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September 26, 2024
And then there were ten. Yes, the BGSTA turtle patrollers are down to the last ten incubating nests on the island. Eight loggerhead and two green turtle nests. The last observed hatch was weeks ag…

September 26, 2024
BY KAREN GRACE The late Capt. Fred Futch once said that although many people say the biggest change to the island came from the building of the bridge, he thought it was the formation of the wa…

September 26, 2024
BY THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY Marine pollution is an increasing threat to the overall health of Florida. It makes a negative impact in many ways, and it comes from many sources. Many type…

September 19, 2024
“Consider the number of manatee deaths so far this year. Redesignating the manatee as endangered, which provides for the highest levels of federal protection and conservation efforts, is critical….

September 19, 2024
Please consider that water quality issues have reduced fish stocks, and the significant influx of residents and visitors has reduced water quality. Businesses are eager to grab all this easy-growt…

September 19, 2024
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY  Only 17 nests remain as of September 14! Of those, 14 are loggerhead and three are green turtle nests. Since September 8, we have seen eight nests either hatch …

September 19, 2024
This essay is part of a mini-series of stories from Barrier Islands Parks BY THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY May through October is the official sea turtle nesting season in Southwest Flori…

September 12, 2024
“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something. You are not here by accident of fate, alive at an…

September 12, 2024
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY As of September 7, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association’s (BGSTA) “completion countdown” is at 25 nests. 21 of those are loggerhead nests and four are green tu…

September 12, 2024
BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER The year was 1949, when NATO was established, West Germany was created, the People’s Republic of China was formally proclaimed and the So…