Nature

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Living with Florida black bears

Yes, we have bears in the Florida Panhandle! The presence of bears is not necessarily a problem or a threat to your safety. For many people seeing a black bear is a thrilling, rewarding experience. Problems arise when bears have access to food sources unintentionally made available by people such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills, bird seed or livestock feed.  Bears are adaptable and learn very quickly to associate people with food. Black bears are normally too shy to...

It’s scuppernong time!

Called a scuppernong or muscandine, the wild grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is valued for its edible, tasty fruit. Wild grape grows from Texas to south Florida, north to Delaware, and west to Missouri. Currently bearing fruit along the Panhandle, the grapes are a favorite food source for white-tailed deer and other wildlife also eat the fruit, including black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, and opossum. Songbirds such as cardinals, mockingbirds, robins, cedar waxwings, consume the fruit...

Baby turtles make it to the Gulf of Mexico despite odds

Thanks to two turtle watch volunteers, last hatchlings in nest survive Early in the morning on Sept. 15, South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers Anthony and Sherry Head headed to check a loggerhead nest near Stallworth Preserve in South Walton County in anticipation of seeing activity as the nest was ready to hatch. With the recent rains, they knew if could be any time, so with great anticipation headed to see if there was any activity. Here is Anthony’s story Tuesday...

Nature lovers flock to E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center’s grand opening and dedication ceremony

Center to provide extraordinary nature-based education Nature lovers from across the Florida Panhandle enjoyed the grand opening of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport Florida Sept. 12. Developed by local conservationist, M.C. Davis on his 48,000-acre conservation land named Nokuse Plantation, the 27,500 sq. ft. Center will cater to students with curriculums that offer a better understanding of the environment. The Center will educate on the importance of biodiversity, ecosystems, and encourage conservation, preservation and restoration of our natural...

A beautiful day at Morrison Springs

Walton Outdoors and 30A Radio hosted a great day outdoors at Morrison Springs on Sept. 13 Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and snorkeling were on tap Sept. 13 at Morrison Springs as Walton Outdoors and 30A Radio hosted a paddle and picnic. Young and young at heart shared the day exploring and enjoying a picnic of burgers and hot dogs. Local naturalist, Joe Wyatt shared his knowledge of indigenous flora and fauna with the group. A pleasant educational surprise for...

Kayaker shares his fondness for the Panhandle’s Yellow River

Old Yeller This writing is indeed a confession to my great affinity for one of America’s most unsung wilderness rivers – the mighty Yellow – which pulses through Northwest Florida from the Alabama line down to the Gulf of Mexico. For five years I lived within a hundred yards of her banks, and quite often found myself compelled to stride down to the edge and peer into her ever-passing currents, mesmerized by the hour.  This wide (sometimes deep enough to...

Busy hummingbird at work

This busy hummingbird was spotted at the Zen Garden Market in Panama City Beach recently collecting nectar from a cardinal vine. The market has many native plants available to attract hummingbirds an butterflies.  Zen Garden Market is located at 707 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach (850)234-1651.  Click here to learn more about attacting hummingbirds to your home...

American bittern spotted on Lake Powell

Is this an American Bittern or a Green Heron? This beauty, was spotted perched on a dock along Lake Powell Sept. 6. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Sun-gazer, the American bittern is called, as well as Stake Driver, Thunder Pump and Mire Drum. The names refer to the bittern’s call, a deep resonant oonk-a-lunk, which has been likened to the bellowing of a bull or a hydraulic machine. It’s odd that a bird this secretive makes such a racket. Since the...