Archive for ‘June, 2009’

DEP announces changes to state park fee schedule

DEP announces changes to state park fee schedule

From the Department of Environmental Protection:
tallahassee – In order to continue to provide high quality visitor services and affordable nature-based recreation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service will implement a modest fee increase beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in conjunction with the state’s fiscal calendar.
“Florida’s award-winning state parks provide inexpensive, high [...]

Saturday is the day to hit the wildlife trails

Saturday is the day to hit the wildlife trails

Do you want to venture into unfamiliar territory Saturday to chance seeing something new? Then try Florida’s wildlife management areas, which are underexplored troves of trail-laced waterways, woods, marshes and scrub.
Besides footpaths, they have overlooks, where visitors can glimpse wildlife; and there are boat launches, so people can paddle the many creeks, rivers and lakes [...]

Go RVing “Tails from the Road” Contest kicks off

Go RVing “Tails from the Road” Contest kicks off

RESTON, Va., — With the summer travel season rapidly approaching, GoRVing — the authoritative source on all things RV — is reaching out to RVing aficionados, video gurus and everyone in between to participate in its first Internet video contest, hosted on Facebook.
According to a survey conducted by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, half of [...]

FWC sets June 17-18 meeting in Crystal River

FWC sets June 17-18 meeting in Crystal River

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet at the Plantation Inn in Crystal River June 17-18. FWC meetings are open to public participation.
The agenda for Wednesday, June 17, includes updates from FWC staff. In 2008, the Commission directed staff to develop a new imperiled species listing process. Commissioners will hear an update [...]

FWC officers rescue sea turtle from intake pump

FWC officers rescue sea turtle from intake pump

A loggerhead sea turtle survived a life-threatening situation, thanks to the quick work of officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). On Monday, May 25, Lt. Rob Laubenberger and Officer Dale Twist responded to a call of a sea turtle trapped in an intake pump at the Florida Power and Light [...]

The Wildlife Forecast - Watch the coral reefs for effects of climate change

The Wildlife Forecast - Watch the coral reefs for effects of climate change

By Patricia Behnke
Watch the coral reefs for effects of climate change
Images of red and purple coral with darting blue and orange fish dance in my imagination when I think of Florida’s coral reefs. My dreams turn to nightmares, however, when I study the forecasts for the precious and important habitat.
“The coral reefs are the sentinel [...]

FWC relocates Weston bear to Picayune Strand State Forest

FWC relocates Weston bear to Picayune Strand State Forest

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) trapped a black bear in Broward County on Sunday morning. The bear has been spotted several times over the past month in the Weston area. On Thursday, the bear appeared near Manatee Elementary School property, causing school officials to lock down the school for several hours.
FWC law [...]

Outta’ the Woods: Quota changes make hunting fairer

Outta’ the Woods: Quota changes make hunting fairer

Most hunters know that the best time to catch a monster buck off guard is during the beginning of hunting season. That’s why many of us enjoy hunting the archery and muzzleloading gun seasons – and why we can’t miss opening weekend of the general gun season. After that, lots of gunfire breaks [...]

Anglers’ Legacy!

Anglers’ Legacy!

By Bob Wattendorf, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
We Floridians take our fishing seriously. The proof lies in the actions anglers take to ensure a bright fishing future. Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, 695 active Florida anglers took a pledge to introduce fishing each year to at least one person who had not [...]

Gopher tortoise relocation permitting goes ‘green’

Gopher tortoise relocation permitting goes ‘green’

FWC - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the successful launch of the new gopher tortoise permitting system. The new system went online in late April, and by the end of May, the FWC had issued more than 100 permits using the paperless system.
“We made several permit types available online in [...]