Eels of the Florida Panhandle
Eels… when that name comes up most think of either the vicious moray eels or the famous electric eel. Moray eels do exist in the Florida panhandle, and we will talk about them. Electric eels do not, they are found in the Amazon River system. That said, we do have...
Six Rivers CISMA EDRR Invasive Species of the Month – Hydrilla
EDRR Invasive Species Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Define Invasive Species: must have ALL of the following – Is non-native to the area, in our case northwest Florida Introduced by humans, whether intentional or accidental Causing either an environmental or...
The Changing Climate: Part 1
Mark Twain once said – “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it”. I guess you could say the same for climate. The topic has been around for a while. As an undergrad science major in the late 1970s, we discussed what was then called...
Preparing an Emergency Safe Drinking Water Supply Before a Storm
Storm season is upon us. During a natural disaster, normal drinking water supplies can quickly become contaminated. To be prepared, collect and store a safe drinking water supply for your household before a storm arrives. How much water should be stored? Store enough...
Summertime is SSSnake Time
It seems like there has always been a soft spot in my heart for snakes. From a young age, I was fascinated with all reptiles. The rural fabric of where I grew up in Central Florida (think late-1960s) afforded many opportunities for us kids to roam the woods and fields...
Where Have All the Scallops Gone?
For those who lived in the Pensacola Bay area 50 or so years ago, this question comes up from time to time. By scallop I am speaking of the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), the one sought by so many scallopers then and now. This relatively small bivalve sits on...
Six Rivers CISMA Dirty Dozen Invasive Species of the Month – Chinese Mimosa
Six Rivers “Dirty Dozen” Invasive Species Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) Define Invasive Species: must have all of the following – Is non-native to the area, in our case northwest Florida Introduced by humans, whether intentional or accidental Causing...
Tarpon in the Florida Panhandle
This is a famous fish. If you look back at the old tourism magazines of the early 20th century you will see a lot about tarpon fishing in Florida. As a matter of fact, some say that tarpon fishing was the beginning of the tourism industry in the state. Also known...
Connecting With Youth Through the Love of the Outdoors
By Rachel Mathes My only brother and his family live in Appleton, Wisconsin. Though I’m only able to see my niece and nephews one or two times a year, we have a deep connection through our love of the outdoors. Their middle son, Zachary, is a budding naturalist at...
Six Rivers EDRR Invasive Species of the Month – Green Mussels
EDRR Invasive Species Green Mussel (Perna viridis) Define Invasive Species: must have ALL of the following – Is non-native to the area, in our case northwest Florida Introduced by humans, whether intentional or accidental Causing either an environmental or economic...