wildlife

Q: How many tourists visit Hernando Beach per year and where are they from for the most part?

Florida is praised as one of the fishing capitals of the world. Here in Hernando County we have our own incredible fishing spots readily available. Jenkins Creek and Linda Pedersen Park are two scenic locations in Hernando Beach with fishing piers, trails, there's even playgrounds, pavilions, and picnic centers. Many places for you to catch some fish or set up some chairs and hangout for a while.

The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve funding for a feasibility study for the future of a Aquatic Preserve Eco Tour Boardwalk on Hernando Beach.  Funding of $65,000 will be made available through park impact fees.  County Attorney Garth Coller reported that this is an appropriate use of the park impact fees since it contributes to the area’s growth.  Commissioner Beth Narverud was absent from the meeting. 

When the tides and moon are just right during the spring and fall months, superheroes emerge from the sea and are spotted nesting along Florida's coastal marshes and low-energy beaches. Beachgoers often mistake these ancient creatures to be venomous stingrays, but their long-slender tails are simply used to upright themselves when flipped by an incoming wave.

Two Hernando Extension Agents, William Lester, and Brittany Hall-Scharf say that they find rich rewards in their extensive environmental studies, projects, and accomplishments. And now, both have received additional rewards, in the form of highly competitive Professional Enhancement Awards at the University of Florida.  

In the coming weeks, a giant shift will occur in the deer world.  Both food, and cover, will be changing which will surely affect the feeding and travel patterns amongst the herd.  Mostly though, amongst the buck population, physical changes are taking place.  The velvet they’ve worn, covering their antlers is now shed out and each buck is sporting brand spanking new antlers.  Along with that change, a major shift takes place in how these newly shed bucks interact with other deer.  

In 1990, Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson co-founded American Tortoise Rescue located in Malibu California. They also created World Turtle Day as a way to bring awareness to the public about turtles and tortoises. Turtle Day was celebrated last week on May 23.

“I have always been an animal person and always had a strong love for animals,” Tellem said. 

Hernando County has amazing wildlife, and our previous article, “Manatees of Hernando County” was a way to introduce residents to understand the species that thrive in our county and how to bolster their survival.  

During this hardship we all are enduring, there is one similarity we now have with the gopher tortoise, and that is they spend most of their time in their burrows.  Let us take this time to appreciate one reptile that is a valued species for our ecosystems and an animal we can, in a way, relate too.

Fun facts:

Important information the community needs to know 

Brooksville, Fla. -- Just as you think dealing with the coronavirus was bad enough, another major threat is bearing down… wildfires.