National Forests in Florida

The Osceola National Forest is conducting a prescribed burn on approximately 24 acres today on Road 235-C near I-10.

Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of unexpected shifting winds that could increase the risk of smoke on the road during prescribed burns. Always proceed with caution, reduce speed and turn headlights on if visibility is affected by smoky conditions.

Prescribed burns are an important tool used to improve the health of Florida’s forests and play in integral part in reducing fuels, improving all wildlife habitat, controlling competing vegetation, controlling disease and improving forage.

For more information on the Osceola National Forest, log onto the U.S. Forest Service Website.

Volunteers participated in the Super-Clean Sweep in the Apalachicola National Forest on Feb. 27

The Apalachicola National Forest is cleaner thanks to the more than 140 volunteers who participated in Leon County’s Super-Clean Sweep event on Feb. 27.  The U.S. Forest Service thanks all the volunteers who cleaned up tons of trash and nearly 400 tires that littered the forest grounds. 

The Super-Clean sweep is an annual local effort to support the program of Keep America Beautiful Great American Clean Up where volunteers sign up to clean parks, roads, paths, schools and woodlands.

Sponsors for the forest cleanup included the U.S. Forest Service, Leon County Recycling, Forest Edge Neighborhood, Super-Lube, Leon County, Keep Tallahassee Leon County Beautiful, Publix and WalMart.

A group of children learn how to fish at last year's Outdoor Experience held by the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center. (Courtesy of www.btycc.org)

If you’re looking to take your kids somewhere this weekend, the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center is holding its annual “Outdoor Experience” on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Saturday event is free to the public.

Activities planned include fishing and casting competitions, Olympic-sytle archery, muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle shooting, K-9 demos, hay rides, wall climbing and bounce houses.  A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement helicopter and little critters will be on display for visitors.

TV personalities from popular shows will also be making an appearance, meeting fans and giving demos at the times indicated.  They include Snake Master Steve Scruggs from Let’s Get Wild (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.); Master of the Longbow Bryon Ferguson from Master of the Longbow (11:30 a.m.); and Utimate Shooter Tim Bradley from The Ultimate Shooter (2:30 p.m.).

Food will be available for a small fee, or attendees can bring their own snacks.

More information on this event can be found at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center website.  Attendees may fill out the Registration Form and Liability Form in advance and bring them to the event.

Sponsors for the event include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, Fish Florida, Future Hunting in Florida, Florida Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Benelli, Ducks Unlimited, Homstead Ministries, Tallahassee Museum and Safari Club International.

The U.S. Forest Service will be conducting a prescribed burn of about 1,445 acres in unit #4 in the Apalachicola National Forest today.  See Apalachicola National Forest Prescribed Fire Map.

Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of unexpected shifting windes that could increase the risk of smoke on the road during prescribed burns.  Always proceed with caution and please reduce speed and turn headlights on if visibility is affected by smoky conditions.

Join us for a Super Clean Sweep this Saturday starting at 8 a.m. on Feb. 27 at the south end of Lake Munson at the end of the pavement along Rivers Road to help clean up Tallahassee’s own National Forest. Lunch will be provided, and the event is an approved “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” volunteer activity. Please RSVP to Sharon Gray at 850-877-6579 or aplantomeet@earthlink.net.  Download the Flyer.

 For more details…

Close