Gov. DeSantis to get bill that makes it easier to shoot bears, claim self defense
A bill passed by the Florida House aims to make it easier for people to shoot bears on their property under the claim of self-defense. The bill would provide self-defense protections to individuals who kill bears, as long as they can reasonably prove that their actions were necessary to prevent imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Critics argue that the bill is based on fear rather than facts and does not include mechanisms to prevent excessive killings of bears.
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. Itโs not clear exactly where that photo was taken but harassing or feeding wild dolphins is against federal law.
Less than a week left to legally block bats from your Florida home before maternity season
If you've lived in Florida long enough, you know that critters are just part of the equation. From raccoons and birds of all kinds to gopher tortoises, gators and bats. Living in the Sunshine State means sharing our habitat.
Now is time to block bats from getting into your home, FWC says
Bats serve a purpose in Florida's ecosystem, so there are certain times of the year when Florida residents aren't allowed to disturb them. But bat maternity season is over and now is the time to bat proof your home, state wildlife officials say.
Watch out for nesting birds while youโre celebrating Independence Day weekend
Before you head out to the beach to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding beachgoers to protect vulnerable beach-nesting birds while youโre having fun.
Florida wildlife officials preparing to aid manatees after record deaths
After a record number of manatee deaths mostly linked to malnutrition, state and federal wildlife officials hope to double rescue and rehabilitation capacity before the sea cows again congregate in warm waters during the winter.
Teens got bull shark from stranger, gutted it & stored it at friendโs 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 friendโs 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.
How you can help shorebirds during nesting season in Florida
With shorebird and seabird nesting season underway, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission thanks building owners for hosting species such as black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers that nest on their roofs from March through August.
Startling statistics: Floridaโs record-breaking manatee deaths โa very sad wake-up callโ
Though itโs only July, the total number of Florida manatee deaths in 2021 has already reached a higher total than it did in all of 2020, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida lawmakers reintroduce bill to fund right whale restoration efforts
U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Orlando) introduced the Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered (SAVE) Right Whales Act that would invest $5 million annually in grants that states, nonprofits and members of the fishing and marine shipping industries can use to fund research and efforts that restore the North Atlantic right whale population.
Florida wildlife officials see manatees dying at an alarming rate
Manatees are having a difficult time in Florida. So far, 819 manatee fatalities have been recorded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission through June 25. For perspective, that is 182 more manatee deaths than the total recorded in 2020.
44% of Florida boating accidents in 2020 were due to operator error, stats show
Of 836 boating accidents in Florida last year, 402 involved collisions and 44% of those were due to the operatorโs inattention or failing to maintain a proper lookout, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionโs 2020 statistical report.
Itโs sea turtle nesting season, so hereโs how you can help
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Sea turtle nesting season is upon us and state wildlife officials are reminding Floridians to keep our beaches clear of trash and bright lights that could be harmful to hatchlings. Itโs recommended that they switch off lights or shut their curtains after dark to avoid confusing turtle hatchlings. Besides lighting, another concern for wildlife officials is trash left behind on the beach. Garbage and other discarded items can not only keep sea turtles from nesting, they can create obstacles for turtle hatchlings trying to reach the ocean when they eventually leave their nests. โAs beachgoers, we can all do our part to help sea turtles survive,โ Dr. Robbin Trindell, who heads the FWC sea turtle management program, said.
Florida wildlife officials host scavenger hunts across the state
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is hosting a scavenger hunt experience in early May. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A first-of-its-kind scavenger hunt awaits Floridians who want to experience the great outdoors and explore the stateโs scenic wilderness. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will host the inaugural Florida WildQuest at seven wildlife management areas (or WMAs) throughout the state including the Guana River Wildlife Management Area in Ponte Vedra Beach. To take part in the scavenger hunt, youโll need to download the free GooseChase app on your smartphone. To learn more about Florida WildQuest and the prizes, visit FloridaNatureTrackers.com.
Rules planned to save right whales loom over lobster fishers
The North Atlantic right whale numbers only about 360, and scientists have said the animal's small population of breeding females could spell doom for the species. The National Marine Fisheries Service is developing new rules to reduce the possibility of entanglement in fishing gear, which can kill the whales. AdThe coming restrictions have sparked a rancorous debate between environmentalists and lobster fishermen over the proper way to save the whale. It's holding public hearings about the proposed rules in New England, including one for southern Maine on Feb. 23 and one for northern Maine on Feb. 24. AdThe right whales were hunted to near extinction during the commercial whaling era.
Right whale calf fatally struck by boat washes up on Anastasia Island
ANASTASIA ISLAND, Fla. โ A right whale calf washed up Saturday on the shore of Anastasia State Park beach. Crews were studying the right whale calf and prepared to move it off the beach out of the tide zone. โItโs like putting a red light at an intersection or a speed zone at a school zone,โ Hain said. If you see a right whale, you are encouraged to call 877-WHALE HELP. And legally, boats must stay 500 yards from any right whale they spot.
Seal spotted along North Florida beaches
A seal was spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the last few days. A seal has been spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the last few days, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast tweeted Tuesday. Franchesca Swierz posted a video on Facebook of the seal, saying she came across it Monday while walking on the beach in St. Johns County. If you spot the seal, give it 50 yards of space and report the sighting to 1-877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343). Biologists are currently monitoring a seal spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the past few days.
Officials: Florida panther struck and killed by vehicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. โ An endangered Florida panther has died after being struck by a vehicle. Itโs the third panther death attributed to fatal collisions, out of four total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A total of 22 Florida panther deaths were reported in 2020, with 19 killed by vehicles. The remains of the 2-year-old male panther were found Thursday in Lee County on a rural road near Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, wildlife officials said. Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.
Snook fishing reopens for some areas February 1st
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Snook is slated to reopen for recreational harvest on Feb. 1 in Floridaโs Atlantic coastal and inland waters (from the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line north), including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. Snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to carefully handle and release snook you are not going to keep, which helps them survive after being released and helps ensure the speciesโ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about fish handling, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on โRecreational Regulationsโ and โFish Handling.โFor more information about snook, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on โRecreational Regulationsโ and โSnook.โ
FWC preliminary report finds 619 manatee deaths in Florida during 2020
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Weโre a week into 2021, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released its preliminary report for manatee deaths in the state during 2020. The preliminary report stated that there were 619 manatee deaths around the state. The Jacksonville Zoo is part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, which includes zoos, aquariums, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies. โMost common cause of admittance to the critical care here has been cold stress in 2020,โ said Jafarey. The main cases seen in this area that go to the critical care center are boat strikes and cold stress.
Sperm whale washes up in Ponte Vedra Beach
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. โ A dead 14-foot pygmy sperm whale washed ashore on Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday morning behind the Sawgrass Beach Club. โPygmy sperm whales are a common strander down here, actually, and they are an offshore species,โ FWC marine mammal biologist Nadia Gordon said. โThey feed a lot on squid, so when they are found near the shore or on the beach, thereโs a problem -- something going on. Thereโs a reason they are stranding.โDuring low tide, the whale was removed from the beach. โOur agency will look at the animal, doing an external work up initially to see whatโs going on potentially and then, likely, a necropsy to look internally and see whatโs going on,โ Gordon said.
Wildlife officials: 20 Florida panthers killed this year
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. โ At least 20 Florida panthers have died in 2020, a toll that appears to be on track to finish lower than in previous years. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that almost all of the panther deaths were caused by people. We donโt want to make too much of it yet, but it certainly gets our attention,โ Onorato told the newspaper. Florida panthers are the only puma still roaming east of the Mississippi River. Advocates are fighting a proposed toll road expansion, which could bring a new highway near panther habitat.
Florida's new python-sniffing dogs have 1st success
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is beginning a new program to use dogs to sniff out invasive pythons. We've got to try new approaches and the detector dogs is just one area where we're doing that," commission Executive Director Eric Sutton. He showed commissioners pictures of the dogs during a virtual meeting, including one with Truman standing behind the massive snake he found. Trainers use python-scented towels and live pythons with surgically implanted trackers to teach the dogs to pick up a snake's scent. The dogs were trained for more than a month before going out in the wild, according to the agency's website.
FWC wants you to report skunk sightings
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has some stinky news! The FWC launched a new community science project aimed at learning more about Floridaโs skunk populations. The Sunshine State is home to two species of skunks, the striped skunk and the smaller eastern spotted skunk. โThereโs still a lot we donโt know about skunks in Florida,โ FWC Mammal Conservation Coordinator Terry Doonan said. Your information will help inform future skunk research and habitat management practices.โTo report a skunk sighting, click here.
Florida offers free saltwater fishing Thanksgiving weekend
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Round out your Thanksgiving festivities with some license-free saltwater fishing Saturday, Nov. 28. License-free fishing days get Florida residents and visitors out on the water and find out why Florida is known as the Fishing Capital of the World. This day is part of eight total license-free fishing days the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers each year when anglers are not required to have a fishing license to participate. For fishing regulations and tips, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing. To renew or purchase a fishing license, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
โLionfish challengeโ targets invasive species in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ More than 21,500 lionfish were removed from state waters in just over five months through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionโs fifth-annual โLionfish Challenge.โThe total of 21,569 fish caught between May 22 and Nov 1 was down from the 23,451 lionfish removed in the 2019 challenge and a record 28,260 lionfish caught when the event was held in 2018. The state commission has been using the challenge to target the invasive species. The state sets no minimum size or daily bag limit on lionfish, which can be caught year-round. In 2018, legislators approved a law that set up a program to target invasive species including pythons, tegu lizards and lionfish. Under the program, the commission can enter contracts with people to capture or destroy the species on public lands and in state waters.
10-foot python removed from under car hood in Florida
DANIA BEACH, Fla. โ Authorities say a 10-foot Burmese python was removed from under the hood of a car in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a tweet Thursday that the snake was coiled up inside the engine compartment of a Ford Mustang in Dania Beach, which is adjacent to Fort Lauderdale. โOur officers responded and safely captured and removed the approximately 10-foot invasive snake,โ the tweet said. The largest python captured so far in South Florida was more than 18 feet long. It wasn't immediately clear what became of the python found inside the Mustang.
FWC considering closure and restrictions on flounder fishing
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The FWC is considering establishing a recreational flounder fishing closure every year from October 15th through November 30th and raising the minimum size limit to 14 inches. A recent stock status update suggested that the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend in recent years and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Draft rule changes include:Extend ALL FWC flounder regulations into federal waters. For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establish a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 flounder from Dec. 1 โ Oct. 14, and 50 flounder from Oct. 15 โ Nov. 30. Modify the incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds to 50 fish.