| It is not a secret that we humans have been | | | | cause many of our animal species to become |
| destroying the environment for years. It is now | | | | endangered if not extinct. |
| that some of us are trying to make all people | | | | The melting ice, the warm seas, the spreading |
| aware of the affects that our lack of care has | | | | dessert are all threats to our animals. These |
| had on the environment and what will happen if | | | | changes, no matter how subtle have a dramatic |
| we do not make changes now and try to stop | | | | influence on the lives of our wildlife. In the sea the |
| the progress of global warming. | | | | disappearance of the tiny organisms that the |
| Our focus, or drive, is the thought of what type | | | | larger creatures feed off of is causing the sea life |
| of world are we leaving our children. We also need | | | | to migrate northward. |
| to be looking at how global warming is affecting | | | | Keeping in mind that global warming plays a huge |
| our animals now and in the future if we do not | | | | part in our weather and climate, the increased |
| stop and make the needed environmentally safe | | | | storminess destroys the breeding colonies of the |
| changes. | | | | albatross that already battle the possibility of |
| There are numerous studies that are being | | | | being captured and killed by fishing boats. The rise |
| conducted and have been conducted where | | | | in sea levels wipe out the nesting sites of the sea |
| watching animal behavior and traits to measure | | | | turtles, seals and wading birds are also on the list |
| the status of the environment. These studies are | | | | of species to be affected by their habitats being |
| showing that our Earth is changing in unnatural | | | | destroyed. |
| ways and it is disturbing. Think about the fact that | | | | Thought the very source of nature is change, and |
| right now as things stand, reindeer will no longer | | | | adaptation, the changes that are taking place in |
| wander the places they currently do, they will | | | | our environment due to global warming are just |
| disappear. | | | | happening to fast. The speed is what makes it |
| Marmots no longer hibernate the same amount of | | | | difficult for the animals to adapt effectively and |
| time that they used to. Actually compared to | | | | this will cause us to loose a lot of our wildlife. Can |
| thirty years ago, they are ending hibernation three | | | | you imagine a world with no reindeer? What |
| weeks earlier. The Canadian red squirrel is | | | | about the day that the Sahara dessert covers all |
| breeding 18 days earlier. Studies are showing that | | | | of Africa and makes migration impossible for |
| the red fox is moving north and invading the | | | | birds? |
| territory of its Arctic cousin. Polar bears are not | | | | These are changes that we can see everyday |
| as healthy as they were 20 years ago and they | | | | and we need to start paying attention to them. |
| are thinner. | | | | The predicted elevation of sea level by an |
| If we look at the sea and our creatures there we | | | | amazing three feet coupled with the disruptions to |
| also see changes that should cause alarm. Coral | | | | the Earth's life support systems should be our |
| reefs are expected to increase by up to a third in | | | | wake up call. |
| size. Elephant seal pups are thinner because their | | | | While you can look out your back window and |
| prey is migrating to cooler waters. Our turtles are | | | | see these changes taking place, the full effect will |
| changing behavior as well, the loggerhead is laying | | | | be seen by the year 2100 if the predictions of |
| eggs 10 days earlier and the Hawkbill turtle | | | | scientist come through and we do not change our |
| hatchlings are having more females then males | | | | ways. Think about is, 2100 is less then one |
| due to temperature changes. | | | | hundred years away. You and I would probably |
| Birds are changing their diets to insects that do | | | | not be here, but our grandchildren will and what |
| not consume leaves that have been treated with | | | | will we have left for them? Help stop global |
| high amounts of pesticides. What does all of this | | | | warming, do your part to save the Earth, our |
| mean? It means that global warming is going to | | | | children and our wildlife. They need us. |