Panama City Field Office

10/01/2025

Due to the federal government shutdown, this account is not being actively updated.
For more information, please visit:

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

03/26/2024

02/09/2024

01/26/2024

Lovely!

01/18/2024

12/13/2023

Whoosh!!!

A snail kite grabs a yummy snack at La Chua Trail, located on Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida!

Photo by Renee Bodine, USFWS.

12/13/2023

Big news alert! After seven years of successful eastern indigo snake releases at The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, a milestone has been achieved! For the FIRST time, two wild-born hatchlings have been found on the property!
We celebrate this incredible success with our dedicated partners in land protection and habitat restoration: The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Orianne Center For Indigo Conservation, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the Welaka National Fish Hatchery.
Discover more about this groundbreaking discovery and why it's a game-changer for conservation efforts! https://www.nature.org/.../stories-in.../paradise-regained/
Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoffman/Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation

Big news alert! After seven years of successful eastern indigo snake releases at The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, a milestone has been achieved! For the FIRST time, two wild-born hatchlings have been found on the property!

We celebrate this incredible success with our dedicated partners in land protection and habitat restoration: The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Orianne Center For Indigo Conservation, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the Welaka National Fish Hatchery.

Discover more about this groundbreaking discovery and why it's a game-changer for conservation efforts! https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/florida/stories-in-florida/paradise-regained/

Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoffman/Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation

09/15/2023

Who will take the title of “Hisssss Southeast”?! 🐍👑
Join us here on our page next week to uncover the beauty and ecological value of your favorite southeastern snake species!
Vote in categories such as “Best Dressed” and “Most Elusive”, all while gaining exposure to the diversity and importance of snakes. Starting Monday, 9/18 we’ll be sharing posts and encouraging your comments to determine which snake species will win certain superlatives and advance to the winner’s circle!
Snake species write-ins will be encouraged for each category. We also want to see photos of your favorite snakes!
Snakes are truly valuable species that play multiple roles in their respective ecosystems. As pest control, predators, and occasionally even prey, snakes help maintain biodiversity.
Keep your eyesss peeled as we celebrate snakes this entire upcoming week!
Graphic by Mallory Fischer/USFWS

07/07/2023

The southern elktoe, historically found within the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint River (ACF) Basin in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, has disappeared from most of its range. Read about our proposal to protect it in the comments! Photo by Jason Wisniewski/Georgia Department of Natural Resources 👇

10/20/2022

The Monarch Butterfly Festival is this weekend at St. Marks Refuge!

ST. MARKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL IS BACK!!

The Refuge will host its Monarch Festival on Saturday October 22 from 10 am – 4 pm to showcase the monarch butterfly migration.

Not only will visitors to the festival on Saturday will be able to able to witness the tagging of these delicate butterflies at the St. Marks Lighthouse, but they can enjoy exhibits and demonstrations, learn about landscaping for butterflies and other pollinators, plus enjoy family-friendly crafts, music, and food near the visitor center! The Nature Store will also be open 10-5.

The regular entrance fee of $5/car will be charged (Federal Passes accepted). We ask that you please leave your pets at home.

Festival exhibitors include:
*Apalachee Audubon
*Florida Wildlife Federation
*Friends of St Marks Wildlife Refuge –
*Children’s Activities and Arts and Crafts
*Florida Native Plant Society
* Hot Tamale – Live Music,
*North American Butterfly Association (NABA) –
*People Tagging Station –
*UF/IFAS Leon & Wakulla County Extension
*USFWS Fire Program –
*Wakulla County Tourist Development Council
* *Photo Opportunity** Come take fun family photos
*Monarch Tagging Station
* Emory University “Monarch Health
Wakulla High School Band food booth! Come support the band and enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, drinks, and snacks.

For those going on down to the lighthouse after seeing the exhibitors at the visitor center can go down to witness butterfly tagging and learn about monarch health, but please be aware that for the safety of our visitors Lighthouse Road will be closed just past the boat ramp parking lot entrance. Visitors will be asked to park at the boat ramp parking lot and walk the short distance to the lighthouse. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a short walk and watch the butterflies and birds! Accommodations will be made for those with handicap access.

*Butterfly gifts, t-shirts, honey, chocolate, books and more for sale in the Nature Store from 10-5.

09/01/2022

Love turtles, but love them in the wild! 🐢

Turtles can live long lives if we let them. If you believe someone is collecting or selling wild turtles illegally, call your state agency or submit a wildli...

08/29/2022

Red tide often affects the Gulf Coast of Florida during certain times of the year, like late summer. Not sure what that means for you, your family, and your pets?
This video will teach you everything you need to know: what red tide is, red tide’s affects on health, and how we as scientists track and monitor red tide. Visit our website for more information about red tide, including our daily sample map: MyFWC.com/research/redtide/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm5JjAX4sNU

Red tide often affects the Gulf Coast of Florida during certain times of the year, like late summer. Not sure what that means for you, your family, and your ...