The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued a reminder to the public about the optimal time for excluding bats from buildings. While Florida's 13 native bat species usually roost in natural settings, they sometimes seek shelter in human-made structures. With the end of bat maternity season on August 15, it is now permissible to exclude bats from homes and other buildings.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced its continued partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to fund youth fishing education in Florida through the Vamos a Pescar initiative. This program aims to educate Hispanic youth and families about ethical angling, conservation, fishing gear, and basic fishing skills.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced that several rivers in the state are experiencing significant flooding due to Hurricane Milton. The affected rivers include the Suwannee/Santa Fe, St. Johns, and Withlacoochee rivers. As a result of rising floodwaters, safety measures have been implemented to protect the public.
Last month, Governor Ron DeSantis proclaimed September 28 as National Hunting and Fishing Day in Florida. This proclamation acknowledges the contributions of hunters and anglers to conservation efforts through license purchases and excise taxes on equipment.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Catch a Florida Memory program concluded another successful year with its Triple Threat Throwdown event. The competition awarded a Fishing Kayak Bundle to Brian Ferreira, who was selected as the winner. Ferreira received a Bonafide P127 kayak equipped with a fishing package from Mustad Fishing and a Safety Bundle from Russ Vorhis-State Farm Insurance.
The stone crab harvest season commenced on October 15 and will continue until May 1, closing the following day. The minimum size limit for stone crab claws is set at 2 7/8 inches.
Due to the recent impacts of hurricanes Milton and Helene, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced an extension for the application deadline of the Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program. The new deadline is set for October 31, providing additional time for those affected by the storms to submit their applications.
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties in Florida due to the impending Hurricane Milton. This declaration, Executive Order 24-215, amends EO 24-214 as the hurricane is expected to intensify and impact a wide area. The storm poses significant risks, including storm surge, coastal flooding, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is opening applications for the 2025 limited recreational harvest season of goliath grouper in state waters. Interested parties can apply from October 1 to October 15, 2024, for this unique opportunity.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the opening of the application period for Quarter 2 of the Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) Project. Applications will be accepted starting October 4 and will remain open for ten days. This is the second opportunity in a series of four, with further application periods scheduled for January and April 2025.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued a safety alert for boaters. The storm has significantly impacted many coastal and inland waterways in Florida, prompting the FWC to prioritize public safety.
The recreational harvest season for snook will begin on October 1 in the Charlotte Harbor and Southwest management regions. The season will remain open through November 30, covering all Florida state and inland waters within these areas.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-208, Emergency Management – Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, declaring a state of emergency in 41 Florida counties ahead of the storm. The weather is expected to strengthen and cover a large area, affecting regions beyond its center into Florida. There is a considerable risk of storm surge, coastal flooding and erosion, heavy rainfall and flash flooding, as well as damaging winds. Preparation is critical to staying safe and minimizing severe weather impacts. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)...
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is launching the Florida panther Payment for Ecosystem Services pilot program. The initiative aims to benefit private landowners and the panther population by providing per-acre payments for habitat conditions that support panther conservation and landscape connectivity.
At its September meeting in Duck Key, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the established FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved changes to the marine fisheries trip ticket reporting requirements.
Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners celebrated a successful 2024 Florida Python Challenge™ by announcing the final results and winners of the 10-day competition. This year, 857 participants from 33 states and Canada helped support Everglades conservation by collectively removing 195 invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida as part of the competition, with the Ultimate Grand Prize winner removing a total of 20 pythons. The aim of the Florida Python Challenge™ is to increase awareness about invasive species and the threats they...
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed changes to improve the Marine Special Activity License (SAL) program licensing process, accommodate additional requested activities, and update provisions to several license types.
At its September meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved classifying the oceanic whitetip shark as a prohibited species within Florida state waters.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a public meeting on October 10 from 6-8 p.m. to discuss FWC activities and conditions on Orange, Lochloosa, and Newnans lakes. The meeting will also feature guest speakers from the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.