WaterNotes

Cold stun sea turtles continue to dominate the conservation news here in Florida. Many zoos, aquariums, and wildlife centers – even Disney’s Animal Kingdom – are assisting with warming up stunned turtles prior to their eventual release.  Many of the smaller centers and nonprofit institutions are keeping up admirably with the enormous demand of their [...]

The aftereffects of our unseasonable cold snap over the last two weeks are still rolling in here in Florida.  I have not seen a lot of dead fish in the Lagoon system on my outings but significant fish kills have been reported from saltwater estuaries as well as freshwater lakes and canals due to the [...]

Usually I greatly enjoy my job working outside as an environmental educator.  But when Florida’s mild winters turn to record-breaking cold, I have to admit I dont love braving the cold.  At least I can bundle up, unlike most of the wildlife in the state.  Particularly some of my favorite Florida year-round residents: five species [...]

The case for marine protected areas and reserves seems to grow stronger everyday.  If you have a few spare moments, spend them with this paper published by PLOS One by the University of Exeter’s Mumby and Harborne: Marine Reserves Enhance the Recovery of Corals on Caribbean Reefs.

2009 was not a good year for the sea cows. The Florida Fish and Widlife Commission released its preliminary report on manatee mortality in state waters today and revealed that the past season had a record high loss of manatees in state waters: 429!
The report briefly breaks down totals with some eye-opening revelations for [...]