The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Python Challenge is returning this summer, giving participants a chance to win a share of $25,000 in prizes while helping protect the Everglades ecosystem.
Governor Ron DeSantis is holding a press conference in Fernandina Beach with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission director on Monday at 10 a.m.
Spring has arrived, and black bears across Florida are becoming more active, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said, urging residents and visitors to be BearWise and secure potential food sources.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding residents and visitors that sea turtle nesting season has begun and urging simple steps to protect vulnerable nesting adults and hatchlings while enjoying Florida’s beaches.
A change to Florida’s fishing license system could affect out-of-state visitors hoping to fish during upcoming travel periods like spring break.
Officials in Florida say an injured mother manatee and her calf have been rescued from a river and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation.
As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to analyze the state’s first permitted bear hunt in a decade, the agency has started to release more data. A fact sheet posted Friday showed that all but six of the 172 permits purchased were by Florida residents, and nearly half of the 52 bears killed during the 23-day hunt that started Dec. 6 were female.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the reported deaths of dozens of vultures at Blue Spring State Park, according to an FWC spokesperson.
Multiple people were transported to a hospital Friday morning following a boat accident on Crescent Lake, according to Putnam County Fire Rescue Professionals Local 3529.
A Florida wildlife advocacy group has filed a legal challenge against the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to stop a planned December black bear hunt, arguing the agency lacks current scientific data to justify harvesting up to 187 bears.
The recreational harvest of flounder in all Florida state and federal waters will close Oct. 15 and remain closed through Nov. 30, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
Officials responded around 8:50 p.m., after receiving a call about a watercraft crashing into a buoy. The search prompted the temporary closure of The Bridge of Lions.
The 2025 Florida Python Challenge kicked off Friday, with competitors starting as early as 12:01 a.m. searching the Everglades to find and remove invasive Burmese pythons.
The recreational harvest of snook in the Northeast management region, including all state and inland waters as well as adjacent federal waters, will close on June 1, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a reminder sent Wednesday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission picked up a 300-pound dead bear after it was struck by a car on I-95 near 210 in St. Johns County on Wednesday.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is considering a land swap of 3,000 acres of private land in exchange for 600 acres of the Guana River Wildlife Management area in St. Johns County.
Protestors in Riverside voiced their concerns about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considering proposals for a potential black bear hunt starting later this year.
In response to what Florida officials have referred to as the state’s “most successful conservation efforts,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has begun creating proposals for a potential bear hunt later this year.
Recent activity in Florida is serving as a reminder of the state’s abundant wildlife while also providing an opportunity for residents to be reminded of safety protocols if they were to encounter animals such as black bears or coyotes.
A coyote believed to be behind several recent attacks on residents and pets in Atlantic Beach has been found dead in a junkyard, police said Thursday.
It might seem strange, but those flocks of shorebirds and seabirds you see on Northeast Florida’s beaches actually prefer not to nest on our sandy shores, if they have a choice. Unfortunately, in Northeast Florida, the birds are running out of those rooftop options as a lot of businesses change their roofing style.
Florida’s wildlife is becoming more active since it’s springtime. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) reminds the public to watch out for bears.
Almost five days after a vessel capsized on the St. Johns River, crews continue to look for a child who remained unaccounted for as of Wednesday afternoon.
On Sunday, community members got involved in looking for the final three boaters and expressed their commitment to providing closure for the families involved.
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the Legislature to halt law-enforcement officers from using boat safety inspections as a pretense for “intrusive” checks of “people who are acting responsibly” on Florida waters.
Join the community on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at Main Beach Park in Fernandina Beach for a unique opportunity to create a life-size North Atlantic right whale mosaic art installation using oyster shells.
Florida’s coast is welcoming its first right whales of the winter season. New images from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirm sightings near Amelia Island, including a mother whale with her calf and two adult females.
A group of Northeast Florida fishermen is voicing frustration over what they call “cronyism” in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) permit system for red snapper fishing.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Tuesday it recovered 37 gold coins stolen from the 1715 fleet shipwrecks, worth over $1 million.
The recreational harvest of flounder in all Florida state and federal waters will reopen Dec. 1.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Northwest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Team was awarded for their dedication to enforcing the federal fishing regulations in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that fall is the perfect time to evict bats from your home.
The St. Johns River is one of several rivers across Florida that is still experiencing significant flooding because of Hurricane Milton.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a controversial measure that will bolster self-defense arguments for people who kill bears on their property, while vetoing a bill that would have prevented motorists from cruising in the left lanes of highways.
From afar, it can prove challenging to tell the difference between crocodiles and alligators. So, how can you identify the two? We are here to help!
The fish that washed up along the St. Augustine Beach shoreline that caused a strong odor on Saturday are gone from the area.
Flagler County officials warn against feeding alligators and other wildlife after a social media post showed children feeding a gator at Wadsworth Park.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said charges are imminent for two teenagers who were on board a boat where they were caught on camera dumping garbage cans into the ocean in South Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating an incident involving a group of boaters that was seen dumping trash into the ocean in South Florida over the weekend, according to WPLG.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission invites people of all ages and skill levels to its freshwater license-free fishing weekend on April 6 and 7.
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.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is now offering a website that offers an easier way for nature lovers to plan their excursions.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new rule changes for the 2024-2025 hunting seasons and a new special-use alligator harvest opportunity.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new regulations to support trophy bass conservation during its February meeting.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and several other agencies are searching for two missing canoers on a pond on George Miller Road in Hastings Saturday afternoon.
Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in all waters of the St. Johns River system must be removed from the water before Jan. 16, the first day of a 10-day trap closure, the FWC said in a news release Monday.
A necropsy report for the young dolphin seen in a photo being held out of the water by someone last month has been released.
A bear in a tree at a Walt Disney World park prompted the temporary closure of several rides and attractions, according to News4JAX sister station WKMG.
Manatees face many threats, from habitat loss to watercraft collisions, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds anyone on the water to slow down and look out for manatees while boating in Florida.
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.
A Florida neighborhood is having to deal with a growing group of domestic rabbits on its streets after a breeder illegally let hers loose.
Meteorologist Katie Garner got a chance to go out with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see the issues they deal with firsthand on the St. Johns River.
The FWC recently approved regulation changes to red porgy. One of the regulations is a bag limit of one fish per person/day.
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.
It's spring, and that means black bears in Florida will be more active, including moms and their cubs. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has some advice to help you avoid bear conflicts.
Multiple people on social media have been sharing photos and videos saying they’ve seen coyotes roaming near homes in northern St. Johns County in recent weeks.
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.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved new redfish regulations and management regions for state waters Wednesday, including decreases in per-person bag and vessel limits.
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 you’re having fun.
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.
A boat passenger was ejected and killed Tuesday when the vessel hit a dock along Black Creek in the Lake Asbury area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
It’s National Safe Boating Week — and officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are reminding boaters to play it safe on the water.
News4JAX on Tuesday obtained a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission into a canoeing accident in Julington Creek, in which a 16-year-old boy died.
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.
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.
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.
If you’ve got a rod and reel, now is the time to fish them out of the closet -- the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s TrophyCatch program is in full swing for the 10th season.
A fisher tried to outsmart wildlife officials with a tricky cooler to hide illegally caught snook, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
As “bird flu” continues to spread across coastal counties in the state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said Monday it has identified a presumptive case in Duval County.
