On October 25, Noah Singer, Marine Debris and Outreach Specialist, of the Florida Keys Aquatic Preserve (FKAP) team participated in a beach cleanup organized by CoastLove, a non-profit conservation organization in South Florida. He was one of 40 attendees who collected over 800 lbs. of trash in just under 3 hours. Over half the volunteers were youth from the local community!

Guests and staff at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center were in for quite a surprise recently when a Florida black bear was seen (numerous times) wandering through the grounds! One day the bear even stopped to snack from a bird feeder outside the administrative office and literally tore it down before continuing his stroll around the building and back into the woods.

Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve assisted in helping with hardbottom monitoring in Saint Martin's Marsh Aquatic Preserve and in Natures Coast Aquatic Preserve. Sponge, coral, invertebrates and many other aspects are being monitored as part of a 3-year grant project for the area.

On Homeschool Friday, Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve’s (GTMNERR) education team and volunteers taught students from Classical Conversations homeschool about seining. It was a great opportunity for the students to pull a seine net through Guana Lake, collecting fish, crabs and other species and learning about them.

Two weeks ago, the Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserve (NWFLAP) team visited the St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve, ANERR and coordinated with regional staff to receive training and learn about local projects. The Buffer Preserve and Apalachicola are about 3.5 hours east of Pensacola.

The Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve partnered with Rollins College’s Environmental Studies Department to host two different field trips – Nature Spirituality and Environmental Crisis in its Cultural Context. Nature Spirituality students arrived at Wekiwa Springs State Park an hour before the park opened for sunrise meditation followed by discussions about Wekiwa Springs’ cultural, historical and environmental significance.

Mote Marine Lab’s coral scientists joined Tampa Bay Aquatic Preserve staff to locate and map some hard corals in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve for future genetic sampling. One of the species does not fit either of the two local species in its genus. It may be a different species altogether. Four species of hard corals were observed on Tampa Bay hardbottom during this field visit with future collaborations planned.

Last week Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves staff, along with assistance from the Southwest Aquatic Preserve Regional Manager, conducted a multi-purpose day of rookery monitoring, island clean-up (on islands with no nesting) and the six-month mangrove planting survey on the two restored islands. Staff removed 28 lbs. of fishing line, hooks and other small debris from the rookery islands.

The cooler temperatures brought in small herds of manatees to the warm waters of the Silver River. Staff, volunteers and visitors all enjoy seeing these friendly, curious giants! The cooler temperatures also pushed the invasive tilapia to the headsprings. Staff focused on the ones in the emergent vegetation this week and any that were showing early signs of spawning, which include pairing up, turning white, and clearing vegetation for beds.

For the Forest Expeditions program, GTM Research Reserve’s (GTMNERR) education team hosted 25 students ages 6-12 and 15 adults from the Classical Conversations homeschool group on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Education provided information about the reserve and its cultural and indigenous history. Native species were discussed, a game about invasive species was played and a hike was taken.