Nature

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Do not feed the dolphins, it is against the law

From the FWC – Officials say never feed dolphins By Stan Kirkland, FWC    Bottlenose dolphins are beautiful marine mammals. Tourists who travel to the Gulf Coast love to see them but dolphins should never be fed. Sometimes, unfortunately, they are. That’s the assessment of officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. However, it is illegal to feed dolphins under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a federal law that’s been in effect...

Dead River Landing open to the public

Last phase of improvements not yet completed One of the most popular boat accesses and hunting spots along the Choctawhatchee River now boasts significant improvements. Using a portion of a $231,000 trust fund from Northwest Florida Water Management District, along with a labor/equipment agreement with Walton County, Dead River Landing now offers seven RV sites, two pavilions and two portable toilets; along with an improved boat ramp, board walk and platform at the water’s edge. ADA access parking is also...

Beekkeeper feature speaker at Choctawhatchee Audubon meeting Sept. 6

The next meeting of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society will be held on Thursday, September 6, and will feature a presentation on the basics of beekeeping by Niceville native, Jim Dietrich. Jim is in the fifth year of a master’s in beekeeping certification through the University of West Florida. His bees produce honey from a variety of local wildflowers, and samples will be available. This meeting  will be held in Rm 132 of the Student Services Center (SSC 132) on the...

FWC wants to know if you have seen a panther

Share your Florida panther sightings, photos on FWC’s website The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched a new website that makes it easy for citizens who spot Florida panthers to share the information online. The site – https://Public.MyFWC.com/hsc/PantherSightings/ – enables the public to report when and where they have seen a panther or its tracks and upload photos of the sighting. As recently as the 1970s, the Florida panther was close to disappearing, with as few as...

Learn about native snakes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Aug. 17

Time – 1:30 p.m. Come and join the park for a presentation of native snakes. Learn the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes and how they help the environment. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. All programs require a $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located at 7525 W. Scenic Highway...

Learn about coastal dune lakes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Aug. 24

Time: 1:30 p.m. Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A. ::MAP:: Come and join an exciting interpretive on Topsail Hill Preserve State Park’s imperiled coastal dune lakes.  Learn about these important rare freshwater lakes that exist right here in Walton County.  Park at the Day-Use area off of Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. Fees: Program included in the park admission fee of $6.00 per vehicle. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located at...

South Walton coastal dune lakes swell from recent rain, Western manually opened

Strong outflow to Gulf prompts water rescues With several coastal dune lakes in South Walton swelled from recent rains, Walton County Public Works Department has been keeping a close eye on lake water levels. On Aug. 1, Western Lake was manually opened to relieve it from potentially flooding low lying homes along the lake’s shoreline. The County holds Department of Environmental Protection permits which allows them to control the water flow on several lakes if needed. On July 31, Western...