Nature and the Environment

Coral Reefs Are Being Decimated, All for a Few Gaudy Trinkets

Publix Seafood Practices Rank 19 of 20 Stores Analyzed, Greenpeace Says

Wikimedia CCPublix seafood practices score a failing grade of 2.7 out of 10, according to the environmental group Greenpeace. A study by the organization's Carting Away the Oceans project (CATO) analyzed major grocers such as Target, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Winn-Dixie. Publix landed at 19 among th ... More >>

Franken-Artist Enrique Gomez De Molina Sentenced to 20 Months for Wildlife Smuggling

​Enrique Gomez De Molina, the local artist who specializes in surrealist objects assembled from the taxidermied parts of different animals, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for smuggling endangered wildlife. De Molina was first arrested in late November just before Art Basel, and plead gu ... More >>

Pythons May Have Eaten All the Rabbits in the Everglades

​Peter Cottontail's Florida cousin is no longer hopping down any bunny trails in the Everglades. That's because he was eaten by a python.A new study says that rabbits may have been completely eliminated from areas of the Everglades where invasive snake populations are the most heavy. Bobcats, racc ... More >>

Burmese Python Imports Now Banned in U.S.; No More Snakes On These Motherf**in' Planes

​​Ken Salazar, our cowboy hat-wearing Secretary of the Interior, is expected to announce a ban on importing Burmese pythons today while visiting the Everglades. "The Burmese python has already gained a foothold in the Florida Everglades, and we must do all we can to battle its spread and to pre ... More >>

Amanda Montoya Pelicano Takes Flight

​It was dusk and the fading twilight glistened purple and orange across the gentle ripples of Biscayne Bay. A mile from land a fishing boat dumped a bag of chum in the water and a crowd of hungry pelicans began to fight each other for food. It was the end of another day, a long day at that--and ev ... More >>

Kit Curtin tracks manatees in Miami

​It was dusk and the fading twilight glistened purple and orange across the gentle ripples of Biscayne Bay. A mile from land a fishing boat dumped a bag of chum in the water and a crowd of hungry pelicans began to fight each other for food. It was the end of another day, a long day at that--and ev ... More >>

Kit Curtin, Urban Manatees Best Hope In Miami, Loses Funding In Recession

Photo by Kit CurtinA manatee with a strikingly well designed piece of canal garbage. (Not a posed photo, Curtin says.)​In a murky, garbage-strewn canal next to a dilapidated apartment complex, a mossy-colored beast breaks the water's surface. The manatee looks as out of place in this hood as a thr ... More >>

Reader mail: "Global warming no longer exists!"

Photo by Kit CurtinA manatee with a strikingly well designed piece of canal garbage. (Not a posed photo, Curtin says.)​In a murky, garbage-strewn canal next to a dilapidated apartment complex, a mossy-colored beast breaks the water's surface. The manatee looks as out of place in this hood as a thr ... More >>

Coral Reefer Madness

Photo by Kit CurtinA manatee with a strikingly well designed piece of canal garbage. (Not a posed photo, Curtin says.)​In a murky, garbage-strewn canal next to a dilapidated apartment complex, a mossy-colored beast breaks the water's surface. The manatee looks as out of place in this hood as a thr ... More >>

Turkey Point Reactors Vulnerable to Global Warming, Experts Warn

​"We are the most vulnerable metropolitan area in the world when it comes to sea level rise," says University of Miami professor Harold Wanless. Sitting in his office, the avuncular geologist paints a bleak picture. Global warming is a fact, and the results are already visible: hurricanes are gett ... More >>

North Bay Village's possum problem blamed on cat food

​"We are the most vulnerable metropolitan area in the world when it comes to sea level rise," says University of Miami professor Harold Wanless. Sitting in his office, the avuncular geologist paints a bleak picture. Global warming is a fact, and the results are already visible: hurricanes are gett ... More >>

Clemente DiMuro, "Feather Man," Killed Anhingas for Their Plumes, Ke$ha Unharmed

Wikimedia CommonsNo Ke$has were harmed by Clemente DiMuro.​Ah, Miami. So close to the Everglades. So far from sanity.It's a dangerous combination. For instance, when poachers such as Clemente DiMuro shoot protected anhinga "snakebirds," chop off their pretty feathers, and sell them on the Internet ... More >>

Florida Tea Party Group Thinks Saving Manatees Is Part of Mass Godless Conspiracy

​Members of Florida Tea Party groups are so upset with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to save manatees that they are claiming that new rules to possibly be imposed in famous Kings Bay would not only go against the Bible, but also are part of a vast United Nations conspiracy ... More >>

Hangin' With Mr. Copper

​Members of Florida Tea Party groups are so upset with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to save manatees that they are claiming that new rules to possibly be imposed in famous Kings Bay would not only go against the Bible, but also are part of a vast United Nations conspiracy ... More >>

Sharks attack, fishermen and scientists battle

​Members of Florida Tea Party groups are so upset with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to save manatees that they are claiming that new rules to possibly be imposed in famous Kings Bay would not only go against the Bible, but also are part of a vast United Nations conspiracy ... More >>

Sucking Head

​Members of Florida Tea Party groups are so upset with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to save manatees that they are claiming that new rules to possibly be imposed in famous Kings Bay would not only go against the Bible, but also are part of a vast United Nations conspiracy ... More >>

Sucking Head

​Members of Florida Tea Party groups are so upset with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to save manatees that they are claiming that new rules to possibly be imposed in famous Kings Bay would not only go against the Bible, but also are part of a vast United Nations conspiracy ... More >>

Everglades Pythons Survived Last Year's Cold Snap

​The great alien python menace continues to ravage to the delicate ecosystem of the Everglades, and scientists hoped that last January's historic cold snap would put a big dent in the invasive snake population. Unfortunately, most of those slimy bastards managed to survive the big chill. Not even ... More >>

Wild Monkeys Living with Adopted Raccoon Near Fort Lauderdale Airport

​A family of ververt monkeys that have roamed freely in Broward County since the 1950s has recently relocated to a patch of trees near the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, according to Local 10. Which is adorable and all, but, you guys, they also report that "a raccoon is treated l ... More >>

Reefer Madness

​A family of ververt monkeys that have roamed freely in Broward County since the 1950s has recently relocated to a patch of trees near the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, according to Local 10. Which is adorable and all, but, you guys, they also report that "a raccoon is treated l ... More >>

Lobster Miniseason Begins Tomorrow

Florida Lobsters. ​Lobster enthusiasts should gas up their boats. Lobster miniseason begins tomorrow. Or tonight at 12:01 a.m. to be exact. The two-day lobster hunt is an opportunity for novice fishermen to be out on the water, drink, and, of course, catch lobsters.If this is your first time on th ... More >>

Working With a Monster

Florida Lobsters. ​Lobster enthusiasts should gas up their boats. Lobster miniseason begins tomorrow. Or tonight at 12:01 a.m. to be exact. The two-day lobster hunt is an opportunity for novice fishermen to be out on the water, drink, and, of course, catch lobsters.If this is your first time on th ... More >>

Pythons Banned in Florida

​Bad news for lovers of giant snakes, killing babies, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson: Burmese pythons have been banned in Florida. On Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission signed new rules that prohibit anyone from owning Burmese pythons and, actually, any other "reptiles of concern" as p ... More >>

Wildlife Cops Bust Man Selling Pythons on Craigslist

Bethany Berg Via Flicker CCThe ad on Craigslist Miami shows a photo of two large black snakes slithering on white carpet. "Ball Pythons for Cheap," the headline reads. "They are very tame and eat one mouse a week." Scroll down a bit and find a "dwarf pastel Colombian redtail boa" for $160. A bit f ... More >>

You Have One Day to Kill a Snake Or Python Hunting Season is a Failure

The idea of the government asking people to take there hunting equipment out into the Everglades and swamps of Florida to end the lives of "reptiles of concern like" may not have been the most humane thing, but boy were we excited. We mean, these snakes could kills us and our young children and our ... More >>

Six Rat & Roach-Related Emergency Restaurant Closures So Far in March

toon by Alex Izaguirre​We hate to have to tell you this, but if six restaurants have been shut down for rats and roaches so far this month. How many do you think are getting away with it?How many plastic-smiling waitresses have you tipped while they knowingly handed you food that had been in a kit ... More >>

Touch My Thorax

toon by Alex Izaguirre​We hate to have to tell you this, but if six restaurants have been shut down for rats and roaches so far this month. How many do you think are getting away with it?How many plastic-smiling waitresses have you tipped while they knowingly handed you food that had been in a kit ... More >>

14-Foot Python Found in Miami-Dade Raises Concern of "Super Snake"

via South Florida Water Management District/Sun-Sentinel​The great snake scourge of the Everglades continues to thrive despite the recent cold snap and Sen. Bill Nelson's giant snake killing parties.During a recent sweep, state officials found five African rock pythons, including a 14-foot-female ... More >>

Northwest Miami-Dade gunslingers shoot endangered wood storks for target practice

via South Florida Water Management District/Sun-Sentinel​The great snake scourge of the Everglades continues to thrive despite the recent cold snap and Sen. Bill Nelson's giant snake killing parties.During a recent sweep, state officials found five African rock pythons, including a 14-foot-female ... More >>

Record 429 Manatee Fatalities in 2009

The news for Florida manatees started off strong last year, as wildlife officials announced that their survey found a record number of manatees in our waters. In fact, they had found 500 more than ever before, but 2009 ended on a sour note when 429 manatees were estimated to have died. Much like ano ... More >>

Rats! Restaurant Emergency Shutdown Orders for December 2009

​An emergency order disposition to a routine food inspection at a restaurant means "conditions have been found that endanger the health and safety of the public requiring immediate closure of the establishment. "Here are three restaurants whose facilities were temporarily closed by health inspecto ... More >>

Scientists Worried Everglades Pythons Could Morph into Hybrid Man-Eating Monsters

Last week, I wrote about a coalition of scientists trying to stop the next dangerous exotic invader from taking over the Everglades. via Wikimedia CommonsAt this point, it's probably just best to run and scream.​Dennis Giardina, a botanist who co-chairs the group, took me on a hunt for nile monito ... More >>

Glades Invaders

It's too late to stop the pythons. The real question is, what's next?

Stung

It's not the usual edgy stuff, but this Miami Science Museum show has some bite.

Ric O'Barry's The Cove Hits Theaters

The film expertly exposes the horrific treatment of dolphins, but what about the uglies?

Seventeen-Foot Python Caught in Okeechobee

via Florida Fish & Wildlife​ Here's the giant snake that's on the front page of every local news website, so why not ours too? Slow news day. As part of the insane/awesome new government initiative to kill every Burmese python in the wild, this 17-footer was caught yesterda ... More >>

Bill Nelson Proposes a Giant Python-Killing Party in the Everglades

In certain times and places in U.S. history, the answer to every political problem was probably "Let's get a bunch of guys with guns together and solve this." Nowadays, this idea seems to be seriously considered only in matters of Middle East diplomacy, but Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is suggesting a ... More >>

Mexican Navy Finds Sharks Stuffed to the Gills with Cocaine

This story doesn't really have a local hook per se, but I know you all love sharks, and I know you all love cocaine. So what if somehow, some way, sharks and cocaine came together in one slightly amusing but ultimately troublesome incident? Well, thanks to the ingenuity of Mexican drug lords, t ... More >>

Drink a Smoothie, Help a Sea Turtle at Jamba Juice Today

Jamba Juice and Caribbean Conservation CorporationSlirp for a good causeIt's a win win, folks.  Show up to Jamba Juice today, purchase a smoothie or other healthful snack, and the company will donate 20 percent of the sale to help ensure the survival of sea turtles.  It's all in cooperatio ... More >>

Free Ric O'Barry

A Miami guy stars in a Sundance film and is sued by angry Dominican dolphin geeks.

Couch Potatoes for Lolita

Big time animal lover Anthony Marasia lives in Hawaii, but he's got beef with Miami. The 35-year old, media savy former zookeeper launched a national campaign Thursday to free Seaquarium's Lolita the killer whale. The plan: broadcast footage of the captive orca in her kiddie pool of a tank on p ... More >>

When Animal Activists Attack

Bit on the set of a Rick Ross video, animal handler Mark McCarthy now squares off against activists.

Manatee Population Hits Record Numbers

Researchers may never be able to prove that manatees are objectively the most adorable thing ever (even though they clearly are), but they are able to report that the state-wide manatee population is on the rise. Back in 2001, researchers counted 3,300 manatees. There were only 1,706 in a 1997 su ... More >>

Santa's Enchanted Hell Hole?

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>

Gator-Eating Pythons: A Myth?

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>

Updated: Ringling Bros. Elephant Injures Trainer

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>

Dolphin Dies at Miami Seaquarium

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>

Chillin' in the Bachelor Pod - Life as a Dolphin

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>

Keep Banning Those Bags

Animal rights activist Jim Dunn is willing to bet that, if Old Saint Nick could materialize in Miami-Dade, the man in red would paint a huge protest sign and then boycott Santa's Enchanted Forrest. How come? Well, the "country's biggest Christmas theme park" may offer the kiddies lights and trees g ... More >>