Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission

The surge has largely flown under the public’s radar, as many start as run-of-the-mill police traffic stops.

Officials at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are reviewing those recommendations. Last month, Florida paused the importing of sloths after the Sloth World deaths became public.

The fish kill appears to have been a relatively small, natural event caused by several stresses hitting an especially sensitive species at once.

The revised rules stop short of a total prohibition on marine animal capture for exhibition purposes, but commissioners described the changes as a significant tightening of the system.

The lawsuit contends the FWC relied on outdated bear population numbers and lacked scientific justification for the December 2025 hunt that resulted in 52 bears being killed over a three-week period. A trial is set to begin in August.

Two different first nests were reported Wednesday in Collier County — one by The Collier County Sea Turtle Protection Team on Barefoot Beach and another by Conservancy of Southwest Florida scientists on Keewaydin Island.

FWC officers are investigating the incident, and they believe the mothballs were placed intentionally to disrupt shorebird nesting.

Florida black bears are getting more active — and hungry — as the weather warms up.

Loper was struck by a vehicle, but is getting a second chance at life. Unable to be released back in the wild, the Lowry Park facility offers a preferred setting and decent gig: "conservation ambassador."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission examination of recent large-scale manatee deaths in Lee County said a shutdown of a power plant near the canal the animals use for warmth could be a mitigating factor in the deaths.

Late last month, record-low temperatures cooled down the waters of the Gulf and the Atlantic significantly, causing almost 800 sea turtles to wash ashore across Florida’s beaches.

A fact sheet posted Friday showed that all but six of the 172 permits purchased were by Florida residents.