May 16th is National Endangered Species Day. It is important to raise awareness of some of the most critically endangered species that call the Florida Keys home. The Florida Keys are known for their breathtaking coral reefs, diverse marine ... READ MORE
Category: , Conservation, NATURAL RESOURCES, Wildlife
We hear a lot about Avian Influenza, or H5N1, and the price of eggs in the news recently. That got me thinking, should we be worried about bird flu here in the Keys? As it turns out, we should. Although Florida Fish and Wildlife has not ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, , Home Landscapes, Livestock, NATURAL RESOURCES, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Diamondback Terrapins are small turtles that live in the brackish waters of estuaries from Massachusetts to Texas. They can be found in tidal creeks and rivers, bays and sounds, salt marshes, and mangrove systems. Throughout their range, ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
The oldest animal fossil ever found was from a horseshoe crab that was alive 445 million years ago. Horseshoe crabs roamed the continental shelves of the primordial seas 200 million years before the dinosaurs! For this reason, horseshoe crabs ... READ MORE
Category: NATURAL RESOURCES, Wildlife
Here in the beautiful Florida Keys, we have no shortage of tidal shoreline and coastal landscapes, in addition to some unique natural habitats. This provides a fantastic opportunity to observe many of nature’s beautiful creatures. Especially ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, NATURAL RESOURCES, WildlifeBy Shelly Krueger, Florida Sea Grant Agent, Monroe County IFAS Extension When I see a horseshoe crab I feel transported back in time. Horseshoe crabs roamed the continental shelves of the primordial seas 200 million years before dinosaurs ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tobacco-hornworm pupa What’s that critter? Many homeowners call the Extension service to hopefully get a vexing critter ID via phone with only a description. If it rings a distinct bell, such as “it’s flat little gray bag-like ... READ MORE
Category: NATURAL RESOURCES, Wildlife
Over the past year I have been hearing from clientele in the upper and lower Keys about a thick webbing on their plants. At the October 2014 Big Pine Key October Plant Clinic I received a sample of three pumpkin seed like structures with webbing. ... READ MORE
Category: NATURAL RESOURCES, Wildlife
Holly Abeels, Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent Tunicates are found throughout the Indian River Lagoon growing attached to mangrove roots, pilings, oyster reefs, and any hard substance they can find every spring and into the summer. They ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, NATURAL RESOURCES, Recreation, Water, Wildlife
According to the UF/IFAS publication by W. H. Kern, Jr., Assistant Professor "Dealing with Iguanas in South Florida" http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN52800.pdf The best measures for iguanas are tolerance, exclusion, and habitat modification. ... READ MORE
Category: Wildlife