![2013 Lionfish Summit; update on FWC meeting in Cocoa Beach](https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/files/2012/11/Lionfish-Stevely1.jpg)
2013 Lionfish Summit; update on FWC meeting in Cocoa Beach
It seems everyone in the Panhandle is talking about the invasive lionfish. This non-native member of the scorpionfish family was first seen in U.S. waters in 1989 near Ft. Lauderdale. Over the last two decades, much has been learned about the biology and potential...
![Can Culturing Oysters Be Part of the Fishery Recovery?](https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/files/2013/07/oyster-aquaculture-in-apalachicola2.jpg)
Can Culturing Oysters Be Part of the Fishery Recovery?
What: A Conversation About Oyster Aquaculture When: Monday, July 29, 2013, 2 to 5 p.m. Where: Community Center, Apalachicola (Ten Foot Hole) Seeking insights into the pros and cons of growing oysters, Apalachicola's commercial oyster industry has asked members of the...
Beach Vitex… Is It a Growing Problem?
It’s actually a pretty plant, this Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia), and it is very good at stabilizing eroding dunes. In the 1990’s, the state of South Carolina planted this shrub to help restore dunes lost during hurricanes. It was selected because of salt...
![A means of survival: Mimicry](https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/files/2013/07/NR-Mimicry.jpg)
A means of survival: Mimicry
“Imitation is the sincerest of flattery,” wrote Charles Caleb Colton. Colton was a sometimes cleric, essayist, wine merchant and gambler who bounced around Europe and North America during the early nineteenth century. It is likely many of his financial lenders hoped...
Wildlife Flourishes in Florida’s Summer! But Watch for Invaders Too!
Each of Florida’s seasons are characterized by a variety of amazing and beautiful wildlife activities. Below is a list of some notable native wildlife behaviors occurring in July and August around the state. July Birds Shorebird migration starts in mid-July, peaking...
Forestry Tools Jefferson and Leon Outdoor Camp
Campers Measuring Trees with Division of Forestry.
Swamps: Watershed or Wasteland?
Recent rains have left water standing on some panhandle Florida real estate which has been dry for several years. Ponds, natural and dug, are brimming with water reflecting the generous outpouring from the slow and wet weather system which passed listlessly over the...
Looking Out for Horseshoe Crabs
Spring is here and that can only mean one thing, horseshoe crabs! That’s right it’s horseshoe crab survey time! Each spring the scientists with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) look for volunteers to report horseshoe crab sightings around...
Sinkholes in the Florida Panhandle, Facts and Resources
During our heavy March rainfall events a tiny sinkhole appeared in my yard. While it was only 3 feet across, it was over 5 feet deep! After reading about the various types and causes of sinkholes, I decided it was most likely a “subsidence incident” sinkhole caused...
Improving Water Quality and Bringing Back the Bayous
Those who have lived in the Panhandle area for many years will remember the days when our local bayous were places people water skied, kids learned to swim, and fishermen brought home plenty of speckled trout. But today we see little of this. Water quality within...