EcoFlorida: Your Guide to Exploring Natural Florida

Coral coming back, but high temps spell disaster

2009-08-11T00:21:00.004-04:00

Elkhorn coral are "coming back like gang-busters," according to the Miami Herald (just what is a gang-buster?), but warmer water temperatures mean trouble for all coral. Coral around Key Biscayne are already showing signs of paling, which is a step toward bleaching -- and coral bleaching is bad. The article has the details.

This doesn't even seem like a hotter-than-usual summer, even though a few days have had record temperatures.

Birdwatching is a $36B business

2009-08-01T16:47:00.006-04:00

Most wildlife watchers already know that their hobby is big business. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service backs that up with a new report that shows birdwatchers contribute $36 Billion to our economy.

That's a lot of money, but it didn't surprise me. I was surprised, though, to see the birding participation rate is only 17% in Florida. (The national average is 21%.) However, 79% of residents say they are birdwatchers. Go figure.

Florida has great birdwatching!

Check out the report – Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis.

A Silent Sports Outfitter

2009-06-24T16:43:00.002-04:00

EcoFlorida welcomes A Silent Sports Outfitter to the EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory. Find more outfitters and tour guides there for your nature excursions.

Nationwide outdoors events encourage people to head into nature

2009-06-12T23:57:00.000-04:00

June 13 is National Get Outdoors Day, a push by the U.S. Forest Service and other organizations to get people to explore public lands. There are only three locations in Florida holding events -- Florida's three national forests (Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala). It's a good idea to encourage people to visit the forests -- I wonder if they will. It is summer, after all, and hurricane season here.

That might or might not stop people from participating in the Great American Backyard Campout on June 27. This is an annual event by the National Wildlife Federation to help foster a love of nature in kids. I don't know about you, but I'm not keen on camping here in the summer -- I prefer to camp in winter. And yes, I tent camp -- no air-conditioned camper or RV for me.

Have you or do you camp in Florida in the summer?

$15,000 reward offered to find who shot and killed Florida panther

2009-06-12T23:37:00.003-04:00

A female Florida panther was shot and killed in April in Hendry County, and wildlife officials are still trying to find out whodunit. State and federal investigators treat the crime just like a murder mystery, according to the St. Petersburg Times. (Hi, Craig Pittman!) Groups have now come forward with reward money -- $15,000 worth -- to find the killer.

It has been illegal to shoot a panther in Florida since 1958, the article said.

Florida panthers are highly endangered, with only about 100 of them living in the state.

Sugar company buyout for Everglades restoration approved by board

2009-05-19T15:55:00.006-04:00

The state of Florida's buyout of U.S. Sugar Corp. to restore the Everglades is a step closer to reality after the South Florida Water Management District approved of the deal last week, according to the Miami Herald and other sources.

The water district's governing board agreed to a scaled-back version of the original plan for the state to buy out the sugar company and take over the land. Florida lawmakers had threatened to disapprove of the deal back in December -- which still could happen -- and there is still the issue of funding. Previously, the state proposed to pay more than a billion dollars for 180,000 acres; last week, water managers approved of $536 million for 72,800 acres.

Kayaking Florida's Forgotten Coast

2009-05-03T17:58:00.002-04:00

Here is a nice feature on paddling around the Apalachicola area from the New York Times.

For a list of outfitters and tour guides in the area, check out the EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory.

Florida's top camping spots

2009-04-27T17:23:00.006-04:00

Naming the best sports team or car could spark an argument. Listing the best beaches or camping spots in Florida could also be fighting words!

But the Miami Herald took the plunge and recently published Florida's top spots for family camping. Some of the places I would have picked made the list: Fort De Soto, Bahia Honda, Myakka River, Lake Kissimmee, Blue Spring and Silver River. The truth is there are so many nice places to camp in Florida that it would be hard to narrow it down.

People are supposedly turning to camping more and more now because of the economy. What do you think -- true?

Image of Bahia Honda State Park from Florida State Parks Web site

Peregrine falcon

2009-04-27T17:14:00.003-04:00

The state of Florida is preparing to take the peregrine falcon off its endangered species list, according to Florida Today. The Audubon Society of Florida said it supports delisting but is still concerned to see the bird be protected.

Peregrine falcons spend winters in Florida and were delisted from the federal Endangered Species List in 1999. Find out more about them in the article.

Weeki Wachee Springs cave divers explore even farther in America's deepest spring

2009-04-21T21:53:00.004-04:00

Many people consider space to be the final frontier, but cave divers are still exploring and learning things people didn't previously know about our subterranean world.

Cave divers took advantage of Florida's drought conditions to get through narrow passageways and explore more of Weeki Wachee Springs, discovered almost two years ago to be the deepest spring in the United States, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

The divers are trying to prove the spring is connected to another nearby through a series of underground channels.

100 ways to see Florida in 100 days

2009-03-04T16:32:00.003-05:00

Could you rediscover Florida in 100 different ways in 100 days? The Florida Department of Environmental Protection hopes people will, and they have a handy list of 100 ways to encourage you. The idea is getting people outdoors and pointing out you don't have to spend a lot of money to do so.

I think this is a great idea, but I'm a little wary of the word "rediscover." Maybe some folks need to rediscover their own state, but I don't feel I have to! Do you?

Almost Heaven Kayak Adventures

2009-03-04T16:27:00.001-05:00

The EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory welcomes Almost Heaven Kayak Adventures in the Sarasota area.

Right whales face challenges in Florida waters

2009-02-18T16:12:00.006-05:00

U.S. Navy exercises and the resulting concern for marine animals isn't new. Usually, you hear about sonar possibly causing marine mammals like dolphins and whales to beach themselves despite the Navy's insistence sonar doesn't do any harm.

Navy exercises off Florida's eastern coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, which are close to being approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, could cause two million deaths of marine mammals each year, according to the current issue of Right Whale News, a newsletter produced by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium. That number is the Navy's own estimate, according to the article.

Right whale proponents are alarmed because an undersea warfare training site could be located off Jacksonville -- key calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers only in the hundreds. And considering a record number of the whales have been entangled this winter (calving season) off the Florida and Georgia coasts where the whales give birth, according to The Boston Globe, this is even more bad news for the highly endangered species.

The Right Whale News article reported, "The Navy has rejected a long list of mitigation measures that could reduce the harmful impacts of its sonar training, including seasonal restrictions during the right whale calving period and geographic exclusions of the right whale calving ground." See the article for more details.

Image from North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium site

Snorkeling Florida: 50 Excellent Sites interview with Brad Bertelli

2009-01-20T15:50:00.006-05:00

I've been lax in posting this great interview with Brad Bertelli, author of the new book Snorkeling Florida: 50 Excellent Sites. (Bad blogger! Bad!) EcoFlorida often gets questions about where to snorkel, so I know snorkeling is popular. I even told Brad he should start his own Florida snorkeling blog! I don't know if he will take up that project, but he did kindly answer some questions and patiently wait for me to post them here.

Q: What inspired you to write Snorkeling Florida: 50 Excellent Sites?

A: Before moving to the Florida Keys in 2001, I wrote fiction. I had just graduated with my MFA from the University of Miami and sent my newly enhanced resume everywhere I could. As a result my first paying gig as a writer was with the “Florida Scuba News.” I’ve always loved snorkeling and suddenly I was immersed in the water culture of the Keys. What came to my attention was that while there were countless books on scuba diving in Florida, no one was writing about the snorkeling. There were snorkeling guides for Hawaii, Guam, the Virgin Islands, but very little directed solely at snorkelers. I wrote a book proposal to the University Press of Florida and here we are.

Q: What are some of the most memorable snorkeling experiences you've had in Florida?

A: I was sitting out back on the dock working on a story for the “Scuba News” when I saw a seahorse swim by. The crest of its head was cutting the surface of the water like the tiniest dorsal fin from a minuscule shark. I am endlessly thrilled whenever parrotfish are near. I like listening to them feed on the corals which sounds, to me, like celery being chomped. Swimming down the jetty at Destin Pass up in the panhandle I saw a flounder resting up on one of the rocks. I’d never seen a flounder before. The most memorable experience would have to be the baby manatee in King’s River that took my arm in its flipper and pulled my hand to the cradle of its soft chin.

Q: What is so great about snorkeling in Florida?

A: Warm crystal clear turquoise waters, coral reefs, sunken Spanish galleons, fresh water springs, rivers, manatees—I could go on. In terms of snorkeling in mainland North America, Florida is the only destination.

Q: Are there any misconceptions about snorkeling in Florida?

A: The biggest misconception about snorkeling in Florida waters are the prominence of man eating sharks. There are sharks in the water and relative precautions should always be followed. Don’t snorkel at dusk or dawn. Always snorkel with a buddy and never with an open wound. I was snorkeling at Looe Key when I had my first bona fide shark encounter. It was a five foot Caribbean reef shark. It was so close I had to resist the urge to reach out and stroke it. They are beautiful, magnificent fish and totally get a bad rap here in Florida. The odds of winning the lottery twice in the same year are greater than getting bitten by a shark.

Q: What is your favorite spring for snorkeling? Your favorite coastal area?

A: To be perfectly honest, these springs are my least favorite snorkeling environments and only because I hate cold water. For those who can take the cold, they can prove magnificent for their clarity alone, but the springs are not for me. Having said that, my answer is the springs Rainbow Springs. The spring is beautiful, but the Rainbow River is an excellent environment. As for coastal Florida, it all depends on my mood. The southwest coastline, the southeast coastline, and the panhandle all have something a little different to offer. Each offers the chance for an amazing adventure. Much of any individual experience revolves on being at the right place at the right time and that happens everywhere.

Q: What do you think about using snorkeling equipment that is offered on a snorkeling tour: OK, or bring your own?

A: If you have your own equipment, bring it. The biggest bother with rental equipment is leaky masks. Not all masks fit all faces and nothing can ruin a perfect day out on the water faster than a leaky mask. Should you fall victim to leaky rental equipment there are two options. First off, immediately ask for another mask. Sometimes this will work and sometimes it won’t. Some snorkeling charters stow their equipment back at the dock and some right there on the boat. Should exchanging your mask out for another not be an option, be sure to bring along a tube of lip balm. Determine where the mask is leaking and smear the balm on your skin in the general area. Be liberal.

Q: Where did you go the last time you went snorkeling?

A: The last place I went snorkeling was Founder’s Park on Plantation Key. It is only a couple miles from my house. I saw the biggest seahorse I have ever seen. It had its prehensile tail wrapped around the base of a feathery purple coral. Five minutes later I was surrounded by five manatees.

Q: Where is the best place to snorkel right from a beach?

A: Hands down, Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys is the best beach snorkel in the whole of the Sunshine State.

Thanks, Brad!

If you want to learn more about snorkeling in Florida, Brad's book Snorkeling Florida: 50 Excellent Sites is perfect.

Florida lawmakers may cinch U.S. Sugar land buy

2008-12-22T15:39:00.005-05:00

The state of Florida's plan to buy U.S. Sugar Corp. to restore the Everglades has been revamped and approved by the South Florida Water Management District. However, some state lawmakers are threatening to prevent the conservation land sale and end the Everglades restoration deal, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and other sources. Those lawmakers want to get the public's opinion and have a say in the deal. In any case, one official said the water district could proceed with the purchase even without state money. So the saga continues . . . .

Kayak Charters

2008-11-25T14:52:00.001-05:00

The EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory welcomes Kayak Charters in Cape Coral.

Florida revamping plan to buy out sugar company

2008-11-17T15:27:00.005-05:00

Back to the drawing board. The state of Florida's plan to buy out U.S. Sugar Corp for $1.75 billion to acquire the company's 187,000 acres and its assets is likely to be scaled back, according to the New York Times and other sources. In the latest version of the purchase, the state would get land to hold water and help restore the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee into the Everglades, but U.S. Sugar would remain in operation.

The details are still being worked out, but environmentalists are saying that producing sugar in the Everglades is counterproductive to Everglades restoration, and some are even saying the cost to treat the polluted water should be deducted from the final sale price.

A transaction this big is sure to take some time to figure out....

Shurr Adventure Company

2008-11-17T15:25:00.001-05:00

Please welcome Shurr Adventure Company in Chokoloskee to the EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory.

Florida's state bird focus of a different kind of election

2008-11-04T15:48:00.004-05:00

Florida students in grades 4 through 8 are voting this year -- to elect a new Florida state bird, Florida Today reports. (Update: The people have spoken! It's the osprey!)

The current state bird, the mockingbird, is also the state bird of other states, and Florida wants a bird that is unique to Florida. The candidates are the osprey, great egret, black skimmer, snowy egret and brown pelican, the articles says.

Many of those birds are also found in other states, however.

The winner of the election will be named by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which will look for state Congress members to sponsor a bill to change the state bird.

I'm curious why the Florida scrub jay wasn't included among the candidates because of a previous push to name it as the Florida state bird.

Whooping cranes head to Florida for 8th year

2008-10-22T17:04:00.005-04:00

It's whooping crane time again. The experimental migratory flock of cranes are following an ultralight from Wisconsin to Florida for the eighth year. The cranes are raised from chicks to learn to follow the ultralight, then when fall arrives, they fly from their home in Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to Florida's central-western coast. (They usually end up at Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge one way or another.) Previous years' cranes now number 68, according to the article linked above, and those cranes will make their way south on their own.

The idea is to establish a flock of migratory whooping cranes in the eastern U.S. A flock already exists toward the west and winters in Texas. There is also an experimental non-migratory flock of whooping cranes that stays in Florida.

You can follow the cranes' migration on a map at the Operation Migration Web site.

I started following this story when the researchers first tried to get sandhill cranes to follow an ultralight, which was the year before they proceeded with the endangered whooping cranes. So ... holy cow, does that mean the EcoFlorida site is almost 10 years old?! Yes. I started it in 1999. Whoa....

National Public Lands Day

2008-09-26T17:20:00.003-04:00

The state and national parks, forests, preserves, etc. belong to you! If you want to help improve them, National Public Lands Day tomorrow, Sept. 27, offers a unique chance to get involved. Click here for a list of Florida events like removing exotic plants, maintaining trails and cleaning up trash.

Reader question: When is feeding crossing the line?

2008-09-19T15:29:00.003-04:00

Q: I keep seeing warning after warning: It's against the law to feed or harass wildlife, including birds. Where do they draw the line on the people who have been feeding the backyard birds in their bird feeders for years? Why do stores sell bird feeders and bird food? There must be a fine line between what you can feed and what you can't feed but, who's the one to make that decision? Do I make that decision, or does the officer issuing the ticket make that decision? -- Mike

A: You will have to check with your local laws and also any regulations in your particular community, as some people live in homeowners' associations that might have rules against bird feeders.

For us personally, though, we don't see any problem with setting out backyard bird feeders. It's when you try to hand-feed an animal that usually causes problems. If you are standing there and tossing food to the animal or even trying to get it to take food from your hand, then that's not good. If you are feeding wildlife somewhere besides your own property, then that's not good.

I like to think of it like this: Is the animal in question trying to get away from you when you approach? Most bird-feeder birds (and squirrels) will. Animals that approach you for food, though, have been habituated to depending on people for food, and that's when you know you've crossed the line.

Do any other readers have thoughts to share on this topic?

Habitat loss ahead for Florida wildlife

2008-09-08T18:06:00.004-04:00

Florida population is expected to double in the next 50 years, and that population growth could mean a loss of 7 million acres of wildlife habitat, a Lakeland Ledger article says.

Habitat loss isn't anything new, but now is as good a time as any to think about how to prevent habitat loss. It's a problem that is one of the main causes of wildlife species' downfall. Think of the Florida panther, gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay and Florida black bear, to name a few.

This isn't just bad news for wildlife -- it also means more potentially dangerous human/animal encounters as wildlife move into urbanized areas to look for food and shelter, and it means fewer places for recreation, the article points out.

EPA implicated in Everglades pollution

2008-07-31T00:14:00.002-04:00

Can it be that the top environment branch of government is to blame for poor Everglades water quality?

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is part of the pollution problem, a judge said.

The EPA violated the Clean Water Act when it let the state of Florida delay a deadline for reducing phosphorus in Everglades water, according to the Palm Beach Post and other sources. The article tells the back story better than I can sum up, so click on over to read more.

EcoQuest Nature Tours

2008-07-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Please welcome EcoQuest Nature Tours from Naples to the EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory.

More airboat tour captains arrested for feeding alligators

2008-07-25T16:13:00.008-04:00

Airboat tour operators were once again the subject of an undercover wildlife officer operation to catch them feeding alligators, which is illegal. Three airboat captains at Everglades Holiday Park were arrested in mid-July for either feeding or molesting an alligator, the Lakeland Ledger and other sources report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers took tours undercover to catch the captains feeding the alligators to entertain the airboat tourists, according to news reports.

Before this blog was started, EcoFlorida reported in September 2004 about a similar undercover operation in Collier County, when airboat captains from Speedy Johnson’s Airboat Tours, Everglades Private Airboats and Jungle Erv’s were caught feeding alligators.

The maximum penalty for anyone caught feeding an alligator in Florida is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Algae fight

2008-07-18T22:43:00.004-04:00

Algae is taking over Florida waterways, environmental groups say, so they are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make it set standards for fertilizer runoff. The groups claim the EPA is violating the Clean Water Act and filed the lawsuit yesterday, according to the Associated Press.

The Florida Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida and St. Johns Riverkeeper joined to sue the EPA. They say fertilizer runs off into the water -- feeding algae that eventually take over a body of water and reduce the oxygen level in the water -- killing sea life and threatening our water supply, among other concerns.

Florida to buy land from sugar corporation to restore Everglades

2008-06-24T16:11:00.003-04:00

This is huge news. The state of Florida is planning to buy 185,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp. for Everglades restoration, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune and many other sources.

I feel as though I've woken up in an alternate-reality world. Who would have thought? This is an even bigger land deal than the Babcock Ranch from a couple years ago.

Could this be the beginning of the end of the problem the Everglades has with phosphates? And water-flow problems? And ... so much more?

Babcock Ranch trail opens

2008-06-12T16:15:00.002-04:00

Babcock Ranch, the state of Florida's largest conservation land purchase ever, is open to the public -- sort of, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Space Coast Kayaking

2008-06-07T10:23:00.001-04:00

Welcome Space Coast Kayaking to the EcoFlorida Tour Guide and Outfitter Directory.

A whole new meaning to the phrase "chick patrol"

2008-06-07T10:17:00.003-04:00

Volunteers have been hanging out around an Albertson's supermarket with nets to catch any wayward falling least tern chicks, Tampa Bay 10 reports. That's because the endangered birds have been nesting on top of the St. Pete-area store, apparently due to beaches -- their usual nesting grounds -- being too crowded.

A new way to protect manatees

2008-06-07T10:10:00.002-04:00

Manatees meet an untimely death in collisions with watercraft and also with flood gates and boat locks. A new "underwater acoustic system" (fancy talk for a way to tell if a manatee is passing by) can keep manatees from being squished by closing locks, at least. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute developed the idea, according to Science Daily. The article there has all the science and how-it-works nitty gritty -- check it out!

Florida Has America's Best Beach

2008-05-24T12:02:00.002-04:00

So says Steven "Dr. Beach" Leatherman, who puts out his top-1o list of the best beaches in the country just in time for Memorial Day every year.

This year, Caladesi Island State Park made the #1 spot. Yay! This is a great state park on a barrier island off the coast of Clearwater in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Beach's 2008 list looks like this:

1.Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
2. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
3. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
5. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
7. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
8. Cape Hatteras,Outer Banks, North Carolina
9. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
10. Beachwalker Park,Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Hello again

2008-05-24T12:01:00.001-04:00

...and we're back.

No time for a long explanation.

I just hope this blog with information about Florida environment and nature travel will mean something to someone.

Over here

2007-08-02T10:05:00.001-04:00

Please follow the EcoFlorida blog over here now. Thank you!

Longest underwater cave system in North America discovered in Florida

2007-08-01T09:13:00.000-04:00

They say space is the final frontier, and it probably is. However, there is a frontier to explore underneath the earth as well, and cave divers recently discovered a link in Florida's underwater system of caves that turns out to be the longest underwater cave system in North America!

Right under our feet.

In the Tallahassee area, Leon Sinks and Wakulla Springs are connected, according to this article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Cave divers recently found a tunnel that connects the two, and at 28 miles long, that makes this system the longest in our continent. This is huge! (The longest was previously thought to be at Manatee Springs. Another long system is at Peacock Springs.) Next, the divers hope to find a connection from Wakulla Springs to the Gulf of Mexico, showing this system is even larger.

Because Leon Sinks and Wakulla Springs are connected, it shows the importance of protecting underground water sources from contamination at the surface, the article points out.

Many people have thought groundwater could be affected by what happens above ground, yet pollution continued. There had been an ongoing debate over a spray field near Wakulla Springs that was irrigated with treated wastewater. Many people were concerned the wastewater would contaminate the springs. In other parts of Florida, sewage is treated and pumped directly into the ground as a means of disposal, despite many residents' objections over concerns for water quality.

Now we have a proof of a connection between an above-ground area to an underwater cave leading to a spring.

Indian River, other Florida restoration projects get funding

2007-08-01T08:55:00.000-04:00

Florida restoration projects will be able to move ahead, thanks to funding just approved by Congress; read more here.

Under the Water Resources Development Act, Congress has approved funding for several restoration projects: $1.4 billion for the Indian River Lagoon, $375 million for Picayune Strand State Forest, $81 million for an impoundment area near Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and $10 million to restore Peanut Island. There is also $1.5 million to study how strong the dike is around Lake Okeechobee.

Why the Everglades was taken of the U.N. list of endangered sites

2007-07-31T11:36:00.000-04:00

Maybe you heard last month that the United Nations decided to downgrade Everglades National Park from its list of endangered sites around the world. And maybe like me and many other Floridians, you said to yourself, "Huh?"

This St. Petersburg article by Craig Pittman article lays it all out. The head of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. World Heritage Committee -- Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior Todd Willens -- said reps from some of the other countries attending the meeting wanted the Everglades off the list because of the restoration plan that has been in place for the past seven years. (Never mind that it's going to take at least a generation for the Everglades to actually be restored.)

According to the article, some people suggested Willens requested the Everglades be removed from the list for political reasons, to make the U.S. look good. But Willens' defense -- that other countries wanted the Everglades off -- isn't really any better. If you ask me, why are people from other countries -- who might not have ever even been to the Everglades -- asking us to take our land off the list? And why did we listen to them and comply?

I try not to get worked up over a lot of things, but this one just doesn't make sense to me. (Neither does having the World Heritage meeting in New Zealand, which means the reps had to do a lot of polluting flying all the way to the South Pacific island just to have their discussions.) As the article points out, Everglades restoration is years behind schedule.

You could say the good thing is we don't need the World Hertiage Committee listing to help the Everglades -- we need more education. And that is true, except, of course, the people making these kinds of decisions seem to be the ones who need that education.

Stretch of road might be designated in honor of Florida black bears

2007-07-31T11:08:00.000-04:00

Many people aren't aware that bears live in Florida. Florida black bears live mainly in and around Florida's three national forests -- Apalachicola in the panhandle, Osceola in the north just south of Georgia and Ocala north of Orlando -- and also a few scattered around other smaller forested areas. Unfortunately, busy State Road 40 cuts right through a portion of Ocala Nationl Forest, and roadkill is a huge problem for bears who live there and is a leading cause of death for our bruins.

Now this DeLand-Deltona Beacon article says SR 40 might be designated as a black bear corridor this fall (called "Florida Black Bear Scenic Highway"), if the Florida Department of Transportation agrees. Although the article says naming the 60-mile stretch of road "would involve special efforts to protect the corridor, the beauty, and wildlife along the road," nothing specific is mentioned about preventing roadkill.

However, maybe if people driving through the forest -- say, on their way to Daytona Beach -- notice they are driving on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Highway, that will make them slow down and pay more attention to the wildlife and not just speed through to get from Point A to Point B. What do you think?

Could I have seen a Florida panther?

2007-07-30T16:26:00.000-04:00

A reader writes:

"Hello, Are there Florida panthers in central-western Florida? I live in Tampa in a very woodsy area and spotted a panther. I know it may not sound believable, but it was around 8 pm and still bright out. It was in plain sight, and we had a few minutes of staring at each other before my barking dog scared it off. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks, Marsha"

Most of the time when people think they see a panther, they really see a bobcat, experts say. That's because there are fewer than 100 Florida panthers living in the state, and most of them are in southwestern Florida. However, even though it's not likely, it's possible you saw a panther. Florida panthers have been known to cross I-4. Some residents as far north as Daytona Beach think they have seen a panther around. Panthers can roam quite far.

Visit the News-Press Web site to track collared Florida panthers.

Living Green

2007-07-30T11:42:00.001-04:00

I just found a nice section of the Palm Beach Post's Web site called Living Green. There's really a lot of good stuff here. Up right now is a timeline of environment milestones, what it's like to live in a "green" house, ways to live more environmentally friendly, recent environment stories from the Post, current air quality and UV indexes (it ain't looking good today), the locations of local recycling centers and -- of course -- a quiz to see how much you know about living green.

Judge restricts mining until environmental assessment can be done

2007-07-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

Senior U.S. District Court Judge William Hoeveler -- known for his tough anti-sugar industry, pro-environment stance in an Everglades cleanup case from which he was removed in 2003 -- ruled in favor of environmental concerns again over Miami-Dade County rock mining. The Miami Herald reports here that Hoeveler restricted mining in a part of the county that is near the Everglades as well as the largest source of drinking water for the county. He criticized agencies overseeing the mining (particularly the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) for not knowing how much limestone is being excavated, or where, and wants the Corps to complete an environmental assessment he ordered last year. He also pointed to benzene that could contaminate the drinking water.

As you can expect, environmentalists are pleased, but mining companies like Tarmac feel Hoeveler is being biased in favor of the Everglades again.

Knight anoles

2007-07-28T14:16:00.000-04:00

A reader writes:

"Hello, I have been living in my house in West Palm Beach for about eight months now. I have never seen these lizards, but today I have seen two in my mango tree. The attached picture shows the smaller of the two. It is approximately 13-14 inches long, vivid green, with yellow/black markings around its head and neck. The first one I saw was considerably larger; it was about 18-20 inches long. Any help you could provide would be appreciated. Sincerely, Alan"

This is called a knight anole. Like most lizards in Florida, they are from the Caribbean and aren't native to Florida. Knight anoles live around my house, too! One time, a knight anole even fell through my chimney, and it took me hours to get him out of the house! Sometimes, they fall right out of the trees (where they usually hang out), hit the ground and run right back up again. Rumor has it these guys have a nasty bite, so don't try to handle them. (I used a swimming pool net with a long pole to capture the knight anole that fell through the chimney, then walked him -- pole and all -- outside.) Thanks for the photo! Nice shot.

Wanted: large, old trees

2007-07-27T14:05:00.000-04:00

A list of the nation's largest and oldest trees (champion trees) includes a hickory at Lake George in Volusia County that could be around 300 years old. But new rules that require the trees to be remeasured every 10 years could knock the hickory off the list, according to this Daytona Beach News-Journal article. The tree has weathered several hurricanes and may be at the end of its life, the article says, so when the National Register of Big Trees (yes, there really is such a thing) comes out soon, the Lake George hickory might not make the cut. Er...you know what I mean.

If you know of a large, old tree, contact the Florida Division of Forestry.

Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

St. Lucie River aid not coming

2007-07-27T13:51:00.000-04:00

We can all understand the need for tax cuts at some time, right? It's just too bad that our environment has to suffer from it. This article in the Palm Beach Post says the latest state tax cuts mean the planned cleanup of the St. Lucie River isn't going to happen. The South Florida Water Management District is putting off a reservoir that would "catch" runoff (polluted water -- possibly from Lake Okeechobee?). The article also says the river was supposed to be part of a $1.2 billion plan to restore the Indian River Lagoon that Congress has been neglecting since 2002.

Gopher tortoise entombment policy reversed

2007-07-26T15:09:00.000-04:00

Finally! The last day of this month is the last day the state will allow developers to submit permits for the "incidental take" (aka death) of gopher tortoises when building on and paving over gopher tortoise burrows, according to this Sun Herald article. Many people have been concerned about such permits since the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission started offering them in 1991. Now, the FWC will require the tortoises to be relocated so they aren't buried alive in their burrows.

The article points out that tortoises' burrows are used by other wildlife species, however -- but stopping tortoise entombment is a start.

Charged with alligator harassment

2007-07-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

A reader writes:

"Please help! My husband sits every day at a the bank of a canal to eat lunch. He has many times stopped his co-workers from feeding or harassing the alligators that also appreciate the same canal. Recently he was eating lunch when a police officer approached him stating that there had been a complaint of a man harassing the alligators. They charged him! A Florida native and longtime advocate and defender of Florida wildlife, my husband has now been charged with harassment of an American alligator. Basically what I need to know to approach this correctly is the law that constitutes this charge. What is the exact law against harassing American alligators, and the possible repercussions? Thank you for your time. Kind Regards, Jessica"

Huh, that's really something. I was under the impression -- based on past news reports of alligator harassment charges -- you had to be caught in the act.

I can't offer legal advice, but you can contact your local division of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which can tell you exactly what the law says. Your local FWC office is a good place to begin for lots of wildlife-related help.

And you should definitely contact a lawyer.

I hope your husband will continue to help spread the word against harassing alligators and other wildlife. Best wishes....

Judge recommends permit for development that could harm Audubon sanctuary

2007-07-25T12:03:00.001-04:00

The legal battle over whether to allow golf-course community Mirasol to destroy wetlands and move in took another turn. A judge recommended the South Florida Water Management District give Mirasol the permit to build, according to this article in the Naples Daily News. The fight has been going on since 2000, the article says. Environmentalists are concerned about wetland destruction and the effects of development on nearby Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Cocohatchee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. If you click over and read the article, read the comments too. One person asks why another golf course is being allowed when we already have water restrictions . . . besides, won't the fertilizer used to keep that course green run off and pollute Corkscrew, the river and eventually the Gulf?

Rains bring water flow into Lake Okeechobee

2007-07-25T11:45:00.000-04:00

All this rain we've been having is paying off for Lake Okeechobee, according to the news, like this article in the Orlando Sentinel. Thanks to the rain, water is flowing from the Kissimmee River south into the lake -- for the first time in eight months! Lake O is still three to four feet below normal, the article says.

Water flow into and out of Lake O is a sensitive subject. If you're not familiar with it, here's just a tiny bit of history. Water used to flow naturally into the lake from Central Florida rivers, then south into the Everglades and on into Florida Bay. But after hurricanes caused the lake to flood the farming communities that had sprung up around the lake -- especially the 1928 hurricane that killed around 2,500 people -- the lake was dammed. Now the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the flow of water. Too little or too much water, and the ecosystem can suffer. Many people who live to the east and west of the lake, where the Caloosahatchee River flows into the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Lucie River flows out to the Atlantic Ocean, are concerned about water releases into these rivers. Too little water into the Everglades can cause saltwater intrusion and may be one of the reasons Florida Bay is suffering. Maintaining a water-flow balance seems hard. The Army Corps is said to be looking into new ways to maintain a better balance. Let's hope so, for the sake of our rivers, estuaries and Everglades.

Early migrating birds back already?!

2007-07-25T11:35:00.000-04:00

The unmistakable sound of the blue-gray gnatcatchers that spend their winter in my neighborhood caught my attention last night. It's only the end of July. Why are they back so early? In past years, I had noticed their return in August.

If you pay attention to the timing of natural events like this, that's called phenology. So there's your word for the day.

Maybe it's just me, but the gnatcatchers seem to live here more than they live in their "summer" home! They come early and they leave late.

Photo from U.S. Geological Survey

Dwarf sperm whale tries to give birth, dies at Florida state park

2007-07-24T12:34:00.000-04:00

A dwarf sperm whale beached itself at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and died last week, a recent Naples Daily News article reports. The whale had an enlarged heart, which is apparently common with this species, and on top of that was trying to give birth. The whale calf was premature, and both whales died.

The article says beachgoers tried to help the whale but that a NOAA biologist said it's best for onlookers to leave stranded animals alone and to call for help (888-404-3922) instead. I personally wouldn't know how to help a whale or any other marine animal! But I can certainly understand people having a desire to help. I guess it's still best to leave a whale rescue to the experts (who basically said in the article there was nothing that could have been done).

photo by NOAA

St. Pete-area preserves

2007-07-24T12:13:00.000-04:00

Pinellas County has caught the attention of USA Today as a destination that has nice green space despite being the most crowded county in Florida. (You would think Miami-Dade would have that top spot, but Pinellas is smaller geographically, so the population has to fit into less room. I think Miami-Dade is #2, though.) The article highlights Weedon Island Preserve and Booker Creek Preserve. Those are both great places, and if you get far enough into them on the trails, you'd never know you were surrounded by suburbia.

There is some debate about whether it makes sense ecologically to preserve "small" chunks of land like city and county preserves -- some people believe only large areas of land really work to help species. Whether small preserves are ecologically beneficial or not, though, I still think they are great for people's state of mind! I think we all need some "green time" now and then, and if you can get that down the street, that's great!

What do you think?

Florida panther tracking collars give insight into life, death

2007-07-23T13:58:00.000-04:00

Tracking collars help Florida panther researchers keep an eye on individual panthers and the population as a whole. And when you use collar-tracking information to look at the panthers' movements across the state, it's even more telling, according to this article in the News-Press. Read the article to learn the history of panthers in Florida and also the almost soap-opera-like lives panthers lead. No, really!

I should add the News-Press -- in Florida panther territory in southwestern Florida -- has a great section on its Web site all about Florida panthers. Here, you can track the panthers for yourself (really cool!), see Florida panther photos, read articles and learn about births and deaths in the Florida panther population.

Florida: water vs. growth

2007-07-23T13:51:00.000-04:00

The water-vs-growth issue is ongoing in Florida. This long article in the Palm Beach Post outlines the history of Florida development and how the state is trying to keep pace with making sure there's enough water for all of the people that development brings in. Reporter Robert P. King concludes that development wins over water, and water issue continue to be a problem. Are all us Floridians going to be water-poor?

Cypress mulch debated

2007-07-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

Is it OK to cut down Florida's cypress trees for mulch? That's what environmentalists are debating in this article in Florida Today.

Me, I try to use fallen leaves as mulch whenever I can.

How Florida could go green

2007-07-22T23:24:00.000-04:00

I love it when newspapers offer images like maps and pie charts to show you what's happening with the "big picture." The St. Petersburg Times' environment writer Craig Pittman does good work, and here he lays out how Florida's coastline suffers from warming, where greenhouse gases come from and what Gov. Charlie Crist's new rules on warming would do.