Category: Wildlife

Kayaking on Ocheesee Pond

Debbie Roney Smith on

Recent rain and perfect summer weather call for a trip to Ocheesee Pond in Grand Ridge! Kayaking is a must-do at this local. To get to the launch site, head east from Marianna on Highway 90 and turn right on Highway 69. Then, after crossing the railroad tracks in Grand Ridge, take a left onto 69A and follow it to the dirt road on the left marked Arkansas. Marking the spot is a boat ramp sign marking the turn.

Don’t attempt this pond alone if you haven’t done it previously, as after a short half-mile paddle through the clear water, there is a maze-like cypress swamp. There is a marker system but they are often difficult to spot and irregular. However, the kayaking route is a beautiful trip. Amongst the cypress tree-maze are aquatic glades of water lily and spatterdock that give the water a splash of seasonal color. There are often basking turtles, elusive alligators on the prowl, duck sightings, and a plethora of osprey and woodpeckers.

Seacrest Wolf Preserve

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Seacrest Wolf Preserve was founded by Cynthia and Wayne Watkins in Chipley, 1999. It is a non-profit dedicated to wolf and wildlife conservation. The preserve has experienced enormous growth over the years and is now a large organization focused on education and conservation. The preserve is home to 30 wolves (Gray Wolves, Arctic-Type Wolves, and British Columbian Wolves) as well as a variety of small native species such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.

Seacrest offers an unforgettable, educational experience where visitors encounter wolves face-to-face. Not all 30 wolves living at the preserve are approved for this special experience. Seacrest Wolf Ambassadors are those special wolves that have experience and enjoy interacting with human visitors as they learn important scientific information about this amazing keystone species. There are several different types of educational tours offered but reservations must be made beforehand. Due to Covid precautions, they are currently offering only the VIP Tours, Mondays – Saturdays.  

​Visit their official website for more detailed information, or call (850) 773-2897. 

Parks & Recreation: Jackson County

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Jackson County Recreational Areas, Boat Ramps and Landings

Blue Springs Recreational Area 

5164 Blue Springs Rd. Marianna, Florida 32446

Spring Creek Park

4841 Hwy 90 Marianna, Florida 32448

Citizen’s Lodge Park

4574 Lodge Drive Marianna, Florida 32446

Visit the Jackson County parks and recreation website to learn more. 

Fishing on the Ocheesee Pond

Debbie Roney Smith on

Ocheesee Pond is a great place to enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, and more. The lake is 2,225-acres with dark tannic water covered by cypress trees. Lake access is available by taking SR 69 south of Grand Ridge (1.0 mile); then turn left on CR 69A (5.9 miles) and travel left on Shady Grove Rd. to the ramp.

Be careful navigating while in the water; there are many exposed stumps and snags. Try fishing around the stumps and snags in deep holes, where fish often gather. The best baits for wildlife in the pond include grass shrimp, crickets, wigglers, or various colors of 1/16 to 1/8 oz. beetle spins. Try fishing in the early morning and/or late afternoon along weed lines or in deep holes in the lake. The best baits include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, dark plastic worms, or live shiners.

Florida Panhandle Snakes

Debbie Roney Smith on
Rainbow snake; a nonvenomous water snake

The Florida Panhandle is an area that offers exceptional biodiversity which means it is capable of supporting many of the 44 species of snake noted to live in Florida. In particular, the Apalachicola River basin acts as a biodiversity hot spot. In fact, the biodiversity of the area allows for 12 unique species that live only in the panhandle. For a detailed look at the 12 species, visit the following blog post written by Rick O’Connor, a University of Florida Extension Agent. 

Fast facts:

  • 6 of the 12 are nonvenomous water snakes
  • 2 of the 12 are venomous snakes which accounts for about 33% of the venomous species in FL
  • 4 of the 12 are small terrestrial snakes that rarely grow over a foot in length

 

Pensacola: International Billfish Tournament

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The Pensacola International Billfish Tournament starts today, June 30th, and will end on July 4, 2021. Held at Palafox Pier, this tournament has been a tradition since 1970. This is the 50th Annual  Pensacola International Billfish Tournament! The event schedule is as follows:

Wednesday June 30th: Captains Meeting
Thursday July 1st: Flare Start- Pensacola Pass
Friday July 2nd: Scales open 4-7pm
Saturday July 3rd: Scales open 3-7pm
Sunday July 4th: Awards

There will be strict social distancing guidelines to keep the community safe. Visit the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club website HERE or their Facebook page HERE for more information. 

World Environment Day

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Today is the annual U.N. World Environment Day! 2021’s focus is on ecosystem restoration and its theme is “Reimagine. Recreate.Restore.” Ecosystem restoration is the act of preventing, halting, and reversing the damage done to the planet. Ecosystem restoration is incredibly important to the health of the planet and of humanity. Take for instance the emergence of COVID-19; the loss of natural habitats for animals has helped create the ideal conditions for pathogens – like the coronaviruses – to spread. For more detailed information as well as ways you can take action this World Environment Day, visit the U.N. website or the World Environment Day 2021 website. 

Insect Repellant Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Insect Repellant Awareness Day! in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas, insect repellant is especially important given the humidity and water levels – breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The most effective ‘bug spray’ is DEET! Be sure to stock up on it for the summer season. DEET is so efficient because mosquitoes have receptors in their feet which leads to them wanting to escape the poor ‘taste’ they are experiencing (source).  

National Water a Flower Day

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Today is National Water a Flower Day! Flowers are wonderful natural occurrences that have many beneficial properties. Humans use flowers for medicinal, therapeutic, and aesthetic reasons. Flowers, and by extension herbs, are used by scientists to help develop medicines and beauty products such as lotion. Studies have also shown that caring for plants and flowers can have a positive therapeutic effect on people.

Rember, the best time to water flowers is in the morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.; as the weather is cooler during this period, plants receive more water because there is less soil evaporation. Use today as an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful little creations by watering the flowers you have, planting some new ones, learning more about various flowers, or even by gifting someone you care about with some potted flowers in order to spread happiness. 

World Turtle Day

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This special day is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization established in 1990. This is a special day for the state of Florida as it ranks as the most diverse turtle state in the United States. Additionally, it was one of the turtle diversity hot spots around the world. Visit the official World Turtle Day website HERE, and learn more about Florida Panhandle turtles HERE.