A Pretty Problem: Invasives Which Bloom in Autumn
Autumn is usually considered the season of colors in the natural parts of north Florida, and other locations in North America. This tonal attribute is commonly credited to the foliage changes as the growing season ends. Maples, sweet gums, hickory and many others make...
Tree Triage: Deciding how to deal with downed and damaged trees after a storm
It has been more than two weeks since devastating Hurricane Michael landed hard on the coast of Florida. Central-Panhandle counties from the Gulf to the Alabama line are in full recovery mode, struggling to return to normal after many days without power and clean...
The Wacissa River: Clear and Wild
Being off the beaten path has many advantages. In the case of a spring-fed river, it translates to less pressure from human use and a great opportunity for those who do visit to experience the “real Florida”. The Wacissa River, located in the southern half of...
What’s Up With the Rattlesnakes?
In the past week, three eastern diamondback rattlesnakes were encountered near the Ft. Pickens area on Pensacola Beach. The first was at a condominium unit near the park gate where construction work was occurring, the second was found swimming in the surf of the Gulf...
Who is the Creature That Causes Red Tide: Information on Karenia brevis
When I was in high school we were required to take a semester of communism during our senior year - the idea was to "know the enemy". That is what we plan to do here... But, the enemy is a microscopic plant. Its name is Karenia brevis. It is one of about 10...
A Look at Some of Our Colorful and Intriguing Native Bees
Beekeeping is thriving in Panhandle Florida and the importance of honeybee health and pollination is frequently in the news. As much as 1/3 of our food supply depends on the pollinating activities of honeybees, and because of this fact, pollinator protection was...
Mast Producing Crops for Wildlife
It’s that time of year when landowners, hunters, and other wildlife enthusiasts begin to plan and prepare fall and winter food plots to attract wildlife like the nice buck in the photo. Annual food plots are expensive and labor intensive to plant every year and with...
Nature Notes – The Blue Crab
Most kids who grew up on the Gulf Coast grew up catching blue crabs. These animals are common along our shorelines, relatively easy to catch, and adventurous because they may bite you. I caught my first one in 1965 and we proudly displayed the boiled shell over the...
Now is the Time to Start Preparing for Cool-Season Food Plots
I know it feels too hot outside to talk about hunting season or cool-season food plots, but planting time will be here before you know it and now’s the time to start preparing. The recommended planting date for practically all cool-season forage crops in Northwest...
Our “Seahawk”; the Osprey
As a kid growing up here along the Gulf Coast, I had never heard of an osprey. Now, there is at least one mating pair on almost every body of water in the Pensacola Bay area. Where did this once unknown bird come from? How has it successfully colonized our coastal...