Category: Wildlife

Grow more Keystone Plants? … Here is a pictorial list!

by Maria Quirico
December 27, 2025

Keystone Plants for Central Florida Planting native species is an excellent first step toward attracting beneficial insects. In his influential book Nature’s Best Hope, author, conservationist, and entomologist Douglas Tallamy explains ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Curriculum, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Discovery Gardens, Doug Tallamy, Keystone Plants, Native Florida Plants, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees

Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 4 – Thermoregulation

by Rick O'Connor
December 22, 2025

All animals have a thermal range within which they can survive. For some it is very small range, for others it is amazingly large. Whatever their range is, they function best near the upper portion of it. “Warm blooded” animals (endotherms) ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Rattlesnakes, Snakes

Weekly “What is it?”: Coquina clams

by Carrie Stevenson
December 18, 2025

Ever notice the little air bubbles that form in the wet sand after a wave retreats? These are created by thousands of coquina clams buried just under the sand. When covered by an incoming wave, they open their shells to feed and clap closed ... READ MORE

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

Small but Mighty: MGVs Connecting Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles with HOA Communities

by Lorna Bravo
December 17, 2025

Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Master Gardener Volunteer Catalina Franco-Cicero Growing Community, One Master Gardener at a Time: The Isles Garden Club Story In the heart of Pembroke Pines, Florida, the Isles Garden Club's Florida-Friendly ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Broward County, Build Community, Master Gardener Program, Master Gardener Volunteer, Volunteers

Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 3 – Envenomation

by Rick O'Connor
December 17, 2025

Though encounters with Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are rare, bites from them are even more rare, and deaths from those bites almost nonexistent, it is worth discussing the issues and remedies of a bite. About 8000 people are bitten ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Rattlesnakes

A Tale of Three Daddy Long Legs

by Caitlin Sollazzo
December 17, 2025

I feel like it’s time to clear up a few common misconceptions. I recently acquired a pet daddy long legs because I have free will, and I use it to the fullest. If you’re in the entomology or arthropod world like me, you probably already ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Arachnology, DaddyLongLegs, Entomology, Manatee County Extension, SpiderMyths

Florida Land Steward Update, December 12, 2025

by Chris Demers
December 12, 2025

SEASONS GREETINGS! On behalf of Florida Land Steward and Tree Farm Program partners, we wish you a very festive, peaceful, and safe Holiday season. THANK YOU for everything you do for the sustainability of forests and natural resources in Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: 2026 Calendar, Christmas Trees, Conservation Easements, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Carbon, Landowner Assistance, Natural Resources, Online Course, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tree Farm, Webinar

The 2025 Snake Watch Report for the Pensacola Bay Area

by Rick O'Connor
December 11, 2025

As many of you know, Escambia County Extension logs snakes people encounter when out and about during their day. We do not send people out to look for them but rather log those that people encounter when doing their normal activity. The ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Pensacola Wildlife, Snakes

St. Joe Red Tide Claiming Terrapins

by Rick O'Connor
December 9, 2025

Almost everyone has heard of red tides and know they periodically occur off the coast of Florida. The more frequent events occur off southwest Florida between Tampa and the Keys, but they have occurred in other parts of the state. When ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Red Tide, Terrapins

Through A Land Remembered, state’s fourth graders discover harsh conditions of pioneer life in Florida

by Brad Buck
December 9, 2025

Imagine 19th century Florida: sweltering heat with no air conditioning, swarms of mosquitoes, nights lit only by campfires and the harsh reality that any meat on your plate had to be hunted and killed by you. These gritty details aren’t ... READ MORE

Category: Curriculum, UF/IFAS, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: A Land Remembered, Agriculture, Bridget Stice, English & Language Arts, Fourth-grade Students, Historical Novel, Pioneers, Social Studies And Science Learning Standards., Spook Hill Elementary School, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County

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