Evacuation orders hit parts of neighboring Collier County after a wildfire started ripping through Picayune Strand State Forest, just south of I-75 near Naples. By Tuesday morning, the Florida Forest Service said the fire had already scorched 1,500 acres; they’d only got 15 percent of it under control. Winds pushed thick smoke toward Naples and nearby neighborhoods. I-75, better known as Alligator Alley, stayed open, at least for now, but the Florida Highway Patrol isn’t taking any chances. They’re watching closely, ready to shut the road if smoke or flames threaten drivers.

The smoke cloud, dark, heavy, and impossible to miss, hung over Alligator Alley while crews fought the fire. According to the North Collier County Fire Rescue District, as of Monday evening, the flames had grown to 600 acres with only a sliver contained.

Evacuations are in effect for neighborhoods near the fire: sections of Stable Way, Union Drive, Barton Gliba Drive, Benfield Road, Beck Boulevard, and Le Buff Road are all affected. For those forced out, a shelter at 4701 Golden Gate Parkway in Naples is open.

As conditions changed overnight, the fire expanded, swallowing up more land. Firefighters and forest teams pulled off a 15-acre burnout to slow the spread, reinforcing the lines around homes. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office even called in its Aviation Unit, dropping buckets of water onto the flames from above.

As of now, the wildfire’s burned through 1,500 acres and stands at just 15 percent contained. Teams from the Florida Forestry Service and Greater Naples Firefighters are still battling to bring this under control. For residents, the only thing to do is wait and hope.

The post Southwest Florida Faces New Brush Fire Crisis Despite Hope for Rain appeared first on Englewood Review.

If you’ve ever wanted to help, now’s your chance. The 2026 Giving Challenge is the perfect time; whatever you give to LBC during this window counts for triple, thanks to matching funds. Donations need to be made online, starting at noon on April 15th and wrapping up at noon the next day on April 16th.

Here’s a look at what LBC does:

Land Stewardship: LBC owns and manages several pieces of land for conservation, with Wildflower Preserve at the heart of it all. They also secure conservation easements on private properties to safeguard more local ecosystems.

Habitat Restoration: They don’t just talk about saving nature; they get out there and do it. By removing invasive plants, restoring natural water flow, and replanting native species, they’re returning the landscape to what it should be.

Water Quality: With their “LemonWatch” program, they monitor local water conditions, spearhead projects to clean up the bay, and keep an eye out for anything that threatens the water or the habitats it supports.

Wildlife Protection: LBC cares deeply about native species. They build habitats for pollinators like butterflies and bees and manage special programs to protect vulnerable animals, including the burrowing owl.

Education: Community outreach is front and center for LBC. They run programs and events to help people understand why protecting this unique coastal environment matters.

Advocacy: When projects threaten the region’s natural spaces, LBC’s advocacy committee steps in, defending habitats and working for the lasting protection of coastal land.

One of their biggest achievements is taking care of Wildflower Preserve, an 80-acre piece of land that used to be a golf course. They’ve transformed it into a thriving natural area. LBC also puts a lot of work into saving mangrove forests and restoring wetlands, which are crucial for creatures like tarpon and burrowing owls.

None of this would happen without strong community support. Local volunteers and generous donors keep LBC moving forward, making a real difference for Florida’s coastal ecosystems.

Click here for more information.

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Dr. David A. Davis from the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank stood out as the keynote speaker. His research into dolphins shows some worrying changes, including neurological damage that looks a lot like what you see in Alzheimer’s patients. “We found that they can exhibit changes in their brain that are kind of similar to what we see in patients with Alzheimer’s disease,” Davis explained.

So far, there’s not much research proving that airborne toxins from these blooms cause illness, but groups like Calusa Waterkeeper are determined to close that gap. They’ve built a new device known as the ADAM, or Aerosol Detector for Harmful Algae Monitoring, to track what happens where water meets air.

Joe Cavanaugh, representing Calusa Waterkeeper, broke it down: “Where the water meets the air, that’s where these toxins can become airborne. They can travel several miles from the shore, swirling through the environment. People breathe them in without realizing it.” He pointed out that while most folks know not to eat shellfish from waters hit by blooms, far fewer understand that even inhaling the bloom’s odor could bring long-term health risks.

Cavanaugh stressed that limiting these blooms starts with tackling nutrient overload, especially from agricultural runoff feeding into Lake Okeechobee, as well as septic leakage and fecal bacteria clogging up the river. “All that stuff is creating a saturation of nutrients in the river,” he said.

Both Cavanaugh and others at the event called for deeper research and better tracking tools to really understand how these hazardous blooms ripple through ecosystems and how they affect our health.

The post Airborne and Dangerous: Experts Warn of Hidden Threats From Harmful Algal Blooms appeared first on Englewood Review.

Their new study digs deeper. People have often blamed nutrient run-off for setting the stage for these blooms. And yes, cutting down on nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways helps shrink those blooms and keeps coastal red tides from going wild. But it’s not just about nutrients. Turns out, we’re also losing natural algae grazers, specifically, freshwater snails known as Elimia, and seeing less dissolved oxygen in these springs.

Dina Liebowitz, a researcher at UF, said surveys from eight springs across the state showed that snails and algae are locked in a kind of tug-of-war. Where snails thrive, algae rarely takes over. Where snail numbers are down, algae blooms explode. Snails need good oxygen levels to stay active. When oxygen drops, they slow down or disappear, and even with plenty of algae around, they can’t keep up. This throws the entire system off balance.

Controlling algae isn’t just about battling nutrient pollution. It’s also about supporting healthy populations of Elimia snails and keeping dissolved oxygen levels steady. Environmental managers can’t ignore these factors. How well snails control algae depends on three things: how many algae is already out there, the size of the snail population, and how much oxygen is in the water.

Liebowitz calls Elimia snails “little janitors.” When they’re doing their job, springs stay clear and beautiful. They give us a clean ecosystem service, all on their own. No need for humans to intervene, just let the snails work.

The post Florida’s Algal Bloom Problem May Have an Unlikely Hero: The Elimia Snail appeared first on Englewood Review.

Webb Wildlife Management Area south of Punta Gorda is less than an hour away from Englewood. We like the middle launch on 7-mile-long Webb Lake. Launching here assures us of a leeward shore to fish, as designers made this lake a fish habitat with meandering branches and spawning shallows. Heading either north or south gets us to cattails, grass shorelines, and lily pads. We usually choose plastic worms in the winter to work the deeper shorelines, but this time of year, frog lures take over as spring brings these amphibians out. Just listen for a few moments at sunset to verify that frogs are active. We use Zoom® Horny Toads® in either Watermelon Red or Watermelon Seed colors rigged weedless on a 5/0 wide gap hook. Ten-pound test with two feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon that helps around vegetation that might break the lighter line. Toss this rig onto the shoreline vegetation and swim it back to you either on top or submerged for aggressive strikes.

North Port’s Cocoplum Waterway is an overlooked quality fishery. People can easily access this 9-mile-long canal, which parallels US41, at the Dallas White Park boat ramp off North Port Blvd. This little boat ramp is hardly ever busy and still functional, unlike the expensive plastic kayak launches lying around that Ian destroyed and that people haven’t replaced. There is plenty of free parking here and some shoreline fishing, too.

From this launch point, fishing is productive in either direction, with plentiful bass and panfish. Paddling west a short distance towards North Port Blvd. ends at the water treatment plant spillway that keeps saltwater below the spillway. A walkway constructed around the spillway had plastic kayak launches on each end. Unfortunately, this was never workable, as the walkway had switchbacks that kayaks would not bend around. Ian demolished the entire structure and left it unrepaired.

We’ve caught bass below the spillway in saltwater and snook on shiners above the spillway in freshwater. The same lure suggestions apply here with worms taking precedent during the day and frogs later in the afternoon if you hear them.

Finally, let’s mention Wellen Park. This is one of the newer fisheries in our area, but aggressive stocking has created a freshwater fishery we enjoy. A bike path that provides shore access along most of its length surrounds grand Lake, in the center of Wellen Park. Access ends in places where the path leaves the shoreline and kayak anglers take over.

There is a floating kayak launch and kayak rental shop on the lake. Parking is nearby, but we still recommend a dolly to get from parking to the launch. We also read online that there is a “simple sand launch” which would be our choice if true. Grand Lake provides adequate shelter from wind, regardless of its direction. Bring the usual bass lures and try plastic worms during the day and frog lures at sunset. Shore based fly anglers will appreciate the clear back cast area along the lake while casting poppers at sunset.

This story is contributed by Shore & Kayak Fishing, by Kimball and Les Beery

The post Three Freshwater Favorites appeared first on Englewood Review.

Bradley Johnson, the FWC’s Southwest Region spokesperson, explained that the bear had been accessing an unsecured dumpster. The Bear Management Program team stepped in, safely caught the animal, and is now moving it to a forested area in rural Collier County. Johnson mentioned ongoing work with FGCU to better secure dumpsters and remove other attractants, noting that human-bear conflicts usually start with easy access to garbage, pet food, or birdseed.

FWC handles these situations on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, when a bear sticks around looking for food, relocation gives residents time to lock things down. This spring, FWC had previously tried but failed to catch what’s believed to be the same bear.

Black bears in Florida are especially active right now as they search for food, and mothers are often teaching their cubs where to find it. If you see one, just give it plenty of space, don’t approach it, and never feed it.

Statewide, FWC estimates there are about 4,050 black bears. They roam woods and swamps as far apart as Eglin Air Force Base, Ocala National Forest, and Big Cypress National Preserve. While some bear subpopulations are thriving, others are still recovering and occupy about half their historic range.

For those who live where bears roam, a few basic precautions help avoid unwelcome close encounters:

– If you run into a bear up close, stay calm, stand your ground, and speak in a steady, assertive voice. Don’t feed bears, ever, or leave attractants lying around. Wait until the bear leaves, then secure your garbage or pet food.

– Never try to approach or surprise a bear. If you spot one from afar, enjoy the sight, but give it space. If you’re closer, back away slowly and make sure the bear has a clear escape route. Don’t make sudden moves and avoid direct eye contact, which can seem threatening to wildlife.

– If a bear wanders into your yard, make sure you’re in a safe spot and the bear can escape easily. Then, make noise, bang some pots and pans to encourage it to leave. Don’t run, climb a tree, or play dead. Ease yourself back into the house or another safe area.

– Report any bear that threatens people, pets, livestock, or causes property damage to FWC instantly.

If you feel threatened by a bear, see a sick or injured animal, or catch someone harming or feeding bears, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Regional offices can also help with bear conflicts.

The FWC has tips for being BearWise®, especially as bears become more active in the spring. Staying alert, securing food sources, and giving wildlife a wide berth all help. When food like Honey Buns is off the menu, bears might just stick to the woods where they belong.

The post Sugar Rush Gone Wrong: Black Bear Falls for 7-Eleven Honey Bun Bait appeared first on Englewood Review.

The initial release took place at a restoration site in the Lower Florida Keys, specifically near Summerland Key. These juvenile crabs were born and raised at Mote’s Coral Reef Restoration Crab Hatchery Research Center, a 6,000-square-foot facility at the Mote Aquaculture Research Park in Sarasota. 

Nature’s Ultimate “Reef Weeders”

Caribbean king crabs are often called “allies” by scientists because they are elite grazers. 

Superior Consumption: They consume more algae than any species of parrotfish and rival the grazing rates of sea urchins.

Unmatched Palate: These crabs readily eat chemically defended or calcified algae that other herbivores typically avoid.

Restoration Synergy: By clearing nuisance algae that smothers coral, the crabs create space for coral larvae to settle and grow, which is essential for the Mission: Iconic Reefs initiative. 

Scaling Up for the Future

While the first release involved a smaller batch, approximately 25 crabs, designed to refine transport and introduction protocols, Mote has ambitious plans to scale up production. 

Production Goals: The Sarasota hatchery currently houses over 300 adult broodstock, with a long-term goal of producing 250,000 juvenile crabs annually.

Deployment Roadmap: Researchers plan to release nearly 35,000 crabs across the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary over the next few years, stretching from Key Largo to west of Key West. 

“Caribbean king crabs have emerged as champions in the fight to rescue threatened coral reefs,” said Dr. Jason Spadaro, Mote’s Coral Reef Restoration Program Manager. He noted that while this isn’t the single solution to reef decline, it is a “groundbreaking and monumental milestone” in building long-term reef resilience. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA supported this project). 

For more information, check out Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium at mote.org.

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There’s a real push to make these weather warnings clearer for everyone, from families living inland to emergency managers along the coast. Michael Brennan, who leads the hurricane center, says the fresh approach is all about better communication. The old five-day track map was simple: it showed the likely path for the center of a storm and marked where watches and warnings stretched along the coast. But that image didn’t show the full story. It left out inland risks, areas of heavy rain, and the potential for dangerous winds far from the cone’s path. Scientists and meteorologists have debated how best to represent the data for years.

Now, the new graphic adds colored shading inland for tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings, covering the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The idea is to help people see threats like strong winds stretch beyond the lines of the cone. The new map better conveys wind risk and makes clear hazards don’t stop at the edges.

This season, the hurricane center is also trying out another, even newer experimental version of the cone. Unlike the classic design, which used evenly spaced circles to show where the storm center might go most of the time based on the last five hurricane seasons, this experimental map switches to ellipses. Research showed these oval shapes do a better job showing the areas where the forecast can go wrong, both in speed and direction, and it’s all based on a 90% probability now instead of 67%. The actual path will fall outside the ellipse only about one in ten storms. The result: the cone gets wider, and forecasters can say with more confidence that the storm’s center will stay inside.

Specialists say these updates are enormous improvements, but warn that even the best maps don’t tell the entire story. People get fixated on the center track and forget that life-threatening conditions often happen far beyond that line. This year, they’re rolling out the first dedicated storm surge watches and warnings for Hawaii, and they want people to pay attention.

The post National Hurricane Center Unveils New ‘Cone of Uncertainty’ for 2026 Season appeared first on Englewood Review.

The Trump administration brought together the Endangered Species Committee and gave oil companies a way around regulations that protect threatened wildlife in the Gulf. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth showed up and made the case, pressing that new drilling isn’t just about cheaper gas at the pump, but about keeping America’s military running and the country secure. At that meeting, the committee voted to let oil developers skip some of the endangered species rules, opening the door for new drilling projects.

Hegseth blamed environmental groups for tying up drilling plans with lawsuits, saying that’s left the nation, and the Department of Defense, short on the energy they need. Republican Jay Collins opposed it, stating he cannot support new drilling until rock-solid proof shows that spills and leaks won’t threaten coastal communities. Floridians, Collins argues, shouldn’t have to carry that risk.

This debate isn’t new. Last year, Florida’s governor convinced the Trump administration to hold off on selling new drilling leases in the Gulf until 2032. That win didn’t last long.

Some Democrats are furious. Rep. Kathy Castor from Tampa called out the administration for even calling the committee together, which almost never happens. The memory of the BP oil spill still lingers, she said, and the economy took a brutal hit last time there was a disaster.

Looking beyond politics, State Rep. Lindsay Cross from St. Petersburg warned that the committee’s decision could push several threatened species closer to extinction, especially Rice’s whale, which is already clinging to survival. She said there are about 20 species at risk from oil drilling and ship traffic, with some already “on the brink.”

Meanwhile, local business leaders are nervous, pointing out that 100,000 families depend on Gulf tourism to make ends meet. They encourage Congress to pass the Coastal Protection Act, a law that would ban drilling in the Eastern Gulf once and for all.

The fight heads to court. Environmental groups, including Earthjustice, are gearing up to sue, determined to make sure the Endangered Species Act still has teeth.

The post Rare Federal Vote Opens Gulf to Oil Drilling Despite Endangered Species Concerns appeared first on Englewood Review.

Aiden stumbled upon this prehistoric prize during a family vacation. He wasn’t hunting for fossils, just scuba diving off Manasota Key, now famous as the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.” He remembers spotting something dark and triangular just poking up from the sand. At first, he thought it was driftwood. But he pulled it out, and, well, the thing filled his palm.

The Megalodon, Otodus megalodon, ruled the seas until about 3.6 million years ago and remains the largest shark ever known. Experts say a six-inch tooth like the one Aiden found probably came from a shark that stretched somewhere between 50 and 60 feet. That’s about the size of a city bus, only with more teeth.

Local fossil hunters know how rare this is. In the Sarasota and Venice area, beachcombers often spot smaller shark teeth, maybe from snaggletooth or tiger sharks. But anything over five inches, especially a “Meg” tooth, usually comes from offshore dives onto deep-sea ledges. Finding a six-inch tooth? That’s the luck you dream about.

A local geologist explained that finding a six-inch tooth is like winning the lottery. Recent storm surges probably stirred up older ocean sediments, delivering this relic right to Aiden.

The tooth itself is in incredible shape. Heavy root, sharp serrations, it’s practically a fossil hunter’s holy grail. In the collector’s world, fossils like this can fetch thousands, but Aiden isn’t interested in selling. He’s thrilled just to have it. “It’s the ultimate souvenir,” he said, laughing. “Wyoming’s got plenty of mountains and plains, but nothing like this. It’s wild to think that a monster shark was swimming around Florida millions of years ago.”

Word got out fast. Suddenly, local beaches filled up with people armed with “Venice baskets” and sand sifters, all chasing their own ancient secrets, hoping the Gulf has another giant surprise in store.

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