Nature

Category

Celebrate Earth Day and get outdoors!

Exploring nature at Helen McCall park What better way to spend the day than exploring nature. Emily Clawiter, Abiahna Greenfield, Jayden and Jackie Roe of Santa Rosa Beach where playing at Helen McCall park Apr. 21 when they discovered an unusual moth. The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) sat patiently as Emily’s mom Kerry took this photo. Get outdoors, you will discover the wonders of nature everywhere!...

Blue lupine blooming in South Walton

Beautiful blooms color the sand In spring, the sand dunes along the beaches in South Walton are dolloped with blue lupine. The gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus) is threatened and endemic to Florida. Their habitats are sand hills, scrubs and coastal dunes. Some say that this rare perennial shrub is only found in a few counties with Walton fortunate enough to be one of them. Early settlers to the panhandle saw and abundance of blue mountain in the Blue Mountain...

Choctawhatchee Audubon Eventure May 6

Take a journey into the night Discover the sights and sounds of nature at night with Audubon EVENTURES. Nonie of Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters will be guiding a night walk for Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. Programs will last approximately 1 1/2 hours and begin just before sunset. All are invited but the focus will be on ages 4 to 10. We will explore for elusive creatures such as fox, owls, frogs and even bats! COST $1 per person; members and immediate...

Dedicated group watches over sea turtles

South Walton Turtle Watch Group keeps track of South Walton nesting sea turtles South Walton turtle nest 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 things sea turtles must face as each species struggles to...

Upcoming Paddles in the Panhandle

The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers a variety of paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. If you are interesting in becoming a member, you can go to their website at www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or contact Wes Mosteller at wesjane@earthlink.net The Florida Panhandle Canoe and Kayak Connection (FPCKC) is dedicated to recreational paddling in the Florida Panhandle (including Pensacola, Panama City, Marianna, and Tallahassee) and the surrounding areas. Go to http://www.fpckc.com/ for a list of upcoming paddles in our area. Guests...

Warm weather means active alligators and crocodiles

Play it safe when recreating in fresh and brackish water The onset of warm weather in the spring is when Florida’s alligators and crocodiles start getting active, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds Floridians and visitors to be cautious when having fun in and around water. Florida is home to two native crocodilians: the American alligator, which is found in all 67 counties, and the American crocodile, which may be found in coastal areas of the...

Children’s program at Coastal Branch Library Thursday, Apr. 14

Little ones can learn about sea turtles with a park ranger The Friends of the Coastal Branch Library will be sponsoring a children’s program in the library beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 14th, 2011.  Pizza will be served compliments of Bruno’s Pizza and Pizza Hut.  Ranger Daniel Burton from Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will present a program on loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley and green sea turtles. Children will have the opportunity to play games, handicraft a personalized book...

Feral hogs cause traffic jam on U.S. Hwy 98 near WaterSound

14 piglets and their parents graze along busy highway – deputies protect animals, motorists from injury Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies today responded to a stretch of land adjacent to U.S. Highway 98 near Watersound after receiving reports of several stopped motorists at that location.  Upon arrival, deputies discovered the motorists had inadvertently stopped traffic to take photographs of two large pigs and their 14 babies. WCSO deputies remained at the scene to minimize the possibility of traffic injuries...