Meet the Barnacle
You might say this is a strange title – “meet the barnacle” – because everyone knows what a barnacle is… or do they? As a marine science instructor, I gave my students what is called a lab practical. This is a test where you move around the room and answer...
It’s Been a Cruel Summer, Especially for Southern Oyster Farmers
There is a term that all oyster farmers dislike, it is almost like that one villain from a famous book/movie series where they shouldn’t say his name. That term is “unexplained spring/summer mortality” and it has been a growing issue along with the expansion of oyster...
Beat the Heat – Avoid Heat Related Illnesses
It’s no surprise that it gets hot in Florida during this time of year. We are the “Sunshine State” of course. The National Weather Service issues heat advisories when the heat index is forecast to be over 100°F for at least 2 days and nighttime temperatures are...
Meet the Chicken Turtle
I recently wrote an article introducing some to a panhandle turtle that is not as well-known as most – the map turtles. This week I am going to write about another lesser-known species – the chicken turtle. Some may say “is there a turtle REALLY called the...
Wildlife Food Plots: A Quick Guide to Success
With the recent discovery of CWD in Florida and the subsequent prohibition of feeding deer within the CWD Management Zone there has been some additional motivation applied to hunters/land managers to establish new food plots. Moreover, the timing and unexpected nature...
Whale I’ll Be!
We are fortunate to have several whale species that have been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico including humpback whales, Rice whales, fin whales, sperm whales, sei whales, and orca whales. Recently, however, we have seen multiple reports of whale sharks near shore in...
Meet the Map Turtles
Florida has a great variety of turtles. Actually, the species richness here is higher than any other state – though Alabama may argue. Many are familiar to us. If we have not seen them, we have at least heard of them. But that may not be the...
Meet the Bay Scallop
As I write this, we are in the middle of our 2023 Scallop Search, an event we do each year to assess whether the scallops in Pensacola Bay are trying to make a comeback on their own. Each year I am amazed at how popular this little mollusk is. On the day I...
Gearing up for Red Snapper
Welcome to Red Snapper Season 2023! The season began June 1, 2023 at 12:01am for "For Hire" vessels fishing in federal waters and continues through August 25, 2023. For Florida recreational anglers in state waters, the season started a few days later on June 16. While...
Our Intense Weather and Climate Change
Everyone has noticed the intense weather that crossed the United States in recent years. Tornadoes are hitting communities throughout the Midwest, but are also hitting places like Seattle, southern California, and even recently Pensacola Beach. ...