Stephanie Byrne

Visitors to Manatee Park in Lee County got a special treat on Wednesday as dozens of manatees showed up to enjoy the area’s warmer waters. The park is a warm water refuge for sea cows during cold spells. The water is warmer because of a nearby water plant. Researchers also took advantage of the mammals’ […]

We know that toxins from blue-green algae can make people sick. And, the smell and sight of blue-green algae is something none of us want to deal with again. But now, researchers are trying to figure out how these toxins travel through the air and get into our bodies. WINK News gives you a sneak […]

A photograph of a flamingo is making waves in Collier County. The bird was spotted in a group of pelicans. Experts say it’s a pretty rare sight. Capt. Craig Daniels of Capt. Craig’s Adventures was lucky enough to spot the flamingo on a geocaching trip to the Ten Thousand Islands on Monday. He is a […]

Southwest Florida sees its fair share of flooding, whether it is during a hurricane or just a regular summer storm, but those rising waters also tell a story. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) uses its own campus as a science experiment to benefit our area and learn more about what those floodwaters can teach us. […]

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received more than two dozen bird patients in the span of two weeks. Many of these birds were being treated for showing symptoms of red tide or blue-green algae poisoning, but experts say this isn’t only happening on Sanibel Island. When looking at the red tide map […]

Southwest Florida is about as different from the Arctic as possible but the two are still connected. A new report shows melting Arctic ice and warmer temperatures which can have a big effect in Southwest Florida. “It’s always strange to think that melting in the Arctic, can have direct implications on Florida,” said Joanne Muller, […]

A new initiative championed by Florida’s agricultural commissioner aims to keep Southwest Florida waters clean and healthy. Nikki Fried’s plan includes plenty of changes keeping an eye on the best practices for people who grow crops in the Sunshine State. Fried, who is running for Florida governor against Ron DeSantis, sat down with local food […]

Cleaning our water through stormwater treatment areas and wetlands plays a crucial role in Everglades protection and restoration. Even the tiniest organism can play a huge role in cutting down on nutrients, like phosphorous, in our stormwater runoff. Before water reaches the Everglades, it has to be cleaned. Barry Rosen is a professor at the […]

2021 stunk. At least according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more people from around the state reported skunk sightings. From striped skunks to eastern spotted skunks, both are found in Florida. Alison Charney Hussey, the executive director for CROW, said, “well, as stinky as they might be, they do serve a purpose.” […]

Florida is made up of iconic creatures and arteries of waterways which make the Sunshine State unique. It’s also no stranger to the triumphs and challenges of protecting its environment. From a record-breaking year for manatee deaths to the leak at the Piney Point, Florida’s environment made headlines throughout 2021. More than 1,000 manatees have […]