Bill Kearney

Reporter

Bill Kearney

Bill Kearney is a senior editor and reporter covering Florida鈥檚 bountiful environmental, outdoor and travel topics. Previously, he was the editor of American Way magazine, and has spearheaded environmental, travel and lifestyle content for nearly two decades. An avid outdoorsman, he spends as much time as possible exploring nature in Florida.

This drought map from Thursday, April 17, 2025 shows areas of extreme drought in red, severe drought in orange and moderate drought in tan. This year's drought is the driest South Florida has been since 2011. (Courtesy NOAA)

South Florida hit with 鈥榚xtreme drought鈥� conditions not seen since 2011

April 17, 2025 at 5:19 p.m.

South Florida is experiencing an 鈥渆xtreme drought鈥� for the first time since 2011, and conditions have led to an elevated fire danger in the region, the National Weather Service said...

The moment a great white shark 鈥榩hotobombed鈥� another shark off South Florida鈥檚 coast

April 16, 2025 at 10:23 a.m.

Shark researchers at Florida Atlantic University say, perhaps with a bit of sarcasm, that they鈥檝e captured what just might be the first incident of a shark 鈥減hotobombing鈥� another shark, and...

A new study found that when seagrass meadows die off, dolphins in that estuary shift their diets, and can succumb to starvation more often than when seagrass is healthy. (NOAA Fisheries Service/TNS)

Dolphins starve when seagrass dies off in Florida, study finds

April 15, 2025 at 9:39 a.m.

Researchers studying dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon found that when seagrass dies off, dolphins have to shift their diets, and as a result, die of starvation more often than...

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue driver engineer Josh Smith participates in a floodwater training session at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue has procured specialized equipment, including flat-bottom boats and waterproof suits for firefighters to wear in flood rescue situations. (Carline Jean / South Florida 蜜兔直播)

Fire Rescue prepares for next monster flood in Fort Lauderdale

April 11, 2025 at 3:06 p.m.

After record-breaking floods two years ago, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue has put together a 100-person water rescue team equipped with specialized gear and vehicles, including dry suits, several john boats...

Termites at Thomas Chouvenc's University of Florida lab in Davie, Florida. (Mike Stocker/South Florida 蜜兔直播)

Termites are hitching rides on boats and 蜜兔直播ing their destruction across Florida

April 10, 2025 at 12:21 p.m.

Private boats are fueling the 蜜兔直播 of highly destructive invasive termites in Florida, according to a new study by the University of Florida.

Las Olas Isles woke up to flooded streets Thursday after overnight rain combined with King Tide flooding, overwhelming the city鈥檚 network of storm drains. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida 蜜兔直播)

See which South Florida neighborhoods are most at risk from sea-level rise

April 7, 2025 at 4:50 a.m.

A new interactive map called the 鈥淐oastal Risk Finder鈥� allows you to zoom into your neighborhood to see what water levels will be like in 20 years, 30 years, 40...

People stop to look at a house that fell during Hurricane Milton in Bradenton Beach, Florida.

2025 hurricanes: Colorado State researchers predict an ‘above-average’ season ahead

April 3, 2025 at 10:10 a.m.

In their annual spring hurricane outlook, forecasters at Colorado State University predict the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will have more named storms, more hurricanes and more total hurricane activity than...

Beachgoers in South Florida have had to contend with massive amounts of seaweed, known as sargassum, in previous years, as seen from this 2023 photo from Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Record-breaking seaweed in Atlantic could mean stinky beaches in South Florida

April 1, 2025 at 5:25 p.m.

Levels of floating seaweed mats, known as sargassum, have skyrocketed in the Atlantic Ocean in the past month, with the total amount breaking the record for March.

This map shows ocean temperatures compared to historic averages as of March 25, 2025. Warmer colors indicated a greater elevation from normal temperatures. (Courtesy AccuWeather)

2025 hurricane outlook: AccuWeather calls for up to 18 named storms

March 26, 2025 at 2:19 p.m.

AccuWeather is predicting that 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be less active than 2024 鈥斅爋ne of the most destructive on record 鈥� but at or above historical averages from 1990...

This map for shows most of South Florida is in "severe drought conditions" (orange). (Courtesy NOAA)

South Florida is in ‘severe drought condition.’ Here’s how long it will last.

March 24, 2025 at 4:12 p.m.

It鈥檚 been a dry winter in South Florida, and the coming months will likely make it a very dry spring.

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