The Nesting Bald Eagles are Back
On a recent trip to Santa Rosa Island, my wife saw two bald eagles flying down the shore of Santa Rosa Sound. Wanting photos of the nest, we searched and found two individuals in a small nest (for an eagle) in a tall pine. One individual was an adult, the other a...
Deer Rut in Northwest Florida
This time of year in Northwest Florida, deer hunters are busy talking about the rut! What’s the rut, you might ask? Simply put, it’s deer breeding season. Deer hunters speculate on peak rut times each year. There are even peak rut forecasts. Why are hunters...
A Speedy Serpent – the Southern Black Racer
As we begin our wildlife series for 2019, we will start with a snake that almost everyone has encountered but knows little about – the southern black racer. This snake is common for many reasons. It is found throughout the eastern United States It is diurnal, meaning...
Embrace the Gulf 2020
“The Gulf of Mexico provides food, shelter, protection, security, energy, habitat, recreation, transportation, and navigation – playing an important role in our communities, states, region, and nation. To highlight the value and the vitality of the Gulf of Mexico...
Underwater Dreaming
They say that dreams don’t work unless you take action. In the case of some Walton County Florida dreamers, their actions have transpired into the first Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) installation in the United States. In 2017, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton...
All’s Quiet on the Western Front… or is it?
Those of us who enjoy wildlife viewing do not see much this time of year. The days are shorter and colder. Most creatures have left or are hiding from the winter air. We grew up learning about hibernation and winter life for animals. But why do they do this? And...
Man What a Year for Natural Resources… 2018
It has been one crazy year in the world of natural resources in the Florida panhandle. I guess the top stories would be the red tide and, of course, Hurricane Michael. Both had an impact environmentally and economically in the area. We did not see the red tide in...
Arbor Day is January 18, 2019
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is for Arbor Day. Florida recognizes the event on the third Friday in January, but planting any time before spring will establish a tree quickly. Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates...
Wakulla Springs Offers The Biggest, And The Best, Natural Florida Experience
Florida’s park system has many unique and quality experiences to offer visitors, but few stand out as much as The Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. It is home of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. The brisk water is home to manatees, alligators...
Native Evergreen Christmas Trees to Rebuild the Panhandle
Throughout history the evergreen tree has been a symbol of life. “Not only green when summer’s here, but also when it’s cold and dreary” as the Christmas carol “O Tannenbaum” says. After such devastating tree losses in the Panhandle this year, this winter is a prime...