Nature and Animals

It is a Lee County law, as well as a Burnt Store Marina rule, that all dogs are to be on leashes whenever outside residences. The open lot at the corner of Cape Cole and Matecumbe is not a dog park. The Commodore residents own the whole part that is landscaped. Please keep your dogs […]

TURKEY VULTURE Vultures or Buzzards? Buzzards are not scavengers; they are raptors that don’t exist in North America, where its name is commonly misused. Vultures on the other hand, do exist here and are the “garbage men” of the natural world. They eat dead carcasses, cleaning up the environment, thereby preventing the spreading of diseases. […]

CASEWORM MOTH Have you looked out in your yard and spotted crusty little do-dads, hanging on your screens, and sometimes even hanging on your walls? Nasty! What are they, and where did they come from? The other evening, my neighbor and friend Debbie, was sitting outside with us, enjoying some libations. She pulled something off […]

June is the month when afternoon thunderstorms start appearing. Rain, humidity, heat and lots of sun change the way plants grow. Everything speeds up, including diseases and pests. Keep a sharp eye out for odd leaf growth patterns, circular necrosis and/or yellow veining on leaves. • Turf requires a complete, slow-release fertilizer. Due to county […]

Have you seen wasp-like insects on your oleanders? They are dark metallic blue, with a couple of white polka-dots dotting the wings and abdomen, with the tip of the abdomen bright red. They are called polka dot wasp moths, and sometimes Uncle Sam moths because they are red, white and blue. They look like a […]

THIS WAY TO THE BARKING LOT Our BSM Barking Lot’s Grand Opening on Sunday, January 26 was a huge success, with over 100 people in attendance. Current Section 22 Board member Mike Sage was Master of Ceremonies. Former Section 22 Board President, Joe Averdick, came back to give a short speech. Joe gave credit to […]

It is a Lee County law, as well as a Burnt Store Marina rule, that all dogs are to be on leashes whenever outside residences. The open lot at the corner of Cape Cole and Matecumbe is not a dog park. The Commodore residents own the whole part that is landscaped. Please keep your dogs […]

From time to time, you may have heard a flock of birds making whistling noises as they fly overhead. They are Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. These photos were taken at Ollie’s Pond in Port Charlotte during our annual January 1 bird walk. They are black underneath with long necks and legs. They are here year-round, so there’s […]

As the harbor water temperature remains cool, the many types of small bait fish that anglers rely on are not readily available. Many baitfish, such as thread fins, whitebait, and fiddler crabs head south. Many fishermen turn to the use of artificial baits made of plastic or forms of rubber. Others turn to the use […]