Biologists release baby sea turtles on Eglin beaches

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Dozens of spectators came to watch the release of almost twenty baby sea turtles into the wild off Eglin’s beaches on Santa Rosa Island Aug. 14. The baby turtles were removed from their nests by endangered species biologists a few days prior to release to enhance their chances for survival after it was discovered they were unable to dig their way out. Most sea turtles lay three to five nests with 80-140 eggs per nest. Female sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Currently, Eglin’s beaches are home to more than 20 active nests. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Biologists release baby sea turtles on Eglin beaches

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Twenty-three Loggerhead baby sea turtles were released into the wild off Eglin’s beaches on Santa Rosa Island, Aug. 14. The baby turtles were removed from their nests by endangered species biologists a few days prior to release to enhance their chances for survival after it was discovered they were unable to dig their way out. Most sea turtles lay three to five nests with 80-140 eggs per nest. Female sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Currently, Eglin’s beaches are home to more than 20 active nests. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)

Eglin turtles

A baby green sea turtle just several hours old works its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Eglin beaches are the birthplace of thousands of the federally listed endangered sea turtles like this one every year. (Courtesy photo.)

Turtle trouble

Sea Turtle Monitoring Program team volunteers relocate a nest of eggs that were in danger prior to an on-coming tropical storm. more than 40 volunteers help track and document sea turtle nesting from May 1 to Oct. 31. Eglin beaches are the birthplace of thousands of the federally listed endangered sea turtles like this one every year. (Courtesy photo.)

"Bear" base

A mother black bear checks on one of her two cubs near Eglin Air Force Base housing recently. The family has been spotted at various locations around base housing for several weeks. Wildlife specialists from Jackson Guard advise base residents to never feed bears and to secure all trash cans so bears can't steal scraps. Keeping trash cans close to the house when it's not trash pickup day can help keep bears from seeing and going into them. If you do encounter a black bear, try to adhere to the following: Do not feed the bear; Never approach the bear; Make sure the bear has an escape route; Do not run from the bear or make direct eye contact with it; Back up slowly and remain standing upright; Act passively; Do not appear threatening. (U.S. Air Force photo/Cheryl Carden.)

Great bird

A Great Blue Heron walks through the high grasses along the bank of the Gulf of Mexico at Post'l Point June 26 on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Many types of wildlife populate Eglin's ranges, waters and wooded areas. The endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, the Okaloosa Darter and Loggerhead Sea Turtle are just some of the species of animals found on Eglin. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Where’d the trees go?

Jackson Guard’s forestry section is clearing approximately 30 acres of trees around the Hwy 123/SR 85 interchange near the Northwest Florida Regional Airport to make room for the construction of a flyover. Eglin granted an easement to the Florida Department of Transportation to upgrade the interchange as part of the President’s federal stimulus program. Team Eglin members from the 96th Civil Engineer Group worked closely with state representatives to get the easement through the arduous out grant process in time to meet stimulus program deadlines. Construction is expected to begin this summer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg Murray.)

Tons of trash removed from Eglin Reservation

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Billy Barrow piles trash he removed from the Eglin Reservation during the Eglin Earth Day clean up April 18 in honor of Earth Week. More than four tons of trash was found at the cite including mattresses, dish washers, recliners, ply wood, roof shingles, privacy fence, carpet, tires, refrigerators and microwaves, just to name a few. The piles of trash were removed the next day. Most of the volunteers for this project are members of local off road and four wheel drive clubs. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Tons of trash removed from Eglin Reservation

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- (left to right) Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Mark Bruno, Thomas Elliot and David Brooks remove sofas discarded in the Eglin Reservation during the Eglin Earth Day clean up April 18 in honor of Earth Week. More than four tons of trash was found at the cite including mattresses, dish washers, recliners, ply wood, roof shingles, privacy fence, carpet, tires, refrigerators and microwaves, just to name a few. The piles of trash were picked up the next day. Most of the volunteers for this project are members of local off-road and four-wheel drive clubs. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings)

Eglin Airmen, Coast Guardsmen protect human health, environment

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- U.S. Coast Guard's Petty Officer 1st Class Stephanie Rathburn, Marine Safety Unit, Wilmington, N.C., and Petty Officer 3rd Class Carl Shepard, Marine Science Technician, North Carolina Sector, bring their boat ashore after assessing the simulated spill area in Weekly Bayou during a spill response exercise.(U.S. Air Force photo/Jerron Barnett)

Eglin Airmen, Coast Guardsmen protect human health, environment

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. Trey Doby, officer in charge of the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bio-Environmental Flight's Industrial Hygiene office, feeds hundreds of feet of boom out into Weekly Bayou during a spill response exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerron Barnett)

Eglin Airmen, Coast Guardsmen protect human health, environment

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin Airmen and Coast Guardsmen successfully completed a spill response training course and exercise. The mock scenario called for the team to contain more than a million gallons of jet fuel spilled from a simulated barge from speading from Weekly Bayou out into Choctawhatchee Bay. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerron Barnett)

Forest fuels fire

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Ryan Campbell, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, watches the progress of a fire set for a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard?s five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Mammoth machine

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A soft trac vehicle is used by Jackson Guard forestry technicians and wildland fire specialists during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. The vehicle is designed for navigation in areas with a soft or muggy ground. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Consumed by prescription

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Firing line

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Consumed by prescription

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Beach front burn

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Starting a blaze

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Smoky haze

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? Ryan Campbell, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, navigates an all-terrain vehicle through smoke looking over the charred area during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard?s five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Clearing a path

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? Ryan Campbell, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, navigates an all-terrain vehicle through a wooded area dragging a fire drip line in his path to start a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard?s five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Bringing the heat

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Tom Murrie, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a mixture of fuels in a drip line to spark a prescribed fire from an all terrain vehicle at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Getting ready

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jackson Guard forestry technicians and wildland fire specialists gear-up for a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Bird strike

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Col. Bill Thornton, former 46th Operations Group commander, takes a look a the damage a bird did to the F-16 Falcon aircraft he flew during his fini flight as a commander here. Wildlife biologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services are tasked with implementing the Bird and Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard program. Colonel Thornton is currently the 412th Test Wing commander at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)