Environment

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Railroad vines bloom along South Walton beaches

Beautiful plant strengthens sand dunes Always a pleasant sight along our beaches, the beautiful blooming railroad vine is also an important protector of our sand dunes. As with the sea oats, the plant helps to stabilize the dunes by rooting at nodes all along its length, and is often planted for that purpose. Each flower opens only once, in the morning, but keep blooming almost all year long, peaking from May through November. The railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is native...

Does the ivory-bill woodpecker still exist?

No recent evidence of bird existing in Florida From the Desk of FWC –  By Stan Kirkland, FWC In the spring of 2005, news swept the United States and much of the world that the ivory-billed woodpecker, long thought to be extinct, had been found in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Arkansas. The news was electrifying to birders and conservation groups. Gene Sparling, an amateur ornithologist from Hot Springs, Ark., reported seeing a single adult male ivory-bill...

Learn about sharks at Topsail Sept. 15

Learn about these fascinating creatures Thurs. Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will be having a presentation on sharks. Sharks are fascinating creatures that can range in size from 6 in. small to an enormous 39 ft. long. Come out and join Topsail for a presentation to learn more about the sharks that roam the coastal waters of Florida. Meet at the Day-Use parking area on Hwy 30A and take a...

Tropical Storm Lee hammers South Walton beaches

Storm produces strong rip currents, beach erosion  A high surf advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Sept. 6 as strong winds and high surf conditions hammer South Walton Beaches. On Sept. 4 Tropical Storm Lee inched its way onhore in Louisiana with sustained winds of 45 m.p.h. Lee will gradually weaken as it moves northeastward into Mississippi and Alabama Monday and Tuesday. Large waves will continue to affect the Florida Panhandle beaches through Tuesday. Although the surf will be...

The dog flies have arrived in Northwest Florida

Dog flies a nuisance to both humans and pets from August to November When fall comes to our area, those refreshing weather fronts will move through from the north bringing lower humidity, lower temperatures and the infamous dog fly. The stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), known as the dog fly in Northwest Florida, is a blood feeding fly that is a nuisance to man, pets, and livestock. From August through November the dog fly congregates on the Florida Panhandle beaches. This...