Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hearing from a group of turtle enthusiasts that wants new rules to allow people to capture and breed diamondback terrapins. They aren’t endangered but conservationists are worried about their numbers.

The Florida grasshopper sparrow was North America’s most endangered bird, with around 80 left in the wild. The total wild population has jumped to more than 120.

There have not been as many Florida manatees dying this year.

About 140 distressed manatees have been rescued over the past year.

A program through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is aimed at quickly removing privately owned boats that have been abandoned or wrecked.

They want to be prepared for when manatees make their winter return to areas depleted of sea grasses.

The lack of seagrass forage during winter months has triggered an unprecedented die-off of manatees.

During an appearance at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the governor expressed support for budget items aimed at helping manatees.

The virus is deadly for birds, but humans aren’t necessarily at risk for infection despite one case in Colorado.

The hope of the 35-acre pilot program is to find a way to successfully clear a body of water, or parts of it, of hyacinth without using chemicals or other extreme measures.

Mechanical harvesters will be used to collect invasive floating plants and the plants will then be processed and pumped to nearby hayfields to enhance soil.

State and federal wildlife officials are working together to address the unusual die-off of manatees. Already this year more than 440 have died. That's high, but not as bad as in 2021.