Nature

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Living alongside wildlife: Searching for the indigo snake in Walton County

Longleaf pine forests and gopher tortoise burrows perfect habitat for threatened species It was Monday morning and Tropical Storm Ida was welcoming us to the new week. As the early chills of fall enveloped us, dark clouds gathered in the distance, ominously blocking out the sun. Perhaps seeing the look of concern on my face, Dirk Stevenson consoled me, “No worries, the indigos won’t mind.” Dirk is the Director for Inventory and Monitoring for Project Orianne, a large non-profit organization...

Learn about the Choctawhatchee dune mouse at Topsail Jan. 21

Learn all about the endangered mouse at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Thursday, Jan. 21 — 2 p.m. Join the park folks for this beach mouse interpretive program and learn about their habitat and behavior. Park at the Day-Use area off of Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. A $3.00 park entrance fee is required. Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy...

Hard freeze warnings for the next few days

From the National Weather Service: Hard Freeze Warning URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 513 PM EST SAT JAN 2 2010 …HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING… AN ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S. FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY EVERY MORNING THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEK…AND A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO THE BEACHES. MORE HARD FREEZES ARE POSSIBLE DURING...

Food plots planted in Point Washington State Forest encourages wildlife habitats

U.S. Forestry and FWC plant grasses to stimulate turkey brooding habitat The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in Point Washington and the Florida Fish and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working together to promote wildlife brooding habitats in the Point Washington State Forest. 18 food plots have been planted on closed road areas throughout the Forest. Working with cost share funding from the National Wild Turkey Federation, Forestry and FWC started with warm season grasses in...

Bald Eagle captured on video on Western Lake in South Walton County

A Southern Bald Eagle scans the waters of Western Lake in South Walton County Florida on Dec. 22. Locals and visitors have been enjoying the unusual sightings of the bald eagles the last few weeks. Local Jamie Conley first captured a great photo of an eagle last week perched on the same tree. According to park service specialists at Grayton Beach State Park, the raptors have been fishing on the northern portion of Western Lake since the outfall to the...

Update on road closures due to river flooding in Walton County

Choctawhatchee River has crested at 19 feet Here’s an updated list of road closures due to flood waters along the Choctawhatchee River in the Bruce and Red Bay communities in eastern Walton County: (1). Smokehouse Lake Road (2). River Road (3). Dead River Road (4). Cedar Log Lake Road (5). Choctawhatchee River Road. (6). Cowford Road. (7). Morrison Road (8). Senterfitt Road between Ezra Brannon and Pleasant Ridge Road. Potable, fresh water tenders have been placed by the Walton County...