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Nature specialist to join Morrison Springs outing Sept. 13

Walton Outdoors and 30A Radio welcomes naturalist Joe Wyatt Joe Wyatt, local ecologist, wildlife biologist and naturalist will be available to share his expertise and answer questions about local wildlife and ecosystems on Sept. 13. As a the naturalist at Hammock Bay, Joe has been running a successful bluebird breeding program to increase the numbers of these beautiful indigenous birds in the area. He is also an expert on local ecosystems and forestry management. Come and meet Joe as we...

Wildlife abounds along the Chipola River

A peek at Section 1 of the Chipola River Paddling Trail Part of Florida’s Greenways and Trails, the 51-mile Chipola Paddling Trail is the largest tributary of the Apalachicola, and boasts 63 fresh water springs, the largest number of any river shed in Northwest Florida. The trail runs from just south of the Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna in Jackson County, south to just east and south of Clarksville in Calhoun County, Florida. Diverse in flora and fauna, the...

Loggerhead turtle lays eggs in broad daylight

Typically, loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at night, but one special mother turtle decided that the morning hours of July 23 was her time. The loggerhead was discovered by a local beach goer, Ray Combs who called Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC  then called South Walton Turtle Watch Group who were able to document the event, and mark her nest. The turtle was able to lay her eggs and return to the Gulf of Mexico without incident....

Black bears ransack South Walton beehives

Bears wreak havoc, force beekeeper to install electric fences Local beekeeper Earl Barrett is not happy. Local black bears have been raiding his beehives in the Pt. Washington State Forest this season, forcing him to put up electric fences to protect his hives. As he worked on putting up a fence off of CR 83 in Santa Rosa Beach on May 27, Barrett said with a bit of frustration, “this is the third location of boxes I’ve had to fence...

Mallard ducklings don’t make good Easter presents

Think twice before putting Florida’s native wildlife in jeopardy With Easter approaching, many parents contemplate purchasing mallard ducklings as gifts for their children.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) suggests buying your child the stuffed-animal version instead. “Although these ducklings might make nice pets while they’re young, they can live 10 years and quickly outgrow the cute-and-fuzzy stage, leaving full-size droppings on your patio and outdoor furniture,” FWC waterfowl management coordinator Joe Benedict said.  “When this happens, parents...

Venture Walton: Wildlife finds new habitat in Freeport

Sharp-shinned hawk and flying squirrels released at Hammock Bay Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay in Freeport shared a recent morning with me to witness the release of a rehabilitated sharp-shinned hawk and four juvenile flying squirrels. Lisa Miller of Wildlife Rehabilitators in Niceville recently rehabilitated the animals. When the animals were healed, Lisa handed them off to Joe for release back into the wild. The sharp-shinned hawk was discovered with a cut between her wings. The cause of the...

Rehabilitated broad winged hawk released

Story and photos courtesy Crystal Bay Development When a family accidentally struck a young Broadwing Hawk on CR6 near Freeport on July 17, they immediately rushed the injured bird to Lisa Miller at the Wildlife Rehabilitators Partnership of Northwest Florida in Niceville.  Miller x-rayed the Hawk and found it had a fracture in a bone that corresponds to the forearm in humans. Miller called in veterinarian Lydia Staggs of Bayside Animal Hospital in Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach.  Staggs, who...