Naturally Florida

State Marine Mammal: Bottlenose Dolphin

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state saltwater mammal, the dolphin. We will discuss why it’s not technically correct to call them a porpoise, some fasci

Florida's State Freshwater Fish: The Florida Bass

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state freshwater fish, the Florida bass. We will discuss why it’s no longer called the largemouth bass, where they can be

Florida's State Shell: The Horse Conch

In today’s episode we’re talking about the mysterious and massive horse conch, Florida’s state shell. We will discuss the meaning behind its common and scientific name, w

Florida's State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing

In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state butterfly, the zebra longwing: what it looks like, where it’s found, its life cycle, some fun and unique behaviors,

Florida's State Reptile: The American Alligator

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

Florida's State Animal, the Florida Panther

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 brin

Florida's State Bird ... but for how long?

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 behin

Sabal Palmetto, AKA the Cabbage Palm!

Today, we’re diving into what makes the sabal palmetto special—from its biology and wildlife value to its cultural history—and how Floridians can help protect and support

Hurricanes & Wildlife: Hurricane Series, Part 4

In this episode, we explain how hurricanes impact ecosystems and the wildlife that live there. We’ll discuss behaviors of wildlife before, during and after a storm, how t

Inland Flooding: Hurricane Series, Part 3

In this episode, we explain how hurricanes cause inland flooding through extreme rainfall and connected watershed systems. We’ll discuss why Florida’s flat terrain and de

Storm Surge: Hurricane Series, Part 2

On today’s episode, we will do a deep dive into the topic ofstorm surge. What is storm surge? What are the impacts of storm surge to us and our natural systems? We will a

Introduction to Hurricanes: Hurricane Series, Part 1

This episode is part 1 of our summer hurricane series! Today, we're talking about how hurricanes form, why they spin, and what the "categories" mean when we talk about st

Throwback: Lara's Favorite Lizard

Green anoles are some of Florida’s most familiar—and most overlooked—neighbors. In this episode of Naturally Florida, we revisit our very first show from 2020 to explor

Let's Talk About Lake Water Quality

Happy Lakes Appreciation Month! This month, we dive into water quality and what it really means for freshwater systems. You'll hear a lot of scientific jargon this mont

The Scrub is Scrubbing

In this episode, we explore the unique ecology of scrub habitat in Florida. What is a scrub? Where are they located?How are they different from similar ecosystems? How do

Florida's Mighty Mangroves

In this episode, we'll discuss the three different species of mangroves found in Florida, their northward migration, and the critical role they play in our coastal ecosys

Vulture Culture

Vultures can be seen throughout Florida, whether soaring in the air or feeding on the ground, visitor or resident, we have all encountered vultures in Florida. We actuall

Oh the Oaks

We just did an episode on trees two months ago, but they are such a critical part of our ecosystems, it’s hard not to talk about them. Today, we thought it would be fun t

Non-Native Lizards in Florida

On today's episode, you'll hear about a few of our non-native lizards and learn about the complexity of when a species may or may not be called invasive. Learn more: T

Florida Arbor Day ... is in January!?

While much of the country waits until late April to celebrate Arbor Day, Florida marks the occasion several months sooner. Our subtropical climate makes it safe—and even