The Black Racer There are plenty of snakes in Florida, but it’s important not to panic when one is encountered. Not every snake is dangerous; in fact, only six of the more than fifty species of snakes in Florida are venomous. Many snakes ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture, Wildlife
If you are outdoors this time of year, you may spot one of our most recognizable birds flitting about. The Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis, is a small (six to eight inch long) but brightly colored bird whose populations have been pushed ... READ MORE
Category: Horticulture, Wildlife
My son and his girlfriend were visiting last week and wanted to go fishing. Since she had never been deep sea fishing before, we decided that the best course of action would be to take the short four-hour trip on one of Destin’s party boats. Party ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension
October is Dune Lake Awareness month and as part of the celebration, Walton and Okaloosa County UF/IFAS Extension Agents are joining together to host a Coastal Dune Lake Tour at Western Lake in Grayton Beach State Park. This free event will ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Research
We are fortunate to have several whale species that have been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico including humpback whales, Rice's whales, fin whales, sperm whales, sei whales, and orca whales. Recently, however, we have seen multiple reports of ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
World Wildlife Day was celebrated on March 3, 2022. This year’s theme is “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration.” We celebrate this day to bring attention and awareness to many of the plants and animals that are considered ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Wildlife
There are a lot of good oyster quotes. One I remember from childhood is the saying to only eat oysters in months with the letter “r,” basically September to April. I believe this originated when all oysters came from the wild. This was a ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine
The northwest Florida area has been identified as having the highest concentration of invasive lionfish in the world. Lionfish pose a significant threat to our native wildlife and habitat with spearfishing the primary means of control. Lionfish ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Natural Resources
June is National Ocean Month. Close your eyes and think about just how many oceans there are. Surprise, there is only one! The ocean is huge, covering over 70 percent of the earth’s surface. Traditionally, the ocean was divided into four ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
We’re highlighting all things Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) in 2021 as the program marks its 20th anniversary. To learn more about FMNP, view the first blog post here. Click the image to download and enjoy the May ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources