Making healthy food choices is a challenge of willpower for many of us, but for others it simply isn’t an option. According to a USDA report, more than 38 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2020. Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to…
Last week, Hurricane Ian ripped through Florida, dumping and causing historic flooding. While many in the state have a long road to recovery ahead, many Floridians are beginning to clean-up storm damage.
Was your private well or septic system flooded or impacted by the storm? Do you know how to properly care for these after…
What is World Food Day?
World Food Day is an internationally day celebrated to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Every year, World Food Day is held on October 16. The day brings attention to hunger and food security.
Be on the lookout for content and events throughout the…
Native Florida wildlife have adaptations and instincts that help them, literally, “weather the storm” during and after a hurricane. However, what is instinctual and normal for them may be unusual and concerning for us.
Post-hurricane wildlife encounters can be uncomfortable but with a little knowledge, they don’t need to be dangerous.
Wildlife Conflict, What Is…
Mosquito Aedes aegypti. Photo coutesy Jim Newman.
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After a hurricane, flooding and scattered debris that hold water are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
“An increase in mosquito numbers can most likely be expected in the weeks following a hurricane,” said Eva Buckner, an assistant professor…
Spiny leaves of tropical soda apple
Fall is known for pumpkin picking, cooler weather, and trick-or-treating. While we are enjoying our yards in this cooler, drier weather, it is a good time to look for something truly spooky that may be lurking amongst the bushes: invasive weeds! For this first week of October, we’re introducing…
After disasters sweep through an area, an unfortunate reality usually follows: fraudulent offers of funding and/or services to those regaining their bearings in the first hours, days and weeks of recovery.
Heidi Copeland, UF/IFAS Extension Leon County family and consumer sciences agent and accredited financial counselor, says the best defense against scammers is to be cautious when…
Yep… I stole that line from Robert Turpin. He is well known for his ability to come up with great titles. What we are referring to here is the invasion of lionfish into Pensacola Bay. It has been well known over the last decade that we have had lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico, but…
In the invasive species world, we talk of “Early Detection Rapid Response” (EDRR). These are invasive species that are currently not in our area, or are in very low numbers, but pose a potential threat. One of these is the Cuban treefrog.
As the name implies, Cuban treefrogs are from Cuba, and arrived in Florida…
Hurricanes have a great impact on the livelihoods of millions of people. This is an obvious statement given the sheer size and magnitude of the forces unleashed by them. What is less obvious, however, is all the different ways in which hurricanes impact the health of people, the environment, and animals.
Direct impacts of…