Browsing: Environment

Have you ever wondered why tides are lowest in winter along the northern Gulf of Mexico? Along our beaches, sand flats become exposed hundreds of feet from shore. In shallow bayous, the water can drain almost completely. Wonder no more, it is all about how our planet tilts and spins through the seasons, and the unique nature of the gulf we call home.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has a lot going on this month – as always. But the MDWFP wants Mississippians to remember two important dates, both of which involve hunting.

For those of us that pay attention to wildlife in our world, winter can be a time of worry. How do our favorite birds deal with the cold? Where did Ole Grumpy, my Box Turtle disappear to? And what about my favorite anole? Well, rest assured, the wildlife in our world know what to do. They do not really need us to intervene, although we can help in a couple of ways that mimics nature itself. Here is how they manage and how we can help.

Attracting hummingbirds to your home can be more than just hanging nectar feeders. Providing  nectar-producing plants to your landscape is frankly healthier for these energetic birds while also adding beauty to your surroundings. But serving up natural flower-based sugars is only one way to support these birds. They eat much more. Winter is the time to think about what you can add to your yard to help feed hummingbirds throughout the year.

So, the kids will soon be out of school, Mom and Dad. Yikes! What to do other than let them lose themselves in those tablets, smartphones, or video games. Here are a few suggestions that you can undertake to engage their brain cells around conservation actions that may lead them to new interests in nature and its wellbeing.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been awarded more than $3 million as part of a $17.2 million investment announced by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program to support long-term research on the Gulf of America ecosystem.

MOSS POINT—Across Mississippi, hummingbird feeders have been cleaned and stored until spring migration begins. But, not having a nectar feeder hanging may limit winter guests.

Of all the vines in natural landscapes across the south, greenbriers are the most memorable, but not typically for good reasons. Also known as catbriers, these tough vines sport some of the nastiest thorns of any plant. And yes, they hurt! I have scars, and many stories about how they have entrapped, tripped, made me bleed, and use words that my Mama

MOSS POINT—The Gulf Coast version of a “white Christmas” is beginning to show with the arrive of the American White Pelican seeking winter refuge from the frigid north.

Many bird watchers can easily rattle off a list of the common birds that visit their backyards, especially feeders. Many also anticipate the arrival of overwintering birds, like American Goldfinches and winter hummingbirds that visit us from the western U.S. (https://ourmshome.com/winter-hummingbirds/ ). But many more winter birds do not come to feeders, but are common, nevertheless. This is my challenge to you to discover some of these birds during the holiday season, especially if you invite children to join in on the fun.

Live Oaks are iconic trees across the coastal plains of the northern Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic coast. As…

Since fire ants first came to the United States in the early 20th century, researchers have searched for ways to control their destructive spread and eradicate them from areas where people live.

A Rosy Wolfsnail is hard to miss when one crosses your path. They are one of the larger air-breathing terrestrial snails in the southeastern U.S. Slugs also belong to this informal group of invertebrates, known as pulmonates, that use lungs to breathe. Besides their size, the light pink color of their elongated shell makes them stand out, reflected in their species name “rosea”.  

Each fall, Research Associate Scott Langlois and his crew harvest a small sugarcane crop growing at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s South Mississippi Branch, honoring a 40-year-old agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell seed cane to new or current growers, and it always sells out.

On Monday, November 17, 2025, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) invites Mississippians of all ages to celebrate the natural beauty of our state by participating in National Take a Hike Day on November 17, 2025. It’s the perfect opportunity for everyone to visit one of Mississippi’s State Parks and hike some of the most scenic trails in the southeastern portion of the United States. In fact, all across our state, MDWFP has the perfect spot for families and friends to come and celebrate this yearly national event that focuses on healthy exercise and the great outdoors.

Scientists often get carried away with using what I call “fifty-cent” words and phrases when we talk about our favorite subjects. I try not to do that without defining the terms when I use them, but I occasionally forget. I recently described a common tree as part of the understory of a forest, assuming that everyone would know what I was talking about. Well, a kind friend called me out by asking a simple question – what is the understory? I offer this explanation as penance for my sin of omission.