Bringing the Indigo Back to the Panhandle
With great interest I read this week that the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation in central Florida has begun a project to reintroduce the federally listed Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais cooper) to the Florida Panhandle; where there have been no verified...
E-15 Gasoline is Here… marine motors and lawn care providers should be aware
Okay... Let's start at the beginning. We began drilling oil over 100 years ago. The crude was refined into kerosene, gasoline, plastics, and other products that have completely changed our lives. A huge international industry developed from the drilling and employed...
Do Constricting Snakes Really Kill Their Prey by Suffocation?
Most people, including myself, have been taught this. Snakes are in an unusual situation of trying to kill prey with no hands or claws. A few can inject venom, others either swallow it whole (such as an egg) or the coil around their prey “suffocating” it – or so we...
The Mystery on Seahorse Key
First let me explain that Seahorse Key is not in the Florida Panhandle but the story is interesting and a similar phenomena could occur here. Seahorse Key is an isolated island 3.6 miles southwest of Cedar Key in Florida's Big Bend. There is a science lab owned and...
The Giant Banana Spiders – part of our panhandle summer
TELL ME NO! Please tell me these huge spiders are not a part of our summer. People are afraid snakes… that’s a given - but there are just as many afraid of spiders. Honestly, after years of leading field hikes into the north Florida environment, when we encounter a...
Ghost Crabs… raiders of the night
For locals along the coast ghost crabs are as common as mockingbirds and mourning doves. Before Ivan, when the dunes were larger and closer to the road, viewing the white crabs scouring across the road at night in your headlights forced all into defensive...
The Sweet Sound of Summer – Cicadas
I was sitting on my back porch late in the afternoon this past week enjoying the breeze and the sunset when the familiar sound of the bugs some call “locust” began their buzzing songs. Not all would agree with me but I really enjoy the sound of these animals. They...
Hermit Crabs Add to Summer Fun At North Florida Beaches
Summertime in north Florida is good. Among the premium experiences are leisurely hours at the beach. For many this is a period of relaxation and the opportunity to casually examine what the surf has thrown on the beach. It can be the culmination of a summer vacation...
The Osprey: Apex Predator and Master Angler
In north Florida water sports are a supreme pastime in summer. Fishing is among the most popular activity for all ages in this recreational realm. Human anglers are not the only competitors seeking to land a trophy specimen. Ospreys, the local avian apex fisher, are...
Florida’s Rangeland Agriculture and the Environment: A Natural Partnership
Most of us living in panhandle Florida recognize that our farmers and ranchers are committed to sustainable production of food, fiber, and fuel for generations to come, but how will farmers continue to be productive while sharing natural resources with an ever growing...