Florida is known for having alligators, a fact that brings fear to many visitors and residents. But, alligators are an important species in many of our ecosystems. While we continue to develop the State, our chances of encountering an alligator increase, but there are many ways we can learn to coexist with them.

Celebrate Earth Month with us as we revisit a favorite topic from season 1 with a freshly re-edited Alligator episode.

Learn more:

• Living with Alligators: a Florida Reality: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw230
• Watch an 8ft+ alligator climb a 6ft fence: https://youtu.be/z7DMjQJD7vM (ABC Channel 6, WATE)
• Information on alligator hunting in Florida (FWC) - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/harvest/hunt-guide/

How You Can Help:

• Never feed an alligator - If you suspect anyone of feeding alligators, intentionally or not, please consider reporting it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). You will not get anyone in trouble! The 1st offense is a warning and education visit. Call the wildlife alert hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922). Cell phone users in Florida can dial *FWC or #FWC, depending on the service provider.

Sources for this Episode:

• Ober, et al., Managing Conflicts with Wildlife: Living with Alligators. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw393
• Swiman, et al., Living with Alligators: A Florida Reality. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/snap/
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Alligator Management Program. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/

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

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state animal, The Florida panther: where it lives, how it lives, the conservation wins that brought it back from the brink, and what each of us can do to help panthers and people coexist in a rapidly growing state

Learn More:

• Florida Panther Program - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/

• Wildlife Watch: Learn to protect the Florida panther during critical breeding season with Ask IFAS’ bilingual guide - https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2026/02/12/wildlife-watch-learn-to-protect-the-florida-panther-during-critical-breeding-season-with-ask-ifas-bilingual-guide/

• The Florida Panther: A Passageway to Success - https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/florida-panther

• Panther Pulse - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/pulse/

How You Can Help:

• Slow down in posted panther zones, especially at dawn/dusk/night

• Report injured/dead panthers to 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922)

• Report sighting of Florida panther - https://app.myfwc.com/hsc/panthersightings/

• Support land conservation programs and efforts - call your elected officials!

• Consider a “Protect the Panther” tag and support local conservation partners -https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/plate/

Sources:

• The Florida Panther: Past, Present, and Future https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW402

• Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Florida Panther https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW467

• Florida Panther Program - https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/panther/

Today, we’re discussing Florida’s state bird, the Northern Mockingbird: how it earned that title, how to recognize it, who it’s often confused with, and the meaning behind some of their behaviors.

Learn More:

• Northern Mockingbird - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/overview
• Northern Mockingbird - https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-mockingbird
• State Bird: Mockingbird - https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-bird/

How You Can Help:

• Plant native shrubs and fruiting plants to support natural diets of the Northern Mockbird, and nesting habitat too!
• Remember – Aggressive behavior usually means there’s a nest nearby!
• Support your favorite bird species by promoting the habitat and land/water management practices that support their existence

Sources:

• Urban mockingbirds quickly learn to identify individual humans - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2690012/
• Cornell Lab: All About Birds – Northern Mockingbird - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/overview
• Breitwisch, R., Diaz, M., Natasha Gottlieb, Lee, R., & Zaias, J. (1986). Defense of Fall Territories by Mated and Unmated Northern Mockingbirds in Southern Florida. Journal of Field Ornithology, 57(1), 16–21. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4513085