Florida boat rental services in jeopardy as new law prepares to take effect

Boat rental in Miami, Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Tverdokhlib When the new Boating Safety Act takes effect on January 1 and is implemented statewide in an attempt to make people safer throughout Florida waters, three words in the law could spell disaster for boat and jet ski rental businesses all over the

Florida teen wins the top prize after catching 28 pythons during annual challenge

Burmese Pythons in the Everglades, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Heiko Kiera A 19-year-old man from the Sunshine State accomplished a great feat by capturing 28 Burmese pythons during a 10-day competition created to spread awareness about the serious threat invasive snakes pose on state ecology. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Researchers warn changes to Florida’s climate threaten oyster reefs

Oyster reefs at sea – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by golfza.357 With temperatures rising throughout the world, freezes and cold weather extremes in the Sunshine State are diminishing–a clear sign that Florida’s climate is slowly shifting from subtropical to tropical. Tropicalization has had a cascading effect on Florida’s ecosystems. Along the Gulf Coast and Tampa

Lawns are being torn apart by wild hogs in Florida

Group of Wild Hogs Running – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by WildMedia Wild hogs are destroying the Florida neighborhood of Sun City Center, acting aggressively towards residents and digging up lawns. WFLA-TV reports the hogs are likely attracted to the area due to the large amount of mango trees, which provide food, as well as

Palm Island Park reopens after ‘aggressive alligator’ forced a temporary closure

American Alligator Near River in Florida – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Jim Schwabel Palm Island Park in Mount Dora, Florida, reopened on Monday morning after being temporarily closed over the weekend due to an “aggressive alligator.” The Mount Dora Police Department posted early Sunday morning that the park would remain closed because of the

Red snapper season set to start in Gulf state and federal waters off Florida

Red Snapper School of Fish – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by SergeUWPhoto PINELLAS COUNTY, Fl. – It’s time to catch some red snapper. The recreational red snapper season will begin on June 17 in Gulf state and Florida federal waters and stay open through July 31 with 12 days during the fall.  The season will

Celtics co-owner donates $2 million in an effort to protect Florida manatees

Manatees Swimming – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Thierry Eidenweil A co-owner of the Boston Celtics is donating a whopping $2 million toward protecting Florida’s manatees and their habitats following two devastating seasons of record-breaking manatee mortalities throughout the state. The Fox Rock Foundation will give $1 million each to the nonprofits Fish & Wildlife

How Florida’s Key deer may be close to climate extinction

Key Deer — Courtesy: Shutterstock — moosehenderson When Hurricane Irma destroyed south Florida in September of 2017, it knocked out electricity for millions, inundated homes, and killed more than 30 people. However, the devastation was not confined to humans.  In the Florida Keys, one of the Sunshine State’s most beloved species also took a beating:

‘Highly pathogenic’ bird flu has been found in Florida’s wild birds

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that a new strain of avian flu is affecting the Sunshine State’s wild bird population.  The FWC said the National Veterinary Services Laboratory found cases of “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, H5 2.3.4.4, in lesser scaup, black vultures and other wild birds.” Wildlife experts are now investigating bird

According to officials, Florida’s lettuce test project has fed 25 tons of lettuce to manatees

Manatee Eating Lettuce — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Mary-Kaitlyn Arnette The unprecedented human effort to save starving Florida manatees has so far provided the adorable marine mammals with over 25 tons of lettuce, officials said Wednesday. The round-tailed, snout-nosed animals that are popular with tourists and locals have suffered a major die-off. Their preferred seagrass food