Wildlife & Invasive Species Education TM

02/23/2026

https://wildlife.org/jwm-florida-bears-thrive-with-space-and-protection/

A population of bears on the state’s panhandle have bounced back in the last decade

02/23/2026

💡 Your tax dollars at work—supporting practical solutions in your community.

Did you know that UF/IFAS Extension is funded through a three-way partnership?

Extension is supported by:

• County Funding – including support from the Board of County Commissioners
• State Support – funding from the State of Florida
• Federal Support – through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

This cooperative funding model ensures that research-based education from the University of Florida reaches communities right here at home.

Extension exists to serve you.
Many residents are surprised to learn the wide range of services available in their own county:

🌳 Urban Forestry guidance
🐜 Urban Pest Management education
🦅 Florida wildlife and conservation programs
🌺 Horticulture and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
🌱 Commercial Horticulture support for growers
🐄 Livestock and agricultural producer assistance
🥕 Vegetable gardening and food production support
🍎 Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) programming
🌱 Master Gardener Volunteer program
🦋 Master Naturalist Program
🍀 4-H Youth Development
…and much more.

Extension provides workshops, site visits, youth development programs, volunteer training, and practical, science-based solutions that improve quality of life, strengthen agriculture, and support both rural and urban communities.

📍 Find your local office here 👉 https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/

02/17/2026

Walking along a sidewalk in a county park yesterday, my six-year-old daughter stopped and asked:
“Daddy, are those little orange seeds poisonous?”
What a great question. 👏
This is exactly why we must continually teach our children about the plants around us and reinforce the rule:
🌿 Don’t touch or taste anything unless you know what it is.
Those bright orange “seeds” belonged to a Coontie —
The Coontie is a fantastic Florida native plant:
✔️ Tolerates full sun and shade
✔️ Extremely drought tolerant once established
✔️ Slow growing and low maintenance
✔️ Host plant for the beautiful Atala butterfly
However, and this is the teaching moment, all parts of the plant are toxic, and the seeds in particular are the most toxic if ingested. Only female plants produce seeds, which are attractive because of their bright orange color. This can be attractive to kids and your pets.
UF/IFAS addresses Coontie and other potentially toxic landscape plants in this publication:
👉 https://lnkd.in/eZwU4ADr
That doesn’t make Coontie a “bad” plant.
It makes it a plant that requires informed placement and supervision, especially in landscapes with:
• Curious toddlers
• Dogs that chew
• Livestock
In my case, with a puppy and a young child, I will hold off planting it, even though I truly love this plant.
Landscape decisions should always consider:
🌿 Right plant
🏡 Right place
👨‍👩‍👧 Right situation
And most importantly, conversations like this with our kids.
Environmental education doesn’t always happen in a classroom.
Sometimes it happens on a sidewalk. 💚
📸 Photo credit: Jim E. Davis

02/10/2026

📸 Look-alike alert in Florida wetlands

Have you seen these birds and wondered if they’re the same species?

They’re not.

🔵 Left: Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) — NATIVE
📍 Florida wetland species

🟣 Right: Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) — NON-NATIVE
📍 Introduced to Florida in the 1990s

Here’s how to tell them apart:

Purple Gallinule (Native):
• Smaller, more slender body
• Bright blue forehead shield
• Red and yellow bill
• Long yellow legs

Gray-headed Swamphen (Non-native):
• Larger, bulkier body
• Gray head
• Solid red bill and shield
• Pinkish legs

Why it matters:
Gray-headed Swamphens compete with native marsh birds for food and nesting areas.

Purple Gallinules are part of Florida’s native wetland ecosystem.
Gray-headed Swamphens are an introduced species.

Beautiful birds — very different ecological roles.

Have you confused the two before?

📷 Photos: Jim E. Davis

02/04/2026

This time of year, people often assume bug activity slows down. That’s partially true for many landscape pests, but your home can become a perfect refuge.
Weather events like excessive rainfall or sudden drops in temperature often push insects indoors in search of shelter. Common culprits include cockroaches, millipedes, and in my case this year—ghost ants.
Ghost ants are mostly a nuisance and something I tend to deal with about once a year. No need to panic—these can usually be managed effectively with a quality ant bait (this one has a borate). The key is patience and letting the bait do the work.
The next step is exclusion:
✔️ Locate and seal the entry point with caulk
✔️ Identify where ants are accessing the structure from outside
✔️ Make sure no vegetation is touching the home in that area
Small steps like these go a long way in preventing repeat issues and reducing the need for ongoing treatments.
💡 Not sure what you’re seeing?
UF/IFAS Extension faculty can help properly diagnose the issue and provide a science-based management plan.
Find your local office here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqvDS7dU
Please support and utilize your local Extension office in your county—they are here to serve you.
📸 Photo credit: Jim E. Davis

02/02/2026

Are you passionate about wildlife and our natural resources?

If so, I invite you to join us for the Wildlife & Invasive Species Education™ (WISE) Conference on March 26–27 in Bushnell, Florida, at the Sumter County Fairgrounds (7620 SR 471).

We’ve assembled an outstanding lineup of experts, including:

• Parks Paige with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) presenting on the Florida Black Bear
• Dr. Hance Ellington discussing coyotes
• Dr. Brittany Scharf sharing insights on snook
• Dr. Stephen Enloe covering invasive plants
• And many more dynamic speakers

I’ll also be presenting on the American alligator and more.

This conference is designed for landowners, wildlife enthusiasts, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, environmental educators, and anyone who cares about Florida’s natural resources. You’ll leave with science-based knowledge, practical management strategies, and real tools you can apply immediately.

✔️ Outstanding speakers
✔️ Great food
✔️ Affordable registration
✔️ Daily raffles — including Bluebird nest boxes

You might even walk out with one of those Bluebird houses!

I hope to see you there as we continue building a community committed to responsible wildlife and invasive species management across Florida.

Please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1766992475059?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/30/2026

🌿 Wildlife & Invasive Species Education™ (WISE) Conference 🌿
Hosted by Jim E. Davis, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County
📅 March 26–27, 2026
Registration is now open for the WISE Conference, a two-day professional learning event focused on Florida wildlife, invasive species, and natural resource management.
🔍 Topics include invasive species; prescribed fire; wetlands and aquatic systems; native plants; Florida wildlife conservation such as coyotes, black bear, marine animals and more. Check out the registration link for the full 2-day agenda.
💲 Registration Options
$70 – Both Days
$40 – Single Day
On-site Registration: $45 per day
❗ No refunds after March 18, 2026
🍽️ Registration includes lunch, coffee, snacks, water, and cake.
🎁 Daily Bluebird Nest Box Raffle
Ten (10) bluebird nest boxes will be raffled at the end of each conference day.
Must be present to win.
👉 Register here: Click on the picture

Get WISE about wildlife and invasive species at our 2026 event—join us to learn, explore, and protect our natural world!

01/03/2026

Protecting Florida’s Burrowing Owl

One of Florida’s smallest owls, the Burrowing Owl, weighs about 5 ounces—roughly half the weight of a 12-oz soda can. I first encountered these owls in Cape Coral, home to the largest population in Florida, and once I photographed those big yellow eyes, I was hooked. While the Great Horned Owl is an impressive raptor, these little owls are truly charming.
Unfortunately, the Burrowing Owl is a state-threatened species in Florida, designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Habitat loss, along with human and pet disturbance, remains the greatest threat.
Protecting open, natural areas—and respecting nesting sites—is essential to conserving this species. Small actions can make a big difference for one of Florida’s smallest raptors.