Environment

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Monarch arrival brings a sign of the season in Walton County

Monarchs flutter along the Choctawhatchee River Even though the temperatures have not indicated any sign of fall, Mother Nature is. This monarch was spotted on a willow tree along the Choctawhatchee River on Sept. 19. A bit of an early migrate, its appearance indicates that fall is nigh. Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, monarch butterflies cannot survive a long cold winter. Instead, they spend the winter in roosting spots. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains fly farther south...

Beaches of South Walton hosting coastal clean up day Sept. 25

The Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council are inviting residents and visitors to help clean up its 26-mile coastline while participating in the world’s largest volunteer effort to protect the ocean during the 25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. The TDC is dedicating five main clean-up sites to the effort, with staging accesses at Miramar Beach, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain, Ed Walline and Inlet Beach.  Complimentary clean-up supplies, water and...

Come out and celebrate National Estuaries Day by volunteering Sept. 24

Restore critical estuarine habitats with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Come out and celebrate National Estuaries Day with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Volunteers are needed for oyster reef construction on Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. The group will be bagging oyster shells at the South Walton Center of Northwest Florida State College. The you will then travel to place bagged oyster shell at a reef site near the Mattie Kelly Fishing Pier in Destin, Florida. Some transportation to reef...

Living In Bear Country lecture Sept. 16

Learn about living near these fascinating creatures Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m. Location Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre 216 Quincy Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 South Walton Community Council and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission present a lecture on Sept. 16 about living in black bear territory. Alan Knothe, the Wildlife Assistance Biologist for the Northwest Region for FWC, will be giving the lecture and teaching about bear safety and management. It is that time of year when our...

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge settles into new digs

4,000 sq. ft. facility boasts room for growth Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the Florida Panhandle for more than 15 years. Caring for a variety of wildlife found sick, injured or abandoned, ECWR has taken in everything from an injured osprey to orphaned beavers to abandoned exotic pets. ECWR recently relocated to Santa Rosa Blvd. on Okaloosa Island from its formerly cramped quarters in Destin. The new 4,000 sq. ft. facility is four...

Choctawhatchee Audubon programs for September

Choctawhatchee Audubon educational program at Northwest Florida State College September 2 Choctawhatchee Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat, environmental education, and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty. Throughout the year, CAS offers a variety of educational programs at Northwest Florida State College. These events are on a wide range of topics related to our natural world and environment, and feature a guest speaker who is an expert in their field. September 2:  “Red...

Coastal Conservation Association fund raiser dinner Sept. 2

Dinner and auction to be held at Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club The Santa Rosa Beach chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association Florida will be holding a fundraiser at the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club Sept 2.  There will be a cocktail reception, raffle and silent auction at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. and live auction at 8:30 p.m. Auction items include trips, Hells Bay boat, Costa sunglasses, Yamaha engines, fishing tackle and more. The local chapter...

Living in bear country lecture Aug. 22

Learn about safety and living in harmony with black bears On Sunday, Aug. 22, from 3:30 – 5 p.m., Northwest Florida State College and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be hosting “Living in Bear Country.” Location: Northwest Florida State College, Ft. Walton Beach campus.1170 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, – In auditorium (Bldg.8) Alan Knothe, Wildlife Assistance Biologist for the Northwest Region for FWC, will teach about bear safety and management. There are benefits...