The Deep Dive Blog

By: Kyle Grammatica As we continue to fight Covid-19, wildlife experts in Florida are continuing actions to prevent the spread of a disease affecting North America’s deer: chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a progressive, neurological, and fatal disease that affects mule deer, white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, sika deer, North

Allie Sides was born with a little bit of Florida magic. A native of Tarpon Springs, she grew up pulling mangoes and oranges off trees at her grandparents’ house on Merritt Island whenever she needed a snack. Her childhood was filled with swimming alongside manatees, playing with horseshoe crabs, and

By: Kyle Grammatica Remember a time when you struggled to understand a concept? Maybe the information wasn’t explained well, or you needed more hands-on experience. This is often a challenge when communicating ecological challenges facing our springs. To help, we’re working with the Florida Springs Institute (FSI) to bring high-quality,

By: Kyle Grammatica Get close and cuddly with Florida’s iconic big cat! Adopting a plush Florida panther is a fun way to introduce the young and the young-at-heart to the endangered animal. When you adopt a panther, you will receive a plush, an official adoption certificate, and information about conservation

Miami native Ignacio Borbolla spent his youth exploring undeveloped south Florida. His grandfather and father taught him to fish off the city's docks, seawalls, and bridges. His grandfather used their trips to share stories of his fishing days in Cuba, claiming to have the fastest boat in the yacht club,

By: Kyle Grammatica Migratory monarch butterflies have visited Florida for generations, but scientists are now researching if they are extending their stays in the Sunshine State. The potential cause: a nonnative tropical plant. Nonnative tropical milkweed has become a common addition to south Florida gardens, often planted with the intention

Sometimes we need a little help to get going, and Lake Trafford is no exception. Luckily, nature has provided it assistance from some unlikely sources: native mussels and bluegill fish. Paper pondshell mussels might not be much to look at, but they are an essential component to ecosystem health and

John Metcalf has always been drawn to water, whether the Mississippi River in St. Louis, the Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana, or the St. Johns River in Florida. As an angler in the St Johns River for 40 years, he’s observed numerous changes in the habitat, including the loss of eelgrass.

Thanks to the generosity of Virtual Business Services, the 2021 Florida Python Challenge now has a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize! The award will be presented to the participant who removes the most pythons as part of the competition. Virtual Business Services offers free business development services for businesses of all