Naturally Florida

By Shannon Carnevale and Lara MilliganScience Nature

Naturally Florida episodes

June 20, 2023Sounds of Summer - Singing Insects
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
20 min
May 23, 2023Three Common Snakes in Residential Areas
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
18 min
April 17, 2023When You Think of Pines, I Hope You Think of Pinecones
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!
23 min
March 20, 2023The Truth About Iconic Florida
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
19 min
February 20, 2023Creating Wildlife Havens: 10 Tips for Backyard Habitat
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
23 min
January 23, 2023 Winter in the Sunshine State
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
22 min
January 22, 2023 Naturally Florida Trailer
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.
1 min
December 19, 2022End of the Year Q&A
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!
18 min
November 21, 2022Highlighting a Keystone Species: The Gopher Tortoise
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!
26 min
October 17, 2022It's Spooky Season, Let's Chat About Bats
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!
22 min