Naturally Florida

Latest Episodes:

Sounds of Summer - Singing Insects Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

What comes to mind when you think of summer? Hot. Beaches. No school. What about singing insects? No? Perhaps not, but we’re sure you’ve heard the sounds of summer. Nobody sounds the alarm for summer weather like our native cicadas. Find out about them and more in today’s episode.

Learn more:

Common Grasshoppers in Florida -  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN010
Cicadas of Florida - ⁠https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bugs/cicadas.htm
Singing Insects of North America - https://orthsoc.org/sina/index.htm

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN132

How You Can Help:

Leave portions of your yard unmown
Reduce use of lawn chemicals
Be tolerant of chewed leaves

Sources for this Episode:

Singing Insects of North America - https://orthsoc.org/sina/index.htm
Songs of Insects – A Guide to the Voices of Crickets, Katydids & Cicadas - http://songsofinsects.com/
Singing Insects: Our Overlooked Outside Chorus - https://youtu.be/VBVzeV8sKXQ

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: ⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations

Three Common Snakes in Residential Areas May 23, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode, you’ll learn about three non-venomous snake species common to residential areas in Florida. Slithering into a neighborhood near you, these common snake species are found all over Florida.

Learn More:

Red Cornsnake: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/red-cornsnake/
Black Racer: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/north-american-racer/
Ring-necked Snake: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/ring-necked-snake/
Learn all about Florida’s Snakes, here: https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/snakes/florida.shtml

Call to Action:

Let them be, let snakes live! They provide so many ecosystem benefits for us. Can you imagine how different the rodent, lizard, and insect populations might be without predators like snakes?
Prevent encounters rather than trapping or killing snakes. Reduce snake encounters with these tips from UF/IFAS Wildlife Extension: https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/preventing_encounters.shtml
Identify snakes you see using this handy guide: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/ Or, If you’re ever unsure, snap a picture from a safe distance and email us!

Sources for the show:

UF IFAS Wildlife’s Johnson Lab: “Florida’s Snakes” https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/snakes/florida.shtml And https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/dealing_with_snakes.shtml
Florida Fish and Wildlife’s “Living with Snakes” https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/snakes/
Snake Bites: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/default.html

When You Think of Pines, I Hope You Think of Pinecones Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

We have all probably interacted with pine cones in some way, whether we collected them to start a bon fire, rolled them in peanut butter to create a bird feeder, or avoided them during pollen season. Pine trees produce pine cones, a unique seed with a fascinating science and ecological importance for Florida’s ecosystems.

Learn more:

Common Pines of Florida - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR003
Fun facts about pine cones - www.canr.msu.edu/news/fun_facts_about_pine_cones

How You Can Help:

Plant a pine tree!- U https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR456
Support prescribed fire - www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Prescribed-Fire
Leave pine cones where you found them - www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2013/05/07/the-problem-with-longleaf-pine-seeds/

Sources for this Episode:

Longleaf Pine - www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/palustris.htm
Native Trees of the Southeast – An Identification Guide - www.workman.com/products/native-trees-of-the-southeast/paperback
Morphology of Plants and Fungi - www.abebooks.com/9780060408398/Morphology-Plants-Fungi-Bold-Harold-0060408391/plp

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

The Truth About Iconic Florida Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

When people think of Florida and visiting the sights, what do they think of? For most people, it’s some combination of alligators, flamingos, manatees, and sea turtles with a sprinkling of Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and the beaches. This episode explores the truth about iconic Florida.

Learn more:

American Flamingo - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/waterbirds/american-flamingo
All About Manatees- https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/facts-and-information/ .
All About Sea Turtles- https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/sea-turtle/where-to-view/

How You Can Help:

View Manatees Responsibly - https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/manatee/viewing-guidelines/
Help Keep Our Sea Turtles Safe - https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/florida/faq/.
Visit Real Florida When Vacationing or Staycationing: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails OR https://www.nps.gov/state/fl/index.htm OR https://www.visitflorida.com/travel-ideas/articles/outdoors-nature-florida-wildlife-refuges/

Sources for this Episode:

John Audubon’s journal entries - www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/american-flamingo
George Archibald McCall - www.google.com/books/edition/Letters_from_the_Frontiers/bA0EZPPKc_QC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=flamingo
Kennedy Space Center - www.kennedyspacecenter.com/blog/07/the-wild-side-of-kennedy-space-center
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge - www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island/visit-us/activities
Disney Wildnerness Preserve - www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-disney-wilderness-preserve/
UF/IFAS Assessment: Coconut Palm - https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/cocos-nucifera/

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations

Creating Wildlife Havens: 10 Tips for Backyard Habitat Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

You’ve probably heard that habitat destruction is a common cause of population declines for many wildlife species. It’s critical for us to do what we can in our yards, neighborhoods and communities to help support wildlife by providing food, water, shelter and space. In this episode, we discuss ten tips you can consider implementing where you have influence.

Learn more:

Planting a Refuge for Wildlife (book)- wildlifeflorida.com/product/planting-a-refuge-for-wildlife/
Helping Cavity-Nesters in Florida - edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW058
A Bird's-Eye View: How Birds Select Habitat - edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW174
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Plant Guide - https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/plant-guide/
Florida’s Wildflowers & Butterflies - www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/wildflower-search/
Providing Water to Wildlife - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/providing-water-to-wildlife.html
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/management/integrated-pest-management.html
Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/

How You Can Help:

Implement one or more of the tips shared in today’s episode- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMHbwAhD6pLecySSES0lTNPnRTS6Gyvhk
Share this episode with family and friends https://link.chtbl.com/NaturallyFlorida
Certify your yard - https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY

Sources for this Episode:

The impact of free-ranging domestic casts on wildlife of the United States - www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380/?mod=article_inline&fbclid=IwAR
Native plants improve breeding and foraging habitat for an insectivorous bird - www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320717305153.
Impact of Native Plants on Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity in Suburban Landscapes - conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01076.x
Can snag creation benefit a primary cavity nester: Response to an experimental pulse in snag abundance www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320714000056

Winter in the Sunshine State Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

People don’t often think of Florida when they think of winter, but there is actually a lot that happens in the natural world. There are migrations happening, leaves falling, and much more! In this episode, we will explore the exciting world of winter in Florida. Learn more: Science of Fall Colors - Science of Fall Colors | US Forest Service (usda.gov) Wildlife Happenings - UFlorida Wildlife Extension at UF/IFAS (ufl.edu) Do Black Bears Hibernate? - myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/facts/hibernation/ Canada Geese (they're in parts of Florida! Peep that range map): https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/overview How You Can Help: Find a local Audubon Chapter - Audubon Near You | Audubon Plant A Tree - UPlanting and Establishing Trees - Gardening Solutions - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu) Provide Healthy Wildlife Habitat - CIR 1429/UW175: Landscaping Backyards for Wildlife: Top Ten Tips for Success (ufl.edu) Sources for this Episode: Science of Fall Colors - Science of Fall Colors | US Forest Service (usda.gov) Wildlife Happenings - UFlorida Wildlife Extension at UF/IFAS (ufl.edu) Do Black Bears Hibernate? - myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/facts/hibernation/ Cardinal soundclip: Mike Nelson, XC130967. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/130967 Wood duck soundclip: Daniel Lane, XC66141. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/66141 If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here! If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations

Naturally Florida Trailer Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Naturally Florida, a podcast about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here.

Submit comments and topic suggestions to our website, www.naturallyfloridapodcast.com

This podcast is brought to you by UF/IFAS Extension, an Equal Opportunity Institution.

End of the Year Q&A Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Naturally Florida, Shannon answers a few Listener questions! She'll tackle a light-hearted Florida Christmas classic, "Why do iguanas fall out of trees when it gets cold?" as well as shed some light about "good or bad" species like queen palms and Carolina laurel cherry, and finally, wrap up with a South Florida conundrum, "What can be done about a nuisance peacock?"

If YOU have a question for Shannon and Lara, you can leave it here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-KBNDTFKdk2s5gpiMx4bhAZcX_k6UeBKkWoRGrhGBkVUN0lVVk4wMVgyMUVDVkgxMFpUNjlPS1FRSy4u

Naturally Florida will pull questions from this form for future Q&A episodes, or, may occasionally add a question to a normal episode.

Learn more:

Iguanas in the Landscape: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/iguanas_landscape.shtml
Queen Palms: https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/syagrus-romanzoffiana/
Carolina Laurel Cherry: https://www.fnps.org/plant/prunus-caroliniana and https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST505
Nuisance Wildlife FAQ - Florida Fish and Wildlife: https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/faqs/

How You Can Help:

Consider sharing this podcast with a friend, this holiday season! Consider what episode they might like best, and she it with them. We would greatly appreciate it!
If choosing new landscaping, run the species through the IFAS Assessment first - https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu
Only hire wildlife trappers who have training and are listed through FWC's wildlife trapper page. See here: https://app.myfwc.com/hgm/nwt/nwtsearch.aspx

Sources for this Episode:

UF IFAS Assessment: https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu
Florida Invasive Species Council, Invasive Species list: https://floridainvasivespecies.org/plantlist.cfm

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

Highlighting a Keystone Species: The Gopher Tortoise Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

The gopher tortoise is not only a keystone species, but also an endemic species, making it special and important to the overall function of the ecosystems where it is found. In this episode we will explore the life of the gopher tortoise including some basic identification information, population status, biology, and things you can to do help populations in Florida.

Learn more:

Watch our webinar - https://youtu.be/1QhwxOb0Cb4
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Gopher Tortoise Program - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/
The Gopher Tortoise Council - https://gophertortoisecouncil.org/gopher-tortoise

How You Can Help:

Add native forage species to your yard - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/help/plant-guide/
Find out what to do if you find a gopher tortoise near you (injured, healthy, or deceased) - https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/tortoise-sightings/
Help get them out of the road - Place them on the side of the road in the direction they were heading (Note: Do not place them in water)

Sources for this Episode:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Gopher Tortoise Education - https://myfwc.com/education/wildlife/gopher-tortoise/
Fire Effects Information System - Species: Gopherus polyphemus - www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/reptile/gopo/all.html

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

It's Spooky Season, Let's Chat About Bats Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Mummies, Ghosts, and Goblins – oh my! This spooky season, we're chatting about Florida’s bats!

Thirteen species of bats call Florida home, yearround, and several more migrate in from the north or south at certain times of year. These amazing flying mammals, the only mammal with true flight, provide highly valuable pest management services for Floridians.

So, while you may see some spooky vampire bats this month on TV or in the movies, remember - Florida bats eat insects … they don’t suck blood!

Learn more:

(Webinar) Bats of Florida - https://youtu.be/gYhTjbBDqS8 (Taught by Shannon!)
Read about high-quality bat houses in Florida - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/UW/UW29000.pdf
Connect with the Florida Bat Conservancy to learn more: https://www.floridabats.org/backyard-bat-houses.html Living with Bats (FWC) - https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/bats/

How You Can Help:

Share what you learned with a friend! Bats are friends, not foe in Florida. Without them, we’d be dealing with so many more nighttime flying pest species.
Consider leaving natural habitat for bats, like Spanish moss, dead palm fronds and their "boots" and, where possible, snags with cavities. Installing a bat house!
Learn more about them, here: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/UW/UW29000.pdf and https://www.floridabats.org/backyard-bat-houses.html

Sources for this Episode:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW433
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/UW/UW28900.pdf
https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/bats/health/histoplasmosis/
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/where-is-wns-now
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/white-nose-syndrome

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!