Backyard Shiitake Mushrooms: a Tasty and SAFE DIY Project
Have you ever eaten a wild mushroom and then wondered afterwards if you might have made a mistake? If you are prone to forage outdoors for tasty treats from nature, I’ll bet you have. The problem is, unless you are harvesting one of a few “foolproof” species of edible...
Hurricanes and floods: Meeting the resource needs of private well owners
As hurricane season is upon us again, I wanted to share the results of work that UF/IFAS Extension staff did with collaborators from Virginia Tech and Texas A&M University to help private well owners impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey last year. This work...
An Intimidating Fish They Call the Stingray
It is now late May and in recent weeks I, and several volunteers, have been surveying the area for terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and monitoring local seagrass beds. We see many creatures when we are out and about; one that has been quite common all over the bay has been...
The Air Potato Challenge
By L. Scott Jackson and Julie B. McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County Northwest Florida’s pristine natural world is being threaten by a group of non-native plants and animals known collectively as invasive species. Exotic invasive species originate from other...
Restoring the Health of Pensacola Bay, What Can You Do to Help? – Sediments
In the mid 1990’s, the Bay Area Resource Council was created. This multi-county (Escambia and Santa Rosa) organization included local scientists and decision makers to help better understand the health of Pensacola Bay, develop a plan for restoration, and work...
The Crown Conch – A Slow Predator of the Estuary
In recent weeks, volunteers and I have been surveying local estuaries counting terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and monitoring seagrass. One animal that has been very visible during these surveys is the relatively large snail known as the crown conch (Melongena corona). ...
Storm Season is Right Around the Corner, Let’s Be Ready
Storm Season is Right Around the Corner, Let’s Be Ready Ray Bodrey, UF/IFAS Gulf County Extension Director Hurricane season technically begins on June 1st and ends November 30th. However, storm season may reach us in the Panhandle as early as Memorial Day weekend. As...
Camp Timpoochee: Marine Camps 2018
Are you interested in learning about marine life, going fishing, or exploring the underwater world with a mask and snorkel? If so, this is the camp for you! This local education opportunity for budding marine scientists will be happening this summer at Camp Timpoochee...
Restoring the Health of Pensacola Bay, what can you do to help? Biodiversity
Records of the variety of aquatic life in Pensacola Bay go back to the 18th century. According to these reports, over 1400 species of plants and animals call Pensacola Bay home. Many of them depend on seagrass, oyster reefs, or marshes to complete their life cycle. ...
Using Water Wisely in the Panhandle
It’s a struggle to manage our Panhandle landscapes, especially over the late spring-summer months. Just remember, small adjustments can mean significant impacts in conserving water. Some homeowners are not aware that watering plants too much can have as much of an ill...