All articles tagged with #everglades
Rosie Moore, a wildlife researcher filming alligators in the Everglades, turned a night dip into a near-fatal moment when another alligator emerged from behind a tree and lunged at her. She thrust her camera between herself and the animal, it bit the camera, and she scrambled to safety on the bank. The ordeal left her shaken but undeterred, as she returned to fieldwork after the frightening incident.
A wildlife researcher filming alligators at night in the Everglades narrowly escapes a fatal bite when another gator lunges from behind; she shields herself with her camera, escapes to shore, and continues her fieldwork despite trauma and near-death experiences, highlighting the dangers of wildlife and her fascination with understanding dangerous animals.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the closure of Alligator Alcatraz, a yearlong Everglades detention camp for immigration detainees, amid lawsuits over environmental harm and criticism of taxpayer costs. He said the facility fulfilled its mission and that remaining detainees were moved to federal custody, while critics vow ongoing legal action and questions remain about site restoration and the airfield’s future use.
The first installment of FEMA’s $608.4 million reimbursement for Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz detention center has been approved at about $58.3 million and will be paid within 3–5 business days; the grant covers operating costs only (not construction), comes amid years of controversy and anticipated closure of the center, and Florida officials say the full amount will eventually be reimbursed despite federal delays.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the Everglades-based immigration detention center nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz' was always meant to be temporary, addressing ongoing scrutiny of its existence amid political debate.
Controversial influencer Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, is charged in Florida with unlawfully discharging a firearm in a public place or residential property after a March live stream in the Everglades showing an apparently dead alligator; the misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and potential jail time or probation, and state wildlife officers say they are reviewing the incident. Peters’ attorney says he followed the guidance of a licensed airboat guide and that no animals or people were harmed; two other people, Andrew Morales and Yabdiel Anibal Cotto Torres, were also charged in connection with the video.
Online streamer Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Peters, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on a misdemeanor battery charge connected to an Osceola County incident in Kissimmee, where he allegedly instigated a fight between a 19-year-old woman and co-defendant Violet Lentz and posted it on social media. An arrest warrant for Peters (and a separate warrant for Lentz) was issued. Separately, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating a video showing individuals firing at an alligator in the Everglades. Authorities are seeking Lentz and continue to follow leads from the Osceola case.
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a judge's order to shut down the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention facility in Florida, allowing it to remain operational during the appeal process amid ongoing criticism and environmental concerns.
Researchers in Florida are using robot rabbits that mimic real ones to lure and trap invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades, aiming to protect native wildlife from these voracious predators. The robotic decoys are part of an innovative effort to control the python population, which has significantly impacted local ecosystems, with thousands of snakes already removed since 2000. The project is still in early stages but shows promise as a new tool in wildlife management.
A federal judge ordered the shutdown of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention site in the Florida Everglades within 60 days, citing failure to conduct environmental reviews and improper construction, and barred new detainees from being brought there, prompting an appeal from Florida officials.
A federal judge in Miami has ordered Florida to dismantle the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention facility within 60 days due to its environmental impact on the protected Everglades, marking a victory for environmentalists and the Miccosukee Tribe.
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction to halt the expansion of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, citing violations of environmental laws and concerns over environmental impact, with the order to wind down the facility within 60 days. The state of Florida has filed an appeal, and the case highlights ongoing conflicts between immigration enforcement and environmental preservation efforts.
A federal judge in Miami ordered the closure of the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration jail within 60 days, citing environmental damage to the Florida Everglades and concerns over detainee treatment, marking a significant victory for environmental groups and Native American tribes, while posing a setback to the Trump administration's immigration policies.
A Miami federal judge has temporarily allowed the 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center to remain open but has prohibited expansion, additional detainees, and certain infrastructure modifications due to environmental law violations, with the facility required to remove certain installations within 60 days. The ruling is a victory for environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argue the site threatens the fragile Everglades ecosystem.
Nearly 300 Burmese pythons were removed during the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, setting a record with 294 snakes caught by 934 participants from 30 states and Canada, highlighting ongoing efforts to control invasive species threatening Florida's ecosystems.