Looking Out for Horseshoe Crabs
Spring is here and that can only mean one thing, horseshoe crabs! That’s right it’s horseshoe crab survey time! Each spring the scientists with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) look for volunteers to report horseshoe crab sightings around...
Sinkholes in the Florida Panhandle, Facts and Resources
During our heavy March rainfall events a tiny sinkhole appeared in my yard. While it was only 3 feet across, it was over 5 feet deep! After reading about the various types and causes of sinkholes, I decided it was most likely a “subsidence incident” sinkhole caused...
Improving Water Quality and Bringing Back the Bayous
Those who have lived in the Panhandle area for many years will remember the days when our local bayous were places people water skied, kids learned to swim, and fishermen brought home plenty of speckled trout. But today we see little of this. Water quality within...
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 10th): Palmer Amaranth & Nutria
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 10th: Palmer Amaranth (Palmer amaranth) & Nutria (Myocastor coypus): Palmer Amaranth: Palmer Amaranth, a type of pigweed, is invading the Southeast. It is a very troublesome weed for us...
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 9th): Mimosa Tree & Eurasian Water Milfoil
Mimosa Tree: When traveling down secluded roads, one always marvels at the beautiful fragrant puff-like flowers lining the right of way. Many people decide that they must have one for their yard. Unfortunately, obtaining one for landscaping purposes is a bad decision....
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 8th): Red Imported Fire Ant & Giant Tiger Prawn
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 8th: Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) & Giant Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon): Red Imported Fire Ant: Many of us cherish childhood memories of family picnics during summer. What we...
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 7th): Chinaberry & Water Lettuce
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 7th: Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) & Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes): Chinaberry: The Chinaberry tree has been around so long, you’d think it was a native instead of an invasive exotic plant....
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 6th): Chinese Privet & Alligator Weed
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 6th: Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) & Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides): http://youtu.be/bB0qSihNSdM Video courtesy of Aquatic and Invasive Plant Identification Series by the...
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 5th): Wild Hogs and Water Hyacinth
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 5th: Wild Hogs (Sus scrofa) & Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Wild Hogs: Wild Hogs, also called Feral Hogs, are not native to the United States. Wild hogs are highly adaptable and can...
Invasive Species of the Day Series (March 4th): Cogongrass and Hydrilla
National Invasive Species Awareness Week: March 3rd – March 8th March 4th: Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) & Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata): Cogongrass: Cogongrass is one of the 10 worst weeds in the world. This grass is an aggressive grower and forms colonies...