Human activity has been directly linked to red tide in Southwest Florida thanks to new study

Red Tide — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Alfred Rowan According to a new study, human activity and red tide have now been linked. Researchers linked blooms in Charlotte Harbor and its surrounding coastal areas to nitrogen flowing from Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River, and areas upstream of the lake. Outbreaks of red tide are caused by

Fuzzy caterpillars that leave painful, stinging rashes appear in Florida

White Marked Tussock Moth Fuzzy Caterpillars — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Satyashutter Florida officials are warning of fuzzy caterpillars that leave stinging rashes when touched. The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar may have beautiful markings, but be careful! You’ll only want to look, not touch.  “In the past, we have seen outbreaks where people get concerned naturally

Lion Country Safari brings a wild drive-thru experience to Florida residents

Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee, FL — Courtesy: Shutterstock — mariakray Right here in the Sunshine State, Florida residents can immerse themselves in a four-mile safari with thriving naturalistic habitats and large herds of roaming animals. Lion Country Safari, located in Loxahatchee, is the largest drive-thru safari in the state and the first one in the

Alligators just want to have fun! Images taken in the Florida Everglades show predators at play

Alligators Florida Everglades — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Thierry Eidenweil Remarkable images posted to social media channels over the past week feature alligators playing with a football and chasing a remote control boat around a lake, seeming to confirm a Tennessee university study that found that crocodilians like to have fun too. An image posted to

More than 1,000 homes evacuated as wildfires rage through Florida’s Panhandle

Florida Wildfires — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Tom Fawls Rescue crews are working diligently to get several wildfires burning in the Sunshine State under control. Two of the biggest fires are still causing destruction within the Panhandle. There are a total of 168 wildfires burning across Florida right now. The biggest of them all is the

‘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

Florida produces the smallest orange crop in over 75 years

Florida Orange Crop — Courtesy: Shutterstock — VAlekStudio The next family favorite grocery store item shoppers could see skyrocketing in price is Florida orange juice. A cold snap in the Sunshine State had the potential to do extreme damage to farms across Central Florida over the weekend. The low temperatures, close to freezing, are rare

Experts ranked the U.S.’s most beautiful states—Here’s where Florida ended up

South Beach, Miami, Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Mia2you Some states offer picturesque state parks, while others are made up of beautiful cityscapes. With its concrete jungles, sandy white beaches, and sky-high palm trees, Florida has truly made a name for itself as one of the most beautiful states in the country. At least, according

IKEA buys hurricane-damaged land in Florida to plant forests

IKEA Store — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Graeme Dawes Ingka Group, owner of IKEA furniture stores worldwide, has bought more land in the U.S. as part of a long-term goal and commitment to handle forest management responsibly. Ingka Group will plant seedlings of mainly longleaf pine on the 3,264 acres of land near Florida’s Apalachicola River

Two bald eagle eggs hatch in Florida as the world watches online

Bald Eagle in Nest — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Kane513 Two baby bald eagles have hatched in Florida and warmed the hearts of those watching as it was all caught on camera. The parents, Harriet and her mate, M15, have spent over a month patiently taking turns protecting and incubating the eggs, taking breaks