Florida Fauna & Flora – Red Snapper

Florida Fauna & Flora – Red Snapper

Florida Fauna & Flora: Red Snapper   Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Florida’s 2022 recreational red snapper season opened June 17 and runs consecutively through July 31. Visit myfwc.com for upcoming fall dates.   Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters. They have a […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Drought-tolerant Florida Landscaping

Florida Fauna & Flora – Drought-tolerant Florida Landscaping

Florida’s traditional dry seasons are spring and fall. When choosing plants, shrubs, grasses and trees for landscaping, select drought-tolerant species that need less water and have a better chance of survival during drier months.    Annuals and perennials add color and brightness to your outdoor space. Plants such as aloe, lantana, butterfly milkweed, black-eyed susans, […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Zebra Butterfly

Florida Fauna & Flora – Zebra Butterfly

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Zebra Butterfly   The zebra butterfly, formerly known as the zebra longwing butterfly, became Florida’s state insect in 1996. It is typically 3 to 4 inches in length with long wings that are black with thin yellow bands or stripes.   Zebra butterflies are found in Everglades National Park […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Red Fox

Florida Fauna & Flora – Red Fox

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Red Fox   Red foxes are the size of a small dog and weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Not including their long, bushy tails, they measure about 2 feet long. Red foxes have red hair that varies from rust-colored to golden-red, white bellies, black ear tips and legs. Their […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Southeastern American Kestrel

Florida Fauna & Flora – Southeastern American Kestrel

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Southeastern American Kestrel   A native Florida raptor, the southeastern American kestrel is the smallest falcon found in the United States. Its white face has black “tears” extending down from its eyes. Its brown back has black flecking, its belly is white and its tail is russet. The male’s […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Resurrection Fern

Florida Fauna & Flora – Resurrection Fern

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Resurrection Fern   Resurrection ferns are found from Florida to New York and west into Texas. It is an epiphytic fern that grows on the surface of another plant or structure. This fern is an air plant; it does not steal nutrients or water from its host plant. It […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Black Bear

Florida Fauna & Flora – Black Bear

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Florida Black Bear   The largest land mammal in Florida and the only bear found in the state is the black bear. Males weigh 250 to 450 pounds, while females weigh 125 to 250 pounds. Females give birth to 1 to 5 cubs that are born blind and weigh […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Sailfish

Florida Fauna & Flora – Sailfish

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Sailfish   One of the most popular game fish in Florida is the sailfish – which is also the official state saltwater fish. Sailfish are known for the large, blue first dorsal fin that looks similar to a sail. It has a long, thin spear-like upper jaw. The upper […]

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Florida Fauna & Flora – Florida Manatee

Florida Fauna & Flora – Florida Manatee

  Florida Fauna & Flora – Florida Manatee   One animal that is uniquely Floridian is the manatee. Florida manatees are native to Florida and are a sub-species of the West Indian manatee. These gentle giants grow to 9 – 10 feet long and weigh in at about 1,000 pounds. This gray aquatic mammal has […]

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