’24-’25 Deer Hunting Regulations in the Panhandle – Check Before You Hunt
All graphics and information included are courtesy of myfwc.com. Here in the Panhandle (FWC Zone D), we are just under 3 months away from the October 26 opening day of archery season. As we move through summer and into the home stretch of hunting season preparations...
Exploring Your Watershed
Do you know what is your watershed? There was, is, and will be the same amount of water on planet Earth. Water is a finite resource. The United States Geologic Survey estimates Earth holds around 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. Only 330,520 cubic kilometers,...
The World of Worms; Part 1 – Flatworms
People enjoy animals. Zoos and wildlife parks are popular tourist destinations and animal programs are popular on television. It is usually the larger predator animals that get our attention. Sharks, panthers, and bears are popular. People like turtles, raptors,...
Another Look at Climate Change; Part 4 – What Can Be Done?
In this series we have found that in the 1970s and 1980s climate scientists developed models that could predict the effects of a warming planet on society. We saw that society, at that time, had little faith in the accuracy of those model predictions. We also saw that...
Another Look at Climate Change – Part 3 What Are Some Possible Effects of a Warmer Atmosphere?
As I mentioned in Part 1, I taught environmental science in the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century. Reviewing the textbook used for that course I provide information below that was taught at the time. The purpose of this series on Another Look at Climate...
Another Look at Climate Change – Part 2 How Might the Earth’s Temperature and Climate Change in the Future?
As I mentioned in Part 1, I taught Environmental Science in the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century. The information provided below was taught at that time. The purpose of this series on Another Look at Climate Change is to see if the predictions made at...
Meet the Ocellated Flounder
One of several “flatfish” inhabiting our Panhandle coastal waters, the ocellated flounder (Ancylopsetta ommata) is one of the more striking species, in my opinion. From the four distinctive eye spots (ocelli) to its incredible variability in background patterns, I...
Sharks
Today’s society is more educated about sharks and shark behavior than our forefathers. In the 18th, 19th, and much of the 20th century we thought of sharks as mindless eating machines – consuming anything available. Whalers would witness sharks consuming carcasses,...
Another Look at Climate Change – Part 1 Introduction
Many from the “baby boomer” generation, which includes me, can probably tell you weather patterns have changed since we were kids. Growing up in Pensacola I remember the pattern of a typical summer day. It would be sunny in the morning, when most of us would get out...
The Estuary’s Natural Filtration System Part 2
In Part 1 of The Estuary’s Natural Filtration System article, we discussed the major contributors to natural filtration inside of the estuary. These examples included oysters, marsh plants, and seagrasses. In Part 2, we will discuss the smaller filter-feeding...