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’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 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 – The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail Are you looking for an outdoor adventure? Take a hike on The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail to observe native Florida animals, birds, butterflies and trees. There are 510 designated sites in the panhandle, east, west and south Florida. […]
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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 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 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 – 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 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 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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