ARTIFICIAL REEF Okaloosa County plans to sink the SS United States off its coast to create the largest artificial reef. The ocean liner, which was first commissioned in 1952 and set the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage, is currently docked in Philadelphia. Supporters hope the barnacle-encrusted ocean liner will become the star in the county’s constellation of more than 500 artificial reefs, making it a signature diving attraction that could generate millions of dollars a year in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.
REEF BLEACHING The Coral Restoration Foundation reported that water temperatures around Florida were lower than last year, in part thanks to storms and significant cloud cover. As a result, the reefs are slowly recovering from 2023’s record bleaching event due to the higher water temperatures.
PYTHON CHALLENGE This year’s annual Florida Python Challenge winner bagged 20 Burmese pythons, capturing the $10,000 grand prize. Over 800 individuals registered to participate in this year’s challenge and a total of 195 pythons were removed from the wild. The longest python captured was eight feet, eleven inches and earned the challenger $1,000. The Challenge raises awareness about the dangers of the invasive Burmese python. A female python can lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time!
MILKWEED PARASITE Monarch butterflies are being infected and killed by a parasite that thrives on milkweed, the very plant that monarchs must have to survive. Researchers are divided on how to protect the butterflies. While some believe planting only native milkweeds will solve the problem, others say it will not make a difference.
MANATEES Increasingly, more manatee calves are being found dead, most of them stillborn. Researchers say this is a positive step forward because it means more manatees are having babies. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission are also observing more calves in the wild, another positive step for these mammals.