“What are those!?”As a Florida native I take the regular presence of the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) for granted, but my out of state visitor was quite shaken both by their size and by their shrill call. To be fair, at just under ... READ MORE
Category: , Wildlife
Contrary to popular opinion, bats are not winged mice; in fact, they aren’t rodents at all but members of the taxonomic order Chiroptera (meaning hand-wing). Bats are unique in that they are the only mammals capable of flight. There are thirteen ... READ MORE
Category: Wildlife
Hiking is one of my very favorite ways to spend my leisure time. Between the Ocala National Forest, the Seminole State Forest, several State parks, an abundance of wildlife management areas, and a beautiful variety of local parks, I am fairly ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are one of five tortoise species native to North America and the only species found east of the Mississippi River. At one time the tortoise could be found as far north as North Carolina and as far West ... READ MORE
Category: Wildlife
As Thanksgiving approaches many of us have turkey on the brain. Did you know that Florida is home to two subspecies of wild turkey – the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and the Osceola or Florida wild turkey (Meleagris ... READ MORE
Category: Wildlife
“Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes”? This famous line from Indiana Jones sums up how a lot of us feel about serpents, but Floridians need not live in fear of our native snakes. Our state is home to forty-six native species of snakes, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Last December I was visiting a local ranch to consult with the owner on their pasture health. The entire time I was walking the field I felt annoyed by a bit of something in the toe of my boot. Now, as a Florida girl, I know the importance of ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
As the Livestock Agent in Lake County I truly appreciate most animals, but I have to admit Coyotes give me a little pause. They are once familiar to, and completely foreign from, the three domestic dogs I share my home with. Like "Fido", coyotes ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
As our state continues to grow, wildlife is experiencing habitat loss due to development. In Florida, urban areas are a dominant feature in the landscape, and many of these urban areas are situated near natural wildlife preserves. What people ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Water, Wildlife
While we are honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military this Memorial Day weekend, don't forget that May is also the American Wetlands Month. What is American Wetlands Month? American Wetlands Month was founded ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife