Each year, to the delight of people visiting Craig Park manatees meander into Spring Bayou to enjoy its waters, which usually are warmer than those in the Gulf of Mexico. ...more

January 2, 2010

Soon, owners may be able to give their snakes and lizards to the state, no questions asked. Permits are required to possess, transport or import non-native species like Caiman crocodiles, lizards and boa constrictors. Some must have microchips. ...more

December 19, 2009

State wildlife officials are reporting that a record number of manatees were found dead in state waters this year, due partly to cold weather in early 2009. ...more

December 19, 2009

Deputies serving a warrant at a Deltona house stumbled up 13 venomous snakes. ...more

December 11, 2009

After a massive manhunt, Paul Martikainen and his 3-year-old son were found aboard a sailboat this morning and are OK, Cocoa police said. They were found in the Gulf of Mexico more than 100 miles south of Sanibel, police spokeswoman Barbara Matthews said. ...more

December 1, 2009

Federal officials say they arrested a man who strapped 15 live lizards to his chest to get through customs at Los Angeles International Airport. ...more

November 20, 2009

A mysterious simian variously described as a baboon, monkey and, at one point, a raccoon may have been sighted again this morning, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. ...more

November 20, 2009

Seagrass in the 820 square miles of coastline between the Anclote River and Levy County appears to be holding its own, despite increasing pollution coming from springs and rivers. ...more

November 19, 2009

Eric Gonzalez and his wife Tiffany were driving on Linebaugh Avenue this afternoon when an animal darted in front of their 2007 Dodge Caravan. "Look out for that dog," Eric said his wife told him. "But when it crossed in front of us, it was running at an alarming speed," Gonzalez said. "As soon as it stood up on its back legs, I knew it wasn't a dog." ...more

November 18, 2009

Florida wildlife officials are urging boaters to be on the lookout for manatees that are migrating to warmer waters for the winter. ...more

November 17, 2009