Introducing “Wild Florida”

Welcome to Wild Florida, a new radio series on outdoor happenings in northeast Florida. The show will air monthly on WJCT 89.9 FM’s “First Coast Connect” hosted by Melissa Ross at 9:00 a.m. She’ll interview journalist and Master Naturalist Lisa Grubba about what’s in season in the woods, rivers and oceans of this unique place. Below you’ll find details and additional information, but for the full show, tune in live January 28, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., listen to the rebroadcast at 8:00 p.m. or access it later from WJCT’s website.

• It’s Right Whale season in south Georgia and northeast Florida. The slow-moving whales swim close to the coastline, often visible from land.
• They migrate south from the Bay of Fundy to give birth and nurse their young through the winter months.
• North Atlantic Right Whales are near extinction and there’s a citizen-government-industry effort to save them from ship strikes by communicating their location to boaters and vessels in the shipping lanes. Report sightings to 1-877-WHALE-HELP or U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16.
• Contact Marineland Right Whale Project to get involved with citizen efforts to protect the species.

• The property is 74,000 acres divided into two parcels, one north of St. Augustine and one south. It spans the Atlantic Ocean west to the Intracoastal Waterway and encompasses three rivers (the Guana, Tolomato and Matanzas rivers) and one lake.
• Activities: hiking, fishing, birding, paddle boarding, kayaking and a nature center. At the second parking lot heading south from Ponte Vedra, there is a wheelchair ramp going from the parking lot up to A1A, and ramps in the dunes with an ocean view.
• Shell Bluff Mound is an easy trail (2 miles round trip) that winds through maritime forest and ends on the Intracoastal (pictured). There are several trails that are longer.
• 505 Guana River Rd., Ponte Vedra, FL, 32082. 904/823-4500.

For a day trip, tour the historic Ocklawaha River:

• For a trip through old Florida, head down to the Ocklawaha River in Marion County, where you’ll find gators, migratory birds and the historic Ocklawaha back in its original banks for a few months.
• The Ocklawaha River was dammed decades ago to build a shipping canal across Florida, a project that was cancelled by the Nixon Administration. The resulting lake flooded out acres of existing forest.
• The lake is now a popular spot for bass fishing and hosts many tournaments. But vegetation builds up in the lake and, every few years, the state opens the dam to clean out weeds. During the draw-down, the river returns to its historic route and 20 springs covered by the lake begin flowing again.
• Boat tours of the area are offered by several small boat captains. See Capt. Karen Chadwick’s website, www.northstarcharters.net or Capt. Erika Ritters website, www.captainerikasfloridaboatcharters.com.
• The draw-down ends in early March.