Fatal Crash Closes State Road 82 Near Corkscrew Road in Collier County
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — One person has died following a crash involving a dump truck and a sedan along State Road 82 near Corkscrew Road Monday evening, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP reported that State Road 82 is closed in both directions at Corkscrew Road (County Road 850) while troopers investigate the deadly collision.
The crash occurred Monday evening in the rural Collier County area near the Corkscrew Road intersection. FHP has not yet released additional information about the person who died or the circumstances that led to the crash.
Drivers should avoid the area and seek an alternate route while the investigation and roadway closure continue.
The crash remains under investigation. Additional details are expected as authorities release more information.
Marco Island Naples News will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
Naples Pier Rebuild Moves Forward, But Iconic Landmark Won’t Return Until 2027
NAPLES, Fla. — Four years after Hurricane Ian tore apart one of Southwest Florida’s most beloved landmarks, the Naples Pier is finally beginning to look like a pier again.
The long-awaited reconstruction is underway, bringing the city closer to restoring the 1,000-foot landmark that has defined the Naples waterfront for generations.
But visitors hoping to walk the pier this fall will have to wait.
The City of Naples says the pier will remain closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to take approximately 18 months. With construction beginning in January 2026, the current timeline points toward a mid-2027 reopening.
From Hurricane Ian to a new beginning
Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022, destroying much of the Naples Pier and collapsing the outer portion of the historic structure.
The original pier stretched approximately 1,000 feet into the Gulf. The reconstruction is designed to return it to essentially the same length while making it stronger, higher and more resistant to future storms.
The new structure will be supported by new concrete pilings, bents and beams designed to remain in place even if a future major storm damages the decking and upper portions of the pier.
A higher, stronger Naples Pier
The rebuilt pier will retain many of the characteristics that made the original so popular, including its distinctive wooden walking surface and iconic covered structures.
Plans call for the new pier to remain 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, with expanded areas for benches and unobstructed Gulf views. Polynesian-style roof structures will once again provide the pier with its familiar silhouette.
The goal is not simply to replace what Hurricane Ian destroyed.
It is to build a pier capable of standing up to the next storm.
The wait has been a long one
For Naples residents, business owners and generations of visitors, the reconstruction represents the end of a frustrating chapter.
The city formally awarded the reconstruction contract to Shoreline Foundation Inc., with the contract valued at approximately $23.46 million, plus a project contingency of nearly $1.17 million.
The project has taken years to reach the construction phase following Hurricane Ian, but crews are now working on the physical rebuilding of the landmark.
The city also secured up to $5 million in Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant funding toward demolition and reconstruction costs.
What visitors need to know
For now, the Naples Pier remains a construction zone.
The closure includes the pier itself, stairs, restrooms and showers, as well as the 12th Avenue South access area.
That doesn’t mean Naples beaches are off limits.
Visitors can still enjoy the beach and Gulf sunsets from nearby access points while construction continues.
And perhaps that is the most Naples thing about this entire saga: even without the pier, the sunsets keep showing up on schedule.
A new chapter for an old icon
When the rebuilt pier finally opens, Naples won’t simply be getting back a place to fish, stroll and watch the sunset.
It will be getting back a piece of its identity.
The new pier is being built to withstand the weather that destroyed its predecessor while preserving the character that made the original so special.
The wait isn’t over yet. But for the first time since Hurricane Ian, the road back to the Naples Pier has a very real construction site at the end of it.
If the current schedule holds, sometime in 2027, visitors will once again be able to walk 1,000 feet into the Gulf, feel the breeze coming off the water and watch another Naples sunset from the end of the pier.
And after everything this old landmark has been through, that first sunset is likely to feel pretty special.
For the latest official project information: City of Naples — Naples Pier Rebuild Project
She Sewed the Blue Angels’ Suits for 43 Years. Then the Navy Handed the Job to a Big Company.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — For more than four decades, the sound of Blue Angels jets roaring across the Florida sky was accompanied by a much quieter tradition inside a small Pensacola sewing shop.
Behind the scenes, Jellie Whitehurst and her family at The Sewing Box were making and maintaining the specialized flight suits worn by members of the U.S. Navy’s legendary Blue Angels.
For 43 years, the small Pensacola business held the contract to outfit the precision-flying team.
Then came the letter that changed everything.
The Navy has awarded a new contract worth up to approximately $1.69 million to a much larger company, ending a decades-long relationship between the Blue Angels and the local tailor who had become part of the team’s history. (Facebook)
And for Whitehurst, this wasn’t simply another government contract going out for bid.
It was the end of an era.
From sewing shop to Blue Angels tradition
The Sewing Box wasn’t some massive defense contractor with sprawling facilities and hundreds of employees.
It was a local business.
But over the years, Whitehurst developed an extraordinary level of expertise in producing the specialized garments required by the Blue Angels.
The relationship lasted more than four decades — long enough for generations of Navy aviators to walk through the doors and have their flight gear fitted and serviced.
According to reporting on the story, Whitehurst had been outfitting the Blue Angels exclusively for decades, with the contract bringing in roughly $127,000 a year. (Instagram)
That’s a remarkable run for any small business.
Then came the government contract competition
Government contracts eventually have to go back out for competition, and this time the result went another direction.
The Navy selected a larger Virginia-based company for the work, with the new agreement potentially worth nearly $1.7 million.
For the government, it is a procurement decision.
For a small Pensacola business, however, losing a customer that had been part of its operation for 43 years can have enormous consequences.
And there is something particularly poignant about the fact that the business losing the contract isn’t some anonymous company hundreds of miles away.
It’s a local shop in the same community that has long embraced the Blue Angels as one of Pensacola’s defining institutions.
More than a uniform
The Blue Angels are famous for what happens in the sky.
Six Navy and Marine Corps pilots screaming across the Florida coastline.
Tight formations.
Impossible-looking maneuvers.
The roar of jet engines turning air shows into spectacles that draw enormous crowds.
But every military demonstration team also depends on the people who work behind the scenes.
Mechanics.
Support personnel.
Administrators.
And, for decades, a Pensacola tailor making sure the pilots looked the part.
Whitehurst’s story is a reminder that some of the most important pieces of an American institution aren’t necessarily found in a hangar or cockpit.
Sometimes they’re sitting behind a sewing machine.
A familiar Florida story
There is also a broader lesson here for communities across Florida.
Small businesses often survive because they develop something large corporations can’t easily manufacture: experience, relationships and institutional knowledge.
Whitehurst wasn’t simply making clothing.
She knew the customers.
She knew the requirements.
She knew the history.
She knew how the Blue Angels wanted their gear to fit and function.
After 43 years, that kind of knowledge doesn’t disappear overnight.
But government contracting isn’t necessarily sentimental.
Contracts are competed, companies bid, and agencies make decisions based on procurement requirements.
And sometimes, when the paperwork is finished, a small local business discovers that decades of history aren’t enough to keep the business it built its reputation around.
The Blue Angels will keep flying
The Blue Angels aren’t going anywhere.
The jets will continue climbing into the Florida sky.
The formations will remain razor sharp.
The crowds will continue looking upward.
But for The Sewing Box, something has changed.
After more than four decades of quietly helping put America’s most famous military demonstration team into uniform, Whitehurst now finds herself watching someone else take over the job.
For Pensacola, it’s more than a government contract story.
It’s the story of a local business that became part of a national tradition — one stitch, one uniform and one Blue Angel at a time.
And sometimes, the end of a 43-year tradition doesn’t arrive with the roar of a fighter jet.
Sometimes it arrives in an envelope.
— Marco Island Naples News
78 MPH on Marco Island: A Trip to the Marriott Is Not a Race
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — A routine traffic stop on Marco Island turned into another reminder that some drivers apparently believe the island’s roads come with a NASCAR package.
Last night, Officer Annicelli stopped a driver traveling 78 mph in a posted 35 mph zone.
The driver, a visitor from out of town, reportedly told the officer they were trying to get to the Marriott to visit their partner.
We understand wanting to see someone you care about. But there’s really no need to hurry.
The Marriott has a check-in desk — not a finish line.
The stop is particularly concerning because it marks the second time in less than 48 hours that Marco Island officers have stopped a vehicle traveling more than 30 mph over the posted speed limit.
The driver was issued a citation for 78 mph in a 35 mph zone and faces a mandatory court appearance.
There were also plenty of comments suggesting the driver should have been taken to jail. But police explained that speed alone does not automatically establish reckless driving.
In this particular case, officers said the vehicle was the only car on the roadway at the time. They observed no additional violations or driving behavior that would support a reckless-driving arrest.
The radar unit reportedly had a locked-in reading of 75 mph, while the driver’s observed speed was determined to be 78 mph, resulting in the citation being issued for 78 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Credit goes to Officer Annicelli for making the stop and enforcing Marco Island’s traffic laws.
Because at 78 mph, the margin for error disappears quickly.
A crash at that speed can have devastating — and potentially fatal — consequences.
So, whether you’re heading to the Marriott, the beach, dinner or simply home:
Slow down.
The Marriott will still be there when you arrive.
🌴 Atlantic Tropical Outlook — Saturday, August 15, 2026
Two tropical waves are being monitored across the Caribbean and Atlantic, but neither currently poses a significant threat for tropical cyclone development.
🌀 Southeastern Caribbean Sea — AL92
A tropical wave moving through the southeastern Caribbean is producing gusty winds, showers and thunderstorms, but conditions are unfavorable for development.
🚫 Strong upper-level winds and dry air are expected to prevent the system from organizing.
🌧️ Lesser Antilles: Some areas could still experience heavy rainfall and gusty winds today, despite the very low development potential.
⏱️ 48-hour formation chance: 🟢 Near 0%
📅 7-day formation chance: 🟢 Near 0%
🌀 Central Tropical Atlantic — AL94
Another tropical wave is located roughly midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles. It continues to produce a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms.
There is a small window for limited development over the next day or two, but the system is expected to encounter stronger upper-level winds east of the Lesser Antilles, which should make further development increasingly difficult.
⏱️ 48-hour formation chance: 🟢 10%
📅 7-day formation chance: 🟢 10%
🌊 What it means for Southwest Florida
For Marco Island, Naples and Southwest Florida, there is no immediate tropical threat from either system. AL92 is expected to struggle in the Caribbean, while AL94 faces increasingly hostile conditions farther west.
🌴 Bottom line: The Atlantic remains active, but neither AL92 nor AL94 is currently expected to become a tropical depression or tropical storm. Residents should continue monitoring the tropics as we move through the peak of hurricane season.
AI Is Coming for the Office Job: The Careers Most at Risk Over the Next Few Years
Artificial intelligence is no longer some futuristic technology waiting around the corner. It is already sitting in offices, answering customer questions, writing emails, analyzing documents, creating images, writing computer code and performing tasks that once required entire teams of employees.
And over the next several years, that trend is expected to accelerate.
The big question isn’t necessarily whether AI will eliminate millions of jobs. It is which jobs will change first—and how many workers will be needed to perform them.
🤖 The First Jobs in the Crosshairs
Jobs built around repetitive, predictable computer tasks are among the most vulnerable.
That includes data-entry clerks, transcriptionists, telemarketers, basic customer-service representatives, bookkeeping clerks and some administrative positions.
AI systems can already process enormous amounts of information in seconds, recognize patterns and perform repetitive tasks without taking a lunch break.
A company that once needed 20 employees to answer routine customer questions could increasingly use AI to handle the first wave of those interactions, leaving humans to deal with complicated or unusual cases.
💻 White-Collar Work Isn’t Immune
For years, automation was largely associated with factories and physical labor.
AI has changed that equation.
Software developers, accountants, lawyers, journalists, marketers and financial analysts are now finding that AI can perform portions of their jobs.
A programmer, for example, can ask AI to generate code, explain an error or create a basic application. A lawyer can use AI to search thousands of documents. A journalist can use it to organize information and produce a first draft.
That doesn’t necessarily mean those professions disappear.
Instead, one experienced worker may be able to accomplish what previously required several people.
And that could have a major effect on hiring.
🎓 The Entry-Level Problem
One of the biggest concerns isn’t necessarily experienced workers losing their jobs.
It’s young people having fewer opportunities to get their first job.
Many entry-level positions exist because companies need people to perform routine tasks while learning the business.
If AI can perform much of that routine work, companies may decide they don’t need as many entry-level employees.
That creates a potentially uncomfortable situation:
How does someone become experienced if companies stop hiring people who need experience?
📰 Journalism Is Changing Too
News organizations are already experimenting with AI for research assistance, transcription, summaries, headlines, SEO and other production tasks.
Basic stories based on public information can increasingly be produced quickly by AI.
But journalism has something AI still struggles to replicate: being there.
A reporter who attends a city council meeting, talks to residents, develops sources, investigates a controversy and understands the local community provides something very different from an automated summary.
That suggests the future of journalism may involve fewer people producing more content, rather than simply eliminating journalism altogether.
🛠️ The Jobs AI Can’t Easily Do
There is one major advantage for many workers: the real world is messy.
An AI can tell you how to repair an air conditioner.
It can’t necessarily crawl into a hot attic, diagnose a complicated mechanical problem and physically replace the failed component.
That’s why electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, mechanics, construction workers and other skilled trades could remain relatively resilient.
Healthcare is another example.
AI may assist doctors and nurses with documentation, diagnosis and information retrieval, but caring for a patient involves physical presence, judgment, communication and human trust.
🧠 The Winners May Be AI-Assisted Workers
The most important distinction may not be human versus AI.
It could be:
worker using AI vs. worker not using AI.
A marketer who can produce ten campaign concepts with AI may outperform one who produces two.
A journalist who can research, organize and fact-check information with AI may be able to cover more stories.
A small business owner may be able to perform marketing, bookkeeping, customer service and graphic design that previously required outside contractors.
That could make AI particularly powerful for small businesses and independent operators.
⚠️ But There’s a Catch
AI isn’t perfect.
It can make mistakes, invent information, misunderstand context and confidently produce completely wrong answers.
That’s why human oversight remains critical—particularly in medicine, law, finance, journalism and other areas where mistakes can have serious consequences.
The workers who thrive may therefore be those who know when to trust AI—and when not to.
🔮 The Next Five Years
The labor market of 2030 could look noticeably different from today’s.
Some jobs will disappear.
Others will shrink.
Many will be redesigned.
And entirely new occupations will emerge around AI, robotics, cybersecurity, data management, AI supervision and specialized technology.
The bigger transformation may be happening quietly inside existing jobs.
Instead of asking whether AI will take your job, the more useful question may be:
How much of your job can AI already do—and what are you going to do with the time it gives you back?
Because the future of work probably isn’t humans or AI.
It’s humans with AI—and, increasingly, companies deciding how many humans they actually need.
Florida Pediatricians Denounce Trump’s New Vaccine Order
Florida pediatricians are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s new executive order calling for major changes to the nation’s childhood vaccination schedule.
Trump signed the order Monday, directing federal health officials to pursue changes including separating the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots and encouraging greater spacing between childhood vaccinations. The order also directs additional research into vaccine safety and calls for states to provide religious and medical exemptions from vaccine requirements. (CF Public)
The controversy intensified after Trump again promoted the claim that vaccines may be connected to autism. Pediatricians and other medical experts say that claim has been repeatedly disproven by decades of research. Dr. Tara Williams, a Florida pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics in Orlando, said the question of whether vaccines cause autism has effectively been settled by scientific evidence. (CF Public)
What Florida doctors are concerned about
Pediatricians warn that spreading out vaccinations could leave children vulnerable to serious diseases for longer periods. Medical groups also argue that splitting combination vaccines into multiple visits could make it harder for families to complete the recommended schedule.
The order represents a significant departure from the recommendations of major medical organizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health experts continue to support vaccination schedules based on extensive safety and effectiveness research. (AP News)
The White House’s directive does not automatically change every state’s school vaccination requirements. States retain substantial authority over which vaccines children must receive to attend school. (WKMG)
Florida political reaction
The issue is already becoming a political flashpoint in Florida. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat, called the executive order dangerous and said it goes against pediatric experts. (WUSF)
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization defended evidence-based childhood immunization schedules, saying vaccination recommendations are developed from decades of research and are tailored to protect children from serious infectious diseases. (Reuters)
Bottom line: Trump’s order begins a process to change federal vaccine recommendations, but it does not mean Florida children will immediately stop receiving the vaccines currently recommended by their doctors. The biggest immediate issue is the growing divide between the administration’s vaccine policy and the recommendations of mainstream pediatric and public-health organizations.
🌴 Atlantic Tropical Outlook — August 12, 2026
The Atlantic Basin remains busy, with three areas being monitored by the National Hurricane Center. The most significant is AL92, which has an 80% chance of developing into a tropical depression within 48 hours.
🌀 AL92 — Central Tropical Atlantic
Formation chance:
🔴 48 hours: 80% — High
🔴 7 days: 80% — High
AL92 is located about 900 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and is becoming increasingly organized. Conditions are expected to remain favorable for development over the next couple of days.
The system is forecast to move westward to west-northwestward across the central Atlantic, and the NHC says a tropical depression will likely form.
➡️ This is currently the Atlantic system of greatest concern for future development, although it remains far from the Caribbean and the United States.
🌀 AL93 — Central Subtropical Atlantic
Formation chance:
🟠 48 hours: 50% — Medium
🟠 7 days: 50% — Medium
AL93 is about 1,050 miles east-northeast of Bermuda. Its circulation remains elongated, with thunderstorms displaced to the east, but it is producing gale-force winds south and east of the center.
A short-lived tropical storm could develop tonight as the system races east-northeastward at around 20 mph.
However, cooler waters are expected to end its development chances by Thursday.
🌦️ Eastern Tropical Atlantic
Formation chance:
🟡 48 hours: 20% — Low
🟡 7 days: 30% — Low
A tropical wave just offshore of West Africa is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Conditions could become more favorable for some development during the coming days as the wave moves westward to west-northwestward.
📊 Atlantic Basin at a Glance
| System | 48 Hours | 7 Days | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌀 AL92 | 80% High | 80% High | 📈 Likely to develop |
| 🌀 AL93 | 50% Medium | 50% Medium | ⚠️ Possible, but short-lived |
| 🌦️ Eastern Atlantic Wave | 20% Low | 30% Low | 👀 Watching |
Bottom line: AL92 is the system to watch most closely. With an 80% probability of development, it could become the next tropical depression in the Atlantic as it tracks west-northwest. AL93 may briefly acquire tropical-storm characteristics, while another wave emerging from Africa bears watching for longer-term development.
⚠️ ‘Flesh-Eating’ Bacteria Warning: What Marco Island and Naples Beachgoers Need to Know
Florida has recorded at least 14 cases of potentially deadly Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, including two deaths, as health officials urge Gulf Coast residents and visitors to take precautions around warm coastal waters and raw shellfish.
The warning comes at the height of Florida’s summer beach season, when Gulf water temperatures are exceptionally warm and millions of people are spending time along the state’s coastline.
The bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, occurs naturally in warm, brackish and coastal seawater. While infections remain relatively uncommon, they can become extremely serious — and sometimes fatal — particularly when the bacteria enter the body through an open wound.
For beachgoers in Marco Island, Naples and throughout Southwest Florida, health officials are not advising people to avoid the Gulf. Instead, the message is simple: know the risk, protect open wounds and seek medical attention quickly if symptoms develop.
🌊 Why the Gulf is a concern right now
Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters, making the summer months a period of increased risk.
Louisiana health officials are currently reporting an unusually severe year, with nine confirmed infections and five deaths in 2026. That’s considerably higher than the state’s average of about seven cases and one death annually over the previous decade.
Florida has also seen infections this year.
As of August, Florida health officials have confirmed at least 14 Vibrio vulnificus cases and two deaths. The state’s first reported death involved a child in Palm Beach County, while a second fatality involved a person from Marion County.
Florida reported 33 cases and five deaths in 2025, according to recent reporting. Cases tend to increase during the warmer months, particularly from June through September.
🩹 How people become infected
There are two major ways people can encounter Vibrio vulnificus.
1. Through an open wound
Swimming, wading or fishing in coastal or brackish water can expose an existing cut, scrape or other break in the skin to the bacteria.
That means even a relatively minor injury — a cut on your foot, a scrape from a boat, a fishing hook injury or a recently opened blister — deserves attention before getting into Gulf water.
The Florida Department of Health recommends avoiding exposure of open wounds to warm seawater and washing wounds thoroughly if they come into contact with coastal water.
2. Eating raw or undercooked shellfish
Vibrio vulnificus is also associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.
Cooking shellfish thoroughly kills the bacteria.
For anyone enjoying seafood while visiting Marco Island or Naples, that means raw oysters carry a different risk than properly cooked seafood.
🚨 Who faces the greatest risk?
Most people who encounter Vibrio bacteria do not develop a severe infection.
But when Vibrio vulnificus does cause serious illness, it can progress rapidly.
People with weakened immune systems and certain underlying medical conditions are at substantially greater risk of severe disease. Health officials specifically caution people with conditions such as chronic liver disease and other illnesses that affect the immune system.
Older adults are also among those at greater risk.
🔴 What symptoms should you watch for?
A wound exposed to coastal water can become infected quickly.
Warning signs include:
Increasing redness around a wound
Swelling
Severe or worsening pain
Warmth around the affected area
Skin discoloration or lesions
Fever or chills
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Signs of a rapidly worsening infection
Serious infections can lead to bloodstream infection, septic shock and tissue destruction.
The important message is not to wait.
If a wound begins deteriorating rapidly after exposure to Gulf or brackish water — particularly when accompanied by fever, chills or severe pain — seek medical attention immediately.
🏖️ Does this mean you shouldn’t swim at Marco Island or Naples?
No.
The presence of Vibrio vulnificus in warm coastal waters is not new, and its presence does not mean that Southwest Florida beaches are unsafe or that everyone who enters the Gulf is likely to become infected.
The risk to an otherwise healthy beachgoer remains low.
But beachgoers should take sensible precautions:
✔️ Keep cuts and open wounds out of Gulf water.
✔️ Cover minor injuries with a waterproof bandage when appropriate.
✔️ Wash wounds thoroughly with clean water after exposure.
✔️ Avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters.
✔️ Cook shellfish thoroughly.
✔️ Wear protective footwear when appropriate, particularly around sharp shells, rocks, fishing equipment and other sources of injury.
✔️ Seek medical care promptly if an exposed wound becomes red, swollen or unusually painful.
🌴 What this means for Southwest Florida
For Marco Island and Naples, the timing is worth noting.
August falls squarely within Florida’s warm-water season. Gulf temperatures are high, beach activity is heavy and residents and tourists are spending more time swimming, boating, fishing and wading.
That doesn’t make the Gulf off-limits.
It makes basic wound protection more important.
A person with a fresh cut who decides to go swimming is taking a different risk than someone with intact skin. Likewise, someone with certain chronic health conditions should take the warnings more seriously than a healthy person.
And for seafood lovers, the safest choice is straightforward:
Enjoy the oysters — just make sure they’re cooked.
🧬 Why doctors take Vibrio vulnificus seriously
The bacterium has earned the nickname “flesh-eating bacteria” in news reports because severe infections can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly progressing infection that destroys tissue.
But the nickname can also make the threat sound more widespread than it actually is.
Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare, but severe cases can progress very quickly.
That’s why health officials emphasize early recognition and treatment rather than telling people to avoid the beach altogether.
Bottom line for Marco Island and Naples
You don’t need to cancel your beach day.
Just don’t go into the Gulf with an open wound, be cautious with raw shellfish, and don’t ignore a wound that suddenly becomes painful, swollen or discolored after exposure to coastal water.
For most people, a day at the beach remains exactly that — a day at the beach.
But in Florida’s warm Gulf waters, a little prevention can go a long way.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Anyone experiencing potentially serious symptoms should contact a healthcare professional promptly.
🐊 Only in Florida: Skunks, Warthogs, Monkeys & a Rhino Among 140+ Captive Animals That Escaped
Florida wildlife apparently has a jailbreak problem.
Florida already has enough creatures wandering around that residents have learned not to trust anything moving in the bushes.
But state wildlife records reveal that since 2022, more than 140 captive animals have escaped from their enclosures across the state — including monkeys, kangaroos, warthogs, giant lizards, snakes, foxes, a capybara and even a 2,000-pound white rhinoceros.
The escapees came from private properties, businesses, wildlife facilities, sanctuaries and zoos.
Some escaped because an enclosure failed. Others apparently benefited from human error.
And at least one seems to have simply decided that April Fools’ Day was the perfect time to make a break for it.
🦏 Yes, Florida had a loose rhinoceros
One of the wildest incidents occurred in 2022 at Wild Florida in Osceola County.
A roughly 2,000-pound white rhinoceros escaped from its enclosure while the animal was supposed to become part of a new exhibit.
Unfortunately, the story did not have a happy ending.
Workers ultimately shot and killed the rhino.
The incident later drew scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which determined that Wild Florida had violated the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Because apparently even a rhinoceros needs proper paperwork before going on an unscheduled tour of Central Florida.
🦘 Then there was the kangaroo
In 2024, a kangaroo in Volusia County escaped after a bear damaged its enclosure.
Yes, you read that correctly.
A bear damaged a kangaroo enclosure, and the kangaroo escaped.
The kangaroo was eventually found and returned, while its owner was fined.
Florida: where even the animal escape stories need a plot twist.
🐒 The great Florida exotic-animal getaway list
According to state records, the list of captive animals reported as escaped since 2022 includes:
🦨 Striped skunk
🐒 White-faced capuchins — 3
🐸 Cane toad
🦃 Wild turkey
🦊 Fox
🦝 Raccoons — 2
🦌 Axis deer
🐹 Capybara
🐊 Chinese alligator
🦊 Fennec fox
🐒 Capuchins — 2
🐗 Warthog
🦊 Red fox
🐒 Ring-tailed lemur
🦌 Blackbuck
🐍 Boa constrictor
🦎 Beaded lizard
🦎 Black-throat monitor
🦎 Rhino iguana
🐦 Wattled crane
And those are only some of the animals appearing in the records.
🐸 The cane toad pulled off the ultimate disappearing act
One particularly bizarre escape occurred at the Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens on April 1, 2022.
During an educational program, a cane toad was placed inside a small container on a wagon in a portable classroom.
Then everyone went outside.
The cane toad stayed behind.
Or at least it was supposed to.
When staff returned, the amphibian had apparently decided that captivity wasn’t for it.
The tiny toad had escaped.
It’s not exactly a Hollywood prison break, but somewhere in Florida there may still be a cane toad telling its grandchildren about the day it beat the zoo.
🐗 Florida: Come for the beaches, stay for the escaped warthog
The list illustrates just how unusual Florida’s captive-animal population can be.
While many of the animals are relatively harmless, others can pose significant risks if they get loose.
A capybara wandering down the road might generate selfies.
A fennec fox could generate a neighborhood Facebook post.
A boa constrictor could generate several phone calls.
A Chinese alligator could generate a much more serious response.
And a warthog?
Well, that’s something you probably don’t want charging through your front yard while you’re taking out the trash.
🐾 Most escapes end without disaster
Despite the bizarre list, most reported escapes do not turn into major public-safety incidents.
Zoo and wildlife staff are often able to locate and recapture animals quickly.
Several escapes reported at the Jacksonville Zoo since 2022 ended with the animals safely recovered, with no injuries reported.
But the records demonstrate the challenges involved in keeping exotic and potentially dangerous animals in captivity.
Florida’s warm climate, sprawling properties and large population of exotic-animal owners create plenty of opportunities for animals to encounter the outside world.
And once they’re out, finding them isn’t always easy.
🌴 Only in Florida?
Probably.
Although captive-animal escapes happen elsewhere, Florida has a special talent for producing stories that sound completely fictional until someone produces the official wildlife report.
A rhinoceros.
A kangaroo.
A warthog.
A capybara.
Monkeys.
Lizards.
Snakes.
A cane toad that apparently waited for everyone to leave the room before making its move.
At this point, the only surprising thing would be discovering that nobody has reported an escaped alligator wearing sunglasses.
🐊 The bottom line
More than 140 captive animals have reportedly escaped in Florida since 2022, according to state wildlife records.
Most were eventually recovered.
Some made headlines.
And some apparently just disappeared into the great Florida wilderness — which, depending on where you live, might be approximately three feet beyond the backyard fence.
Welcome to Florida. Please keep your doors closed, your fences secure and your eyes on the bushes.
🐦 Florida Business Owners Accused of Dumping 1,500 Mothballs on Beach to Chase Away Protected Birds
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Forget beach umbrellas, sunscreen and sandcastles. Investigators say someone had a different plan for dealing with unwanted beach guests: 1,500 mothballs.
Two St. Pete Beach business owners have been arrested after Florida wildlife officials accused them of scattering approximately 1,500 mothballs across the beach in an effort to prevent imperiled black skimmer birds from nesting near their businesses.
The bizarre scheme began in April, when beachgoers discovered more than 1,000 mothballs scattered behind the Plaza Beach Hotel. Another 500 were reportedly found in the same area the following day.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, working with volunteers from the Audubon Society and other conservation groups, removed the mothballs before the birds arrived for nesting season.
Investigators eventually identified Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, and Christopher Monroe, owner and manager of Chris’s Beachside Bar, as suspects.
According to investigators, surveillance footage and store receipts showed Czyszczon purchasing a large quantity of mothballs from Walmart shortly before the first batch appeared on the beach. Authorities also cited text messages allegedly discussing concerns about black skimmers nesting behind the businesses.
💰 The birds were apparently bad for business
Authorities say the men were concerned that nesting birds would lead to portions of the beach being fenced off, potentially affecting access and costing the businesses money.
Unfortunately for the alleged mothball masterminds, mothballs aren’t exactly a wildlife-management tool.
The products contain pesticides and are intended for use in enclosed spaces against moths and other pests. Scattering them across an open beach can expose people and wildlife to potentially harmful chemicals.
And black skimmers aren’t just random seagulls looking for a free lunch.
The species is considered state-listed as imperiled in Florida, and St. Pete Beach is an important nesting location for the birds. City records note that black skimmers and other threatened shorebirds nest on Pinellas County beaches.
⚖️ Now comes the legal part
Czyszczon and Monroe were arrested and face charges including commercial littering and attempted take of a state-listed imperiled species by harassment, according to FWC officials.
The felony charges could carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, along with potential fines and probation if convicted.
The birds, meanwhile, apparently remain the least criminally inclined residents of the entire story.
Florida’s unofficial beach policy appears to be:
🏖️ Tourists? Welcome.
🐦 Endangered birds? Apparently not.
🦟 Mothballs? Absolutely not.
And somewhere, a moth is probably wondering why Florida just declared war on it.
🌴 Atlantic Tropical Outlook: Three Areas to Watch
The Atlantic Basin is becoming a little more active as we head into the middle of August, with three separate areas of disturbed weather being monitored. While none of the systems pose an immediate threat to Florida, one tropical wave could become a tropical depression later this week.
🌀 Central Tropical Atlantic — 20% Chance
A broad area of showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave is located roughly halfway between the west coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles.
The wave is expected to move quickly westward across the central tropical Atlantic. Some gradual development is possible through the early to middle part of the week.
However, conditions are expected to become less favorable as the system approaches the Lesser Antilles later in the week, which could limit its ability to organize.
48-hour formation chance: 🟢 Near 0%
7-day formation chance: 🟢 20%
Main concern: Possible gradual development, but unfavorable winds later in the week
Florida threat: 🟢 None at this time
🌀 Eastern/Central Tropical Atlantic — 50% Chance
This is currently the system attracting the most attention.
A small area of low pressure has developed several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. The system is expected to move slowly westward before merging with a nearby tropical wave in the next couple of days.
Environmental conditions are forecast to become more favorable by midweek, and forecasters say a tropical depression could form during the latter half of the week.
The system is expected to track generally westward to west-northwestward across the central Atlantic.
48-hour formation chance: 🟡 10%
7-day formation chance: 🟠 50%
Main concern: Potential tropical depression formation later this week
Florida threat: 🟢 Too early to determine
Bottom line: This is the system to watch most closely over the next several days. Its eventual track and intensity will depend heavily on how quickly it organizes and the atmospheric conditions it encounters farther west.
🌊 Western Subtropical Atlantic — 10% Chance
A trough of low pressure located several hundred miles west-northwest of Bermuda is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
Some development is possible during the next couple of days as the system moves quickly eastward, well north of Bermuda.
However, it is expected to encounter cooler ocean waters later this week, which should bring an end to its development potential after Wednesday.
48-hour formation chance: 🟢 10%
7-day formation chance: 🟢 10%
Main concern: Brief opportunity for organization
Florida threat: 🟢 None
📊 Atlantic Basin Snapshot
| System | 48 Hours | 7 Days | Direction | Concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌴 Central Atlantic Wave | Near 0% | 20% | West | 🟢 Low |
| 🌀 Cabo Verde/Atlantic Low | 10% | 50% | W to WNW | 🟠 Watch |
| 🌊 Western Subtropical Atlantic | 10% | 10% | East | 🟢 Low |
🇺🇸 What This Means for Florida
There is currently no immediate tropical threat to Florida, Southwest Florida, or the Gulf of Mexico.
The 50% system in the eastern/central Atlantic deserves the most attention because it has the greatest potential to become a tropical depression later this week. However, it is still well out in the Atlantic, and it is far too early to determine whether it will eventually affect the Caribbean, Florida, the Gulf, or remain at sea.
For Marco Island and Naples, the near-term weather story remains much more about daily summertime thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning and locally gusty winds than any immediate tropical system.
🟢 Current Florida tropical threat: LOW
🟠 System to watch: Eastern/Central Atlantic — 50% through 7 days
📅 Key period: Mid-to-late week
🌴 Two Tropical Waves Worth Watching in the Atlantic
The Atlantic is becoming a little more active, with two tropical waves that could show some signs of organization over the coming week.
For now, there is no immediate threat to land, and both systems have very low chances of developing over the next 48 hours. However, forecasters will be watching their progress as they move westward across the tropical Atlantic.
🌀 Wave #1: Central Tropical Atlantic
A tropical wave is currently located a few hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.
The system is expected to continue moving westward across the central tropical Atlantic. Some gradual development is possible during the early to middle part of next week.
Conditions could become less favorable later in the week as the wave approaches the Lesser Antilles, where stronger upper-level winds are expected to make development more difficult.
📊 Formation chances:
⏱️ Next 48 hours: Near 0%
📅 Next 7 days: 20% — Low
At this point, this is a system to monitor, not a reason for concern.
🌀 Wave #2: Eastern & Central Tropical Atlantic
Another tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa on Tuesday.
Forecasters say some development could occur during the middle to latter part of next week as the system travels westward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
This wave currently has a slightly higher long-range development probability than the first system, but conditions remain unfavorable for development in the immediate future.
📊 Formation chances:
⏱️ Next 48 hours: Near 0%
📅 Next 7 days: 30% — Low
🌊 The Bottom Line
The Atlantic is showing early signs of becoming more active, but neither of these waves is currently an organized tropical depression or tropical storm.
The important point is timing. Both disturbances have plenty of ocean to cross before they could potentially become a threat to the Caribbean, Florida or the Gulf of Mexico.
For now:
🟢 No immediate tropical threat
🟢 Both systems have near-zero development chances over the next 48 hours
🟡 Some gradual development is possible next week
🟡 Conditions later in the week could become less favorable for the first wave
👀 Forecasters will continue monitoring both disturbances
Residents across Florida and the Caribbean do not need to change plans based on these systems at this time. August is typically an increasingly active period of the Atlantic hurricane season, so regular monitoring is always a good idea.
Orbis Weather will continue tracking both waves and provide updates if development chances increase.
TRAFFIC AND BOATING ADVISORY: STAN GOBER BRIDGE (Goodland) 
Clear the Shelters Community Market on August 22
Published on August 05, 2026
Collier County Domestic Animal Services to Host First-Ever
Clear the Shelters Community Market on August 22
Collier County Domestic Animal Services (CCDAS) will host its first-ever community market event on Saturday, August 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., to promote participation in NBCU’s Clear the Shelters national pet adoption campaign.
The family-friendly event will transform the shelter into a community gathering space featuring several local, animal-focused businesses from Collier County, offering pet-related products, services and information for animal lovers of all ages. Attendees can also enjoy food from two local food trucks, children’s face painting and an opportunity for kids to adopt and name a stuffed animal to take home.
As part of the Clear the Shelters campaign, adoption fees at Collier County Domestic Animal Services will be waived throughout the weekend, from Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23, making it easier for families to welcome a new pet into their homes.
“This is an exciting milestone for our shelter as we host our first-ever community market event,” said Victoria Juran, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator of Collier County Domestic Animal Services. “The Clear the Shelters campaign is about more than finding homes for shelter animals; it’s about creating connections between pets, people and the community. We’re thrilled to partner with local businesses to make this a fun, family-friendly event where visitors can meet adoptable pets, support local vendors and perhaps even find their newest family member. Every adoption creates space for another animal in need.”
The event is designed to bring the community together while highlighting the importance of pet adoption and supporting local businesses dedicated to animal welfare.
Community members are encouraged to attend, meet adoptable pets, enjoy family-friendly activities, and learn more about the resources available through Collier County Domestic Animal Services.
For more information, visit Pets.Collier.Gov or call (239) 252-7387 (PETS).
About Domestic Animal Services
Collier County Domestic Animal Services is the county’s public animal shelter, providing care for lost and homeless animals, adoption services, community outreach and enforcement of animal-related ordinances. The shelter takes in thousands of animals each year and works to support public safety, responsible pet ownership and lifesaving outcomes.
Media Contact:
Meredith McLean
Division Director, Domestic Animal Services
(239) 877-8186
Naples Man Dies Following Crash on Davis Boulevard in Collier County
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — A 63-year-old Naples man has died following a two-vehicle crash on Davis Boulevard in Collier County Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:25 a.m. at the intersection of Davis Boulevard and Heritage Trail.
Investigators say the Naples man was driving a Chevrolet westbound in the left-turn lane as he approached the intersection. A 22-year-old woman from North Fort Myers, driving a 2022 Toyota, was stopped in the left-turn lane directly ahead of him.
For reasons still under investigation, the front-left of the Chevrolet collided with the rear-right of the Toyota.
The Naples driver was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they are investigating whether the driver may have suffered a medical emergency before the collision. The official cause of death has not yet been determined.
The driver of the Toyota was not injured.
The crash temporarily affected traffic in the area as emergency crews responded.
The incident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact FHP with information.
Veteran Hunter Bags Top Prize in 2026 Florida Python Challenge, a Year After a Naples Woman Made History
SOUTH FLORIDA — A military veteran who has spent more than a decade helping fellow service members heal through Everglades snake hunting walked away with this year’s biggest prize in the fight against one of Florida’s most destructive invasive species.
Tom Rahill, founder of the veteran support group Swamp Apes, took home the $10,000 grand prize in the 2026 Florida Python Challenge after personally removing 96 Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition, including one specimen stretching 17 feet. The win capped a event that drew nearly 1,000 hunters — 907 registered competitors, by one count — from 30 states as well as Canada and Vietnam, all competing for a $25,000 prize pool spread across professional, novice and military divisions.
Held July 10-19 and hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) alongside the South Florida Water Management District, the annual hunt is now in its ninth year. Together, this year’s participants pulled 280 Burmese pythons out of the Everglades, adding to a running total that FWC officials say tops 1,400 snakes removed through the challenge alone since it began, and more than 19,000 removed by year-round contractors since 2017.
“Removing Burmese pythons from this ecosystem is critical to the survival of the native species that call this area home,” South Florida Water Management District Governing Board member Ron Bergeron said when the state announced this year’s competition dates.
FWC Executive Director Roger Young called the event a chance to rally hunters, researchers and the public around a shared problem, while Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos said the challenge “highlights how shared stewardship can contribute to the long-term protection of native species and park resources.”
A Naples connection
The 2026 results follow a breakthrough moment for Southwest Florida in last year’s competition, when Naples resident Taylor Stanberry became the first woman to win the challenge’s grand prize, hauling in 60 pythons after a decade of hunting experience in the Glades. Her win put a local face on a contest that had, until then, been dominated by python-hunting veterans from elsewhere in the state.
Southwest Florida’s role in the python fight extends well beyond the annual competition. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, based in Naples, runs a year-round tracking and removal program that has become a model for the state’s broader control efforts. Wildlife biologist Ian Bartoszek, who leads the Conservancy’s python program, said the organization’s scout-snake tracking method — which uses tagged male pythons to lead researchers to breeding females — removed 177 invasive pythons weighing a combined 8,080 pounds in its most recent season.
“These science-based management efforts are suppressing local python reproduction,” Bartoszek said, noting that the goal is to intercept female pythons before they can lay eggs deep in the landscape, where clutches are difficult to find.
Why it matters
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, have no natural predators in Florida and have devastated populations of native mammals across the Everglades ecosystem since establishing themselves there decades ago, likely through the exotic pet trade. Researchers have documented steep declines in rabbits, raccoons, opossums and other small mammals in areas with heavy python presence, with ripple effects up the food chain.
The Florida Python Challenge, first held in 2013 and run annually since 2020, is designed as much to raise public awareness of that threat as to make a dent in the snake population directly. Registered hunters undergo training before heading into the Glades, competing in categories that reward not just the most pythons caught but also, in past years, the longest snake removed.
For Southwest Florida residents, the message from wildlife officials is consistent: the python problem is not confined to the eastern Everglades. With the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s tracking program based in Naples and last year’s grand-prize winner a Collier County local, the region has become an increasingly central front in the state’s decade-long effort to control the invasive snake’s spread.
Information on next year’s Florida Python Challenge, including registration and training requirements, is available at flpythonchallenge.org.
Deadly Crash Blocks Turn Lanes on Davis Boulevard in Collier County
A deadly traffic crash has shut down the eastbound and westbound turn lanes on Davis Boulevard at Heritage Trail in Collier County as emergency crews investigate the scene.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while law enforcement conducts its investigation. Significant traffic delays are expected around the intersection throughout the response.
Authorities have not yet released information about how the crash occurred or the identity of the victim. The Florida Highway Patrol is expected to lead the investigation into the fatal collision.
Drivers traveling through eastern Collier County should use caution, allow extra travel time, and follow directions from emergency personnel.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as officials release additional details.
Florida Lands 12 of America’s Best Hospitals – But Southwest Florida Still Has Work to Do
Florida has long sold itself as a destination for sunshine and retirement. Now it has another selling point: healthcare.
The latest U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals 2026–2027 rankings place 12 Florida hospitals among the nation’s best, reinforcing the state’s growing reputation for world-class medical care.
Leading the way is Mayo Clinic Florida, followed by Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, AdventHealth Orlando, Tampa General Hospital, and UF Health Shands Hospital. Together with leading hospitals in Miami, Jacksonville, Sarasota, and Orlando, they represent a healthcare network increasingly capable of competing with the country’s elite medical centers.
For patients, these rankings aren’t just about prestige. They reflect how hospitals perform where it matters most—patient survival, safety, staffing levels, nursing quality, and outcomes across complex specialties ranging from heart surgery and cancer treatment to neurology and organ transplantation.
It’s another sign that Florida is no longer viewed simply as a place where people retire. Increasingly, it’s becoming a state where people travel for specialist treatment.
But there’s another side to the story.
Despite Southwest Florida’s rapid population growth and its large retiree community, no hospital in Naples or Fort Myers made this year’s national Best Hospitals list.
That doesn’t mean local healthcare is lacking. Regional hospitals continue to earn recognition for services such as cardiovascular care, stroke treatment, emergency medicine, and patient safety. For the vast majority of routine and emergency medical needs, residents have access to high-quality care close to home.
However, the latest rankings also highlight a gap. When it comes to the most complex procedures and nationally recognized specialty programs, patients often still travel across the state to Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, or South Florida.
As Florida’s population continues to surge—particularly in Collier and Lee counties—that raises an important question.
Will Southwest Florida’s healthcare system evolve quickly enough to keep pace with the growing demand, or will many residents continue making the journey east and north for the state’s highest-ranked specialist care?
For now, the answer is clear: Florida’s reputation as a healthcare powerhouse continues to grow. But excellence remains concentrated in a handful of major medical centers, leaving some of the state’s fastest-growing communities waiting for their turn.
CITY OF MARCO ISLAND APPOINTS CHIEF OF POLICE
August 4, 2026
Marco Island, Fla. (August 3, 2026) – City Manager Dr. Casey Lucius has officially appointed Joseph Belardo as the next Chief of Police for the Marco Island Police Department, effective Monday, August 3, following a highly competitive selection process.
Chief Belardo has served as Interim Chief of Police since May 27, 2026, providing steady leadership and guiding the department through a period of transition while continuing its commitment to public safety and community engagement. “Chief Belardo distinguished himself throughout a highly competitive selection process,” said City Manager Dr. Casey Lucius. “His proven leadership, commitment to professional policing, and genuine dedication to the Marco Island community made him the clear choice to lead this outstanding department. I am confident he will continue building on the department’s strong foundation while guiding it into the future.”
Chief Belardo began his law enforcement career with the Schodack Police Department in New York, where he served in a variety of assignments before retiring as Chief of Police in 2020. In April 2020, he joined the Marco Island Police Department and quickly became a respected leader within the organization. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2023 and Lieutenant in 2025 before being appointed Interim Chief earlier this year.
Chief Belardo holds two master’s degrees, including a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in the Administration of Justice and Security. In addition to his law enforcement career, he and his wife, Renee, operated Blue Wave Swim School, a community-focused program dedicated to youth water safety.
Coming from a multi-generational law enforcement family, Chief Belardo is a proud husband, father of three, and grandfather of two. “It is an incredible honor to be selected as the next Chief of Police for the Marco Island Police Department,” said Chief Joseph Belardo. “I am grateful to Dr. Lucius, the City Council, and our community for their trust and confidence. Most importantly, I want to thank the dedicated men and women of this department whose professionalism and commitment to serving others inspire me every day. Together, we will continue strengthening our partnerships with the community while providing the exceptional level of service that Marco Island deserves.
Since assuming the role of Interim Chief, Belardo has focused on supporting department personnel, strengthening relationships with the community, and continuing the department’s mission of providing professional, compassionate, and responsive police services.
The City of Marco Island congratulates Chief Joseph Belardo on his appointment and looks forward to his continued leadership of the Marco Island Police Department.
An official swearing-in ceremony for Chief Belardo will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. Additional details regarding the ceremony will be announced by the city.
