I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend exploring a lovely, low-key stretch of northwest Florida. We hiked trails and took the boat tour at Wakulla Springs State Park, marveling at the numerous alligators and admiring birds and a slow-moving ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Every now and then, we get a true “what IS it?” come through our office. A couple of weeks ago, a local oysterman found one of the weirdest organisms I’ve ever seen. This tiny creature was only an inch long, and had what looked ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources
If you’ve spent any time on the coast, you know we’ve got plenty of marine mammals. Dolphins will surface in pods, delighting beachgoers; they’ll bow-ride along boats and occasionally treat onlookers to a full Sea World-style leap ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
While we have luckily avoided direct impacts from recent hurricanes Helene and Milton in northwest Florida, we still felt their massive size and power. These storms whipped up the entire Gulf of Mexico, pushing creatures rarely seen above ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
UF IFAS Extension Escambia County was recently able to offer a native tree and shrub giveaway to our community. A county partner had some grant funding remaining and chose a nice selection of plants grown by a local native nursery. After seeing ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Wildlife
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you probably know why I started writing. By nature of my job duties and professional expertise, friends and clientele frequently reach out when they come across something odd while outdoors. I’ve ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
While 8-legged critters often spook people, my son has a soft spot for spiders. Years ago, he discovered one while in the shower, covered it with a cup to protect it from the threat of the drain, and released it safely outdoors. On a recent ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
People have a lot of strong feelings about snakes. Whether it be fear, alarm, hatred, or wonder, it’s rare someone doesn’t react at all to seeing a snake in front of them. I will say, though, that when one of our volunteers sent a photo ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
University of Florida football games are a lot of fun to watch in person. Being in The Swamp, yelling for the team, singing “I Won’t Back Down” with 88,500 other fans acapella; these are experiences every Floridian should have. But ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
It’s warm here in northwest Florida, which means our cold-blooded reptile friends are on the move. In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a snake at work, one at home, and received snake photos from my neighbors' and parents’ yards. A fear ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife