárrago, Hiedra Del Diablo, Invasiva, Invasoras, Jacinto De Agua, Jardineros, Jeannie Schmidle, Kimberly Moore, Lantana, Lirio Acuático, Nativas, Nymphoides Indica, Planta De Agua, Planta De Nieve, Planta Zebra, Plantas, Plantas Invasoras En Florida Que Usted Debería Conocer, Plantas Nativas, Poto, Programa De Maestros Jardineros De UF/IFAS, Propagacion, Rooted In Florida De PBS South Florida, Schmidle, Spanish, Sur De Florida, Tóxica Para Las Mascotas, Tradescantia Zebrina, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS FLREC, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Vinca, Vinca De Madagascar, Viveros
(L-R) Asparagus Fern by Ken Langeland University of Florida, Water hyacinth by UF Ann Murray, Lantana flower variety UF IFAS Tyler Jones.

Know which invasive plants are often sold in stores? UF experts call out their top 8 and explain why

by Lourdes Mederos
February 11, 2026

South Florida’s lush, subtropical climate supports gardening and outdoor living year-round. It also creates ideal conditions for invasive plants to spread. Research shows that many property owners are often unaware of a plant’s invasive ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Asparagus Fern, Biodiversity, Botanical Garden, Environmental Stewards, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, Gardners, Invasive Plants, Invasive Potential, Kimberly Moore, Non Native, PBS South Florida, Plant Species, Polinators, Retail, Sustainable Landscapes, UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research Education Center, UF/IFAS Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/UFAS Assessment Of Non-Native Plants, Vibrant Gardens, Wildlife

New Forest Health Module Released in the Online Forest Landowner Academy

by Chris Demers
February 10, 2026

The UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences extension team is excited to announce the launch of a new Forest Health Module in the Online Forest Landowner Academy. Those already enrolled in the course have full access to the ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Family Forest, Forest Health, Forest Management, Landowner Assistance, Online Course, Southern Pine Beetle, Timber, Tree Farm
Display of buttons that depict the ghost orchid with "Orchid Conservation Chelusea Show" is shown on the outside of the pin's design.

From Florida’s Wetlands to the Chelsea Flower Show: Behind UF/IFAS Ghost Orchid Conservation

by Eva Sailly
February 10, 2026

Leafless and ephemeral, the ghost orchid seems to float in the shadows of South Florida’s wetlands. They’re a mystery that has fueled books, films, and decades of fascination. But behind the mystique is a far more complicated reality. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Chelsea Flower Show, Conservation, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Germinate, Ghost Orchid, Horticultural Sciences Department, Michael Kane, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Restoration And Plant Ecology

Skip-a-Week of Irrigation

by Melissa West
February 6, 2026

There is still time to Skip-a-Week of Irrigation By Doris Heitzmann, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Manager If you have an automatic sprinkler system, the winter months are the perfect time to save water and increase the health ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: 'Skip A Week', Conservation, Florida Friendly, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Irrigation, Landscape, Landscaping, Lawn, Pinellas, Pinellas County, Pinellasco, Sprinkler, Water
A potato field in Hastings, FL, where scientists collected soil samples for a phosphorus management research program.

Phosphorus Management in Florida Must Be Soil-Specific

by Mike Loizzo
February 6, 2026

Phosphorus is one of the most essential nutrients for plant growth. It also is one of the most challenging to manage responsibly. When applied efficiently, it supports lawns and landscapes as well as healthy crops. But when it moves off-site ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Dinesh Phuyal, Entisols, Histosols, Lilit Vardanyan, Mehlich, Nutrient Management, Nutrient Management Program, Phosphorus, Soil Chemistry, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Spodosols, Vimala Nair
young hands, cradled by older hands, hold a pile of soil with a young plant growing from it. [credit: pixabay.com, shameers rk]

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Launches New “Master Waste Reduction Educator” Program

by Randy Penn
February 6, 2026

Be part of Sarasota County’s first-ever Master Waste Reduction Educator Program! UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension is launching the inaugural Master Waste Reduction Educator Program. This immersive, six-week experience is designed to empower ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Composting, Master, Master Waste Reduction Educator, MWRE, Pgm_Waste, Recycle, Waste Reduction

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