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Mason Gravley

@alive_adventures

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Helping protect wild Florida at the @floridawildlifecorridor
🎤 Choppin it up on @floridauncutpodcast

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A new collaboration between @floridawildlifecorridor and @okihasi.fl brings the Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition to life in a one-of-a-kind Floridian shirt.🌿

The Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition was a week-long journey through some of the Corridor’s most critical connections, and this design captures the incredible ecosystems and biodiversity along the route. Starting in the fire-dependent longleaf pine forests of the Red Hills, passing through Tallahassee and the state capitol, down the cypress swamps and freshwater springs, and ending at the salt marshes and historic lighthouse of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

The expedition film, premiering at Tampa Theater on December 1st, will follow a group of Florida’s elected officials trekking the route to highlight our wild places in need of permanent protection

Thanks to @okihasi.fl, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these shirts are donated to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to support the mission to connect, protect, and restore the 18-million acre Florida Wildlife Corridor.

🔗Click the link in bio to get your expedition inspired shirt today, before they run out!

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St Johns River you were a challenge and a treat.

310 miles, four days, one epic 29ft canoe*, seemingly endless hyacinth, daily storms, a steamboat race, hallucinations, unspeakable amounts of caffeine and electrolytes, many new friends (including the gators) and $251 raised for @reservaylt—not bad for a paddle trip.

*kindly borrowed from @stirringh2o 🩵

📷 1, 11: @reggarner

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A few months ago, I came to Circle B Bar Reserve to learn.

Yesterday, I returned to celebrate.

Standing beneath those same oaks during Polk County’s 165th Anniversary Cattle Drive and Cow Camp Rededication was a beautiful reminder that Florida’s ranching heritage and conservation story have always gone hand in hand.

From horses and Cow Camp to children discovering the Florida Wildlife Corridor, it was a day that honored the people, places, and traditions that continue to shape Florida.

Here’s to 165 years of Polk County, and to the generations still writing its story. 💚

P.S. If you watch to the very end, you’ll see my friend Chad Allison. Years ago, we surveyed Florida scrub-jays together, where we affectionately nicknamed him “DJ Daddy Scrub Jay.” Yesterday, he was cracking a Florida cracker whip at Cow Camp. An exemplary example of how conservation extends far beyond science to preserving Florida’s history, traditions, and culture. 🤠💚🤠🐸💚🐴🫶🕊️

#PolkCounty165 #FloridaWildlifeCorridor #ConservationCowgirl #KeepFloridaWild #OldFlorida

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Yesterday, I caught myself smiling... a lot.

Just months ago, I sat beneath the oaks at Circle B Bar Reserve as a Florida Master Naturalist student (@fmnpofficial), listening to Eric Eversole (@ericeversole) share the history of the former Circle B cattle ranch and its role in shaping one of Florida’s most treasured conservation areas.

Yesterday, beneath those same oaks, I had the privilege of representing the @floridawomenlandowners during Polk County’s 165th Anniversary Cattle Drive and Cow Camp Rededication.

What a beautiful full-circle moment, y’all.🫶

One of my favorite memories was watching Dr. Lujean Waters’ (@lujeanwaters) dad ride into Cow Camp. It reminded me that stewardship isn’t inherited through titles...

It’s passed from one generation to the next.🫶

From children discovering the Florida wildlife corridor puzzle to conversations with multigenerational ranching families, the day was a reminder that Florida’s working lands preserve far more than open space, they protect our history, our wildlife, and our way of life.

As a seventh-generation Floridian and equestrian, I’m eternally grateful for the people who continue to steward this remarkable place.💚🕊️

Here’s to 165 years of Polk County, and to those still writing its story.

We truly do work better together. 🐸💚🐴

@polkbio @polkcountygovfl @floridauncutpodcast @floridawildlifecorridor @floridamanphoto @polkforever @greenhorizonlandtrust @polk_county_cattlewomen @uf.ifas

#PolkCounty165 #KeepersOfHisLand #ConservationCowgirl #KeepFloridaWild #OldFlorida

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🌎 New episode! 🌍

Tom Hoctor & Reed Noss: The History of the Florida Wildlife Corridor

Long before the Florida Wildlife Corridor became a statewide movement, it began as a scientific question: How do we conserve wildlife in one of the fastest-growing states in America?

In this episode, Mason and Zach sit down with two of the most influential conservation scientists in Florida history, Dr. Thomas Hoctor and Dr. Reed Noss, to explore the origins of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Florida model.

Together, they trace the roots of corridor science from the emerging fields of conservation biology and landscape ecology in the 1970s and 1980s to the development of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), the scientific foundation of today’s Florida Wildlife Corridor. The conversation examines how ideas from island biogeography, regional planning, road ecology, and wildlife connectivity shaped a vision that ultimately influenced conservation efforts far beyond Florida.

Tom and Reed discuss the mentors, thinkers, and movements that inspired their work, including Larry Harris, and the emergence of conservation biology as a discipline. They also reflect on how Florida’s approach to large landscape conservation helped inspire connectivity initiatives around the world, from Yellowstone to Yukon to wildlife corridor efforts in Bhutan and beyond.

The episode also celebrates the release of their new book, Regional Landscape Conservation Planning: Wildlife, Connectivity, and the Florida Model, which chronicles decades of science, planning, policy, and partnerships that helped shape one of North America’s most ambitious conservation networks. The book explores how Florida combined scientific research, land acquisition programs, growth planning, and public engagement to create a model for regional conservation in the 21st century.

Whether you’re a conservation professional, student, landowner, or simply someone who cares about the future of wild Florida, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from two of the architects behind the science that continues to guide conservation across the state.
Listen to Florida Uncut anywhere you get podcasts

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Funny thing about conservation...

The longer you do it, the less it’s about what you’re doing and the more it’s about who you’re doing it with.

Somewhere along the way, colleagues became friends.

Friends became family.

And a day at a ranch became one of those days you’ll talk about for years.

Turns out the best part of conservation might actually be, the people.🫶🐸💚🐴

#ConservationCowgirl #KeepFloridaWild #weworkbettertogether #floridawildlifecorridor #keepworkinglandsinworkinghands

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Somewhere between the cattle, the meadowlarks, and the conservation conversations, we all started laughing.

That’s when it hit me.

Most people spend their days off trying to get away from work.

We spend ours talking about conservation.

When I heard about the first-ever Ranch Day at Lost Girl Prairie Ranch, I immediately started texting some of my conservation family. Alex. Mason. Jerry. Kaylyn. Emily. A few others.

The night before, I ran into Zach Franco at a Florida Wildlife Corridor event and told him he should come too.

He laughed and said, “I’m leading the tour.”

Of course he was.

That’s conservation in Florida. The people working to protect it somehow always seem to find each other.

We work in conservation. We volunteer in conservation. We raise our kids around conservation. Then on a Saturday, we choose to spend our free time with conservation friends talking about wildlife, ranching, and the future of Wild Florida.

I guess when it’s part of who you are, it never really feels like work.

A moment that stood out came when Zach asked us to stop talking and simply listen.

The wind moved through the grass. A meadowlark called. A dragonfly landed on Brooke’s finger. The cattle stood quietly in the distance.

For a moment, we were just present.

Another moment that stayed with me was watching Mahayla experience it all.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Julie Morris and Jim Strickland through conservation work before, but this time I got to see it through her eyes.

Then I found myself talking with Ayla, Jim and Julie’s daughter, and somehow discovered we both have horses named Phoenix.

What are the odds?

Those are the moments that remind me why this work matters.

Not just for the land.

For the people.

For connections.

For the friendships.

For the next generation.

Some days I have to pinch myself, y’all.

These are my friends.

This is my community.

This is the village helping keep Wild Florida... Wild.
🐸💚🐴🤠🫶 @archboldstation @black_beards_ranch @livewildlyfl @floridaconservationfcg @bigwaterslandtrust @floridaenvirofilmfest

#ConservationCowgirl #KeepFloridaWild #KeepWorkingLandsInWorkingHands #LostGirlPrairieRanch

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🐻 New Episode! 🙏

Thomas Eason: Faith, Science, and Wild Florida

Thomas is a wildlife conservation leader with more than 30 years of experience in research, management, and public service. After earning degrees from Virginia Tech and the University of Tennessee, his work on black bear population dynamics brought him to Florida in 1999 as the Statewide Bear Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Over nearly 25 years with FWC, Thomas advanced into leadership roles including Director of the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation and Assistant Executive Director. He helped shape major initiatives including Florida’s Wildlife Action Plan, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, and the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS), and currently serves on the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Board.

Following retirement from state government, Thomas continued his work as Senior Director of Conservation for the Live Wildly Foundation.

In this conversation, we discuss black bears, Florida conservation, leadership, faith, family, and the experiences that shaped his career and worldview.

Photos:
1 - Thomas with his daughter, Lakshmi, enjoying hammock time together while camping at Yellowstone NP.
2 - A young Thomas with a 330 lb. black bear he trapped near Mobile, AL as part of his Master’s degree fieldwork.
3 - Thomas carrying his daughter, Lakshmi, to go backcountry camping at Grandfather Mountain, NC.
4 - Thomas and Lakshmi checking out the Florida Wildlife Corridor Map at Tall Timbers Perkins Center
5 - Thomas with daughter’s Red wig on for Halloween (scarier than the bear)

This episode was hosted and edited by @zpfranco123

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Cattle, conservation, and good company. We had an awesome time at Lost Girl Ranch with Jim Strickland and Julie Morris, learning about their new operation and the role ranchers play in protecting Florida’s open spaces. It was great catching up with our Wild Florida family and hearing Zach Franco remind us that protecting Florida’s working lands takes all of us. As development continues to grow, getting involved has never been more important!
#CattleXConservation #wildlifeconservation #ranching #keepfloridawild #tradition

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The Wild Divide.
We are the change makers of right now.

Check out these short films on the @floridawildlifecorridor website.

@polkforever @greenhorizonlandtrust @kellyofthewild @boktowergardens @my_fdot @alexofthewild @alive_adventures @dprice1929 @polkcountygovfl

#polkcounty #wilddivide #FDOT #saveflorida #wildflorida

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Attended the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s Conservation Panel tonight. One thing I took away: simply saying “we don’t want development” isn’t a solution.

Protecting Florida requires education, collaboration, and partnerships between conservation groups, elected officials, businesses, landowners, and residents. We have to understand the challenges and work together on real solutions.

What an amazing and insightful event. Can’t wait for the next one. 🌿🐾🇺🇸 @polkforever @floridawildlifecorridor

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Still soaking in everything from Corridor Connect + Live. 💚

There’s something really powerful about being in a room full of people who care deeply about the future of Florida. Ranchers, landowners, conservationists, researchers, storytellers, agencies, students, and advocates all coming together for the same purpose.

As a Spring Intern with the @floridawildlifecorridor , I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only learn, but also to connect with landowners and share our family’s story about protecting our land from eminent domain through Professor Daniel Smith’s Florida panther least cost pathway work. Those conversations were meaningful beyond words.🫶

One thing I kept thinking throughout this Marion County tour is how important trust and relationships are in conservation. Real conversations matter. Shared stories matter. Collaboration matters.

Ben Masters(@bencmasters)brought such a unique and engaging perspective to the event. Between the humor, storytelling, horses, wildlife, ocelots, and the conversation about the Texas panthers helping “fix our kinky tails,” there were so many moments that made people laugh while also reminding us why this work matters.

I left this experience feeling hopeful for Florida and grateful for every person working to help keep Wild Florida connected.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible, the partners, sponsors, speakers, landowners, staff, volunteers, and every person who showed up to be part of the conversation. 💚

Keep working lands in working hands. 🤠🐸💚🐴

@horsefarmsforever @unbrandedthefilm @thehorsetalkshow

#ConservationCowgirl #weworkbettertogether #KeepFloridaWild #KeepWorkingLandsInWorkingHands #FloridaConservation

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