Category: Wildlife

Weekly “What is it?”: Coastal Dune Lakes

by Carrie Stevenson
November 20, 2025

Formed at the edge of freshwater and salt, dense forest and open water, scrubby dune and open marsh, the diversity along and within coastal dune lakes is tremendous. Coastal dune lakes are shallow, irregularly shaped, permanent bodies of ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Coastal Wildlife, Gulf Of Mexico, Habitat Conservation, Recreation, Weekly What Is It

Florida Land Steward Update, November 14, 2025

by Chris Demers
November 14, 2025

2026 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! It’s that time of the year! An annual Holiday tradition, the Florida Land Steward wall calendar features beautiful photography, our Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: 2026 Calendar, Christmas Trees, Family Forest, Firewood, Florida Land Steward Program, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Online Course, Tree Farm, Wildlife
A field of cogongrass - ubiquitous in a field.

Can invasive plants increase tick exposure risk? Scientists reveal a surprising link to human health

by Lourdes Mederos
November 12, 2025

An invasive grass found on almost every continent and considered a pest in 73 countries isn’t just weeding out native plants, it is creating a haven for disease-carrying ticks and raising public health risk concerns. A new University of ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Lawn, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agronomy Department, Ask IFAS, Cogongrass, Conservation Efforts, Disease, Drew Hiatt, Entomology And Nematology, Forest, Health, Human, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasion Science, Invasion Science Institute, Invasive Species, Lakeland, Lime Disease, Luke Flory, Mosquito, News, Rick, Southeast United States, Tick-borne, U.S> Forestry Service, UF, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Florida Land Steward Update, November 7, 2025

by Chris Demers
November 7, 2025

2026 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! It's that time of the year! An annual Holiday tradition, the Florida Land Steward wall calendar features beautiful photography, our Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: 2025 Calendar, Award, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Carbon, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Southern Pine Beetle, Tree Farm, Wildlife

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (Sept. – Oct.)

by Susan Gildersleeve
November 6, 2025

Ospreys and Observing Osprey Behaviors through the University of Florida Osprey Cam Mark E. Hostetler, Steven A. Johnson, Martin Main. This publication provides information about ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Further, it discusses an osprey ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Tags: Bees, Department Of Wildlife Ecology And Conservation, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Iguana, Key Largo Woodrat, Osprey

Gulf Coast Catch and Cook November: Stone Crab

by Dr. Megan Moore
November 6, 2025

The featured Gulf Coast Catch and cook species for November 2025 is the Stone Crab! Stone Crabs are fun to catch and delicious to eat! November is the perfect time to catch Stone Crabs in the Gulf as the season is newly opened and the weather ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Catch And Cook, Cook, Crab, Fishing, Florida Sea Grant, Harvest, Marine, Recreational Fishing, Stone Crab, UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office

Reassessing Meatless Monday: A Scientific Perspective on the Role of Meat in Sustainable Diets

by Bridget Stice
November 3, 2025

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Extension Polk Meatless Monday campaigns urge the public to skip meat one day a week to "improve health and protect the planet". While reducing excessive consumption of any food can be beneficial, blanket campaigns ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Health & Nutrition, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Beef, Bstice, Featured, Livestock, Meat, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkco, SFBF, Sustainability
photo of dead elm covered with golden oyster mushrooms.

Golden oyster mushrooms cultivated, sold in Florida: Scientist urges caution

by Lourdes Mederos
November 3, 2025

The golden oyster mushroom, with bright yellow pillowy caps, are a popular buy that are sold in grow-your-own kits as well as standard grocery stores, farmer and gourmet markets. A University of Florida researcher warns it is quietly invading ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Citizen Science, Culinary Connoisseurs, Culinary Mushroom Enthusiasts, Cultivating, Disrupt Ecosystems, Ecosystems, Farmer Market, Fungal Communities, Fungal Diseases, Golden Oyster Mushrooms, Gourmet Market, Grocery Stores, Grow-your-own Kits, Human Activities, Inaturalist, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Invasive, Invasive Species, Michelle Jusino, Mushroom Observer, News, Research, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatic Sciences, Transporting, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories