Environment

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Violence against dolphins in the Northern Gulf continues

NOAA Enforcement seeks tips after a dolphin is found dead with bullet in it off Okaloosa Island NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement in Niceville, Fla., is investigating a case involving a dolphin found late Monday afternoon with a bullet lodged in its shoulder.  The animal was recovered by the marine mammal stranding team of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge off Okaloosa Island just west of the Destin bridge. Final necropsy, or non-human autopsy, results are pending. The dolphin was an older...

Volunteer opportunities available with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance

OPERATION RESTORATION is a collaborative effort between Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) and community volunteers to restore degraded shorelines in Choctawhatchee Bay by constructing oyster reefs made from recycled and fossilized oyster shell. These reefs help to reduce erosion, provide habitat for marine life and improve overall water quality in our Bay. Volunteers should report to the utility barn at the Northwest Florida State College – South Walton Center in Santa Rosa Beach, FL (CBA Offices), unless otherwise noted by *....

Wildflowers for all seasons blooming along U.S. Hwy 98

Beautiful wildflowers are popping up along the medians of U.S. Hwy. 98 at Inlet Beach, and will continue to prosper throughout the year. More will be showing soon just east of U.S. Hwy. 331. All part of a Department of Transportation (FDOT) wildflower and natures area program. According to Robert Farley, FDOT District 3 vegetation project manager, assorted varieties of wildflowers will continue to bloom throughout the year. “The site at Inlet Beach has been sowed with several wildflowers that...

Lionfish beware: FWC approves two-part lionfish removal effort for 2016

At its April 13 meeting in Jupiter, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a two-part lionfish plan to further encourage removals of the invasive species in 2016. Lionfish have a potential negative impact on native wildlife and habitat and the FWC encourages divers and anglers to remove them from Florida waters whenever they can. The two-part initiative will include a statewide reward program that will expand upon 2015 efforts and a Panhandle Pilot Program. “Innovative programs like...

Gulf World Marine Institute release three sea turtles into the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf World Marine Institute released two kemps ridley sea turtles and one green sea turtle into the Gulf of Mexico on April 13, 2016. The turtles were released at Inlet Beach. The turtles successfully completed recent rehabilitation. Eve, a kemps ridley sea turtle, was found stranded in Rosemary Beach in December. It had a severe case of pneumonia, suffered from low blood sugar and was very lethargic. It was treated with antibiotics and has recovered well. Bonito, another kemps ridley...

Guided tour of the Choctawhatchee River and Morrison Springs April 22

Time: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Course #XCE 6221, course reference #20208 The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College announces the spring session of its award winning eco-tourism initiative, Discover Roads Less Traveled: Eco-Adventures of Walton County. Led by local experts and professional naturalists, Discover Roads Less Traveled offers visitors and local residents opportunities to explore, discover and experience the diverse natural resources that make Walton County so unique. The eco-adventure schedule offers a range of activities for...

Learn about beach mice at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park April 20

Date/time: Wed., April 20 – 9 – 10 a.m. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park invites you to enjoy an informational program about one of the imperiled species we share the park with. Beach mice inhabit coastal dunes in the panhandle and along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Development of coastal areas has caused a loss of habitat for beach mice and other plants and animals that live in the dunes. Due to this loss of habitat, five of the six...