Environment

Category

Learn about prescribed burning at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Jan. 4

Time: 2 – 3 p.m. Why do you burn the woods? This is a question rangers often hear at the park. Come join this ranger led program to learn why/ how/ when they burn our forests. This program will feature some of the equipment and techniques used in prescribed fire. Park entry fee is $6 per vehicle, the program will take place at the clubhouse. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located at 7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A, Santa Rosa...

Federal and State agencies study Choctawhatchee beach mouse population in Walton County

Documenting the life of a federally endangered mouse What are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) doing along South Walton’s beach dunes? All three agencies have been working together monitoring the population of the federally endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse. The Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys) is a sub-species of the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus), and is endemic to the Walton area of the Florida...

Workshop to be held on Camp Helen State Park proposed unit management plan Dec. 17

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, announces a public workshop to which all persons are invited. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, 7:00 p.m. (CST) at Surfside Middle School, 300 Nautilus Street, Panama City Beach, Florida 32413-0201. The workshop will be a presentation of the proposed unit management plan update for the Camp Helen State Park. A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting: Sasha Craft, Park Manager, Camp...

Eco-passages guide wildlife safely under U.S. Highway 331

As we travel along U.S. Hwy. 331 between Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, many folks do not realize they are passing through two large wildlife conservation areas; Eglin Air Force Base Wildlife Management Area to the west and Nokuse Plantation to the east. With two wildlife conservation areas, and a busy highway, one must wonder how wildlife manages to safely cross the heavily traveled highway. Completed in 2012, Nokuse Plantation constructed what are called eco-passages. Barely seen from above, three environmentally-friendly...

Pilot whale discovered stranded at Grayton Beach State Park

A pilot whale was discovered stranded near the beach Nov. 26 at Grayton Beach State Park. Discovered in the early morning hours near the rental cottage area, the whale was in poor condition according to Patrick Hartsfield, park service specialist at the park. Multiple agencies responded according to Hartsfield. “Gulf World, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded, in addition to park personnel,” Hartsfield said. Due to the severity of its illness, the whale was euthanized...