Pink Flamingos – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Natalia Barsukova In August 2023, a flock of 300–400 flamingos, probably migrating between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba, was blown off course by Hurricane Idalia. The birds were then unceremoniously deposited across a large area of the eastern United States, from the Gulf Coast of Florida to
Deer — Courtesy: Shutterstock — moosehenderson Florida wildlife officials are implementing emergency measures in an attempt to stop the spread of a deadly ailment known as “zombie deer disease,” after finding only the second case in the state. During normal screening, the carcass of a young white-tailed doe that was hit by a car in
Fuzzy Caterpillar – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Satyashutter After all, Florida wouldn’t exist without another spooky crawler to be concerned about, would it? According to wildlife officials, puss caterpillars, one of the most poisonous insects in the United States, are on the rise. Florida puss caterpillars According to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, the
Burmese Pythons – Photo Credit: Vince Adam/Shutterstock.com From holding public hunting competitions and employing bounty hunters to equipping male “scout” snakes with tracking devices that can direct them to large, fertile females, Florida wildlife biologists are doing everything in their power to remove invasive Burmese pythons. In order to combat the devastating snakes, they have
Florida Python Challenge – Image Courtesy: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission The Florida Python Challenge is currently accepting registrations and will begin on July 11. The South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are hosting the 10-day tournament. The event’s objectives are to eradicate the invasive Burmese python
Alligator Florida Everglades — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Thierry Eidenweil The U.S. Forest Service said that officials had temporarily closed one of Central Florida’s most popular springs to paddlers due to a huge alligator that is acting aggressively. About 300 miles north of Miami, in the Ocala National Forest, the Juniper Springs watercourse is affected by
DeSantis signs Boater Freedom Act – Boat Show Courtesy: Shutterstock – Photo by Aija Lehtonen Panama City Beach, Fla. – The Boater Freedom Act, also known as Senate Bill 1388, was signed into law today by Governor Ron DeSantis. By prohibiting local bans on gas-powered boats, prohibiting arbitrary vessel safety inspections without a valid reason,
2025 Python Challenge – Burmese Pythons — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Heiko Kiera As part of a larger conservation initiative to save the Everglades from invasive Burmese pythons, Florida wildlife officials have announced the dates for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Sea turtles swimming – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Gail Johnson There is worrying news on Florida sea turtles in this week’s Don’t Trash Our Treasure. Despite an increase in nesting numbers, human pressure continues to pose a hazard to adult turtles. Conservationists are cautioning that not all of these lovely critters survive and that
National parks – Aerial View of Florida Everglades at Sunset Hour – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by ocudrone Following the Trump administration’s massive cuts to the National Park Service this month, employees at a number of Florida national parks, including Big Cypress and the Everglades, were let go. Why it matters: Layoffs may result in