Cooler fall temps mean it’s time to snuggle under a blanket, just like the eastern red bat. This Florida native hangs upside down using one foot, then uses the other foot to wrap their fuzzy tail membrane around their body like a blanket! 🦇 #BatWeek
Learn more about Florida bats:
bit.ly/FWC_Bats
📸: Merlin Tuttle
ALT Eastern red bats hanging on a Florida habitat.
🦇𝐁𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🦇
We are continuing our Bat Week journey by exploring our favorite bat superpower: 𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
🦸♂️Echolocation is the process of using sound waves to detect objects, just like sonar. It allows bats to navigate in complete darkness and quickly maneuver through the air to snag their next insect meal. 🦟
👂 People typically can’t hear these sounds and biologists use specialized equipment, such as a bat detector, to record and convert these high-pitched noises so they can be studied. By compiling these sounds statewide, biologists can identify local bat species and also map out habitats they need to survive and thrive.
Show your #BatWeek support by commenting 🦇 and keep the celebration going by sharing this with a friend!
If there is no Wi-Fi in the forest, can you still get connection? The answer is yes!
Floridians and visitors alike have enjoyed connecting to the great outdoors for decades.
Whether the Bald Cypresses have begun to shed their leaves or summer sunsets are still reflected on the shimmering coastal waters, Florida’s beautiful landscapes have always had the most striking sights and sounds – no matter the season! @America250FL
#FLHeritage #OldFlorida
ALT A person kayaking through a waterway with trees. America 250 FL logo.
ALT Silhouetted Cypress Trees, reflecting in calm water, with a purple and pink sky in the background.
ALT Silhouette of large fallen tree on a beach, with a bright orange sunset in the background.
ALT Photo of trees against a blue sky.
🚨 Happy National First Responders Day!
Today, we honor the brave men and women who answer the call to serve and protect our communities and Florida’s natural resources. Thank you for your dedication, courage, and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe and protecting Florida’s natural treasures for generations to come!💙
🦇 DYK there are 13 native bat species in Florida? 🦇
These tiny creatures are nature’s superheroes. 🦸 They are the only mammal capable of true flight. They zoom around at night, using high-frequency sound waves to navigate and find prey -- even in total darkness! A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitoes 🦟 each night, and they also eat insects that are damaging to agricultural crops. 🍅🍉
📸: Kathleen Smith, FWC
ALT a Seminole bat in a Florida habitat.
These are just a few of the reasons it’s important to help our native bat populations.
Here’s how you can make a difference for bats:
- Preserve natural roost sites, including trees with cavities or peeling bark.
- Leave dead palm fronds and Spanish moss to provide roosting spots for bats.
- Install a bat house on your property.
- Report unusual bat behavior, as well as sick or dead bats: bit.ly/MyFWC_BatMortality
Learn more: bit.ly/FWC_Bats
MyFWC retweeted
Many of our state partners and agencies have worked tirelessly to ensure Florida residents and visitors are able to enjoy what makes our state wild and beautiful for generations to come.
In 2017, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marked 75 years since the first purchase of land that would go on to become Florida’s Wildlife Management Area system – a 6-million-acre system of conserved habitat statewide and one of the largest in the country.
The high-quality habitats found on Florida’s WMAs offer a wide range of hunting, fishing and recreation opportunities. @MyFWC
Find a FL WMA near you: gis.myfwc.com/RecreationMap/
DYK that a species of bat holds the title of fastest flying animal on Earth? The Brazilian free-tailed bat, a species native to Florida, can fly at 100mph! Celebrate #BatWeek by learning more about nature’s superheroes!
Learn more: bit.ly/BatConservationProgra…
ALT An illustration of a Brazilian free-tailed bat over a purple/pink ombré background.
Cast for Conservation
Ready to put your fishing skills to the test while making a difference for Florida’s aquatic resources?
The FWC’s School Fishing Program Fishing & Conservation Challenge gives students the opportunity to log their catches, learn more about Florida’s fisheries, and compete for prizes while promoting responsible angling and conservation. Schools can participate throughout the year and work toward earning recognition through the challenge.
More information on the program’s Fishing & Conservation Challenge and how you can participate: bit.ly/SchoolFishingClub_FWC
Thank you to our program partners providing the prizes this year: Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Hobie Eyewear, Flambeau Outdoors, and Coastal Conservation Association Florida.
ALT Two youth anglers fishing in freshwater in Florida.
From Paint and Pencil to Rod and Reel
Every great day of fishing begins with healthy fish populations and thriving aquatic habitats. Whether you've landed your first black crappie from the dock or watched a tarpon leap from the water, every fishing experience starts with an appreciation for Florida's incredible native fish.
The Florida Fish Art Contest gives young anglers and artists alike the opportunity to turn those experiences into something creative. K–12 students are invited to research a native Florida fish, create original artwork, and learn more about the species that make fishing in Florida so special.
The top two artists in each grade bracket for both freshwater and saltwater will receive one fishing rod and reel combo and one Create-a-Lure box, a unique do-it-yourself kit designed to let you create personal fishing lures.
The contest is open through February 28, 2027. Learn more about the Florida Fish Art Contest prizes and how to enter: bit.ly/MyFWC_FishArt
Thank you to our partners Wildlife Forever, Guy Harvey, Go Outdoors Florida, Joethefloridanomad and Tsunami Fishing.
Featured Artist: Mila Das, 7-9 Grade Saltwater Winner
ALT A winning artist posing with their artwork and awarded prizes.
Last week to harvest
Hunters can now access alligator harvest reporting directly in the Fish | Hunt FL app! 🐊 Harvests must be logged within 24 hours or before transferring the carcass, and a temporary transfer log is now allowed if you’re out of cell service.
The statewide alligator season runs Aug. 15–Nov. 1. Log in to the app, tap “Hunting,” (𖦏) and select “Alligator Harvest Reports” to submit your info.
It’s International Bat Week!
It may sound strange but one way you can help Florida’s amazing bats is to make sure you follow proper procedures when excluding bats if they have taken up residence in your home or other structure. Fall is a good time to bat-proof your structures since bat maternity season is now over, and young bats are old enough to safely leave their roost.
Learn more about bat exclusion guidelines and other ways you can help bats in Florida: bit.ly/FWC_Bats
Join us this week to celebrate and learn about our native bats and research efforts.
📸: Lisa Smith, FWC
ALT a close up of two tricolored bats.
Loving Florida means embracing the fact that there’s always a chance of rain! Are we right or are we right?!
Before the digital age of cell phones, the people of Florida would easily make the best out of a rainy season. It’s important to disconnect from the online world and connect with the natural world – rain or no rain.
So, the next time you head outside and are graced by light showers...don’t be so quick to put away that hook and line.
In Florida, a light rain can turn into a downpour in a short time frame, which can impact the safety of your fishing. Be prepared for any changes and plan accordingly to avoid potential risks. @America250FL
#OldFlorida #FLHeritage
ALT two anglers in yellow raincoats fish from a boat on a waterway.
ICYMI: Ways to Support Bat Conservation Efforts in Florida
floridaweekly.com/palm-beach…
MyFWC retweeted
When Floridians and tourists want to see native birds, butterflies, and more, they follow iconic signs featuring a swallow-tailed kite to the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail! This trail network of more than 500 premier wildlife watching destinations across the state contributes billions of dollars to Florida’s economy with the goal of encouraging conservation of Florida’s native habitats and species. @MyFWC
Visitors and residents alike can enjoy the full breadth of our Sunshine State's natural beauty from the Panhandle all the way to the Dry Tortugas. Start planning your next wildlife viewing adventure: floridabirdingtrail.com/
Making a difference, one native plant at a time🌱
This past month, staff from our Division of Habitat and Species Conservation organized the coastal planting of nearly 20,000 native dune plants, like sea oats, gulf bluestem, beach elder, and coastal groundcherry, at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.
ALT An FWC graphic of a dune area protection sign. Text reads - WHERE CONSERVATION HAPPENS Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Walton County, Florida. Coastal Planting for Dune Restoration
ALT An FWC graphic featuring native dune plantings. Text reads- INCREASING RESILIENCY IN DUNE ECOSYSTEMS FWC staff organized the coastal planting of nearly 20,000 native dune plants, which supports coastal protection and reduces vulnerability to storms and other disturbances.
The installation of these native plants increases dune stabilization and resiliency, improves the diversity of food resources for the imperiled Choctawhatchee beach mouse and other wildlife, and enhances Choctawhatchee beach mouse habitat by improving vegetation diversity and habitat connectivity.
ALT An FWC graphic featuring coastal dunes and a Choctawhatchee beach mouse. Text reads- BENEFITS TO NATIVE WILDLIFE These coastal plantings improve the diversity of food sources and habitat connectivity for the imperiled Choctawhatchee beach mouse and other wildlife.
Funded through the Coastal Program grant awarded by the @USFWS, this project was part of a collaborative conservation effort with our partners, including @FLDEPNews and @FLStateParks, @UF_IFAS, and additional personnel with expertise in dune restoration and coastal species.
Important projects like this support the protection of Florida’s coastal habitats and the wildlife that are crucial to these ecosystems.
ALT An FWC graphic featuring FWC staff at the restoration event. Text reads- COLLABORATION FOR CONSERVATION Funded through the Coastal Program grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this project would not be possible without the efforts of FWC's state and federal partners.