Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Manatees can be hard to see even just underwater so boaters are encouraged to go slow, especially in Lee County that leads the state with 104 sea cow deaths so far this year

Manatees on the move; boaters asked to slow down and watch out for the sea cows

Tom Bayles

It is Manatee Awareness month in November, poignant in particular in Lee County, which leads Florida with more than 100 sea cow deaths so far this year

Overall 489 manatees have died this year in Florida as of October 27th, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Of thsoe deaths, 104 have been in Lee County, the largest number of all Florida's counties.

Environment

Lee County again leads state by wide margin in manatee deaths

News Service of Florida

Lee County again leads the state in manatee fatalities with 104 reported deaths, more than double any other county in the state, according to a News Service of Florida report.

Now is the time of the year when it is legal, and advisable, to rid your home or office of any bats that took up residence during their April-to-August nesting season

Environment

Got bats? Now is the time to shut them out -- temporarily

Tom Bayles

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises installing one-way bat doors after August 15, which is when the animal's April-to-August nesting season is over.

Environment

Student art contest for Florida's fresh and saltwater fish accepting entries

Tom Bayles

Students from kindergarten through high school can create and enter an original piece of artwork for free in the Florida Native Fish Award contest to win state and national honors and prizes

A collage of images of wildlife and nature that can be found at the 14 new segments now part of Florida's Birding and Wildlife Trail network

Environment

The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail adds more than a dozen new segments

Tom Bayles

More than a dozen new trails have been added to the growing network of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites throughout Florida. Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail

The operator was taken to the hospital and two people were injured when the driver of this personal watercraft in Collier County lost control along Kice Island south of Marco Island and plowed into mangroves

Environment

Boaters caused fewer accidents in 2022 in Florida -- but deaths rose

Tom Bayles

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s new report on the 2022 boating season. The main takeaway: Fewer accidents at sea, but more deaths.

Horseshoe crabs spend a lot of time mating at the shoreline

Environment

Ever see this activity? Write it down and file it online to help the horseshoe crab thrive

Tom Bayles

Horseshoe crabs' blood can detect bacteria and it is under threat in South Florida by habitat loss, red tide, and pollution so scientists are asking beachgoers to help.

Environment

Florida’s boating test gets update, will soon include questions on manatee, sea turtle safety

Tom Bayles

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will add to its boater safety course questions about the rules designed to protect manatees, sea turtles and other marine life at risk of injury from watercraft.

Now is the time to remove bats from structures, if you need to

Pam James

If a colony of bats has roosted in your home or business throughout the summer, any time after August 15th is the time you may encourage them to relocate to more suitable premises.

Burmese Python Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.jpg

Top hunter captures 28 invasive Burmese pythons during summer contest in the Everglades

Tom Bayles

The winners in this summer’s come-one, come-all Florida Python Challenge were announced Thursday in a contest that drew nearly 1,000 professional and amateur hunters from three countries and removed 231 invasive snakes from the Everglades.Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species and are found in and around the Everglades ecosystem. A female Burmese python lays up to 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 17,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from Florida.