![a digital meat thermometer reads 165.3 degrees fahrenheit while checking chicken on a barbecue grill. [credit: uf/ifas, tyle jones; edit: uf/ifas extension sarasota county]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/07/2017_FCS_foodsafetyGrillingThermometer01UPDATE165F_ifasJonesTyler_CROP1650x470.jpg)
Every year, I get invited to participate in the Alligator Creek Festival. During this annual festival, attendees learned about sustainability, environmentally friendly practices, conservation efforts, and community engagement, among other ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources![a group of young adults sits at a table in a restaurant/bar, with "brewing ideas" pint glasses, sharing conversation. [credit: unsplash.com]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2025/11/2025_Waste_brewideasGroupAtBar_unsplashSergeyTarasov_EDITicon1650x470TINY.png)
Cheers to "Brewing Ideas with UF/IFAS"! We launched this innovative series last month, to bring together community members and local experts for an evening of open discussion on relevant environmental solutions. The goals were simple: make ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Water, Wildlife
The common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is a captivating species that inhabits a variety of coastal and estuarine environments. There are five species of snook in Florida, but the common snook, also known as robalo or linesider, is the largest, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
World Ocean Day was yesterday, but no worries if you missed it; World Ocean Day was created to advocate for and inspire people to take action every day, not just on one day. Consequently, it is always appropriate to celebrate our ocean and ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Work & Life![outdoor scene of water body with heavy vegetation on shoreline, and blue skies on horizon. [credit: sarasota county government]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2022/11/2020_Water_socialLakeApprecMo_sacoCROP1338x357TINY.png)
Homeowners associations (HOAs) and neighborhoods have critical roles to play in protecting local water quality. HOAs manage thousands of stormwater ponds and countless acres of landscapes across Sarasota County. The way those community assets ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Summer in Florida means beach time. No school and warmer waters are a perfect excuse to go to the beach. With great fun, however, comes great responsibility. Safety is critical, especially when it comes to understanding rip currents. These ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, Water, Work & Life![assorted microplastics shown resting on two fingertips, with a pile of microplastics in the background. [credit: uf/ifas, tyler jones]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2025/02/2017_Waste_microplasticCloseupFingers01_ifasTylerJonesCROP1650x470TINY.png)
We have all heard the mantra: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We know plastic isn't natural and doesn't decompose. After all, you can’t compost plastic, right? You’ve probably seen those heart-wrenching images of straws in sea turtles' noses ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Water
One of the first science-related things we learn as children at school is that some animals, like birds and mammals, are warm-blooded, while others, such as amphibians, reptiles, and fish, are cold-blooded, also known as ectothermic. Cold-blooded ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Are you working on Climate Change related issues? Do you know the latest tools to assess how resilient your community is? Would like to learn how communities around the Gulf of Mexico are doing about climate change?Please join us at this year’s ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Disaster Preparation, Natural Resources, Water
Are you working on Climate Change related issues? Do you know the latest tools to assess how resilient your community is? Would like to learn how communities around the Gulf of Mexico are doing about climate change? Please join us at this ... READ MORE
Category: Work & Life