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A photo posted on Instagram of a man holding a dolphin has caught the attention of investigators. The photo shows a man holding a baby dolphin out of the water in Nassau County, which is near Jacksonville. The dolphin is now believed to be dead. Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are now investigating the incident. Marine biologists say when you take a dolphin out of the water, they can be crushed by the weight of their own bodies. Researchers say you can tell by the dorsal fin. Now, they’re trying...

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it is now recommending charges against the man accused of beating a shark with a hammer. A FWC spokesman confirmed its recommendation to News 6 Thursday afternoon. The agency has not yet said what charges the man could face, but a news release from FWC is expected sometime on Thursday. News 6 has reached out to the state attorney’s office to see if prosecutors have decided to pursue charges against the man. We are still waiting to hear back. News 6 has decided not to identify the man accused...

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A Florida man was among eight people accused of snake trafficking, authorities said Thursday. Paul Miller, 48, of Cape Coral, was issued a notice to appear for second-degree misdemeanor violations that included cage or secondary containment, unsafe or unsanitary conditions for captive wildlife, improper cage labeling and cage or secondary containment, according to WGCU Radio reported. Nearly 200 snakes consisting of 24 species from seven different regions were purchased by the eight people cited, WBBH-TV reported. “Some of these snakes are among the most dangerous in the world,” Maj. Randy Bowlin said in a statement released...

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) -Florida Fish and Wildlife officers have arrested a Collier County man for five misdemeanor charges related to violations against endangered or threatened species. Officials say the incident occurred on Jan 9, on Marco Island. Officers say Renardo Stewart accelerated and ran a golf cart through a flock of black skimmers resting on the beach. Marco Island Police Department detained Stewart and he admitted to driving the golf cart through the flock of birds. The black skimmer is protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is also protected as State Threatened by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened...

DUNNELLON, Fla. — A stolen tractor valued at over $50,000 was located in Levy County, according to the Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO). LCSO said that on Dec. 14, detectives were made aware that a John Deere front-end loader had been stolen from a job site in the City of Dunnellon and that the tractor may have been hidden in the Morriston area of Levy County. Investigation revealed Anthony Ralph, 42, was in possession of a similar John Deere tractor. A LCSO detective, with assistance from officers with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), responded to the location. When officers...

DAVIE, Fla. - An arm was found inside an alligator that was caught in a Davie lake, sources told Local 10 News. The body part is believed to be that of a missing woman who disappeared while walking her dogs at the Silver Lakes Rotary Nature Park. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Rob Klepper said evidence from the necropsy indicates that the woman was bitten by the 12-foot, 6-inch gator. "The FWC believes that the victim is deceased and we will continue recovery efforts on the lake with local authorities," Klepper said.

MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says officers caught suspected wildlife cop shooter, Christopher Eddy, Friday evening in Melbourne Beach. Eddy, 23, is suspected of shooting veteran Fish and Wildlife Officer Vann Streety at least six times, during a traffic stop in a rural area in west Cocoa. Investigators tracked Eddy down in a wooded area on A1A, in Melbourne Beach after he tried to steal a car. Eddy admitted his crime to Eyewitness News as he was being handcuffed. “It was just unjust the way they treated me, because they pulled me over and they...

Cradling a loaded shotgun, Daniel Castillo stood in the bow of the airboat when a dark form burst from a clump of reeds. As the wildlife biologist shouldered his weapon, he had only an instant to decide: does it fly like a duck, but look like a long-legged, iridescent chicken?

As if hanging out in a dump and eating garbage aren’t bad enough, those vultures flapping around Palm Beach County’s landfill have a new worry these days: A government sharpshooter is out to kill them. Vultures, sea gulls and other birds evoke a Hitchcockian scene as they swoop over the Palm Beach County landfill, near 45th Street in suburban West Palm Beach and in close proximity to the turnpike. Not every bird, mind you. Just enough to persuade the rest of the bulky carrion-muncher’s to flock someplace else. Managers of the landfill near 45th Street in suburban West Palm Beach...

ATTENTION FLORIDA FIREARM OWNERS ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT FOR YOUR POSITIVE COMMENTS ON THIS RULE CHANGE BE SURE TO CONTACT ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND SEND THEM TO THIS BLOG http://fwcrulechange.blogspot.com/ FWC Rule Change Information about the proposed Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission RULE CHANGE allowing Concealed Weapon License holders to have a handgun in their control during non-hunting times.