Baby coachwhip on the Nature Coast

Pure Florida blogger floridacracker, who is a native of Florida and lives on the Nature Coast, has some interesting video and photographs of a baby snake he discovered the other day. He thinks its a baby coachwhip but acknowledges that it could be a black racer. See what you think.

Voice of America features the Glades

National Park Service

More than 350 bird species and 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish live within the park.

Steve Ember and Faith Lapidus presented an audio report on the Everglades on Science in the News, a VOA program in Special English. 

Yankee loses in island showdown

Harry Stolzfus

Remember that tale a couple of weeks ago about the battle between the transplanted yankee and the old-time, deep-roots Floridian (Ed Chiles, Lawton's son)? Well, it has played itself out now. For the moment, at least. The Anna Maria Island Sun reports that City Commissioner Harry Stolzfus has been recalled. His term is to be filled by the man who ran against him. The town's other newspaper, The Islander, reports that Stolzfus is challenging the legality of the recall election. So it all may end up back in court again. Meanwhile, Bill Yanger, author of the island blog Our Anna Maria wonders if the new commissioner will honor his promises. The drama continues.

Is it illegal to dig in the sand?

Don't plan to dig on the beach at the Gulf Islands National Seashore. You could be in big trouble. UPDATE: Here's a followup to that earlier report. Apparently a staffer was misinformed. Digging is okay at the beach, where you might dig up oil, just not near Fort Pickens, where you might dig up an artifact.