The invasion slithered along the depths, antenna-like appendages quivering as they sought their prey. Their squishy, frilled and speckled bodies could be seen hunting by the thousands along the sandy bottom of Navarre Beach’s near shore snorkel reefs.

As schools across Santa Rosa County begin planning their field trips to the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS), a new teacher has jumped on board to help connect these children to the marine world.

For the second year in a row, shorebird nesting season has produced fewer chicks than initially anticipated, impacting at-risk species such as least terns and black skimmers.