National Forests in FL

❗ After #HurricaneIan, take safety precautions to protect yourself and your family. ➡️ For additional resources, visit: flhealth.gov/hurricane

It should also be emphasized #Ian will be a long-duration flooding risk, highlighted by Day 2 & Day 3 excessive rainfall outlook. Widespread prolonged major & record river flooding expected across C Florida & considerable flooding spreading SE Georgia & coastal South Carolina.

The latest Day 1 outlook from @NWSWPC highlights high risk of excessive rainfall across a large portion of the central Florida peninsula from #Ian. Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding is expected across this portion of Florida. More info: wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excessive_…

Time is quickly running out for residents to rush preparations to completion on the southwestern Florida peninsula as Hurricane #Ian nears. Tropical-Storm-Force winds already beginning to affect coast. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate & catastrophic wind damage is expected.

Hurricane Prep: Gather supplies like food, blankets, flashlights, and extra batteries for you and your family before a disaster so you won’t wind up with empty shelves. Keep all devices charged & freezers & refrigerators closed. More @readygov: ready.gov/kit

Have a #pet plan! ow.ly/vaYG50vPsqE #Ian @fema

Visitors in all our forests, be prepared! ⛈️ Be sure you're up to date on the forecast 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Check in with your loved ones ✏️ Have a plan in case cell signal is lost ⛺️ Cancel reservations if needed Stay safe!

The fruits from this bush stands out "berry" much! You've probably seen these bushes near roads around this time of year! The American beautyberry's vibrant purple berries stand out against green leaves and grasses. 💜🌿 📍 Ocala and Apalachicola National Forest

Have a sunny start to your morning! 🌻🌞 The woodland sunflower adds bright spots of yellow late in #summer. We love spotting them on morning hikes! 💛 📍 Apalachicola National Forest

Sounds "grape!" 🍇 Muscadine grapes grow wild across Florida, and better yet, they're native to our state. They vine up trees and other shrubs creating a "grape leaf blanket" in the understory. Loved by wild animals, muscadine grapes provide a sweet treat in the summer. ☀️🍇🐻

Join Smokey's Birthday Bash at 3 p.m. ET via livestream at Facebook profile page facebook.com/smokeybear and celebrate with us! 💚🎉🥳🎁

Happy Birthday to our favorite bear! 🐻🎂🥳 Today is @smokey_bear's 78th birthday, be sure the only fires you light today are birthday candles. 🕯️🍰🎂 Don't forget to #SingForSmokey and wish him happy birthday for yourself! 💚🎉🥳🎁

The colors of Juniper Springs in Florida are simply...indescri-bubble. This one in Ocala National Forest is exceptionally beautiful. Photo courtesy Amber Favorite/Share the Experience 📸Juniper Springs, Courtesy photo by Amber Favorite/Share the Experience.

Did you spot it? 🕷️🔍 It's a green lynx spider! We give this little guy an A+ for blending in so well with its surroundings. 💚

Hold up. Grass blooms? 🤯 Yep! These tiny flowers have a special name too, florets. Those florets only last a few days, which makes them truly a cool thing to see in person. 🌿🌸🔍 P.S. Can you spot the camouflaged critter in this photo? 🤔

It's the natural beauty for me. 🌼🌺 Wildflowers can thrive in surprising places. These flowers are growing in a roadside ditch in the Apalachicola National Forest! They love the bog-like environment that these ditches create along the roadside. 🛣️🌿💚

🕷️ Happy Spider-Man Day! You probably won't encounter the spider that bit Peter Parker in the Sunshine state. PHEW! But here's a list of spiders that do live in Florida ... including the black widow pictured below. 🕸️ edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN… #SpiderMan #SpiderManDay @UFEntNem

One of these things is not like the others...! Skip the balloons -- What goes up must come down. Balloons released from a party, whether accidentally or on purpose, will land somewhere, and that could be the park. Photo by Rachel DiPietro

🔗Learn more about the animals that call our forests home: fs.usda.gov/detail/florida…

📱❗ Some snakes, like the eastern diamondback snake pictured, are venomous. If you are bitten by a snake, stay calm. Dial 911 and seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you're sure the snake isn't venomous. The bite may cause a serious infection.

Sssstay away! 🐍🚫 Warmer temperatures mean more snake activity. Without cold temps to slow them down, they like to explore and hunt. 🐁🍴🐍 When you come across a snake, please leave them alone! Remember, you're in their home. 🏠🌲 📍 Apalachicola National Forest