Environment

Pre-season predictions on the number of hurricanes that will make landfall in Florida this year are certain to differ among the leading tropical storm forecasters, figures that get refined and reissued as the season unfolds. One thing that will now be a constant is the National Hurricane Center’s addition of more watches and warnings on its familiar “cone of uncertainty,” which has been used for more than two decades. It's a teardrop-shaped offering of the most educated guesses available about the direction of a hurricane over its next few days.

Early on a Saturday in early March, amateur wildlife photographer Jo Gryniewicz captured this rare sighting of a highly endangered Florida panther at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary east of Naples.

Such obvious environmental stories still qualify as news, though, because they remind everyone to pay attention to what’s become the everyday in Florida. It’s the same reason the twice-yearly stories about daylight savings time make the news

Wind, tides, and storms can change its progress on any given day, but so much sand is flowing south from a recent beach renourishment on Captiva Island that the pass is expected to close up hard; beach rebuilding would barely be a thing if the most expensive real estate in Florida were not built on barrier islands

Millions of shorebirds use Florida's beaches and dune systems during nesting season, with about 20 species along the Gulf from February to August. Watch where you step.

The size and scope of the wildfire that's been burning in the Big Cypress National Preserve for over a week took a small step back Friday with a reduction in fire area and a small increase in containment. Better mapping helped make those changes and placed the National Fire at 35,027 acres burned and at 67 percent contained by late Friday, according to a press briefing issued by the command structure of the wildfire. That was about 300 fewer acres and three percent more containment.

Urgent warnings about wildfires breaking out throughout the north and northeastern portions of Florida Saturday will shift south to the Tampa Bay region Sunday, and into Southwest Florida Monday.

Big girl! The same waters where the first tarpon was taken on a rod and reel in 1885 will host dozens of anglers in May for a catch-and-release tarpon tournament that awarded more than $65,000 to the five top teams last year.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's “super” ghost orchid has not only bloomed every year except last since it was discovered, it’s bloomed multiple times some years. And over the years, it bloomed during all 12 months.

The Collier Community Foundation has continued its financial support of Audubon Florida’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the popular environmental attraction east of Naples, with a $100,000 grant. The foundation’s money is being added to donations from many other individuals, groups, and businesses in the sanctuary’s $20 million renovation effort to transform and expand the aging sanctuary.