Florida Wildlife

Wild owls that can’t see or fly are often rescued and become known as “ambassador birds.” Wildlife rehabilitators take them to schools or other events so people can see them up close.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to consider proposed changes to the rules governing wildlife rehabilitation. Some rehabbers say it may force them to call it quits.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discuss Seminole Hard Rock Casino relaunching its sports betting app after a court fight over bringing sports betting to the state. Plus, we look at how the Medicaid unwinding process is going. And later, we catch up on some of the wildlife stories from across the state.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discuss how Florida schools have removed more books from public school libraries than any other state. Plus, a Florida Republican leads the charge to bring down the U.S. Speaker of the House. Wandering bears, a livestream of eagles and hazy skies from wildfires: we present wildlife stories throughout the state.

The former University of Florida professor honored Florida's rural climate in her novels.

From coyotes to gopher tortoises and beach mice, many animals make their home on Florida’s barrier islands. Humans helped draw animals to these fragile habitats. Now, we’re squeezing them out.

Should humans rescue animals from the perils of climate change?

The Florida burrowing owl is listed as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"There's an implication that the Fish Wildlife Service removed protections for gopher tortoises. They did not. If we wanted to think of the immediate protection level changes for the species, this finding document found no change," said Jeffrey Goessling of Eckerd College.

"Instances of smuggling or poaching, a lot of the times the turtles are shipped in inhumane ways. You'll see awful photos of turtles wrapped up in duct tape, are piled up on top of each other," said Daniel Parker of USARK.

Organizations across Southwest Florida have been taking in animals that were injured or abandoned during the category 4 storm.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Act was signed into law just over a year ago. Learn more about this ongoing effort to protect Florida’s lands and wildlife.