Nature

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Black bears ransack South Walton beehives

Bears wreak havoc, force beekeeper to install electric fences Local beekeeper Earl Barrett is not happy. Local black bears have been raiding his beehives in the Pt. Washington State Forest this season, forcing him to put up electric fences to protect his hives. As he worked on putting up a fence off of CR 83 in Santa Rosa Beach on May 27, Barrett said with a bit of frustration, “this is the third location of boxes I’ve had to fence...

Rare beauties discovered in South Walton

Local encounters endangered pitcher plants along South Walton creek Local Santa Rosa Beach resident Josh Foreman happened upon some rare beauties – endangered indigenous pitcher plants, on a walk near Camp Creek Golf Course recently. Josh explains: “Yellow pitcher plants (Sarracenia Flava) first caught my eye near a small creek flowing east towards Alys Beach, after following the creek a short distance my eyes found a little patch of young white topped pitcher plants (Sarracenia leucophylla) ready to grow up....

Wildfire at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

A large brush fire is raging at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. As of 3:55 p.m.  South Walton Fire District, the State Park and the Division of Forestry are working on containing the fire. The fire is approximately 100 acres, and according to SWFD Deputy Chief, Sean Hughes, should be contained soon. At approximately 1:45pm today the SWFD received a call of a tree on fire in the vicinity of the Hwy. 98 and CR 30A intersection. It is believed...

A positive attitude and some 550 cord never hurts

Two locals take survivalist course venture In my hands I had a scrawny piece of wire and a few feet of parachute cord.  I lifted my head to gain insight or inspiration from my travel partner in crime, and noticed the same expression on her face as on mine, the unmistakable what the hell are we supposed to do with this look. Kendall and I had found ourselves on the edge of the St. Johns River Water Management area, adjacent...

A paddle down Boiling Creek and the Yellow River

A cool way to spend a few hours on the water Boiling Creek is a beautiful, pristine paddle, full of cypress trees, water lilies and a variety of pitcher plants along its banks. The water is crystal clear, and you will see colorful underwater grasses rippling below, as you meander through the slow moving twists and turns. The creek is approximately 25 feet wide for most of the journey. Common sights are turtles, ospreys, hawks and other birds, such as...

Singing a song for food

Feed me, I’m hungry! These hungry mockingbird chicks look hungry as Jacquee Markel of Dune Allen snapped this photo. Jacquee said every time she or her husband Kenny went near the nest, the babies would stick their beaks out looking for food....

Morrison Springs renovation complete

Popular park reopens PONCE DE LEON – A newly renovated Morrison Springs is now open to the public. The 161-acre park is well known in the area, and popular with divers and nature enthusiasts across the south. The project started in 2007 and includes a new separate boat launch area and parking. This separate launching area provides a safer environment for divers and boaters. There is approximately 575 linear ft. of boardwalks meandering through the ancient cypress trees, and span...