Live Wildly

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Join the movement to protect wild Florida.
Live Wildly is the movement to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife corridor conservation.

Through collaboration with partner organizations, Live Wildly is helping improve economies, ecology and livelihoods by jump-starting corridor connection and protection. We’re starting our movement in Florida and helping protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor! Stretching from the Panhandle to the Everglades, the Florida Wildlife Corridor is the core of what makes Florida, Florida. Protecting the 18 million acres of the Corridor enhances the Sunshine State's economy, ecology, and existence. Join the movement to for generations to come. Live Wildly is a 501(c)3 organization

10/13/2026

The question isn’t whether conservation matters.
The question is whether we recognize land, water, wetlands and natural systems as essential infrastructure—just as we recognize roads, bridges, stormwater systems and utilities.
Because they are connected.
Healthy lands hold and filter water.
Wetlands help manage flooding.
Natural areas protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Protected landscapes support recreation, tourism and the quality of life that makes communities thrive.
As Florida grows, the cost of protecting these systems generally doesn’t get smaller.
It gets more important.
It’s time to think about conservation not as an optional line item, but as an investment in the infrastructure, resilience and long-term prosperity of our communities.
- Meredith Budd
Deputy Director

10/10/2026

We're back with Adventurist Ryan, and this time he went exploring through Babcock-Webb! 🌲 Pine flatwoods and wetlands, quiet trails, and SO much wildlife that reminds you why the Corridor matters. This is the stuff we're protecting. Thanks for a wonderful adventure, Ryan!

10/09/2026

Meet the newest face of our Live Wildly Adventurist team: Ashton Stepter! 📸🌊
As a documentarian and founder of ASP & Co., Ashton focuses his lens on Florida's coastal environments, waterfronts, and heritage communities. Based in the Tampa Bay area, he spends his time building long-form visual and written records of the places and people that make Florida far deeper and more layered than its tourism identity suggests.
For Ashton, the Florida Wildlife Corridor isn't just an ecological story it's a cultural one, too. Through his photography and writing, he captures the perfect balance between wild Florida and developed Florida, documenting our coastal habitats and the historic communities that depend on them.
Drop a 🌊 in the comments to give Ashton a "wave" and welcome to the Live Wildly family! We can't wait for you to see the stories he'll be bringing to light.

10/08/2026

Protecting Florida isn't just about public land it's the working ranches and farms that truly hold our wild spaces together. Swipe through to discover six essential programs and guides designed to help private landowners protect their property from development pressure. 🏡 🚧🌲

10/07/2026

Ryan's back! This time he's exploring Don Pedro Island State Park, and it might be the most secluded spot he's found yet.

He launched into Kettle Harbor and found a hidden mangrove tunnel that opens into Hidden Lake! Along the way he'll see crabs, tangled root systems, and a look at why mangroves matter so much (coastal protection and fish nurseries).
His verdict... an all-day paddling adventure worth the trip! 🛶

📍 Don Pedro Island State Park
Drop your favorite hidden spot below!

10/04/2026

It’s Fire Prevention Week! Even though this week is all about stopping dangerous fires, we also need to talk about the importance of starting them.
Here in Florida, prescribed (or controlled) burns are one of the most critical conservation tools we have. It might look a little intense, but here is the science behind why setting the woods on fire on purpose actually protects our state:
🔥 Fuel Reduction: By carefully burning away dead brush, leaves, and pine needles under strict weather conditions, land managers remove the "fuel" that causes catastrophic, out-of-control wildfires. It protects our communities and our forests.
🌱 Ecosystem Reset: Fire clears dried brush and dying organic matter, putting vital nutrients back into the soil and promoting new, healthier growth. Some of our native Florida plants actually require the heat from fire to open their cones and release their seeds!
🐾 Wildlife Habitat: Clearing out the thick, overgrown brush gives native wildlife like gopher tortoises, wild turkeys, and deer the open space they need to move and forage.

At the end of the day, prescribed burns are a vital land management tool, helping promote the healthier ecosystems that every creature in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including us, depends on.

10/03/2026

Get out and get involved this October! 🍂🌿

We love to support our partners , and want to spread the word about the amazing things they are doing for our state! This month, they are teaming up with friends across Florida to host 3 events. Now is your opportunity to step outside and make a difference.
Head over to Conservation Florida to check out their full list of October events and find one near you! 🐊

10/02/2026

As a continuation of our series on recent development patterns in Florida, we are sharing a chart showing the estimated annual greenfield acreage developed in the state from 1985 to 2025.

Note the spike in developed acres peaking in 2006 at about 95,000, followed by a steep decline during and after the Great Recession.

Since about 2011, annual developed acreage has again been steadily on the rise, reaching nearly 70,000 in 2025.

These figures are derived from the National Land Cover Database's annual land cover products. While these products are not 100% accurate, they are the best readily available data for this kind of analysis.

Understanding these cycles is essential for sustainable regional planning and long-term conservation.

Live Wildly 1000 Friends of Florida Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Florida Conservation Group

09/29/2026

Want to learn more about Blackwater River? 🌲
Tag along with our adventurist, Ryan, as he explores one of Florida's coolest hidden gems! With great camping spots and the massive Blackwater River State Forest right next door, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list.

Where should Ryan go next?!

09/28/2026

6 of Live Wildly's green flags when hiking...🌿🥾

What's another green flag you’d add to the list? Tell us in the comments!

Address

Tampa, FL

Website

https://livewildly.com/

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