Naturally Florida

In today’s episode we’re talking about the mysterious and massive horse conch, Florida’s state shell. We will discuss the meaning behind its common and scientific name, what it looks like, where it’s found, research on population numbers, some fascinating behaviors and benefits of this species, and of course, what each of us can do to help support our state shell, the horse conch.  Learn More:  VI...

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state butterfly, the zebra longwing: what it looks like, where it’s found, its life cycle, some fun and unique behaviors, and of course, what each of us can do to help support the zebra longwing butterfly.  Learn More:  Zebra Longwing Butterfly ( Heliconius charithonia ) -  https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/zebr...

Florida is known for having alligators, a fact that brings fear to many visitors and residents. But, alligators are an important species in many of our ecosystems. While we continue to develop the State, our chances of encountering an alligator increase, but there are many ways we can learn to coexist with them. Celebrate Earth Month with us as we revisit a favorite topic from season 1 with a fres...

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state animal, The Florida panther: where it lives, how it lives, the conservation wins that brought it back from the brink, and what each of us can do to help panthers and people coexist in a rapidly growing state  Learn More:  Florida Panther Program -  https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/    Wildlife Watch: Learn to protect the Flo...

Today, we’re discussing Florida’s state bird, the Northern Mockingbird: how it earned that title, how to recognize it, who it’s often confused with, and the meaning behind some of their behaviors. Learn More: Northern Mockingbird - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/overview Northern Mockingbird - https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-mockingbird State Bird: Mocki...

Today, we’re diving into what makes the sabal palmetto special—from its biology and wildlife value to its cultural history—and how Floridians can help protect and support this iconic native plant.  Learn More: What is a tree? https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/trees-cities-towns/tree-selection/what-is-a-tree Sabal palmetto: Sabal or Cabbage Palm https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST575 Sorting...

In this episode, we explain how hurricanes impact ecosystems and the wildlife that live there. We’ll discuss behaviors of wildlife before, during and after a storm, how these events impact wildlife, and what to keep in mind when it comes to encountering wildlife after a storm.   Learn More: • Wildlife and Storms: Hurricanes and Wildlife - https://myfwc.com/news/wildlife-and-storms/ • Are Fish Impa...

In this episode, we explain how hurricanes cause inland flooding through extreme rainfall and connected watershed systems. We’ll discuss why Florida’s flat terrain and development patterns make inland flooding so persistent, how these events impact water quality and wildlife, and what practical steps Floridians can take to protect their homes and communities.  Learn More: See the most up-to-date F...

On today’s episode, we will do a deep dive into the topic ofstorm surge. What is storm surge? What are the impacts of storm surge to us and our natural systems? We will also help you understand the risk of stormsurge where you live. Episode script reviewed by Lauren Wolf, Holly Abeels, andArmando Ubeda. Episode recording reviewed by Stephen Mullens. Learn more: National Weather Service – Storm Sur...

This episode is part 1 of our summer hurricane series! Today, we're talking about how hurricanes form, why they spin, and what the "categories" mean when we talk about storms. Also, we would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Stephen Mullens , a fellow faculty member at the University of Florida, for reviewing our episode content for accuracy. Stephan is an expert in forecasting and...

Green anoles are some of Florida’s most familiar—and most overlooked—neighbors. In this episode of Naturally Florida , we revisit our very first show from 2020 to explore what makes these little lizards so unique, how they interact with the introduced Cuban brown anole, and what you can do to help them thrive in your own backyard. Learn more: Cuban Brown Anole or Green Anole (video):  https://yout...

Happy Lakes Appreciation Month! This month, we dive into water quality and what it really means for freshwater systems. You'll hear a lot of scientific jargon this month, but we tried to define everything as we used it. This will help you talk to your local watershed, river, or lake managers! How You Can Help: Participate in the Great Secchi Dip In! https://www.nalms.org/secchidipin/ OR, email...

In this episode, we explore the unique ecology of scrub habitat in Florida. What is a scrub? Where are they located? How are they different from similar ecosystems? How does fire play a role in scrub habitats? What threats do scrub habitats face? What can you do about it? We cover this and more in this episode of Naturally Florida.   Learn More: • Florida Natural Areas Inventory: Scrub - https://w...

In this episode, we'll discuss the three different species of mangroves found in Florida, their northward migration, and the critical role they play in our coastal ecosystems. We'll also share practical actions you can take to help protect these vital habitats. Learn More:  Florida's Mangroves - https://floridadep.gov/rcp/rcp/content/floridas-mangroves Mangroves - https://gardeningsolu...

Vultures can be seen throughout Florida, whether soaring in the air or feeding on the ground, visitor or resident, we have all encountered vultures in Florida. We actually have two species of vultures in Florida, the black vulture and the turkey vulture. While they may seem clumsy and not the most attractive birds, they play a critical role in our ecosystem. Learn how to tell these two species apa...

We just did an episode on trees two months ago, but they are such a critical part of our ecosystems, it’s hard not to talk about them. Today, we thought it would be fun to focus in on the oaks. Oaks are found throughout Florida and play a critical role providing ecosystem services and wildlife benefits.   Learn More:   Florida’s Oaks - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrub...

On today's episode, you'll hear about a few of our non-native lizards and learn about the complexity of when a species may or may not be called invasive. Learn more: The Invasion Curve: A Tool for Understanding Invasive Species Management in South Florida - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW392 "Ticks and Tickborne Illness in Florida" (a Naturally Florida podcast episode): https://podcasts.a...

While much of the country waits until late April to celebrate Arbor Day, Florida marks the occasion several months sooner. Our subtropical climate makes it safe—and even beneficial—to plant trees during the cooler, drier winter months (with proper irrigation). By doing this now, young saplings have time to develop strong root systems beforefacing the intense heat and storms of the summer season. P...

THANK YOU to all our loyal listeners that completed our annual podcast survey! If you missed out, no worries, you can give us feedback anytime on our website or try again next year starting in the Fall when we launch our survey again.   In this episode, we explore the world of oysters. What are they? What do they do? What happens when they die? Eastern oysters play a critical role in Florida’s est...

On today's episode we're talking turkey - the wild turkey, that is! Learn all about Florida's wild turkey species, their biology, and even bust a myth or two. Learn More: See a turkey swim: Youtube Video from @southernoutlawadventures5106 on youtube.com Learn everything you could ever want to know about turkeys and managing habitat for turkeys, by listening to Wild Turkey Science How You Can Help:...

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the state’s most fascinating plant groups: carnivorous plants. These spooky species have adapted to capture prey in some of Florida’s most nutrient-poor environments. We’ll talk about how they trap their meals, their role in the ecosystem, and where you can spot these unique plants across the state. Learn More: • Pinellas Predatory Plants - https://youtu.b...

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of Florida’s ecosystems, supporting the reproduction of our flowering plants in urban, suburban and natural areas. Pollinator populations are declining, and organizations are urging people to take action to support pollinators in their areas of influence. There is a lot of buzz around the topics of pollinators these days, but who are they? What are they doing? Whe...

If the title of this episode sounds familiar, you must be a Creedance Clearwater Revival fan like Shannon is! Well, CCR might have actually been singing about seeing the rain but on today's episode of Naturally Florida, we're talking about smelling the rain. Rather, more accurately, we're talking about the smell before the rain , also known as Petrichor. Learn more: https://blogs.ifas....

Snakes play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping rodent populations in check and supplying birds of prey with an excellent food source. But our snakes are facing a new threat, an invasive parasite, Raillietiella orientalis from Asia and Africa. This worm-like crustacean, believed to have come over with the invasive Burmese Python, is infecting the respiratory system of our native snakes. It...

Saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens ) is an iconic plant of Florida, often dominating the understory of pine flatwoods habitats. Not only is saw palmetto endemic to Florida and the southeastern U.S., but it has also been referred to as a keystone species! A plant as a keystone species? YES!   Keystone Species - a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed...