The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking for comments and information from the public about the conservation needs of the peregrine falcon and any economic and social factors that should be considered in managing the species in Florida.

A 375-pound male black bear with a penchant for beachfront browsing was on dry land Saturday after a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist pulled the tranquilized animal from Gulf of Mexico waters in Florida’s Panhandle.

Passive fishing gear – things like trotlines, crab traps, bush hooks and other devices that catch fish in fresh water while the fisherman isn’t present – have to be tagged with the owner’s name and address under a new rule.

The recreational harvest season for bay scallops begins July 1 and continues through Sept. 10. Open scalloping areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast extend from the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando county line near Aripeka.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces the formation of the Imperiled Butterflies of South Florida Workgroup (IBWG) to directly address the significant declines experienced by a number of South Florida butterflies. The public is invited to log on to the IBWG’s interactive Web site at http://share2.myfwc.com/IBWG/default.aspx to exchange information and to learn about the on-going efforts to protect imperiled species, including the endangered Miami blue butterfly.

The bodies of two missing DeFuniak Springs brothers, who went fishing Sunday afternoon on Choctawhatchee Bay in the Panhandle, were recovered yesterday.

Searchers, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Walton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard and volunteers, recovered the body of Logan Alford, 17, Monday around noon after combing Choctawhatchee Bay south from Alaqua Creek since late Sunday evening. The body of his brother, Lucas Alford, 21, was found at 6 p.m. Monday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule that will allow the commercial harvest of striped or black mullet on weekends. This rule was approved at the FWC public meeting in Dania Beach on Thursday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host the field day portion of the free hunter safety course on June 7 in Glades County. Participants must have completed the hunter safety Web course and must bring the printout of the final report to the class.

The recreational harvest season for snook closes on June 1 in all Florida waters. Snook season will reopen statewide on Sept. 1.

Seasonal harvest closures protect Florida’s valuable snook populations and help sustain and improve the fishery for the future.

The recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters opens on June 1 and will close on Aug. 5. Gulf federal waters extend beyond nine nautical miles from shore off of Florida.

Two Miami-Dade County men face a total of seven charges following a routine inspection May 24 in the Florida Bay near the Channel 5 Bridge in Monroe County.

FWC Officer Liz Riesz found 33-year old Adel A. Fontes of Miami-Dade County scaling a snook and observed another snook already scaled and chopped up in a pot next to him. Riesz charged Fontes with four misdemeanors: possession of snook during closed season; possession of undersized snook; failure to maintain fish in whole condition; and exceeding the bag limit.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a public workshop concerning the Ocklawaha Prairie Public Small Game Hunting Area and changes made to permitting regulations during the 2007-2008 hunting season. Anyone interested in this hunting area is encouraged to attend and provide input on July 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., at the FWC's Northeast Region Office, 1239 SW 10th St., Ocala.

The body of one of two missing DeFuniak Springs brothers, who went fishing Sunday afternoon on Choctawhatchee Bay in the Panhandle, was located today just after noon.

Searchers, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Walton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard and volunteers, recovered the body of Logan Alford, 17, after combing Choctawhatchee Bay south from Alaqua Creek since late Sunday evening. Logan and Lucas Alford, 21, launched their 14-foot boat at the Alaqua Creek boat ramp around 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering sportsmen some unique hunting opportunities for the coming season.

The FWC is providing sportsmen mobility-impaired hunts, supervised youth hunts, family hunts, quail hunts, and track vehicle and airboat hunts on wildlife management areas (WMAs).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule that will allow the commercial harvest of striped or black mullet on weekends. This rule was approved at the FWC public meeting in Dania Beach on Thursday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved two changes to its stone crab management rules during a public meeting in Dania Beach on Thursday.

One rule amendment continues the Stone Crab Advisory Board until July 1, 2011, to give it time to resolve ongoing issues in the fishery, including how to reduce the excessive number of trap certificates in the commercial stone crab fishery and remove and dispose of derelict stone crab traps. The board was created by an FWC rule in 2003 to advise the Commission about the operation of the stone crab trap limitation program and any problems in the fishery.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) adopted a resolution Wednesday, urging federal officials to open the 146,000-acre Big Cypress National Preserve Addition to a full range of public recreation.

What better gift than one that is life-saving? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a suggestion for the perfect gift for Dad. Give him the life-saving gift of an inflatable life jacket for Father's Day. You'll make his day…and the gift might save his life some day.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed new rules on Wednesday that will provide options for non-licensed owners of nonnative species if they can no longer keep their pet.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) heard a sobering summary of an unfinished staff report Wednesday concerning what might happen in Florida’s environment by 2060, unless residents and leaders adopt smart growth strategies.