Category: Wildlife

Have You Heard of the Yellow-Legged Hornet? What Florida Homeowners Need to Know

by Sara MacDonald
September 8, 2026

If you enjoy spending time in your garden, you have probably seen your share of bees, wasps and hornets. But what would you do if you spotted an insect that looked like a yellow-legged hornet? The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is an ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: (MGV), Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Piense antes de fumigar: Cómo usar el Manejo Integrado de Plagas en su paisaje de Florida

by Sara MacDonald
September 4, 2026

¿Vio un insecto en su planta? No lo fumigue todavía. Encontrar un insecto en su planta favorita puede ser preocupante. Quizás se pregunte: “¿Está dañando mi planta?” o “¿Cómo puedo eliminarlo?”. Antes de buscar un pesticida, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: (MGV), Español, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County

Weekly “What is it?”: Iguanas

by Carrie Stevenson
September 2, 2026

Last week I had the opportunity to join my husband in Mexico while he attended a conference. During some of his downtime, we explored an archaeological area called El Rey Ruins in busy Cancun. It was a quiet spot compared to the popular ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Coastal Wildlife, Ecotourism, Invasive Species, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

A New 4-H Year Begins in Wakulla

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
August 30, 2026

At the Wakulla 4-H Open House, the new club year did not begin with a speech. It began with music, conversation, curious questions and the unmistakable energy of young people discovering what they might try next. On Saturday, Aug. 29, close ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Curriculum, Events, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H Clubs, 4-H Youth Development, Volunteers

Florida Land Steward Update, August 28, 2026

by Chris Demers
August 28, 2026

HURRICANE SEASON IS RAMPING UP. ARE YOU READY? We are keeping an eye on Dolly, the next named tropical storm in the Atlantic. We’ve learned the hard way in recent years that powerful hurricanes can make their way inland and ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Cogongrass, Drought, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Health, Forest Landowner Academy, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Recovery, Hurricane Season, Landowner Assistance, Loblolly Pine, NRCS, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Wild Turkey

Field Guide Face-Off Part 1: Anhinga vs Cormorant

by Bridget Gerovac
August 28, 2026

Have you ever been out on a walk or hike with others and confidently identified a nearby bird or plant, only to be told that you are mistaken? You aren't alone, this has happened to everyone. There are so many species that look alike. Sometimes ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bird, Identification, St. Lucie County, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife

Fighting Florida’s invasive species, UF/IFAS interns are on the front lines gaining hands-on experience

by Lourdes Mederos
August 27, 2026

From tracking pythons in Big Cypress National Preserve to trapping invasive tegus in South Florida, University of Florida students are stepping out of the classroom to gain hands-on experience in some of the state's most vulnerable ecosystems ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Argentine Black And White Tegu, Coservation, Ecosystems, Everglades National Park, Invasive Species, Pythons, Wildlife

NCBS Intern Report: Corrigan’s Reef Oyster Restoration — Amelia Gomez Uribe

by Emily Colson
August 26, 2026

Written by Amelia Gomez Uribe, 2026 Undergraduate Summer Intern This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Marc Hensel and Dr. Mark Clark at the University of Florida's Nature Coast Biological Station. As ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Cedar Key, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Systems, Mangrove, Marsh, NCBS Interns, Oysters, Research, Restoration

SFFGS boat ramp study will help guide rec vs. commercial use policy in Everglades

by Suzette Cook
August 26, 2026

A team of researchers from the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) is conducting a study of commercial and recreational boat ramp use that will help guide the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Air Boat, Boat Ramp, Ecotourism, Everglades, Natural Resources, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS, South Florida Water Management District, UF-IFAS

Mangroves: Nature’s Coastal Defenders and Climate Champions

by Holly Abeels
August 25, 2026

From protecting communities during storms to helping combat climate change, mangroves provide some of the most valuable ecosystem services on Earth. Understanding these benefits highlights why protecting and restoring mangrove forests is important ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Coastal Habitat, Conservation, Environment, Florida Sea Grant, Resiliency, Water Quality, Wildlife

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