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!

06/17/2026

🐊 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!

06/14/2026

🌿 Native Plant Spotlight: American Beautyberry

One of Florida's most recognizable native plants is the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). This deciduous shrub can be found growing naturally along forest edges, trails, hammocks, and disturbed areas throughout much of the southeastern United States.

Beautyberry is best known for its striking clusters of vibrant purple berries that appear in late summer and fall. These berries provide an important food source for wildlife including mockingbirds, cardinals, robins, catbirds, raccoons, opossums, foxes, and white-tailed deer.

Humans can enjoy beautyberry too. The berries are edible and are commonly used to make beautyberry jelly, syrup, wine, and baked goods. The berries themselves have a mild flavor, but when cooked with sugar they produce a beautiful bright pink jelly with a unique sweet taste that many Floridians look forward to each year.

Beautyberry has a long history of traditional use as well. Native American tribes used various parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, and modern research has found that the leaves contain compounds with insect-repelling properties. Crushed leaves can be rubbed directly onto the skin, and homemade bug sprays can be made by steeping the leaves in water or alcohol. Studies conducted by the USDA have identified naturally occurring compounds in beautyberry leaves that help repel mosquitoes and ticks.

Beyond its beauty, this remarkable Florida native supports pollinators, feeds wildlife, provides edible berries, and may even help keep biting insects away.

Have you ever spotted beautyberry in the wild or tried homemade beautyberry jelly?

**Beautyberry Jelly Recipe (not by FNE): https://cosmopolitancornbread.com/beautyberry-jelly/

06/09/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday for our Alligator Talk! 🐊 This was our very first indoor classroom event, and you all made it so much fun!

We are so grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for Florida’s wildlife and connect with our curious and enthusiastic guests. Your support helps us continue our mission of conservation through education.

A special thank you goes to Phil Kelton for serving as our guest speaker and sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with American alligators. We truly appreciate the time, energy, and expertise he brought to Sundays event.

We would also like to thank Big Hammock Brewery & Bites for allowing us to host our event at their lovely brewery! And the biggest THANK YOU to Bon Voisin Chef for that absolutely delicious Italian Feast!!! 🤤 🍴 🍝 ♥️

We hope everyone left with a greater appreciation for these incredible reptiles and the important role they play in Florida’s ecosystems. We look forward to seeing you at our future programs!

Visit our website to see our event schedule:

https://floridanaturalistexperience.square.site

06/08/2026

What an extraordinary day😍🤩🐊❤️
Our first of hopefully many FNE INC - Florida Naturalist Experience Institute of Natural Conservation Classroom Workshops. What better place to have it than our favorite place to hang out for great food and beer Big Hammock Brewery & Bites. Thank you Jason Delaney for sponsoring our event. We learned so much about alligators and our guest speaker Phil Kelton showed us and told us things we never knew about the usefulness of technology when applied to conservation. Phil even brought us all real alligator souvenirs. Thank you Phil🙏 Thank you to everyone who attended, you were all wonderful students ❤️ Of course it’s easier to learn when you have a delicious meal to go along. We enjoyed a grilled vegetable plate with infused olive oil, mozzarella cheese and crusty bread. Followed by chicken marsala and mushroom ravioli in a delicate marsala butter and mushroom sauce. Then we finished with grilled ricotta bread covered in orange honey, toasted walnuts, sesame seeds and a pinch of Himalayan salt. A twist on an ancient Roman dessert recipe. Jackson was eager to help clean up, such a helpful boy. Eat with other people and learn stuff. Love

Planning an event, day trip, or vacation in Central Florida?
Let Bon Voisin Personal Chef Services take care of the cooking, so you can focus on enjoying your time.

We offer:
• Custom menus tailored to your needs
• Fresh, delicious meals prepared to your schedule
• Convenient service for vacations, gatherings, and special events

Message us directly for all your personal chef needs.
Visit our website to learn more or book your service: BonVoisinChef.square.site
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Address

300 Anastasia Park Rd
Saint Augustine, FL
32080

Website

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

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