Naturally Florida
Episodes
Florida's State Reptile: The American Alligator
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ou...
Florida's State Animal, the Florida Panther
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
Florida's State Bird ... but for how long?
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Sabal Palmetto, AKA the Cabbage Palm!
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re diving into what makes the sabal palmetto special—from its biology and wildlife value to its cultural history—and how Floridians ca...
Hurricanes & Wildlife: Hurricane Series, Part 4
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: Last call for annual podcast survey feedback! Please share your thoughts and how the survey has inspired change with us, here: ht...
Inland Flooding: Hurricane Series, Part 3
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: Our annual podcast survey is live! Please share your thoughts and how the survey has inspired change with us, here: https://ufl.qualt...
Storm Surge: Hurricane Series, Part 2
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
ANNOUNCEMENT: Our annual podcast survey is live! Please share your thoughts and how the survey has inspired change with us, here: https://ufl.qualtric...
Introduction to Hurricanes: Hurricane Series, Part 1
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part 1 of our summer hurricane series! Today, we're talking about how hurricanes form, why they spin, and what the "categorie...
Throwback: Lara's Favorite Lizard
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Green anoles are some of Florida’s most familiar—and most overlooked—neighbors. In this episode of Naturally Florida, we revisit our very first ...
Let's Talk About Lake Water Quality
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 scien...
The Scrub is Scrubbing
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 simila...
Florida's Mighty Mangroves
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we'll discuss the three different species of mangroves found in Florida, their northward migration, and the critical role they pl...
Vulture Culture
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Oh the Oaks
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 tho...
Non-Native Lizards in Florida
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 invasi...
Florida Arbor Day ... is in January!?
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While much of the country waits until late April to celebrate Arbor Day, Florida marks the occasion several months sooner. Our subtropical climate mak...
Oysters 101: Why These Little Mollusks Matter
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
THANK YOU to all our loyal listeners that completed our annual podcast survey! If you missed out, no worries, you can give us feedback anytime on our ...
Gobble Gobble, It's Turkey Time!
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode we're talking turkey - the wild turkey, that is! Learn all about Florida's wild turkey species, their biology, and even bust a myth...
Florida's Carnivorous Plants
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the state’s most fascinating plant groups: carnivorous plants. These spooky species have adapted to capt...
The Pollinator Puzzle: Who They Are and How to Help
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pollinators are the unsung heroes of Florida’s ecosystems, supporting the reproduction of our flowering plants in urban, suburban and natural areas....
I want to know, have you ever smelled the rain?
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If the title of this episode sounds familiar, you must be a Creedance Clearwater Revival fan like Shannon is! Well, CCR might have actually been sing...
Pentastomes in Paradise: Invasive Parasite Plaguing Florida’s Snakes
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Snakes play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping rodent populations in check and supplying birds of prey with an excellent food source. But our ...
A Frond-ly Discussion About Saw Palmetto
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an iconic plant of Florida, often dominating the understory of pine flatwoods habitats. Not only is saw palmetto ende...
Surviving the Squeeze: The Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The marsh rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with short, rounded ears, and small feet. It is similar in appearance to the more familiar eastern cottontai...
PART 2: Mosquito Season is Coming!
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the mosquitoes of Florida, covering everything from mosquito biology, types of mosquitoes, mosquito surveillance and contr...
PART 1: Mosquito Season is Coming!
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the mosquitoes of Florida, covering everything from mosquito biology, types of mosquitoes, mosquito surveillance and contr...
Florida's Pink Birds
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is all about Florida's pink birds, including the iconic roseate spoonbill and American flamingo. Learn More: Read the NPR ...
Scent-sational Skunks of Florida
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the two species of skunks found in Florida. A mammal that is so unique, it recently divided from a subfamily of the weasel...
Florida's Venomous Snakes
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feel about snakes? Not a fan? Well, while we believe snakes are friends, not foes, we recognize it may be comforting to know that the vast ...
Florida's Floating Sea-Potatoes ... the Manatee!
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Manatees are Florida’s gentle giants and are a sight to behold. They are state and federally protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Ac...
Florida Black Bears
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Florida black bears have been in the news, frequently, this year! On today's episode, we chat about the Florida black bear's diet, behavior, a...
Bloom, there it goes!
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life? The survey is now closed, but we look forward to hearing ...
PodBLAST - The Impact of Fireworks
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life? The survey is now closed, but we look forward to hearing ...
Sounds of Summer - Calling Frogs
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we continue our exploration of the sounds of summer. This episode’s focus is all about commonly heard frogs in Florida. We have 33 ...
Ticks and Tickborne Illness in Florida
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The creepiest, crawliest, grossest of arachnids, in our opinion, are ticks. And no, we don't feel bad calling them gross! Tick-borne illnesses ca...
Sounds of Summer - Singing Insects
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What comes to mind when you think of summer? Hot. Beaches. No school. What about singing insects? No? Perhaps not, but we’re sure you’ve heard the...
Three Common Snakes in Residential Areas
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, you’ll learn about three non-venomous snake species common to residential areas in Florida. Slithering into a neighborhood nea...
When You Think of Pines, I Hope You Think of Pinecones
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have all probably interacted with pine cones in some way, whether we collected them to start a bon fire, rolled them in peanut butter to create a ...
The Truth About Iconic Florida
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When people think of Florida and visiting the sights, what do they think of? For most people, it’s some combination of alligators, flamingos, manate...
Creating Wildlife Havens
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably heard that habitat destruction is a common cause of population declines for many wildlife species. It’s critical for us to do what...
Winter in the Sunshine State
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
People don’t often think of Florida when they think of winter, but there is actually a lot that happens in the natural world. There are migrations h...
Naturally Florida Trailer
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Naturally Florida, a podcast about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here. Submit comments and topic suggestions ...
End of the Year Q&A
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Naturally Florida, Shannon answers a few Listener questions! She'll tackle a light-hearted Florida Christmas classic, "Why do iguan...
Highlighting a Keystone Species: The Gopher Tortoise
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The gopher tortoise is not only a keystone species, but also an endemic species, making it special and important to the overall function of the ecosys...
It's Spooky Season, Let's Chat About Bats
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mummies, Ghosts, and Goblins – oh my! This spooky season, we're chatting about Florida’s bats! Thirteen species of bats call Florida home, y...
All About Lightning
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The state of Florida is famous for its sunshine, beaches, and summertime fun. However, as Floridians, we know that summer also means thunderstorms, an...
All About Owls
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, we discussed how rodenticides, also known as rat poisons, can have a negative impact on our birds of prey. Today, we’ll be talk...
Rat Poisons and Wildlife: What’s the Big Deal
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody likes pests, hence why pesticides were invented. Rodenticides are a specific type of pesticide used to control rats and mice, but they can have...
Microplastic Pollution ... What Is It?
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic pollution has been a known problem for decades, but more recently researchers have been focusing on this idea of microplastics, that is plasti...
Toads as Big as Your Head! Cane Toads in Florida
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cane toads are well known for posing a threat to our pets. They are one of many invasive animal species we have here in Florida. In this episode you w...
Coyotes are here to stay!
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Coyotes have been in Florida since the 1970s but still feel like a relatively new species for many. In this episode, Shannon and Lara explore the late...
Special Interview with Dr. Scott Angle, UF Sr. Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowle...
Words Matter: When and How to Use the Words Invasive Species
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Florida is a hotspot for nonnative and invasive species, but there hasn't been a consistent way to talk about these species until now. In this episode...
Is It Getting Hotter in Our Cities? It's the Urban Heat Island Effect!
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Florida is known for being hot in the summer, but Florida cities are even hotter. Energy from the sun gets absorbed by buildings and paved areas (like...
American White Pelicans, Florida's Other Snowbird
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
American white pelicans are one of the largest birds in North America with wingspans up to 9.5 feet across. These majestic birds migrate to Florida fo...
Florida on Fire: Prescribed Fire in the Sunshine State
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore fire in Florida, what ecosystems burn and why, the history and current state of fire in Florida, and some neat adaptations...
Birds and Their Houses: Cavity Nesters in Florida
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Birds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping insect populations in-check, serving as a valuable p...
(Part 2) Florida's Most Recognizable Reptile: the American Alligator
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the second half of our discussion on the American alligator. This episode will focus on busting common myths and highlighting key ways...
(Part 1) Florida's Most Recognizable Reptile: the American Alligator
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ou...
Trees and People: An intro to urban forestry
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Florida is known for a wide variety of ecosystems from the Everglades to its springs, and the beaches to the national forests. While these ecosystems ...
Cuban Treefrogs, they're more than just a nuisance!
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cuban treefrogs are an invasive species in Florida. In this episode, you'll learn how to identify a Cuban treefrogs and how to humanely euthanize them...
Wait, we have fireflies in Florida?
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fireflies are indeed in Florida; you just have to know where to find them. Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, avoid areas with high volumes of a...
Where does rain go after it falls?
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Florida gets a lot of rain, but our natural water cycle is shifting more towards an urban water cycle as we develop the Sunshine State. In this episod...
Lara's Favorite Species: The Green Anole
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Florida's native green anole (pronounced "uh-nole"), Anolis carolinensis, is Lara's favorite species in all of Florida! In this episode of Naturally F...