Florida’s iconic scrub jay, the only bird species found exclusively in the state, is facing new challenges linked to global warming. A recent study published in Ornithological Advances highlights how rising temperatures are complicating efforts to conserve this already endangered species. For decades, Florida scrub jay populations have dwindled due to habitat destruction caused by […]
Tag: florida
The Burmese python problem: how 20ft predators are wreaking havoc on the Everglades
An invasive predator that can grow up to 20ft, weigh over 100kg and devour prey six times its size – it is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. That’s what residents of southern Florida have been struggling with for the past few decades, with the rapid growth of the Burmese python population in the Everglades. […]
Florida scrub-jays suffer effects of warming change
Florida scrub-jays are nesting earlier than they used to as a result of warming winters, which is impacting their populations. Scientists recently looked at long-term data on the federally threatened bird species from 1981 until 2018. They found that as winters have warmed, Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) are not only moving their nesting up a […]
Lessons from the past may improve the future for manatees
While current manatee populations in Florida are threatened, their populations are higher than they ever historically were. Records show that manatee (Trichechus manatus) populations grew and began expanding across the Florida Peninsula during the same documented periods of human population increases, anthropogenic landscape changes, and social and policy changes. But with an increase in humans, […]
Vandals Paint Tortoises in Florida
Two gopher tortoises in southwest Florida are recovering after being spray-painted in a troubling act of vandalism. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples reported the incident on November 22, sharing that the tortoises were found with their shells covered in vibrant paint, including hot pink, royal blue, and gold. One tortoise even had paint […]
Florida Man Known as “The Monkey Whisperer” Faces New Charges
A Florida man nicknamed “The Monkey Whisperer” is once again facing legal troubles, this time for allegedly trafficking marmosets. Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 61, from Parrish, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and wildlife trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. His brother, Johnny D-Lane Hammonds, […]
Florida man has HAND bitten off by nine-ft alligator while fishing in a golf course pond as he tried to unhook his catch only for the reptile to take a snap
A Florida man had his hand bitten off by a massive alligator while he was fishing in a golf course pond. The unidentified man was attacked by the monstrous gator on Sunday afternoon at a pond in Pennbrooke Fairways, a golf course and residential community in the Leesburg, about an hour outside of Orlando. The […]
Where Do Iguanas Lay Their Eggs?
If you have seen iguanas around your property, you know how difficult it can be to get rid of them. You may have noticed they’ve eaten your landscaping and burrowed in places where you or your kids have tripped. If you’re facing an infestation, you may be wondering where iguanas lay their eggs. The best […]