FWC is encouraging Floridians to “find wildlife management areas where a quota permit isn’t needed for spring turkey hunting.” Learn more at https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/hunt-without-quota-permit/.
The U.S. Department of Interior has weighed in on Collier County development, issuing a memo that says the county should "implement a more comprehensive planning approach," according to the News-Press.
The Eastern Black Rail has been added to Florida’s endangered and threatened species list.
Our neighbors down in Key West voted to limit cruise ship traffic. Guess who’s trying to overrule the will of the voters? Read all about it at the Miami Herald.
Here’s a link we didn’t see coming: Exposure to Blasts in War and Training May Increase Risk of Alzheimer's in Troops, Study Finds.
“It Runs Downhill” is the title of a beautiful and heart-wrenching look at Florida’s gorgeous biodiversity--and the unrelenting threats humans inflict upon it. Read the story by Xander Peters at Bitter Southerner.
And here’s a piece on humans driving a songbird with a beautiful voice into extinction.
If you have a furry friend that wears a flea collar, note that Bayer’s Seresto collar, “one of the most popular flea and tick collars in the country, has been linked to hundreds of pet deaths, tens of thousands of injured animals and hundreds of harmed humans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documents show. Yet the EPA has done nothing to inform the public of the risks.” Read more here. Personal pet owner tip: Fleas really don’t like the smell of fresh rosemary. Make a strong tea from fresh sprigs, allow to cool, and rub generously into your furry friend’s coat. Reapply regularly.
Think fracking might be good for Florida? Perhaps consider the first in a series from Environmental Health News, on fracking and health of families in Pennsylvania.
Often, Middle America and the Great Lakes are pointed to as “climate refuges”--places that will be relatively safe from the impacts of climate change. What they don’t mention is that rising water is happening throughout Middle America and the Great Lakes region--just this past week, Kentucky was inundated.
And it wasn’t just Texas hit hard by the frigid temps earlier this year. Mississippi’s frozen, crumbling infrastructure has left thousands without running water, for weeks.
And, here's some good news: The Long-Lost Babbler Bird Documented in Borneo for the First Time in Over 170 Years.
Read all of WGCU’s environmental coverage here.
Do & Learn
- Bass Pro US Open, Lake Okeechobee, Saturday, March 13.
- National Shell Museum, March 25, Shells and Bad Water: Ocean Acidification and its Effects on Mollusks
- Learn all about Lee County’s water system at https://www.leegov.com/water
Scholarship
Do you know a young adult interested in nature? Applications are now being accepted for adventure scholarships for Collier County high school Juniors, Seniors, and recent graduates between the ages of 16-21. The foundation will award select students up to $5,500 to go on a structured adventure through one of three programs: Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), or the Alaska Mountaineering School. Applications must be submitted by March 12, 2021. www.genedoyle.org/applications.
Want to influence your local environment? There’s probably a public meeting for that.
Charlotte County has *several* committee vacancies to fill--and many have something to do with the environment. Learn more at https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/news/charlotte-county-committee-vacancies.stml
The Lee Board of County Commissioners has meetings coming up later this month. Check out the calendar here.
South Florida Water Management Upcoming Meetings
The Governing Board Business Meeting is March 11, 2021 at 9am. Click here for more info.
The South Florida Water Management District is seeking public input on the Final Draft 2021 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Science Plan. The final draft plan is available for public and peer review at SFWMD.gov/ASR. Public comments can be submitted via email to ASRwells@SFWMD.gov through March 22, 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Standards Board Spring Meetings will be held online:
- Tuesday, April 20, Noon - 5:00 pm EST
- Thursday, April 22, Noon - 5:00 pm EST
- Wednesday, April 28, Noon - 5:00 pm EST
- Thursday, April 29, Noon - 5:00 pm EST
- Friday, April 30, Noon - 5:00 pm EST
The agenda, public comment registration links, and other resources will be added to the NOSB Spring 2021 Meeting webpage. All speakers making public comments must sign-up in advance.
Got an environment story or tip to share? Email Valerie Vande Panne at Vvandepanne @ wgcu.org.