Category: Wildlife

Florida Land Steward Update, August 21, 2026

by Chris Demers
August 21, 2026

FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO TREAT THAT COGONGRASS If dealing with a patch of cogongrass is on your to-do list, it’s time to get ready for that treatment. The best time to treat cogongrass is during the fall months, which of course can ... 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 Landowner Academy, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Recovery, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Loblolly Pine, Ranchers, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Wild Turkey

Conservation and Agriculture at the 2026 Fall Southwest Florida Small Farmer Network Meeting (SWFSFN)

by Luis Rodriguez Rosado
August 20, 2026

Florida’s ranchers and livestock producers play an important role in conserving some of the state’s most valuable natural resources. Through best management practices that focus on maximizing efficiency and preserving resources, ranchers ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Farm Management, Livestock, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, DeSotoCounty, Farm Business, Farm_management, Florida Farms, Livestock, Networking, Polksmallfarms, Small Farms, Southwest Florida Small Farms Network, Southwest Small Farmers Network, UF-IFAS

Weekly “What is it?”: “Litter boxes”

by Carrie Stevenson
August 20, 2026

Aiming for a sunset stroll last week at Pensacola Beach, we stopped at the Park East lot and headed for the dune walkover. Just before entering the boardwalk, my daughter noticed a wooden box mounted adjacent to it. It was the size and shape ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Environmental Education, Marine Debris, Sea Turtles, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

A Comprehensive Look at Ctenophores in Charlotte Harbor

by Emma Van Gheem
August 14, 2026

If you've ever taken a stroll along the shoreline in Charlotte Harbor, you may have noticed dozens or even hundreds of clear, gelatinous organisms drifting just beneath the water's surface. During certain times of the year, they can appear in ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Bioluminescence, Charlotte County, CharlotteHarbor, CoastalEcosystems, CombJellies, Ctenophores, Estuary, GulfCoast, Marine Invertebrates, MarineLife, MnemiopsisLeidyi, SeaWalnut, SouthwestFlorida

Florida Land Steward Update, August 14, 2026

by Chris Demers
August 14, 2026

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA LANDOWNERS THROUGH THE SURFACE TO SPRINGS AND FOREST TO GULF REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS (RCPPs) Apply by September 30, 2026 North Florida landowners interested habitat ... READ MORE

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

2026 Pensacola Scallop Search Report

by Rick O'Connor
August 13, 2026

Introduction The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) was once common in the lower portions of the Pensacola Bay system. However, by 1970 they were all but gone. Closely associated with seagrass, especially turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Sea Grant, Scallop Search

Weekly “What is it?”: Blue Button

by Carrie Stevenson
August 13, 2026

A few nights ago, my daughter and I walked the beach at sunset. She was heading back to college the next day, so we soaked in one last summer beach memory. As we walked, we chatted about the detritus in the wrack line—algae-covered driftwood, ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Coastal Wildlife, Gulf Of Mexico, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

Wondering About Wildlife: What to Do About Rodents

by Zahir Ringgold Cordes
August 12, 2026

Developed by our Ecology and Natural Resources program, the "Wondering About Wildlife?" blog series provides answers to frequently asked questions and concerns about the wildlife around us. This blog focuses on non-native rodent species and ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Wildlife
Tags: Animals, Pests, Pgm_EcoNR, Rodents, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife, Wonderingaboutwildlife

What do Elephants have to do with Bee Fences?

by Maria Quirico
August 11, 2026

MGV Giles Paget-Wilkes, self-described multi-national citizen and lead of the Discovery Gardens apiary, gave a fascinating talk on the development of Bee Fences on Mount Elgon in Kenya. Map of Mount Elgon; Speaker MGV Giles Paget-Wilkes. Mount ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: African Bees, Bee Fences, Elephants, Human-Elephant Conflict, Kenya, Mount Elgon

UF/IFAS invites Floridians of all ages to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 21-22

by Lourdes Mederos
August 10, 2026

What if protecting pollinators were as easy as spending 15 minutes watching a patch of flowers? On Aug. 21-22, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extensions invites Floridians of all ages to join ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Citizen Science, Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollinator, Special Topics, Top News, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension

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