Environment

Rick Dolan, the Florida Forest Service's director, said late this week that a lack of rainfall and drought that's parched forests filled with dried-out trees felled by recent hurricanes are going to bring enough wildfire activity to "South Florida, specifically Southwest Florida around the Fort Myers and Naples area" that his agency is already bringing wildland firefighting equipment from North Florida to the region for blazes he expects during the next four to eight weeks.

Before hurricanes threaten state, emergency managers expect firestorms in Southwest Florida

Michael Braun

A water shortage in Cape Coral and Lee County. Parched soil and worsening drought throughout Southwest Florida. Wildfires are expected next, and not small ones.The restrictions were put into place to protect the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer and drinking water supply in that area. The area affected is bound by NE Pine Island Road on the south, Neilson Road N on the west, NE 24th Avenue and Garden Boulevard on the east and the Gator Slough Canal on the north.

An explosion used to blast a canal that will lead to the Everglades super-reservoir, which will be part of the 17,000-acre complex of manmade wetlands to treat nutrient pollution from water released from Lake Okeechobee before it's released to the south, restoring a portion of the original flow through the River of Grass

Environment

Appeals court rules against sugar industry in quest to secure water meant for Everglades restoration

Tom Bayles

An appeals court rules the sugar industry could not take water meant for the Everglades when the EAA is completed in about a decade

The Caloosahatchee River is at the center of the focus on water quality in Southwest Florida for Calusa Waterkeeper, from Boca Grande south to Bonita Springs and 1,000 miles around.

Environment

Calusa Waterkeeper meets to discuss future, area's water status

Tom Bayles

Calusa Waterkeeper meets to discuss its future, gather donations, and listen to experts like Mike Parsons from FGCU's The Water School

The high-volume discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee down the Caloosahatchee River that have been a mainstay for months to lower the depth of the lake before hurricane season will come to an end this weekend

Environment

Army Corps to stop sending polluted Lake Okeechobee water down Caloosahatchee River

Tom Bayles

The Army Corps has been sending Lake O water down the Caloosahatchee River for months to lower the depth in the lake, which harms the estuary.

One of the three panther kittens given a one-month checkup while its mother panther was out hunting in the Okaloachoocie Slough east of Lehigh Acres

Environment

State wildlife biologists post pictures of trio of Florida panther kittens after one-month checkup

Tom Bayles

State panther biologists are hoping the sometimes cruel fate of nature does not repeat itself this year after they checked on a trio of kittens born to a mother who lost last year’s litter to a hungry black bear. They posted pictures of the baby panthers on Instagram

Wildfire in the area of North Collier Regional Park.

Environment

Wildfire, burn bans, continue to spread in Southwest Florida

Tom Bayles

A six-acre wildfire in Naples caused homeowners to evacuate, and Sarasota County added itself to the growing list of counties with an outdoor burn ban

This photo provided by shows smoking from fires on Miami-Dade side fill the sky on Card Sound Road heading to the Florida Keys on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Environment

Drought in Southwest Florida expected to strengthen in short term as wildfires burn all around

Tom Bayles

Florida's wildfire season is heating up early this year. Right now, blazes surround Southwest Florida

Environment

Florida environmental nonprofits sue Trump administration on behalf of at-risk species

Tom Bayles

A pair of environmental groups concerned about 11 Florida species have sued the Trump administration

Environment

Cape Coral: A fight for the future leaves a few residents with a bill

Sam Brucker

Some long-time Cape Coral residents fear for the future of the once laid-back community. Development, they say, is ruining the old charm of the cape.

Masamba, an African lion at the Naples Zoo. He was humanely euthanized recently due to age-based health-related concerns.

Human Interest

Naples Zoo says goodbye to beloved African lion Masamba

WGCU Staff

Naples Zoo officials announced Friday morning that 16-year-old Masamba, their beloved African lion, had been humanely euthanized after suffering several age-related issues.