We mentioned the tick situation last month, but it's even worse than we could have imagined, as you may have noticed if you've spent much time outdoors this month. A flurry of tick stories have hit the news in the past two weeks, quoting a number of Florida sources, most notably the research labs at UF and FSU. Here's a few:

We didn't have any freezes severe enough to kill off the insect population this winter. Farther north - even as far as the Great Lakes - temperatures were unseasonably warm all winter, so the usual winter die-off of rodents and small mammals didn't happen. Since these animals carry ticks, that means more tick hosts in the Appalachians and points north. And many more here.

According to Anne Schuchat, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The reported cases of tick borne diseases are increasing. The range of ticks that can carry diseases is expanding. The number of tick borne diseases that we're aware of is increasing."

Some of these tick borne diseases are downright nasty, as we've shared in a recent article about how to avoid tick bites and what to do if you've been bit. Do read through this one!

If you plan to play outdoors this summer - no matter where you're headed - play it safe out there.

Cheers, Sandra & John

PS. We've sold out of the second edition of The Florida Trail Guide! Thank you for your support. If you'd like to know when the third edition is ready this fall, sign up here.

Kissimmee River breaks the FT in two
An epic fail in a levee just south of the S-65A lock in the Kissimmee section means the Florida Trail is now in two pieces. Floodwaters from the Kissimmee River rising during heavy rains in June breached the dike which the trail uses to get from the north boundary of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park to the S-65A lock. South Florida Water Management District is looking into alternatives. Photo courtesy SFWMD.

Flamingo Rising
We've been waiting on this for a decade. When Hurricane Katrina, followed by Wilma, delivered devestating storm surges to Everglades National Park, the Flamingo Lodge and cabins were bulldozed. The announcement just came that new lodgings will be built and opened by 2019. READ MORE from WLRN

Why orchids vanished from South Florida
Greed, really. They were too easy to pluck from the trees and sell to willing buyers. Now, the good news. Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is actively replenishing the orchids of Southeast Florida with their Million Orchid Project. Look for re-established orchid colonies along a trail near you; summer is prime time for blooms. READ MORE from the Palm Beach Post

Roosters on the move
We're sad to share that Keith Knipp, aka Rooster, has closed Rooster's Outfitters and campground along the Florida Trail at Swift Creek. However, for you anglers out there, he's opened a new store in downtown White Springs at 10606 Bridge St. We're sure he will see a lot more sales there.

Dirtbag Hack: Rent-A-#Vanlife
Roaming the wilderness on the cheap in your own van isn't cheap when you have to buy one. Here's one crazy way to go about it: rent a cargo van from U-Haul. READ MORE from Outdoor Research

Sold Out
We are sold out of the second edition of The Florida Trail Guide, as are most of our retail partners. Meanwhile, the Florida Trail Guide App is up-to-date through June with all relocations and closures that we are aware of. We start putting together the third edition of the guide next month. Want to know when it's available? Join this mailing list. We are planning on an October release.