by Rick O'Connor | Dec 15, 2025
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.
Dead fish line the beaches of Panama City during a red tide event in the past.
Photo: Randy Robinson
When they do occur in the panhandle, they seem to be more common on the east side – Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. This year there has been a rather large red tide event that has lingered several weeks now in this area. There have been multiple samples that have been reported as HIGH (1,000,000 cells or more / liter). Cells in this case is referring to the organism that causes red tide – Karenia brevis.
The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis.
Photo: Smithsonian Marine Station-Ft. Pierce FL
K. brevis is a microscopic plant that belongs to the dinoflagellate group. They occur naturally in Florida waters and when conditions are good – will begin to multiple and create a bloom. These blooms can be large enough to discolor the water – often making it a rusty/reddish color… hence the red tide. Good conditions would be those you would think plants like – plenty of sunlight, warm temperatures, plenty of nutrients. When the wind is lower the water moves less allowing them to concentrate into large patches producing “the tide”. These small plants can release a toxin, known as brevotoxin. Brevotoxins are neurotoxins that affect the transmission of nerve signals, which can lead to several internal complications and possibly death for marine life.
Humans and animals typically ingest or inhale brevotoxins during a large red tide event. Fish kills are a common phenomenon during large events, but marine mammals and sea turtles have also been killed. During the recent red tide event in the St. Joe area fish kills have been reported, as well as respiratory problems with humans. We now also can include diamondback terrapins as a victim.
Terrapins are smaller brackish water turtles found along the coast of Florida. At the time of this article, scientists with the US Geological Survey had logged 66 dead terrapins from the St. Joe area, all were females, and most were large females.
Diamondback terrapins lost during the recent red tide in St. Joe Bay.
Photo: Dan Catizone
At the time of this writing the tide in this area continues. High concentrations have been reported from Gulf, Bay, and Franklin counties. The most recent FWC report at the time of this article (December 5) red tide had been detected in 20 samples from the panhandle. Cell concentrations of >100,000/liter (medium-high) were reported from five of those. Background to medium concentrations were reported from Bay County. Background to low in Gulf and Franklin counties. Fish kills suspected to be related to the red tide occurred in Bay County but there were no reports of respiratory problems anywhere at that time.
Red tides seem to be more common in late summer and fall. NOAA believes the same climate pattern that has caused the drought, and no named tropical storms to hit Florida, may be the cause of the current patterns holding the red tide near the St. Joe area. Concentrations SEEM to be declining. Hopefully this one will not last much longer.
by Rick O'Connor | Dec 15, 2025
As many of you know, Escambia County Extension logs snakes people encounter when out and about during their day. We do not send people out to look for them but rather log those that people encounter when doing their normal activity. The objective of this project is to educate the public about which snakes people typically encounter, when they encounter them, and where.
The number of reports was down in 2025. We are not sure whether this was due to fewer people reporting, or whether there were fewer snakes encountered. Some who regularly report have told me they have not seen as many snakes this year. If this is the case it could be due to the snow event we had in the winter, the intense heat of this past summer, and the drought we have witnessed this summer/fall. We are not sure.
Of the 40 known species that inhabit the Pensacola Bay area – 19 were encountered this year. This compares to other years as follows –
| Year |
No. of Species Encountered |
| 2022 |
21 |
| 2023 |
24 |
| 2024 |
21 |
| 2025 |
19 |
Based on this people typically encounter about 50% of the species that live here. This year we were slightly below that at 47%.
Broken down by size classes we have the following for 2025…
| Size class |
No. of species known |
No. of species encountered |
Most common |
| Small (<12”) |
7 |
3 |
Florida Red-bellied Pine woods snake |
| Medium (12-24”) |
8 |
5 |
Eastern ribbon snake |
| Large (>24”) |
7 |
5 |
Southern black racer |
| Water Snakes |
13 |
2 |
Banded water snake |
| Venomous |
4 |
3 |
Cottonmouth |
| Non-native |
1 |
1 |
Brahminy blind snake |
| TOTAL |
40 |
19 |
Ribbon snake Southern black racer |
Small Snakes
First, small snakes are small; thus, more difficult to see. Most are encountered in gardens and landscaping. They are mostly nocturnal. This year the most common were both the Florida red-bellied snake and the Pine woods snake (both had 3 encounters). When compared to previous years…
| Year |
Most common small snake encountered |
| 2022 |
Southern ring-necked snake (3) |
| 2023 |
Rough earth snake (2) |
| 2024 |
Southern ring-necked snake (5) |
| 2025 |
Pine woods snake, Florida red-bellied snake (3) |
Medium Snakes
Some species in this group are the most frequently encountered snakes by residents. Like small snakes, most are encountered in gardens and landscaping. This year the Eastern ribbon snake. Not only was it the most encountered medium sized snake, but it also tied for the most common snake encountered all year. As you can see from the numbers below, this snake was encountered more frequently this year than others in the past.
| Year |
Most common medium snake encountered |
| 2022 |
Eastern ribbon snake (13) |
| 2023 |
Eastern garter snake (17) |
| 2024 |
Eastern garter snake (15) |
| 2025 |
Eastern ribbon snake (23) |
Large Snakes
There are 7 species of large snakes in the bay area and between 5-6 are encountered every year. Most likely this is because they are large, and easier to see. This year, like most years, the most encountered species is the Southern black racer. This snake does not mind humans and is often found in our neighborhoods and common in public areas as well. As you can see below, this is by far the most commonly encountered large snake and is one of the top three most common snakes encountered each year. This is a very common snake.
| Year |
Most common large snake encountered |
| 2022 |
Southern black racer (21) |
| 2023 |
Southern black racer (35) |
| 2024 |
Southern black racer (28) |
| 2025 |
Southern black racer (23) |
Water Snakes
There are more species of water snakes (13) than any other group. But they are some of the most infrequent snakes encountered in our area. This is most likely because several species only inhabit wetland/riverine systems where few residents venture. Other than the banded water snake, most other encounters have been reported by fishermen fishing on our rivers. This year, as every year, the Banded water snake was the most frequently encountered water snake. This is one of the top three most frequently encountered snakes each year. This is a very common snake here.
| Year |
Most common water snake encountered |
| 2022 |
Banded water snake (3) |
| 2023 |
Banded water snake (26) |
| 2024 |
Banded water snake (22) |
| 2025 |
Banded water snake (18) |
Venomous Snakes
There are only six venomous snakes reported in all of Florida. That is six out of a possible 46-48 species/subspecies (depending on which guidebook you use). All six have been reported in the Florida panhandle. Two of them only in the Florida panhandle – and they are both rare here; those being the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. So actually, only four of the six venomous snakes have a good chance of being encountered: those being the cottonmouth, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, and the eastern coral snake. Each year at least three of these are encountered. In 2023 all four were. Though each species has been encountered, other than the cottonmouth, the others are not encountered frequently. Encounters with the eastern coral snakes are particularly rare. That is not to say they are not common here, they are just not encountered very often, and that is fine with most people. Like the previous years, the most frequently encountered venomous snake is the Cottonmouth. Not only is the most frequent venomous snake, but it is also one of the top three most frequently encountered snakes overall. Cottonmouths are quite common here. The reason we may encounter it more often is because of its love of water – and most of us live near some source of water. The rattlesnakes prefer high dry semi-opened woodlands away from people. Coral snakes like more dense wooded areas; and almost every encounter of this snake has been in the Gulf Breeze area. However, they are found throughout the bay area.
| Year |
Most common venomous snake encountered |
| 2022 |
Cottonmouth (15) |
| 2023 |
Cottonmouth (52) |
| 2024 |
Cottonmouth (38) |
| 2025 |
Cottonmouth (21) |
Non-native Snakes
There is only one reported non-native snake in the Pensacola Bay area; the Brahminy blind snake – also known as the “flowerpot snake”. This Asian snake is about the length and diameter of a toothpick. It is blue to gray in color, and the tiny black eyes are barely visible. It is, for the most part, blind, and does not seem to be invasive. Most who encounter this snake are gardening or working in landscaping. I have them in my yard, and they are pretty common. Most who first see it will confuse it with a worm, until you notice the scaled body – then you know you are not dealing with a worm.
| Year |
# of Brahminy blind snakes encountered |
| 2022 |
0 |
| 2023 |
5 |
| 2024 |
2 |
| 2025 |
2 |
Number of Encounters by Species by Year
| Species |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
TOTAL |
| Rough earth snake |
|
2 |
2 |
|
4 |
| Smooth earth snake |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
| Marsh brown snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida red-bellied snake |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
13 |
| Southeastern crowned snake |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
| Pine woods snake |
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
7 |
| Southern ring-necked snake |
3 |
5 |
1 |
|
9 |
| Scarlet snake |
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
| Rough green snake |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
| Eastern ribbon snake |
13 |
10 |
9 |
23 |
55 |
| Eastern garter snake |
3 |
17 |
15 |
5 |
40 |
| Eastern hognose |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
4 |
| Southern hognose snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mole kingsnake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Scarlet kingsnake |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
| Eastern kingsnake |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
| Florida pine snake |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
| Gray rat snake |
3 |
9 |
11 |
7 |
30 |
| Corn snake |
3 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
21 |
| Southern black racer |
21 |
35 |
28 |
23 |
107 |
| Eastern coachwhip |
5 |
12 |
17 |
4 |
38 |
| Eastern indigo snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Black swamp snake |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Glossy crayfish snake |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Queen snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Midland water snake |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Banded water snake |
3 |
26 |
22 |
18 |
69 |
| Gulf salt marsh snake |
|
3 |
2 |
|
5 |
| Yellow bellied water snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Diamondback water snake |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
| Brown water snake |
2 |
4 |
|
|
6 |
| Eastern green water snake |
|
3 |
1 |
|
4 |
| Western green water snake |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Eastern/Western mud snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rainbow snake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Copperhead |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cottonmouth |
15 |
52 |
38 |
21 |
126 |
| Timber rattlesnake |
|
|
|
|
|
| Eastern diamondback rattlesnake |
5 |
8 |
11 |
8 |
32 |
| Pygmy rattlesnake |
5 |
6 |
1 |
|
12 |
| Eastern coral snake |
|
1 |
|
2 |
3 |
| Brahminy blind snake |
|
5 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
| TOTAL |
91 |
222 |
176 |
133 |
622 |
Discussion
The first statement is that 30 of the 40 known species found in the area have been encountered at least once. That is 75%. Most are medium sized to large sized snakes. There are only two species that have been encountered 100+ times over the last four years; those are Cottonmouth (126) and the Southern black racer (107). These are followed by two snakes that have been encountered between 50-100 times; those are the Banded water snake (69) and Eastern ribbon snake (55).
Those encountered between 25-50 times include:
Eastern garter snake (40)
Eastern coachwhip (38)
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (32)
Gray rat snake (30)
Those encountered between 10-25 times include:
Corn snake (20)
Florida red-bellied snake (13)
Pygmy rattlesnake (12)
Those encountered between 2-10 times include:
Southern ring-necked snake (9)
Brahminy blind snake (8)
Pine woods snake (7)
Rough green snake (7)
Eastern kingsnake (6)
Brown water snake (6)
Gulf salt marsh snake (5)
Scarlet snake (5)
Rough earth snake (4)
Eastern hognose (4)
Eastern green water snake (4)
Eastern coral snake (3)
Southeastern crowned snake (2)
Florida pine snake (2)
Some of these species have populations of concern, and it is good they have been seen.
Those only seen ONCE in four years include:
Smooth earth snake (1) question identification – could have been rough earth snake
Scarlet kingsnake (1)
Black swamp snake (1)
Glossy crayfish snake (1)
Midland water snake (1)
Diamondback water snake (1)
Western green water snake (1)
Most of these are water snakes that live in habitats which few people visit. Others are smaller and harder to find.
AND THEN THOSE SPECIES THAT HAVE YET TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN FOUR YEARS.
Marsh brown snake
Southern hognose snake1
Mole kingsnake
Eastern indigo snake1
Queen water snake
Yellow bellied water snake
Eastern/Western mud snake
Rainbow snake2
Copperhead3
Timber rattlesnake3
1 species that are currently listed, or species of concern, and are rare in general.
2 species considered rare and under consideration of listing.
3 species that are common further north, but not as much in Florida.
We would like to thank all of you who have reported encounters in the Pensacola Bay area to myself. If you would like to participate, or have any questions, please contact me at Rick O’Connor – roc1@ufl.edu.
by Rick O'Connor | Dec 15, 2025
It is understood that rattlesnakes are carnivores and will select some form of meat for their food. The general principle is to select something that is easy to kill and requires less energy to do so. Most rattlesnakes will select rodents but depending on the species and the part of the world they are in, some will select lizards or other prey.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Photo: Bob Pitts.
Due to their long periods of hibernation and/or aestivation, their feeding seasons are shortened. If you add low prey availability when they emerge from hiding, the feeding season is shorter still. They respond by binge eating – basically gorging on prey as often as they can. They may consume massive meals that will take over a week to digest.
Rattlesnakes who feed on rodents over lizards will grow larger. Many species have young with bright pink or yellow tips on their tails, much like cottonmouths and copperheads. These are used to lure small prey such as lizards and toads. They are predominantly ambush hunters, lying in wait for selected prey to wander into striking range. They like spots where they are half in the shade, half in the sun to do this.
Here is a scenario…
In the spring, when the temperature reaches 70°F, rattlesnakes will leave the hibernacula they used for hibernation. Having not eaten in a while, food is on their mind. They will use their sense of smell to find the trails of their potential prey, find a good ambush spot, and wait. Some studies suggest they sleep while waiting. They may first detect their prey by seeing it. It could be by hearing or smelling. Or by a combination of these. They will begin to flick their tongues – using the Jacobsen’s organ – to further identify the target. When within range, the facial pits can help “see” the target and assist in accuracy of their strike.
The strike is extremely fast. The snake injects their venom, releases, re-coils, and folds their fangs back into their sheath. The target often will run but is usually dead within a minute and not far away. The rattlesnake will now find the scent trail with their tongue and follow its meal. It can take several minutes to an hour to find it. Once found the prey is dead and already in the process of digestion due to some of the enzymes within their venom. In some prey the rattlesnake may not release and rather hold on to the prey after the bite. This often happens when they select birds, possibly due to the difficulty of finding them because they may fly before they die. Another interesting twist to this scenario holds for the timber rattlesnakes, who sometimes lie at the base of a tree with their heads facing up the trunk waiting on an unaware squirrel coming down.
Swallowing the prey involves “unhinging” their lower jaw making the diameter of their mouths larger. This way rattlesnakes can swallow large prey such as squirrels and rabbits. They have six rows of smaller pointed teeth in their mouths. There are two rows on the lower jaw, two on the upper, and two on the roof of their mouths. With the fangs folded back in their sheath, they begin to grab the prey with one set of jaws (the right or left) pull in, then alternate with the other jaw. It appears they are “walking the prey down” their throat. There is a tube called the glottis on the forward portion of the lower mouth that is used for breathing while their mouth is full. They have been seen taking breaks and resting while this process is ongoing. After swallowing, they re-align their lower jaw and find a place to rest and digest the meal.
Being ectothermic they will need to find warmth to digest their meal. They require internal temperatures between 80-85°F for proper digestion, so, they will need to find a location where there is good sunlight but enough cover to hide them. Depending on the size of the meal, digestion can last up to a week.
This scenario can be altered if prey density is low. If it is, rattlesnakes may move, and forage more than they typically do. As you can see, an approaching human during any part of this scenario would be unwanted by the snake.
In the next article we will take a closer look at the venom of these snakes.
References
Rubio, M. 2010. Rattlesnakes of the United States and Canada. ECO Herpetological Publishing & Distribution. Rodeo, New Mexico. pp. 307.
Gibbons, W., Dorcas, M. 2005. Snakes of the Southeast. The University of Georgia Press. Athens, Georgia. pp. 253.
Graham, S.P. 2018. American Snakes. John’s Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Maryland. pp. 293.
by Rick O'Connor | Nov 10, 2025
Over the last decade human-bear encounters have increased across Florida, including the Panhandle. Recently the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) posted advice on how we can prepare for the fall season.
Florida Black Bear visiting an easy food source.
They mention that fall is a time when bears begin seeking additional food sources to prepare for winter. An adult bear can consume up to 20,000 calories a day during this prep period. All creatures will seek the easiest source of food, reducing energy effort in capturing, and will take the opportunity to raid garbage cans, pet food left outside, and even bird feeders. Here are tips FWC suggests.
- Never Feed Bears. Doing so will reduce their natural fear of humans, and intentionally doing so is illegal in Florida.
- Secure Food and Garbage. Some suggestions on how to do this…
- Keep your trash can in a sturdy shed or garage and do not place on the street until morning.
- Modify your trash can to make it more secure. Tips for this can be found from FWC at Instructions on Making a Trashcan Bear-Resistant.
- Purchase a bear resistant trash can. Bear Resistant Trash Containers.
- They are attracted to gardens, compost piles, beehives, and livestock. Take measures to reduce their ability to reach these.
- Pick ripe from fruit trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
- Remove, or secure, bird feeders. If you want to feed winter birds, place only enough food for the delay and remove it at night. You can find other suggestions to help winter birds at this site – Attract Backyard Birds, Not Backyard Bears – BearWise.
- Never leave pet food outdoors. This is actually a good suggestion to reduce raccoon, coyote, and other wildlife encounters. If you must feed your pet outside, do so for only short periods and bring all food after dark.
- Clean and store grills.
- Alert neighbors to bear activities. Share these tips with them and your HOA.
Bears are generally afraid of humans and are not aggressive but can become so when there are mothers protecting cubs, and dogs. 60% of all human-bear encounters involved dogs. When walking your dogs keep them on a short leash and be aware of your surroundings and your dog’s reaction to your surroundings. Before letting your dog out at night turn the exterior lights on and off several times and bang the door. Keep in mind they will be moving more this time of year and are most often encountered on the roads at dawn and dusk.
If you have further questions, or need further information, search the FWC website.
by Mark Mauldin | Aug 4, 2025
Deer grazing test plots at the NFREC in Quincy. Quality food plots take effort and planning.
The during the blistering heat of the last week of a Florida July is generally not a time when people think a lot about planting crops, but maybe it should be. Late summer can be a surprisingly active time in the world of wildlife food plots.
For those land managers who already have well established food plots, this time frame represents the end of the window for planting summer annual forages. Of the summer annuals that are particularly appealing to deer, cowpeas standout as the best option for late summer plantings. There are also several grass crops that can be planted late summer in food plots focusing on birds. While earlier plantings allow crops time to grow before pest and disease pressure peak in late summer, they also mean the crops will have matured and stopped growing before hunting season begins. Late planted forages may face some challenges and likely will not be the most beautiful crops you have ever grown but they will still be growing when archery season begins. Cowpeas take approximately 100 days to mature; this means that most years August 1st plantings will have time to mature before being killed by frost. Even if we get an early (mid-October) frost the cowpeas will have provided high quality forage right up to the beginning of archery season (October 25 in the Panhandle).
For those who are looking to establish new food plots or those whose past management may have been somewhat lacking, late summer is really when the process of preparing cool-season food plots needs to begin.
Finding the Right Spot Can Take A While
For the creation of a new food plot identifying the location is the first step. Edges, transitions between habitat types, are often a good place to start looking. Utilizing locations where deer (or whatever wildlife you are focusing on) already frequent is preferential to the “if I build it, they will” come mindset. Additional factors that cannot be overlooked are the drainage and workability of any potential site. Suitable planting options for both poorly (stands water, even occasionally) and excessively drained (deep sands) sites will be severely limited. Sites with drainage issues often have less natural vegetation making them appealing for use as a food plot since less clearing is needed. However, these sites generally do not work out well. Don’t forget, successful food plot establishment and maintenance necessitates easy access with farm equipment and ground level enough to safely operate said equipment.
A final consideration when identifying possible food plot locations is the amount of space available to work with. When it comes to food plots, size really does matter. Food plots need to be no less than ½ acre in size, preferably between 1 and 5 acres. The kinds of plants in food plots are, by design, ones that wildlife find highly desirable (because they are highly nutritious). Considering this, it is easy to understand why plantings smaller than ½ acre struggle to establish – the plants simply do not get a chance grow past the seedling stage before being eaten. Given all these considerations, finding the right spot really can take a while – get started soon because selecting the spot is just the first step.
Start Early with Pre-Plant Land Prep
After a location is identified, it is crucial to manage unwanted vegetation prior to preparing the soil and planting the food plot. If it is not eliminated, existing vegetation will compete tremendously with food plot plantings. Even if mechanical disturbance (disking, tilling, root raking, etc.) appears to remove the existing vegetation, much of it will regrow. This regrowth from established root systems will be more than a match for new seedlings. Apply herbicide before you begin soil preparation. Equally as important, give the herbicide sufficient time to do its work before mechanically disturbing the site (weeks, not days). Specific herbicide recommendations will vary depending on what vegetation you are trying to manage, but most food plot site prep applications will involve fairly high rates of glyphosate. Please don’t hesitate to call me (850-638-6180) – we can discuss your site and dial in an herbicide recommendation. You do not want to skip this step; get in front of weed pressure before you plant.
If you want a food plot to be productive and successful, you must also effectively address soil fertility issues prior to planting. First and foremost, soil pH must be corrected. Any needed applications of lime/dolomite need to take place first, well before any other fertilizer is applied (ag lime can take months to go into soil solution and alter soil pH). If fertilizers are applied before the soil pH is corrected the nutrients may still be unavailable to the plants. Once a food plot site is determined, collect a representative sample of the rooting zone soil and submit it to a lab for analysis. This is the best way to get the information needed to make informed choices regarding lime and fertilizer applications. Talk with the folks at your local Extension Office for more info on how to collect and submit soil samples. Take and submit soil samples now. Apply any need lime soon, during land preparation. Apply recommended fertilizer (N, P, K, and micros) at planting or soon after emergence. Fertilizer applied when there are no plant roots present to adsorb it is wasted.
Recap – Assuming the goal is to plant a cool-season food plot prior to the beginning of hunting season you need to pick and clear a spot, kill weeds, and soil sample very soon. After weeds have had time to die (30 days +/-), apply any needed lime/dolomite and till/disc under dead weeds and lime.
Ideally, you’d get all this done several weeks before the fall planting window (10/1-11/15) gets here. In that event, let the plot rest; let the tilled soil settle and rain-pack and let the next flush of weeds germinate. Many of our fall planted food plot crops, clovers in particular, do better when planted into a very firm seed bed making the resting period very beneficial. Additionally, another herbicide application, to take out the most recent flush of weeds, can be made at planting time ensuring your plot gets started clean and free from competition.
I know it’s hot, but as a land manager there is always something to do. Fall will be here before you know it, and now is the time to start getting ready.
by Jennifer Bearden | Jan 31, 2025
Before you know it spring turkey season will be upon us and now is the time to start planning a killer turkey food plot. Establishing a great food plot takes more than just planting seeds. It takes planning and preparation prior to planting those seeds. The prime turkey food plot is chufas. Chufas are yellow nutsedges that turkeys absolutely love.
The first step is finding a good spot. A 20ft x 20ft spot with no trees and ample sunlight will work well. You can select a larger spot but that increases the cost of planting. Chufas prefer full sunlight so make sure the area gets 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
Next step is to take a soil sample from the area. Here’s a video demonstrating how to properly take a soil sample. When you get your soil sample results back, you will want to adjust the pH as necessary. Perform this task well ahead of planting to give the lime time to raise the pH. Chufas grow best with the soil pH between 6.0-7.0.
Now other animals love chufas too, like hogs and rabbits. I wouldn’t plant chufas if you know you have a large population of rabbits or you have a feral hog problem. Reduce those populations before planting chufas.
Other options include plants such as brown top millet and buckwheat. Turkeys love tender young shoots. You can plant these in March ahead of spring turkey season. These plots also will attract insects which the turkeys feed on.
Now we get to the fun part – planting. Chufas can be planted anytime between April and July. They germinate quickly once soil temperatures are above 65º F.. You can plow the area or use a herbicide like glyphosate to kill existing vegetation. For chufas, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide like trifluralin or pendimethalin to help suppress weeds during the growing season.
| Plant |
Broadcast Seeding Rate |
| Chufas |
40-50lb/acre |
| Brown top millet |
20-25lb/acre |
| Buckwheat |
50- 55lb/acre |
I find that packing the soil after broadcasting the seed, either by driving over it or by using a cultipacker, helps with germination as the seeds flourish with a firm seed bed.
Next, fertilize according to your soil test results and enjoy a great spring turkey season.
