Not all Roses in FL: Sea Lice, Green Goop and Florida Killers

from Chicago Tribune

Just a counter to the goop!

Smelly, green algae goop with the consistency of "chunky guacamole" is blooming in Florida waters south of us. Due to heavy rainfall (think road flooding) and runoff of various chemicals/toxins, it is depleting the oxygen out of the water and harming marine life including the threatened manatee.

from BBC

If that's not enough, we have sea lice to the north of us.  Surrounded! Sea lice aren't lice at all, but small parasites on fish. Sometime called 'Seabathers Eruption' sea lice produce nasty bumps and flu symptoms; they are microscopic jellyfish larvae - think a speck of pepper - and have been in our oceans for eons.

And if you wonder about sharks, click things more likely to kill you (some of which are also prevalent in Florida, e.g. lightening and cows, but not the icicles!).  One can now buy a shark bracelet to scare them away. Something on mini me's wishing list!

It takes alot to keep the beach clean - a bit of consultation with the beach raker here --

Nothing to report on the sea turtle hatching front yet . . .

So I am off for a spot of quilting over a weekend with friends! Hurrah!

Lovely even when can't see sun set - ahhhhhhhh!