Blowout Tides
Every season living on the Gulf Coast reveals its surprises and interesting natural phenomena. Recently, my social media feed was ‘flooded” with photos of extreme low tides in local bays, bayous, and even the Gulf. The water was so low in some places that people could...
Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 7 – Habitats
Rattlesnakes are only found in the new world. Species exist in North, South, and Central America. In the U.S. and Canada there are 30 known species. Most prefer high dry habitats, but many can be found on high ridges near, or within wetlands, and we know some will...
Aquaculture in the Southern United States: Part 6 – Tennessee and Texas
This article concludes our Southern aquaculture state profile series by highlighting two very different, but equally instructive, states: Tennessee & Texas. While Texas represents one of the most diverse and economically powerful aquaculture sectors in the region,...
Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 6 – Predator/Prey
The purpose of consuming food is to acquire energy. It does not make sense to expend more energy to kill your prey than you will receive from consuming it; there would be a net loss. Therefore, as we mentioned in Part 2, predators select prey that are easy to kill...
Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 5 – Reproduction
Breeding is a major part of all animal life cycles, and this is no different for rattlesnakes. Like other reptiles there are separate sexes, and internal fertilization is the rule. For this to happen, during breeding season males must find the females and often must...
Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 4 – Thermoregulation
All animals have a thermal range within which they can survive. For some it is very small range, for others it is amazingly large. Whatever their range is, they function best near the upper portion of it. “Warm blooded” animals (endotherms) have high metabolisms...
Rattlesnakes on Our Barrier Islands; Part 3 – Envenomation
Though encounters with Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are rare, bites from them are even more rare, and deaths from those bites almost nonexistent, it is worth discussing the issues and remedies of a bite. About 8000 people are bitten by snakes each year in the U.S....
Three Benefits of Harvesting Does for Healthy Deer Populations in the Florida Panhandle
Florida has the lowest doe harvest ratio in the southeast, with a continuing decline in harvest numbers. In 2021, the total number of does harvested was at a low, being down 22% from the 5-year average. This makes it difficult to manage the overall population,...
Bring Some Wild Game To Your Holiday Dinner
The holiday season is a time for gathering with loved ones and sharing memorable meals. This year, why not bring something unique to the table by featuring wild game dishes? Below are time-tested recipes for venison, duck, and squirrel that will delight your guests...
St. Joe Red Tide Claiming Terrapins
Almost everyone has heard of red tides and know they periodically occur off the coast of Florida. The more frequent events occur off southwest Florida between Tampa and the Keys, but they have occurred in other parts of the state. When they do occur in the panhandle,...