PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Something small and fuzzy—and somewhat cute—is crawling all over Florida this time of year. But those innocent-looking bristles covering the inch-long tawny caterpillars can deliver a painful, venomous sting. Look, but don’t touch,  experts warn. Puss Caterpillars can be seen almost year-round, but mainly during the late summer and fall months. In the past few weeks,…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating the killing by sheriff’s deputies of a black bear that wandered into a residential neighborhood in Palm Beach County over the weekend. Black bear sightings are not uncommon in parts of Florida, and FWC wants to determine why deputies chose to shoot a young…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–With more than 1,000 people moving every day to Florida, where there are more than a million alligators, they should know to keep their distance. May and June are the key months for alligator mating season, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Commission (FWC). While the courting season for alligators began…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged $30 million toward the rescue, rehabilitation, and habitat restoration of Florida manatees. The Republican governor made the announcement on May 2 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The funding represents a $17 million increase over last year. “We are putting our money where our mouth is with this record funding,”…

PUNTA GORDA, Florida–The program to feed lettuce to starving manatees is scaling down as the weather gets warmer, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said on March 23. “Efforts are being made now to sort of scale down some of the operations,” Scott Calleson, an Ecological Services officer in the Florida office of the…

With more than 900 people a day moving to Florida, developers and builders are scrambling for prime building land, ground that is likely already inhabited by a state native, the Gopher tortoise. This burrowing turtled is a threatened species that likes flat pine woodlands and well-drained sandy soil. Unfortunately, for the Gopher tortoise, it is the…