UF/IFAS GLOBAL BLOGS
There must be a universal impulse in the animal kingdom to decorate. From prehistoric cave paintings to the countless home remodeling shows on TV, there is something timeless about transforming the place you live into a reflection of… Read More
Every now and then, somebody sends in a “stump the expert” question, requiring further research, study, and a little experimentation to figure it out. I love these. Biology geek-wise, few things are more exciting than the idea of… Read More
As the name implies, they are haunting—long stretches of standing, dead trees with exposed roots. These “ghost forests” are an unsettling scene in unsettling times for the environment. While coastal erosion is a fact of life—incoming waves, hurricanes,… Read More
At first glance, I thought I was looking at a pond completely overtaken with green algae. You see rivers and lakes like this, especially in South Florida where development is denser and the phosphorus levels are naturally higher…. Read More
I am always on the lookout for interesting plants and animals any time I go outside. In the spring, of course, birds start hatching, wayward baby squirrels leave the nest, and wildflowers start to bloom. On a recent… Read More
I loved dandelions as a kid. The idea of a backyard full of magical wishes (granted only if you could blow away all the wispy seed heads in one blow) was too terrific to pass up. My best… Read More
When my son was in middle school, I got a rare midday text from him with a photo. The picture was of a foot-tall, spindly, reddish weed and the accompanying text said, “Mom, do you know what this… Read More
Over Spring Break last week, my daughter and I road tripped to western North Carolina to visit a lifelong friend and her family. My aunt and uncle also live in the area, and we were able to squeeze… Read More
With its ghostly translucence, this small fish is barely visible in the water. In fact, when swimming upright, it resembles a piece of cellophane tape—long, thin, and clear. This lack of coloration is common in young juvenile fish,… Read More
Box turtles (Terrapene carolina) are often one of the first up-close wildlife interactions that modern kids experience, whether they live in a rural area or the suburbs. Less skittish than a bird or squirrel and slower-moving than a… Read More
