Conservancy of Southwest Florida

10/09/2026

In late September, Climate Resilience Advisor, Carrie Schuman Ph.D., spoke at the annual Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership - CHNEP Resiliency Summit and Florida Resilience Conference.

On September 22, Climate Resilience Advisor Carrie Schuman Ph.D. spoke at the annual CHNEP Resiliency Summit. “The Summit continues to be a great local forum for many of us in Southwest Florida to understand new research developments and share our work with each other. We really appreciate CHNEP.....

10/08/2026

Take Action Now! Sign petition👇

Citing the need for “regulatory certainty”, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers are again proposing to remove protections from millions of acres of wetlands, despite receiving over 220,000 comments in late 2025 in response to the previous proposed rule. Unfortunately, instead of using this feedback to draft an improved wetlands protection rule, this new proposal is worse, impacting even more of our sensitive wetland resources!

Under this latest proposed rule, the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS), a legal term that determines which wetlands receive safeguards under the Clean Water Act, narrows significantly. The latest proposal would generally protect only waters that flow every day of the year and wetlands that are permanently flooded.

Citing the need for “regulatory certainty”, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers are again proposing to remove protections from millions of acres of wetlands, despite receiving over 220,000 comments in late 2025 in response to the previous proposed rule. Unf...

10/08/2026

Exciting news! We’re partnering with Solar United Neighbors to help expand rooftop solar in Lee and Collier counties.

Homeowners who sign up for Solar Co-op receive:
☀ A streamlined process to going solar
☀ Expert advice from a trusted nonprofit
☀ A supportive community of solar owners

We will have 3 free virtual events for those who are interested in learning more about this initiative:
October 13 - 6 pm
November 16 - 6 pm
December 10 - 6 pm

Register for the Upcoming Events: https://www.mysanibel.com/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/306

More Information: https://solarunitedneighbors.org/co-ops/florida/southwest-florida-2026-solar-co-op/

Southwest Florida 2026 Solar Co-op Open this co-op is open to residents in Lee and Collier counties Last day to join the co-op is January 29,2027   Join the co-op Table of Contents AboutCost & savingsUpdatesEventsInstallersContact us About What’s a co-op Imagine walking into a solar company’s o...

10/07/2026

Become a Wildlife Hospital Volunteer: https://conservancy.org/support-us/volunteer/ 🐇
From cleaning enclosures to walking gopher tortoises, every volunteer shift makes a difference. 🐾

3,407 patients came through our doors this past year and thanks to you, we were able to give every single patient the care they deserve. So grateful to have support from our volunteers, members, donors, rescuers, and the entire community. Thank you for protecting Southwest Florida’s wildlife. 💚

10/06/2026

Thank you to our Tarpon Sponsors, Oliver Rogers Photography & The Tompkins Family! Your support allows us to host The RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament, which directly funds our water quality efforts.

Learn more: https://conservancy.org/events/redsnook/

This fishing tournament helps fund water quality science, restore and protect mangroves, restore mangrove habitats, wetlands and coastal ecosystems including the Ten Thousand Islands, Big Cypress, Estero Bay, the Cocohatchee Slough, and the Caloosahatchee River, reduce water pollution, Everglades restoration and more.

10/05/2026

Explore interactive maps, visuals, and conceptual designs that show how nature-based solutions can be incorporated into Southwest Florida's built and natural environments with our newest project, "Working with Nature: Flood Resilience Blueprint."

Download the summary here: https://conservancy.org/our-work/climate-change/nature-based-hybrid-solutions/blueprint/

10/04/2026

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida mourns the passing of Nicholas G. “Nick” Penniman IV, a devoted conservation advocate, former Board Chair, and longtime friend of our organization.

For more than three decades, Nick played an instrumental role in advancing the Conservancy’s mission through his leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to protecting Southwest Florida’s natural environment. His contributions extended far beyond the Conservancy, leaving a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship throughout our region and beyond.

“We have lost a titan in the Conservancy’s history. It is hard to imagine any single person contributing more to our efforts in the past three decades than Nick. He has been a steadfast presence on the Board, as Board Chair, Chair of our previous campaign, author of Conservancy history and so many other vital books and efforts relating to Southwest Florida’s environment and history. To say he will be missed seems wholly inadequate,” writes Conservancy President & CEO, Rob Moher.

Read on: https://conservancy.org/conservancy-of-southwest-florida-mourns-the-passing-of-nicholas-g-nick-penniman-iv-a-devoted-conservation-advocate/

10/04/2026

Protecting Our Living Coast: We hope you'll join us for this special State of Our Water forum exploring the future of the Caloosahatchee estuary and the conservation opportunities still before us.

This is a free event open to the public. Please RSVP at:
➡️ https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/kmujm3j

Conservancy of Southwest Florida SCCF Shell Point Retirement Community

10/04/2026

An adult black racer was found lying motionless on top of a water heater. When staff arrived to examine the snake, they discovered that it was extremely lethargic and covered in ticks. The racer was brought to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, where the staff veterinarian performed a thorough examination and found several wounds that appeared consistent with a possible dog attack.

The team suspected that the black racer may have been injured by a dog and then sought out the warmth of the hot water heater during the colder months. While the heat may have provided some temporary relief, the snake’s condition had deteriorated to the point where it needed medical care.

Once admitted, the black racer was started on supportive care and antibiotics to help address its injuries and prevent infection. After the snake was stable, staff carefully began removing the numerous ticks covering its body. Because black racers generally do not eat while in captivity, the rehabilitation team also provided supplemental nutrition by tube-feeding EmerAid Carnivore Care every other day.

With supportive care, treatment for its wounds, nutritional support, and time to recover, the black racer steadily regained its strength. After just two weeks of rehabilitation, the snake was healthy enough to return to the wild.

Learn more about our wildilfe hospital: https://conservancy.org/our-work/wildlife-rehabilitation/

10/03/2026

Join us October 7 for an evening lecture! Ever wonder where the saying “I’ll sell you some swampland in Florida” came from? There’s quite a story behind it. Hear from biologist Kathy Worley, "Picayune Strand State Forest: A Story of Greed and Resilience," and discover how a greed-driven land scam became one of Collier County’s remarkable environmental restoration projects.

Free Registration: https://conservancy.org/events/