The very hungry caterpillar The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is not a worm. It is a caterpillar, a very hungry caterpillar. They are called hornworms because they have a harmless, red horn on their abdomen. These common garden pests are ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
April 10th is Gopher Tortoise Day! On any given day in the scrub, gopher tortoises may be seen out and about, looking for lunch or basking in the sun. The scrub ecosystem is a rare component of our Florida environment and is home to many ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Be-at-home with nature, while staying-at-home! Today, April 3rd, starts our stay-at-home order in Florida. While we are connecting through technology, don't forget the joy, health benefits, and stress relief that being out in nature provides ... READ MORE
Category: Forests, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Often teenagers get a bad reputation… sleeping in, laying around on the couch, spending too much time on technology. Not the teenagers of Florida scrub-jays! Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) are cooperative breeders, ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Inspired by Richard Louv’s book "Last Child in the Woods," Take A Child Outside Week (Sept. 24-30) was founded to help connect children with nature and to combat what Louv has referred to as "nature-deficit disorder." According to the National ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation
By AMBER LOPATINE Intern, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Hi! I'm Amber, and I recently completed my summer internship experience with Sarasota County. Keep reading to learn about my summer adventures in Sustainability and Natural Resources. I ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Camp, Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Ever try Echinacea to help your immune system? Or St.John's wort for your mood? Or chamomile to help you relax? Then you have used a form of medicine that's been around for more than 5,000 years. There is a "new" – or should I say, "re-newed" ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources
Sarasota County has seen a recent increase in alligator encounters. Why, you may ask? Not only is there approximately one alligator per every 20 humans in Florida and they live in all 67 Florida counties, but alligators are currently looking ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife