FNE INC - Florida Naturalist Experience Institute of Natural Conservation

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FNE INC - Florida Naturalist Experience Institute of Natural Conservation

We are a family of certified naturalists and chefs who love the great outdoors and great food. We want to share both with you. You can join our adventures often.

Florida Naturalist Experience - Institute of Natural Conservation is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Florida's natural environments through guided ecological field programs and conservation events. Your Guides, Ian and Jackie, are both Certified Florida Master Naturalists through the University of Florida's IFAS Extension Program. We are well-v

ersed in Florida's natural wonders and the wildlife and plant life that resides there. You will leave with a new appreciation for Florida, the natural side. The side that isn't as well-known and talked about as much as our theme parks and beaches. Come join us on an outdoor adventure, and allow us to spread our knowledge and passion to you. After your guided experience is finished and you have worked up an appetite, you will be invited as guests to enjoy a meal presented by Bon Voisin Chef. Bon Voisin Chef has been creating delicious food for over 30 years throughout Florida and brings those experiences to you personally on each tour. Locations and menus change regularly to provide new experiences each time. Contact us at [email protected] to book your tour today!

06/23/2026

🌱 Propagation Station is coming up! 🌱

If you've ever wanted to learn how to make more plants out of the plants you already have, this workshop is for you.

We'll be talking about several different propagation methods, sharing tips that actually work, and showing you how you can help restore our shorelines by legally propagating red mangroves to be donated for a shoreline restoration project. Whether you're into native plants, houseplants, gardening, or just looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, we'd love to have you there.

📅 Sunday, July 12
⏰ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Big Hammock Brewery, Ocala

Your ticket includes:

-Two educational presentations
-Hands-on propagation demonstrations
-A delicious lunch prepared by Bon Voisin Chef
-A native plant propagule to take home

No experience needed. Just come ready to learn, ask questions, and hang out with other plant people.

As always, all proceeds help support our mission of conservation through education.

We hope to see you there! Visit our website at https://floridanaturalistexperience.square.site to enroll today!

06/19/2026

🌎 Florida Wildlife Challenge

Think you know Florida wildlife? Let's put your knowledge to the test.

Which of these statements is TRUE?

A. Florida black bears spend the winter hibernating in caves.

B. American alligators can survive freezing temperatures by sticking their snouts above the ice.

C. Manatees are fish.

D. Gopher tortoises spend most of their lives in trees.

Take your guess in the comments before reading the answer!

⬇️

The correct answer is B.

During periods of extreme cold, alligators can enter a state called brumation, a reptile's version of winter dormancy. In rare cases, alligators have been observed surviving frozen conditions by keeping the tip of their snout above the ice so they can continue breathing while remaining nearly motionless.

As for the others:

🐻 Florida black bears do not truly hibernate like some northern bear species. They may become less active during colder weather, but they can remain active throughout the winter.

🦭 Manatees are mammals, not fish. They breathe air, give birth to live young, and nurse their calves just like other mammals.

🐢 Gopher tortoises spend most of their lives on the ground and in their burrows, not in trees. Their burrows provide shelter for more than 350 other species, making them one of Florida's most important keystone species.

Florida is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, and there is always something new to learn about the natural world around us.

How many of you guessed correctly? Let us know in the comments!

06/18/2026

Florida is one of the most biologically diverse states in the nation. From crystal-clear springs and winding rivers to longleaf pine forests, coastal dunes, wetlands, scrub habitats, and cypress swamps, our state is home to thousands of species of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

Yet many Floridians have never had the opportunity to explore these ecosystems beyond a boardwalk, hiking trail, or roadside view. That is why we created FNE INC. Our mission is simple: Conservation Through Education.

At FNE INC, we believe education should be engaging, hands-on, and accessible. Whether someone is an experienced naturalist, an avid hiker, a gardener interested in native plants, or simply curious about the world around them, there is always something new to discover.

Research consistently shows that people are more likely to protect natural resources when they understand them. Learning about native plants, wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation challenges helps create a deeper connection to the natural world and inspires stewardship for future generations.

Our goal is not only to share information, but to foster appreciation. When people experience the beauty of a spring run, learn how a gopher tortoise supports hundreds of other species, discover the importance of native plants, or hear firsthand from conservation professionals, those experiences often leave a lasting impact.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has attended an event, shared a post, volunteered their time, offered their expertise, or simply followed along on this journey. Every conversation about Florida's natural world helps further our mission.

Together, we can help ensure that Florida's unique ecosystems, wildlife, and natural heritage remain protected for generations to come.

What first sparked your interest in Florida's natural world? We'd love to hear your story in the comments.

06/17/2026

🐊 Conservation Success Story: The American Alligator

Today, the American alligator is one of the most recognizable symbols of Florida. It can be found in wetlands, lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, canals, and even golf course ponds throughout the state. Yet just a few decades ago, this iconic reptile faced an uncertain future.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, alligators were heavily hunted for their hides and meat. Combined with habitat loss, this caused populations to decline dramatically across the southeastern United States. By 1967, the American alligator was listed as an endangered species.

What followed became one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories in American history. Through legal protections, habitat conservation, scientific management, and public education, alligator populations recovered across much of their range. In 1987, the species was officially removed from the endangered species list.

Today, Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, making it one of the strongest alligator populations in the world.

Alligators play an essential role in maintaining healthy wetland ecosystems. They are considered a keystone species because their activities benefit many other organisms. During dry periods, alligators create depressions known as "gator holes" that retain water when surrounding wetlands dry out. These pools provide critical refuge for fish, turtles, wading birds, amphibians, and countless other species.

As apex predators, alligators also help maintain ecological balance by regulating populations of prey species and removing weak or sick animals from the ecosystem.

The recovery of the American alligator reminds us that conservation works. When science, habitat protection, responsible management, and public support come together, species can recover and ecosystems can thrive.

The next time you spot an alligator basking along a shoreline or quietly gliding through the water, remember that you are looking at one of America's greatest conservation success stories.

Have you ever seen an alligator in the wild? Share your favorite alligator photos or stories in the comments!

06/16/2026

🌱 Native vs. Non-Native: Coontie and Sago Palm

Not all landscape plants provide the same benefits to wildlife.

Florida's native coontie (Zamia integrifolia) and the commonly planted sago palm (Cycas revoluta) are both ancient cycads, a group of plants that existed long before the dinosaurs. While they share a fascinating evolutionary history, their roles in Florida's ecosystems are very different.

Coontie is Florida's only native cycad and serves as the exclusive host plant for the Atala butterfly. Atala caterpillars can only develop on coontie and a few closely related native cycads. The remarkable recovery of the Atala butterfly in Florida is largely due to homeowners and gardeners planting coontie.

Coontie is well adapted to Florida's climate and naturally occurs in pine flatwoods, scrub habitats, hammocks, and coastal uplands. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant and requires little maintenance.

Historically, Indigenous peoples of Florida processed coontie roots into a starch known as Florida arrowroot. During the late 1800s, coontie became an important commercial crop in parts of South Florida.

Sago palms, native to southern Japan, are popular ornamental plants but provide little value to native FL wildlife. They do not serve as host plants for Florida butterflies and support far fewer native insects.

Another important difference is toxicity. Sago palms contain cycasin, a highly toxic compound that can be fatal to dogs and cats if ingested. Even a single seed can cause severe poisoning.

When choosing plants for your landscape, selecting native species like coontie helps support pollinators, butterflies, birds, and the ecosystems that make Florida unique.

Small choices in our yards can have a big impact on wildlife.

Atala Butterfly pic credit to FL Museum of Natural History: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/earth-systems/blog/a-butterfly-on-the-move-the-atala-butterfly-and-its-coontie-connection/

06/15/2026

🐢 Did You Know? The Gopher Tortoise Is One of Florida's Most Important Animals

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is often called a "keystone species," meaning countless other plants and animals depend on it for survival.

These remarkable reptiles spend much of their lives digging extensive underground burrows that can reach over 40 feet in length and up to 10 feet deep. The burrows maintain a relatively stable temperature year-round, providing shelter from heat, cold, drought, wildfires, and predators.

Scientists have documented more than 350 species using gopher tortoise burrows. Some of these animals are occasional visitors, while others depend heavily on the burrows for survival. Residents can include eastern indigo snakes, gopher frogs, burrowing owls, rabbits, mice, insects, spiders, and many other species.

Gopher tortoises are herbivores and primarily feed on grasses, wildflowers, fruits, and other low-growing vegetation. As they move through their habitat, they help disperse seeds, contributing to healthy and diverse plant communities.

Unlike aquatic turtles, gopher tortoises spend nearly their entire lives on land. They are also surprisingly long-lived, with many individuals reaching 40 to 60 years of age in the wild.

Because they require open, sunny habitats such as longleaf pine forests, sandhills, scrub, and dry prairies, the presence of gopher tortoises is often an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.

Unfortunately, habitat loss and fragmentation have caused populations to decline throughout much of their range. In Florida, gopher tortoises are listed as a threatened species and are protected by state law. It is illegal to harm, harass, relocate, or disturb a tortoise or its burrow without proper permits.

The next time you spot a gopher tortoise crossing a trail or grazing in an open field, remember that you're looking at an ecosystem engineer whose work benefits hundreds of other species.

Have you ever seen a gopher tortoise in the wild? Share your photos and stories in the comments!

06/14/2026

Propagation Station by Florida Naturalist Experience Institute of Natural Conservation is a month away!

Join Florida Naturalist Experience for an afternoon of hands-on learning focused on one of the most valuable skills in gardening and conservation: plant propagation.

During this workshop, guests will enjoy two educational presentations exploring the science, techniques, and real-world applications of plant propagation. Learn the fundamentals of propagating plants at home through seeds, cuttings, divisions, and other common methods, then discover how red mangroves can be legally propagated and donated to support shoreline restoration efforts throughout Florida.

Whether you're a gardener, native plant enthusiast, conservationist, homeschool family, or simply curious about how plants reproduce, this workshop will provide practical knowledge you can use to grow more plants while supporting Florida's natural ecosystems.

Tuition includes:
• Admission to both presentations
• Lunch prepared by Bon Voisin Chef
• One take-home propagated Florida native plant
• Educational materials and discussion opportunities

Sunday, July 12, 2026 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Big Hammock Brewery Ocala, Florida

Florida Naturalist Experience is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation through education.

Enroll today at https://floridanaturalistexperience.square.site , we can't wait to see you there!

Address

300 Anastasia Park Rd
Saint Augustine, FL
32080

Website

https://floridanaturalistexperience.square.site/, https://masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/

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