Later, gator🐊: FWC releases guide to avoiding alligator encounters
Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. Now that the weather’s getting warmer, Floridians and out-of-towners alike are flocking to Florida’s beaches, lakes, and parks to experience nature and enjoy the sunshine. However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has warned vacationers to be weary of alligators.
Photo showing person holding dolphin several feet out of water prompts outrage, investigations
A photo of a North Florida angler holding a dolphin several feet out of the water is prompting outrage online and investigations by state and federal agencies. A marine biologist told News4JAX his first reaction to seeing that picture was horror. It’s not clear exactly where that photo was taken but harassing or feeding wild dolphins is against federal law.
Local law enforcement brings awareness to boating safety, manatee zones ahead of holiday weekend
Not many boaters were on the water on Wednesday, but that will change this weekend.Local law enforcement agencies are bringing awareness to boating safety and manatee safety as the summer boating season approaches.
FWC report reveals new information in Dec. 2022 bear attack involving Jacksonville zookeeper
A report filed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reveals new information in the Dec. 21 incident at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in which a zookeeper was mauled by an American black bear.
Teens got bull shark from stranger, gutted it & stored it at friend’s home before hoisting it from Ponte Vedra High: FWC
Two teenagers got a bull shark from a stranger who caught it in Mayport last week and then they gutted it and stored the dead fish with ice overnight at a friend’s house before hoisting it from the rafters at Ponte Vedra High School as a senior prank, according to an incident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission obtained Wednesday by News4JAX.
FWC: Changes coming for redfish, cobia in state waters; blueline tilefish in Atlantic
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved regulation changes for cobia and redfish in state waters and a temporary modification to the 2022 recreational blueline tilefish season in Atlantic state waters.
FWC video shows new rules to keep chronic waste disease from spreading in Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has introduced a video outlining new rules to protect Florida deer populations by reducing the risk of chronic wasting disease or CWD from spreading into the state.
Flounder fishing regulations changing- minimum size, limits, and a seasonal closure
Flounder regulations change at the end of the monthJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FWC’s discussed changes regarding flounder fishing will go into effect at the end of the month. Starting March 1, the following changes will go into effect for flounder:Extending ALL Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) flounder regulations into federal waters. Increasing the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial). October-November is a popular time to fish for flounder in the St Johns River and surrounding areas. Several fishing tournaments that target flounder will also need to move to a time of year that it is legal to catch flounder.
Body found in St. Johns River near Buckman Bridge is missing boater, source says
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six days after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for a boater who disappeared on the St. Johns River last week, a body was discovered Thursday in the water north of the Buckman Bridge. According to a spokesperson for the FWC, the lead agency in the search, FWC and Clay County personnel recovered the body and took it to the Mulberry Cove Boat Ramp at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Authorities have not yet said if the body found in the river Thursday is 20-year-old Michael Vaughn III, of St. Augustine, who disappeared on the river last week. But a family friend told News4Jax it’s him. The search began when an off-duty police officer spotted the boat spinning aimlessly in a circle in the St. Johns River just before 8 a.m.
Like fishing in The Keys? Might want to weigh in on FWC’s virtual meeting
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you like fishing in The Keys, you may want to join a virtual meeting with FWC. The first of three online workshops to gather public input on a seasonal fishing closure in a 1-square-mile area near Western Dry Rocks will be tonight starting at 6 p.m. Instructions on how to join the meeting will be posted online at MyFWC.com/Marine. The protection of spawning aggregations, in combination with traditional management approaches (e.g., size limits, bag limits and vessel limits), represents a comprehensive conservation strategy aimed at sustaining and enhancing fish populations. Learn more at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Rulemaking: Submit a Comment/Attend a Workshop” and “Upcoming Public Workshops.”
Sperm whale washes up in Ponte Vedra Beach
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A dead 14-foot pygmy sperm whale washed ashore on Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday morning behind the Sawgrass Beach Club. “Pygmy sperm whales are a common strander down here, actually, and they are an offshore species,” FWC marine mammal biologist Nadia Gordon said. “They feed a lot on squid, so when they are found near the shore or on the beach, there’s a problem -- something going on. There’s a reason they are stranding.”During low tide, the whale was removed from the beach. “Our agency will look at the animal, doing an external work up initially to see what’s going on potentially and then, likely, a necropsy to look internally and see what’s going on,” Gordon said.
FWC wants you to report skunk sightings
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has some stinky news! The FWC launched a new community science project aimed at learning more about Florida’s skunk populations. The Sunshine State is home to two species of skunks, the striped skunk and the smaller eastern spotted skunk. “There’s still a lot we don’t know about skunks in Florida,” FWC Mammal Conservation Coordinator Terry Doonan said. Your information will help inform future skunk research and habitat management practices.”To report a skunk sighting, click here.
Florida agency: Flying squirrels illegally shipped to Asia
Poachers set as many as 10,000 squirrel traps in central Florida and captured as many as 3,600 flying squirrels over a three-year period. "Buyers from South Korea would travel to the United States and purchase the flying squirrels from the wildlife dealer in Bushnell. The international retail value of the poached flying squirrels is estimated to be more than $1 million. The Florida suspects also illegally shipped protected freshwater turtles and alligators from Tampa to Los Angeles, where California authorities intercepted the reptiles, the agency said. "These poachers could have severely damaged Florida’s wildlife populations,” said Maj. Grant Burton, who leads the Florida wildlife commission’s investigation section.
It’s here! Stone crab season opens Thursday
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Oct 15th marks the opening of stone crab season, meaning that a few days later we can enjoy the tasty delicacy. Florida’s stone crab fishery has experienced a long-term decline in harvest and is likely undergoing overfishing. FWC staff worked with stakeholders on these changes that are intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery. All plastic and wood stone crab traps will need to be outfitted with a 2 3/16-inch escape ring before the 2023/2024 season. For more information on harvesting stone crabs for recreation, trap specifications, commercial stone crab regulations and licensing information, go online to MyFWC.com/Marine.
Record-breaking Burmese python captured in South Florida
An 18-foot, 9-inch Burmese python captured in South Florida is a new record, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The python was caught by members of the FWC Python Action Team and the South Florida Water Management District Python Elimination Program. Credit for the capture of the behemoth snake -- which weighed 104 pounds -- goes to Ryan Ausburn and Kevin Pavlidis. FWC said the removal of the female snake was a “triumph for our native wildlife and habitats.”The FWC partners with the SFWMD to remove nonnative pythons from the environment. Find out more about the Python Action Team: MyFWC.com/Python.
Mini-lobster season still on amid concerns
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rejected a request Wednesday to cancel the upcoming mini-lobster season over concerns about crowds spreading COVID-19. However, commissioners expressed concern that numerous public boat ramps will be closed in the upper Keys. Whats a little bit alarming, although we have not canceled mini season, is the fact that in Islamorada and everything north, including Monroe County, public marinas for boat ramps are being closed, Commissioner Rodney Barreto said. Spottswood said he intends to address the boat ramp issue with Monroe County officials. Thats just going to push folks to other ramps and create further congestion, Spottswood said.
Snapper mini season opens Friday, two major changes this year
This includes anyone who may be targeting a variety of reef fish, not just for red snapper during snapper season. According to the FWC, State Reef Fish Anglers will help improve recreational data for several reef fish species such as snapper, grouper, and hogfish. Outside of red snapper mini season, if you fish for mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, hogfish, red snapper, vermillion snapper, gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, greater amberjack, lesser amberjack, banded rubberfish, almaco jack, or gray triggerfish you also need to add this designation to your annual saltwater fishing license. Dont forget to renew your State Reef Fish Angler designation annually if you plan to fish for or harvest the reef fish listed above. It is difficult to avoid some of the co-occurring snapper grouper species such as Vermilion Snapper, Mutton Snapper, and Red Snapper.
Man arrested in death of off-duty Florida wildlife officer
LABELLE, Fla. A Florida man was arrested Monday in the fatal shooting of an off-duty state wildlife officer, authorities said. Eliceo Hernandez, 20, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to a Hendry County Sheriff's Office Facebook post. Keen had been an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Investigators said they were able to determine through interviews that Keen and another man had witnessed a reckless driver, and Keen followed the driver in his truck. After both Keen and Hernandez stopped, officials said Keen confronted Hernandez and was later shot.
Off-duty Florida wildlife officer found fatally shot
LABELLE, Fla. – An off-duty Florida wildlife officer was found fatally shot early Sunday, authorities said. Florida Wildlife Conservation officer Julian Keen Jr. was found fatally shot in rural Hendry County, and three suspects were in custody, according to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Pensacola television station WEAR reported Keen was shot and killed while trying to stop a hit-and-run driver. Keen, 30, grew up in LaBelle, Florida in Hendry County, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. He is an FWC Officer who was shot and killed off duty last night trying to stop a hit and run.
Drones could help fight invasive species, wildfires
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Drones could be deployed in state efforts to manage invasive species and address wildfire threats, under a proposal unanimously approved Wednesday by the House. “Currently, in the state of Florida we are facing an epidemic of invasive species destroying our local ecosystems, including the Everglades,” said bill sponsor Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville. Law enforcement is also prohibited, with certain exceptions, from using drones to gather evidence or other information. Fischer’s proposal would allow the Florida Forest Service to use drones to mitigate the threat of wildfires on public lands. “Drones may be a more cost-effective way and more efficient way than current practices,” Fischer said.
Wildlife officials predict healthy number of manatees this summer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While there currently isn’t a high number of manatees in Jacksonville, there will be in April as the waters warm up. The manatee population is on the rise, and wildlife officials predict there will be a healthy number this summer. In 2017, the Florida manatee was reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. While the population is doing well right now, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a record number of manatees were killed last year by Florida boaters. For information on the Florida manatee and conservation efforts, click here.
Snook fishing closing for the season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The recreational harvest season for snook closes Dec. 15 in Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, and will remain closed through Jan. 31, 2020, reopening to harvest Feb. 1. Anglers may continue to catch and release snook during the closed season. Snook also has a regular season closure that runs May 1 through Aug. 31. At its February meeting, FWC anticipates discussing whether to reopen snook harvest in this area on March 1. For more information on snook, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.” Improve data and report your catch on the Angler Action Foundation iAngler app at AnglerActionFoundation.com.
Native turtle trafficking ring busted in Florida
(CNN) - Two men have been charged for poaching thousands of Florida turtles and selling them illegally, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More than 4,000 turtles comprising a range of native species were illegally captured and sold over six months, the commission said. "The illegal trade of turtles is having a global impact on many turtle species and our ecosystems," said Eric Sutton, the FWC's executive director. After receiving a tip in February 2018, the FWC launched an undercover investigation where they discovered a ring of traffickers who were selling wild turtles to reptile dealers and distributors. "Wild turtle populations cannot sustain the level of harvest that took place here," said Brooke Talley, the FWC's reptile and amphibian conservation coordinator.
40 young turtles wash up on St. Johns County beaches in one day
St. Johns County BeachesST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - Over 40 young turtles washed onto St. Johns County beaches on Sunday, according to St. Johns County officials. The large numbers of beached turtles Monday continued a trend that has now seen more than 70 young turtles, or "washbacks", end up on St. Johns County beaches over the last week as a result of rough seas. In order to deal with the issue, St. Johns County has a team of about 200 volunteers in its Beach Steward and Washback Program that surveys the beaches to recover the washbacks. With the continued onset of high winds and storms that have stayed offshore, the ocean has been pushing towards the Florida coastline for several weeks now, the county said. Do not place the animal back in the ocean, the county advises.
Man who dragged shark to death in viral video is sentenced
WPTV/FWC via CNN(CNN) - A man involved in a viral video showing him laughing and smiling as a shark gets dragged to death behind a high-speed boat in Florida was sentenced to 10 days in jail. Robert Lee Benac, now 30, was charged Friday with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, according to Hillsbourgh County jail records and his attorney, Justin Brent Petredis. Benac was initially charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty before accepting a plea deal, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The court dropped one charge and reduced the other to animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, Petredis told CNN on Monday. According to Florida wildlife investigators, the shark was shot before being dragged to death.
Fish kill in Atlantic Beach pond is likely weather-related
ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. - The stench of dead fish was is in the air Thursday around an Atlantic Beach neighborhood along Wonderwood Drive. Neighbors who live in Oaks of Atlantic Beach said they began noticing the smell in the community's pond over the last few days. A spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the cause is suspected to be weather-related following Hurricane Dorian. The FWC said this particular fish kill included fish that were gasping at the surface of the pond, which tells investigators that one of the factors of the kill was a low level of dissolved oxygen. They say it's actually pretty common following a storm, especially in isolated bodies of water.