Nature

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Dedicated group watches over sea turtles

South Walton Turtle Watch Group keeps track of South Walton nesting sea turtles South Walton turtle nest season runs May 1 – October 31 According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles, are among the oldest creatures on earth, and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years. However, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the things sea turtles must face as each species struggles to...

Upcoming Paddles in the Panhandle

The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers a variety of paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. If you are interesting in becoming a member, you can go to their website at www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or contact Wes Mosteller at wesjane@earthlink.net The Florida Panhandle Canoe and Kayak Connection (FPCKC) is dedicated to recreational paddling in the Florida Panhandle (including Pensacola, Panama City, Marianna, and Tallahassee) and the surrounding areas. Go to http://www.fpckc.com/ for a list of upcoming paddles in our area. Guests...

Warm weather means active alligators and crocodiles

Play it safe when recreating in fresh and brackish water The onset of warm weather in the spring is when Florida’s alligators and crocodiles start getting active, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds Floridians and visitors to be cautious when having fun in and around water. Florida is home to two native crocodilians: the American alligator, which is found in all 67 counties, and the American crocodile, which may be found in coastal areas of the...

Feral hogs cause traffic jam on U.S. Hwy 98 near WaterSound

14 piglets and their parents graze along busy highway – deputies protect animals, motorists from injury Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies today responded to a stretch of land adjacent to U.S. Highway 98 near Watersound after receiving reports of several stopped motorists at that location.  Upon arrival, deputies discovered the motorists had inadvertently stopped traffic to take photographs of two large pigs and their 14 babies. WCSO deputies remained at the scene to minimize the possibility of traffic injuries...

Fish in fresh water without a license Apr. 2-3

Get outdoors, take a kid fishing! Spring is a wonderful time for freshwater fishing throughout Florida. For starters, the weather tends to be especially comfortable. In addition, most sunfish – including bass, bluegill and redear sunfish – are in the shallows this time of year and fairly easy to locate. The stars must have been aligned, because this winter and early spring, freshwater anglers have been telling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) that fishing is outstanding. If...

Colorful yellow pitcher plants blooming in Santa Rosa Beach

Spring in full bloom Yellow pitcher-plants (Sarracenia flava) bloom in a wetland area off of U.S. Hwy 98 in Santa Rosa Beach. Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants consuming insects as its main diet. Insects are captured in the hairy throat of the pitcher, to be digested in the liquid at its base. The yellow pitcher plant grows in continuously wet bogs and in wetlands....

Have breakfast with a ranger at Topsail Apr. 9

Learn about park life at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach Saturday, Apr. 9 – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will be having a Breakfast with a Ranger at 9 a.m. Join the Rangers of Topsail Hill and ask them all the questions you can think of about park life. This program is family oriented and ideal for...