Environment

Category

South Walton Community Council to host public forum April 25

Forum to focus on oil spill impact Date/Time: Wednesday April, 25, 2012, 7 p.m. Guest Speaker: Professor Richard Snyder, Director, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation of the Department of Biology at the University of West Florida. Two years after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, what’s happened to the oil and what’s the impact on our Gulf Coast environmental treasures? Professor Snyder will address these questions and also explore the spill as a major ecological and economic event that...

South Walton Turtle Watch keeps track of nesting sea turtles

Sea turtle nesting season runs May 1 – October 31 According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles are among the oldest creatures on earth, and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years. However, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the issues sea turtles face as the beautiful creatures struggle to stay alive. Each year from May 1 – October 31, there are four species...

Gopher tortoises move slowly through ‘spring training’ of grazing, burrow-digging

In Florida, it is illegal to harm gopher tortoises or their extensive burrows Like a baseball player stretching muscles and practicing skills during spring training, the gopher tortoise is emerging from winter dormancy and moving slowly and steadily through the landscape in search of greenery to eat and a new place to dig its burrow. Look for gopher tortoises’ distinctive domed brown shells and stumpy legs, as these land-dwellers make their way through Florida’s open canopy forests and sandy areas....

South Walton Turtle Watch looking for a few good volunteers

2012 turtle nesting season about to start Love sea turtles and want to be a part of a great team of turtle nest walkers? South Walton Turtle Watch is looking for a few good volunteers. If you like getting up early, walking on the beach, being involved  with nature and making a difference, they are looking for you. Walking will be from during the sea turtle nesting season from May to October. Can you walk one day a week? Two...