Nature

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New walkway installed at Eden Gardens State Park rose garden

Recycled pavers part of park’s history Thanks go out for the efforts of Hurlburt Field Air Force Base’s 823rd RED HORSE Squadron. The Squadron volunteered their spare time to reconstruct the walkway of the rose garden at Eden Gardens State Park. Looking brand new, the pavers are anything but. The bricks around the arbor were recycled from the Wesley Mansion’s old chimney bricks. The pavers around the walkway are reclaimed Chicago bricks. To learn more about Eden Gardens State Park,...

Green anole casts a big shadow

Common native lizard always entertaining to watch Kelly Roe of Santa Rosa Beach snapped this cool photo of a green anole peering over a leaf in her family’s pond. This spry fellow appears larger than life. About the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) Description: maximum length 8 inches; bright green but can change color to light brown but always evenly hued; whitish chin; females have light stripe down the back and males don’t. Three factors influence color and change of color:...

FWC to taking steps to remove Florida black bear from threatened species list

From the Desk of the FWC By Stan Kirkland, FWC The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) took the initial step this week in removing the Florida black bear and 15 other species from the state’s list of threatened species. In 2007 the Commission began a review of threatened species to see which had recovered and warranted removal from the list, and which should remain. The review focused on 61 species and involved more than 200 experts – 174...

Manatees visit Northwest Florida in summer months

Gentle giants can be seen in the Choctawhatchee Bay and as far west as Escambia County By Stan Kirkland, Public Information Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Northwest Region It’s been six or seven years since a guy in a plaid shirt and shorts walked into our Deer Point office one summer morning and said a big manatee was hanging around the Deer Point Dam. I grabbed my camera and drove the quarter mile to the dam and the...

Step back in time at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Rustic and diverse State Park a favorite for summertime scalloping At the north end of the 17-mile St. Joseph Peninsula, just past Cape San Blas, you will find a unique Florida State Park with 6 miles of pristine beaches nestled along enormous sand dunes. Properly known as the T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, this are of the Florida Panhandle is considered part of the “Forgotten Coast.” Perfect exploring for the nature lover, as you will experience three...

Rent a canoe at Holmes Creek Livery in Vernon Florida

Explore nature in a canoe or kayak from Holmes Creek Livery Holmes Creek and the Choctawhatchee River are two of the most diverse paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle area. These journeys are abundant with wildlife including turtles, fish and a variety of birds including blue heron, ibis, egrets, warblers and woodpeckers. Holmes Creek Canoe Livery offers services from rentals to shuttles to a fun water park that includes a rope swing, water slide and diving board on the creek....