Honey bees and farmers have a very special relationship: bees collect nectar and pollen from flowering crops, and in return, the pollinated crops bear fruit. Because of their roles as pollinators, honey bees are critical to the success of many ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, WildlifeWhen you think of oysters, you probably imagine pearls or the tasty creature that lives inside that rough and wrinkled shell. But did you know that oysters (and those shells) play a critical role in coastal ecosystems? Oysters tend to grow ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Perhaps you've noticed that our Bug Week writings often contain Latin terms for bugs. For example, if we mention the common bed bug we’ll probably reference its scientific name, Cimex lectularius. Or when we talk about grasshoppers we might ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Water, Wildlife
By Bradley Udell, Masters student, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Department For the last 40 years, Dr. Charles Krebs has been studying the 10-year snowshoe hare and lynx population cycles in the Yukon, trying to understand what ... READ MORE
Category: WildlifeFrom quails to pocket gophers and snapping turtles, find out what’s shaking in Florida this February. February wildlife happenings… Photo credits: UF/IFAS READ MORE
Category: SFYL Hot Topic, WildlifeRecently, I was driving down a residential street near the University of Florida, and all of a sudden something long and black slithered very quickly across the street. I stopped to watch it disappear into the shrubs in someone’s yard, marveling ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, Wildlife
By Les Harrison, Wakulla County Extension Director The seasonally cooler weather has had a silencing effect on the nighttime chorus of insects, amphibians and most other animals. The frogs and cicadas are taking shelter in anticipation of ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeThe snail kite is an endangered bird mainly found in the Everglades area.1 The snail kite relies almost entirely on apple snails, hence its name.2 This bird uses its talons to pluck snails out of the water and eats them with a slender, hooked ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, SFYL Hot Topic, WildlifeJanuary in Florida brings male cardinals, roseate spoonbills, gray foxes, and sunshine bass. More on January wildlife happenings… Photo credits: Josh Wickham, UF/IFAS READ MORE
Category: SFYL Hot Topic, WildlifePeople aren't the only ones who leave colder climates for the sunshine state. Look for these birds migrating to Florida this winter! (more…) READ MORE
Category: SFYL Hot Topic, Wildlife