I can still remember the first time I saw a horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) in the wild. I didn’t grow up on the coast, and owe much of my early and deep love of marine ecosystems to a brave and energetic elementary school science ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
It’s Spring Break season! The recent warm weather is ideal for the incoming crowds of visitors we expect along our Gulf beaches. But as we know, having tens of thousands of often inexperienced folks from out of town converging on the water ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
If you look at the more popular snake guides of Florida, they only list four species known to inhabit there; and the pygmy rattlesnake is not one of them. However, I continue to survey for snakes on the islands I am finding species not listed ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
This species is the one that causes the most concern for folks and enhances their fear of all snakes. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (EDB) (Crotalus adamanteus) is the largest venomous snake in the U.S. Most today will only reach a length ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Every season living on the Gulf Coast reveals its surprises and interesting natural phenomena. Recently, my social media feed was ‘flooded” with photos of extreme low tides in local bays, bayous, and even the Gulf. The water was so low ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WaterRattlesnakes are only found in the new world. Species exist in North, South, and Central America. In the U.S. and Canada there are 30 known species. Most prefer high dry habitats, but many can be found on high ridges near, or within wetlands, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WildlifeThe purpose of consuming food is to acquire energy. It does not make sense to expend more energy to kill your prey than you will receive from consuming it; there would be a net loss. Therefore, as we mentioned in Part 2, predators select ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WildlifeBreeding is a major part of all animal life cycles, and this is no different for rattlesnakes. Like other reptiles there are separate sexes, and internal fertilization is the rule. For this to happen, during breeding season males must find ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WildlifeAll 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
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