Category: Natural Resources

UF researchers urge homeowners to view irrigation as a way to supplement rain

by Brad Buck
December 20, 2022

You set your automatic sprinkler, and it activates, right on schedule – even if it’s raining. Many people see rain as a bonus – on top of their sprinkler -- when they should view precipitation as their cue to conserve water, University ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water
Tags: Agricultural Education And Communication, Conservation, Habits, Homeowners, Intenders, Irrigation, John Diaz, Laura Warner, Lawns, Non-intenders, Rain, Water

2023 Bird of the Year!

by Katherine Clements
December 19, 2022

2023 Bird of the Year announced! On December 10, 2022 the American Birding Association announced that the 2023 Bird of the Year is a female belted kingfisher! Watch the reveal of this coming year's bird dedication ceremony and the unveiling ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Birding, Birds, Kingfisher, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Water, Wild Sarasota, Wildlife

Celebrate plastic-free: Expert shares tips to minimize holiday waste

by Kirsten Romaguera Rabin
December 19, 2022

Plastic is seemingly everywhere these days, including many items we see or use during the holidays. Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS Extension associate director for Florida Sea Grant, is an expert on plastic waste and microplastic pollution. She ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Work & Life
Tags: Environmentally Friendly, Green Holiday, Holiday, Holidays, Maia McGuire, Microplastics, Plastic

Pass the Torch – Plant Torchwood

by Donna Corbelli Castro
December 19, 2022

Torchwood is a very unique and under-utilized native tree that occurs mostly in South Florida and the Florida Keys. It also occurs in Mexico and the Caribbean. It can also grow on the East Coast of Florida to 9B, around St. Augustine. Torchwood ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Amyris Elemifera, FANN, Florida Association Of Native Nurseries, Florida Keys, Fragrant Trees, Giant Swallowtail, Newsletter, Newsletter2, Schaus Swallowtail, Small Trees, Torchwood, Underutilized Tree

Florida Land Steward Update, December 16, 2022

by Chris Demers
December 16, 2022

SEASONS GREETINGS! We hope you have a very festive, peaceful, and safe Holiday season. Be sure to slow down for a little while and enjoy some quiet time out in nature. Looking forward to seeing some of you at events in 2023! DOUG AND ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Awards, Conservation Easements, Family Forest, Forest, Forest Management, Forestry, Natural Resources, Online Course, Tree Farm, Wildlife

Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 2 The Habitats

by Rick O'Connor
December 15, 2022

The habitats of a barrier island are defined and driven by the plant communities there. Seeds from the mainland must first reach the new island and they can do so using a variety of different methods. Some come by wind, some by water, some ... READ MORE

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

Can We Eradicate the Cuban Treefrog from the Florida Panhandle?

by Rick O'Connor
December 15, 2022

This one will be harder. I say this for a couple of reasons. First, the invasion seems to be silently spreading. A just a couple of years ago we had very few records, one off individuals that were removed by those reporting. ... READ MORE

Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Tags: Cuban Treefrog, Florida Sea Grant, Invasive Species

Uncovering the Secret Side of Public Health

by Alejandro Sanchez
December 15, 2022

The idiom “what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over” can, in a certain sense, be applied to public health. The not-for-profit organization Resolve to Save Lives recently released its second edition of “Epidemics ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Invasive Species, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Climate Change, Covid-19, Epidemics, Olga Munoz, Public Health

Nuanced Wildlife- Racoons

by David Outerbridge
December 15, 2022

Composed in night The ringed dark moves Delicate washed grins The sound of garbage bins Wandering nocturns Fingers dexterous puzzle solvers Fastidious cleaners Whiskers to whisper passageways Called unto from scented ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife

Water restrictions across Sarasota County

by Jackie Lebouitz
December 15, 2022

Why Do We Have Restrictions? Water used for landscape irrigation poses a significant demand on Sarasota County's water supply. In fact, up to 50% of a household's water use can be attributed to the home's landscape irrigation system. In order ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Home Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Tags: Conservation, Controller, County, Irrigation, Pgm_Water, Restrictions, Sarasota, Water

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