Snowbirds and other Florida FAQ

What are Snowbirds?  The term snowbirds is used to refer to people from Canada, the Northeastern United States, and the Midwestern United States who live in Florida (and other sunny southern states) for the fall and/or winter and return to their primary home for the spring and/or summer.  Snowbirds tend to migrate south when the weather starts to turn cold, hence the bird reference.

When is Hurricane Season?  Hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and extends through November 30th, although there have been hurricanes and tropicals storms forming through the end of December.

How do I know if my property is in a Hurricane Evacuation Zone? Each county has its own hurrican evacuation map.  View the maps and other related hurricane information at TampaBay.com: http://weather.tampabay.com/hurricane/.

What are Love Bugs? Love Bugs are also called marsh flies, and they are not native to Florida.  They appear, in pairs, during the daylight hours for about 4 weeks in May and September. Individual insects do not live long, are harmless, but they sure are a nuisance.  Love bugs spatter and stick to auto windshields and cooling fins of auto radiators.  Your car finish may be damaged if the bugs are left on for a length of time.

What is red tide?  In the Gulf of Mexico, the microscopic algae Karenia brevis is frequently responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and it is often referred to as the red tide organism.  However, red tides are not always red. They can appear light to dark green to brown. If Karenia brevis red tide is reported and verified in the Gulf of Mexico, reports are issued twice a week through the NOAA HAB bulletin; otherwise, information is updated weekly. 

Although some people can experience skin irritation and burning eyes, swimming during a red tide is safe for most people. However, never swim among dead fish because they can be associated with harmful bacteria. For more information about being in and around a red tide, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute?s (FWRI) red tide web site or call Marine and Freshwater Hotline at 888-232-8635.                                                            

What are those little ants that bite?  Those are fire ants, which are just about everywhere.  If you are in the habit of going barefoot, you learn to watch where you are walking. Fire ants are fiercely protective of their nests. If you get too close, they will swarm and bite. Their bites can be more like a sting, and you may itch for days. 

What is the Crosstown?  The Crosstown is a 14 mile local toll road in the Tampa area. It's entire name is the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. The Crosstown starts at the west side of Tampa at Gandy Boulevard and Dale Mabry Highway, crosses the southern part of downtown Tampa and heads east, ending in Brandon near the Westfield Shopping Center.  The reversible three lane bridge of 9 miles is now opened, traffic flows west in the morning and flows east in the evening.  Use of a Sunpass (see below) is greatly encouraged for the main highway, and mandatory for the reversible lane bridge.  Click here for a crosstown map.

What is a SunPass?  SunPass is the FL Department of Transportation's prepaid toll program using a purchased transponder. A SunPass can be used on Florida's toll roads and most toll bridges.  A SunPass can be purchased at local retail stores or directly from Sunpass.com.  It can be activated online and replenished automatically.  Save time on the Crosstown and Sunshine Skyway bridge with a SunPass!