Help the Elkhorn Coral

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

     Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Elkhorn Coral. The tissue of Elkhorn Coral is covered with zooxanthellae, a type of algae that has a symbiotic relationship with coral. The zooxanthellae produce food for the coral by photosynthesis, while the coral gives the algae shelter and space for sunlight.

     Elkhorn Coral is a great home for other sea life because a) they can outgrow competitors in their tropical reef habitats because of their light structures; b) Elkhorn Coral colonies are simultaneously hermaphroditic, being able to reproduce young with themselves because they are both sexual and asexual (their offspring will be exact clones as their mother/father); and c) Elkhorn Corals, whenever hungry, can prey for fish and plankton using their long tentacles.

     However, despite these advantages and adaptations to survive, the Elkhorn Coral is critically endangered. Because of disease, natural disasters, coral bleaching, human activity, and pollution, the Elkhorn Coral is disappearing. The main factor is global warming. The climate change causes the waters in the ocean to heat up, which the zooxanthellae do not like. This causes coral bleaching. With the disappearances of zooxanthellae, the corals are vulnerable to disease. The climate change also causes more hurricanes, harming the coral reef habitats. The bacteria from human pollution also cause more diseases for the Elkhorn Coral. Destructive fishing practices and human waste harms the reefs.

     There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1.       Start a petition and get people to sign it.

2.     Educate people and tell them about it.

3.     Use less electricity and fossil fuels. Try walking or biking instead of driving around in cars. Don’t use electricity when you don’t need to.

4.     Start throwing away your trash and stop increasing pollution.

5.     Don’t destruct coral reefs by fishing or any other human activity.

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Olive Ridley Turtle!

Help the Olive Ridley Turtle!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Olive Ridley Turtle. Weighing 75-100 pounds, the Olive Ridleys have an olive green color. They measure to two feet long, the smallest and most abundant of marine turtles. They maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass beds. The nutrients of their scat pack to grass beds and reefs. They give safety to seabirds when they rise to the surface by letting them perch on its shell for a while.

          Even though the Olive Ridley is the most abundant, they are still endangered. Their status is vulnerable. Global warming is a contributing factor of their declining population. The temperatures of the nesting areas have risen. This changes the gender of the sea turtles, resulting in more females than males. The warm heat gives fewer places for them to forage for food. Pollution and coastal development always causes problems for marine turtles.

          There are many ways to support the Olive Ridleys. You could:

1. Tell someone
2. Start a petition
3. Clean up beaches and don’t pollute
4. Boycott products made from turtles
5. Use cars less and save electricity

Help the Olive Ridley Turtle!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Loggerhead Turtles!

Help the Loggerhead Turtles!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Loggerhead Turtles. The Loggerheads, or caretta caretta, is a heavy species of marine turtles. They use their strong jaws to crunch their prey, such as sea urchins and clams. In the Mediterranean, their population is abundant, and often times nest in Greece and Turkey. Their species have been on Earth since prehistoric times, about 100 million years. They play an important role in the wildlife cycle. The nutrients from their scat become sediments to the ocean floor and small microorganisms take shelter on their shell. More than 100 species of plants and animals have been found on one shell of a Loggerhead.

          These crucial fellows are disappearing though. They are critically endangered. Although they are not hunted for their meat and shell like other marine turtles, the Loggerhead is endangered because of bycatch. Bycatch is when an unwanted animal is caught in fishing nets used for seafood instead. Every year, about a thousand Loggerheads are caught in nets meant for shrimp. Coastal and human development risks their lives. When baby Loggerheads are hatched, they expect the moon’s light to guide them to the sea. However, city lights bring them the wrong way, and they die. If they don’t die, a person might take them in as a pet, which is illegal. Their nests are disturbed by human activity.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Start a petition
2. Tell someone
3. Clean up beaches and stop pollution
4. If you live on the coast, turn off your lights after 10 PM.
5. If you eat seafood everyday, take a break

Help the Loggerhead Turtles!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Leatherback Turtles!

Help the Leatherback Turtle!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Leatherback Turtle. The Leatherback is a heavy turtle. They weigh about 600-1500 pounds and are up to 6 feet long, the largest of their turtle family of the ocean. Unlike other marine turtles, their shells are leather-textured, hence their name. They migrate across the oceans, Atlantic and Pacific. They are vital for the ecosystem because of their consummation of jellyfish, balancing the jellyfish population. They attract tourists, which promotes ecotourism.

          However, their population is no longer stable. They are critically endangered, and are the world’s most endangered marine turtle species. Because plastic appears like jellyfish, these turtles might accidentally swallow plastic and choke to death. They get caught in fishnets and hooks when migrating across seas. They also are losing their habitat due to human activities and development. The nesting areas are being disturbed through vehicles and activity. Tens of thousands of eggs are being collected as a hobby. In fact, in Southeast Asia, it is legal to collect their eggs and sell them. Now, the Leatherbacks are locally extinct in Indonesia.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Start a petition
2. Tell someone or write an article for the newspaper
3. Start cleaning up beaches, or better yet, anywhere.
4. Boycott products made from Leatherbacks, such as eggs.
5. Don’t disturb their homes, like nests or coral reefs.

Help the Leatherback Turtles!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Hawksbill Turtle. The Hawksbill Turtle is known everywhere for the beautiful pattern on their shell. They get the name from their beak, which resembles a lot like a hawk’s. They weigh 100-150 pounds and measure to be three feet long or smaller. Living in deep coral reefs and tropical waters, they feast upon sea anemones and sponges. They are vital for the coral reef systems. They eat off the coral that surfaced in the water, letting fish to feed and swim with more space. Along with other marine turtle, the Hawksbill has been present on the Earth practically 100 million years. However, they won’t be here for long.

          They are critically endangered, almost gone in the wild. One reason for their danger is illegal trading and poaching. Even though many countries prohibit the trading of their shells, people still poach them to use the shell for jewelry and decoration. Bycatch also threatens the Hawksbill, along with many other endangered animals. Pollution risks their lives, especially when the baby turtles swallow harmful trash, such as plastic.

          There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Tell someone
2. Start a petition
3. Boycott the use of their shells
4. Lessen your diet on seafood
5. Help pick up trash along the beach or other ocean areas

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Green Turtle!

Help the Green Turtle!

        Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Green Turtle! Chelonia Mydas is a marine reptile turtle that lives in the coral reefs around the world and the Galapagos Islands. From 150-400 pounds, they measure to about 3 feet long. One of the largest marine turtles, they are herbivorous and are named not for the color of their shell, but because of their green cartilage and fat. They are found in tropical or subtropical waters of the sea, and are one of the most admired turtles in the world.

          But soon, they will no longer be on this Earth. They are endangered and their population is decreasing. Bycatch is one major cause of their risk. Bycatch is when an unwanted animal is caught in fishnets and hooks solely for the capturing of seafood. Green Turtles migrate across the ocean to nest their eggs. They are frequently caught in fishnets and gillnets for these occasions. Because of human activity, the beaches needed for their nests are being taken or damaged. Sea grass beds, the Green Turtle’s main food source, are in danger of sedimentation and pollution. Green Turtles and their eggs are being harvested for various reasons. All these contributing factors are making the Green Turtles disappear.

          But there are many way for you to help. You could:

1. Start a petition and get people to sign it
2. Tell someone
3. Boycott Green Turtle eggs or other products
4. Clean up beaches and avoid damaging their nests
5. Abstain from seafood for a while (optional)

Help the Green Turtles!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Galapagos Turtle!

Help the Galapagos Tortoise!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Galapagos Tortoise. This extraordinary animal weighs to be about 700 pounds with a length of 4 feet—the largest living tortoise in the worl. These extremely rare animals are only found in the wild in the islands of Galapagos, west of the South American country Ecuador. The naturalist Charles Darwin studied these magnificent creatures during his trip to the Galapagos Islands and today has been one of the most adored creatures of the Earth.

          However, their population is decreasing slowly. Their status is vulnerable, and the last Pinta Island Galapagos Tortoise about the age of 100 years died at the Charles Darwin Research Station. What can cause such major impact? Invasive species introduced to the islands are taking up their resources. Domestic cats and dogs sometimes prey upon the baby tortoises. Domestic cattle and other farm animals graze the grass the Galapagos Tortoises need to eat and cover for hiding their nests from predators. Whalers, merchants, and on some occasions, pirates slaughter the tortoise for its meat.

         All these are causing the Galapagos Tortoises to slowly disappear. But you can help! You could:

1. Tell someone
2. Write an article in the newspaper
3. Start a petition to help them
4. Donate to the Charles Darwin Research Center and other organizations.
5. Boycott the Galapagos Tortoise meat.

Help the Galapagos Tortoise!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Dwarf Chameleon!

Help the Dwarf Chameleon!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the endangered dwarf chameleon. Brookesia exarmata is the scientific name for the dwarf chameleon, the world’s smallest reptile. Like many other chameleon species, the dwarf chameleon can blend into its background with its adaptation of camouflage. Its beige-brown skin color hides it well in the background of leaves. These animals are from West Madagascar, taking a habitat close to the ground in vegetation.

          Because its only region is that area in Madagascar, they are endangered. The main reason for their declining population is the removal of their habitat. Their participation in the exotic pet trade also gives them a threat. Many people don’t know how to care for wild animals, and most certainly would not know how to care for a dwarf chameleon.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Spread the word
2. Start a petition
3. Prevent the buying and selling of dwarf chameleons in the exotic pet trade
4. Although extremely rare, you may find dwarf chameleons in your backyard. If so, it is best to contact an animal service and notify them.

Help the dwarf chameleons!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Crisp Pillow Coral!

Help the Crisp Pillow Coral!

Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the crisp pillow coral. The crisp pillow coral has an unusual look to it. Because of their intricate ridges around their round shape, they look much like a human brain (not to confuse with brain coral). They live in colonies together and grow up to twenty centimeters tall. What makes the crisp pillow coral so unique is that it is the only species in its genus (Anomastraea). Their polyps have many small tentacles that grab for food around them in the water. Their range is around the East coast of Africa, a small coastal area around Southern Asia, around some small islands and Madagascar, and waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.

Despite its brilliant uniqueness, the crisp pillow coral is endangered. Currently, the IUCN declared it vulnerable. Reasons for its increasing disappearance is all because of global warming, a man-made issue.  The rising heat causes coral bleaching, which means vital algae for the colonies is taken away. Now, the corals are vulnerable to harmful diseases. Destructive storms caused by climate change damages the coral reefs, leaving only few to survive. Pollution, fishing, human activity, and invasive species introduced by people also participate in the declining population. A species of starfish preys primarily on the crisp pillow coral because of loss of other coral reefs, due to climate change and global warming.

However, there are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell people about the crisis.
2. Stop polluting the earth. Use less fossil fuel and save electricity.
3. If you snorkel/reef often, try not to damage the coral reefs.
4. Start a petition and get people to sign it.

Help the crisp pillow coral!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL 

Help the Killer Whales!

Help the Killer Whales!

    Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the killer whales. Killer whales, or orcas, are actually in the dolphin group, but still are whales (because the suborder with dolphins belong in the whale order). These orcas are what many people consider majestic, but many people still believe that these gentle creatures are murderers, and no they do not randomly attack. Since the killer whale is a large species, they have a large diet. The organisms in their food include squids, seals, seabirds, and sometimes, whales. Each pod of killer whales have a distinct communication call, so a mother killer whale can easily contact back with her baby.

    Currently, it is unsure by scientists if the orca whale is endangered. However, it is believed by some that their population is decreasing and they one day will be extinct. The main reasons of a declining population would be most likely habitat loss and decrease in food source. The habitat loss is likely to be cause by pollution because of human activities. The trash we give out pollutes the ocean, making it sometimes unable to live in. The food source also can be because of climate change, again, caused by humans. The warmth of the ocean waters can cause some organisms to migrate to different areas of the ocean, which causes some of the prey that the killer whale depends on to migrate also. Soon, they would have no more food left.

    There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell someone.
2. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
3. Stop using so much fossil fuel. Try walking or biking for a change.
4. Pollute less and start picking up more trash.

Help the killer whales!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Polar Bears!

Help the Polar Bear!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping polar bears. Polar bears are the largest carnivorous mammal living on the earth, meaning that they are the largest mammal that eats meat on lives on land. The polar bear, or Ursus Maritimus, lives in arctic regions of the Earth, including Alaska, Northern Canada, Norway, and the North Pole.

          Polar bears are adapted to such freezing temperatures. These polar bears have tiny ears, which is a benefit because it makes them harder to see in the snow and it’s harder for them to freeze off. They don’t necessarily need to hear for predators, since they’re the highest on the food chain, but they can still sense for other animals because of their keen sense of smell. Their paws have a rough pad underneath them, which helps them hunt more efficiently and swim easily. They also aid these bears spread their weight on ice so they don’t fall in the water, and to grip the ice around them.

          However, these polar bears won’t be seen more often in the future. Because of humans, their environment is disappearing. The burning of fossil fuels caused by people is the main reason why these polar bears are soon to be extinct. The use of automobiles and electricity is why these poor animals are dying away. The greenhouse gases caused warms the Earth’s climate, and the temperatures in the Arctic regions rise. The ice would melt, and polar bears wouldn’t have a place to live anymore.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1.     Spread the word.

2.    Start a petition and get people to sign it.

3.    Stop using so much fossil fuel. Cars, computers, and light bulbs use fossil fuel. Try walking or biking to short distances for a change.

4.    Plant more trees to spread oxygen instead of more carbon dioxide.

 

Help the polar bears!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Panda!

Help the Panda!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping pandas. The panda lives in the deep mountainous forests of Southwest China of the Yangtze Basin. They are easily recognized because of their black and white body with their dark patches around their eyes. The panda is a peaceful creature of the bear family, and is China’s pride. Their diet mainly consists of bamboo stalks and they eat most of the day. This species of animal is very big, even though when they are born the baby is about the size of a stick of butter. Their height reaches four feet high and weigh to about 200-300 pounds.

          However, the panda is disappearing fast. According to IUCN, the panda is currently endangered. They have a high risk factor of becoming extinct in the near future! Pandas are essential for the ecosystem of the forests in China. They spread seeds around when they eat and attach to their fur, and they fall off soon to reach the earth. Without bamboo in the forests, other species of animal will also soon die out too. The panda is also necessary of China’s economy by attracting tourists to see them in the national parks. Their forests are being cut down for railroads and roads, separating the population and decreasing the chances to mate. Deforestation of the bamboo also takes away their diet. Poaching is also a major problem when a poacher accidentally shoots a panda when instead aiming for a different animal.

          There are so many ways to help the pandas. You could:

1. Spread the word and tell people.
2. Donate to preserves or organizations that help pandas.
3. Boycott products that use bamboo.
4. Start a petition. Get people to sign it.

Help the Panda!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Orangutan!

Help the Orangutans!

    Hello, this is IGL and this post is about the orangutan. Kristine, as the writer, is very excited to write about her favorite animal. Orangutans are found in Malaysia and Indonesia, including the island of Sumatra and Borneo. They live in the rainforests’ trees in most of the time in their lives. Their beautiful mahogany-red fur distincts the orangutans’ looks. They are the largest arboreal ape mammal, not monkey. Orangutans are not monkeys because apes have tails, are larger, and have bigger chests. They can carry their 200 pound weight with their large arms. They are highly intelligent and alike humans in so many ways. In fact, it has recently been discovered that orangutans share about 95% of humans’ genes. “Orangutan” (derived from “orang hutan”) means “man of the forest” in the Malay language. They are solitary except for the time females care for their babies. Their diet consists mainly of fruits like durian (a stinky but delicious fruit), wild plum, figs, rambutan (a hairy-like fruit with red on the outside but squishy and white in the inside), mangosteen (a strange-looking whitish fruit), and jackfruit (yellow and large). They also eat certain insects like termites and parts of some plants. Orangutans get their water supply by drinking through holes in the trees and sleep on vegetational made nests in treetops. Most adult males have flanges, which are large cheek pads that rounds their face. However, some males don’t have flanges, looking like an adult female. There are two species of orangutans: the Bornean and the Sumatran. They differ a bit in characteristics and behavior. Borneans have less facial hair than the Sumatran and larger cheek flanges. They also walk down on the forest floor, which is difficult for orangutans to do because of their short legs and incredibly large arms. Sumatrans also have more social bonds.

    Both the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are declining. The Bornean is endangered and the Sumatran is critically endangered. They matter to the world because when they eat the fruits, they also eat the seeds. In their feces they decompose the seeds, spreading around on the soil. If orangutans disappear, many tree species will disappear too. Their habitat is also being taken away. The demand in the world’s commerce of palm oil has endangered these creatures. In many food products such as certain brands of mayonnaise, some lotions, and some companies of greek yogurt, palm oil is found. Palm oil is one of the most cheapest oils to be developed, and many product companies try to hide the fact by putting in the ingredients something different, like “glyceryl stearate” or “vegetable oil”. Palm oil originates from the plant the oil palm. The oil palm grows the best in rainforests, so the trees are being cut down to make space for oil palm plantations. More and more palm oil plantations are being formed, and less trees are growing to help the orangutans. Note: palm kernels, palm kernel oil, or anything that has the word “palm” is most likely from oil palms. You’d be surprised how much products you have in your house that has the ingredients “palm oil”. Since they’re big and slow, they are shot in retaliation. They are also shot when they come to farms and accidentally damage the crops. Baby orangutans are also taken as exotic pets by shooting the mothers and taking the babies into the exotic pet trade. Even though laws are passed to illegalize exotic pet trade, people still do so secretly in the black market. In Indonesia, orangutan skulls are also traded in the black market. Orangutans are also being hunted as bushmeat, or “gourmet” food.

    You can always help the orangutans. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell people about the orangutans.
2. Start a petition. Get people to sign it.
3. Donate to organizations that help orangutans.
4. Boycott against the exotic pet trade.
5. Sparingly use paper.
6. Try not to use palm oil or products with ingredients from the oil palm.
7. Boycott skull trading.
8. Go against bushmeat.
9. Support zoo programs that help orangutans.

HELP THE ORANGUTANS!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Elephant!

Help the Elephant!

    Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the elephants. The elephant is one of the most well-known animals of the world. Their remarkable huge bodies, tusks, and tree trunk-like legs make them more likeable. There are two types of the elephant: the African and Asian elephant. They look alike, but there are many features that differ between them. The African elephant has larger ears than the Asian and only the males have tusks. The Asian elephant has a significant bump on their head and both female and male have tusks. Elephants attract tourists to Africa to see the beautiful wild animal creature.

    Elephants are vital to the ecosystem. They eat the seeds of about ⅓ of all the tree species in their area. They spread the seeds around in their feces and helps the soil, enriching the dirt with minerals and nutrients for the plants. They trek through the savannas and forests, helping the wildlife.

    However, these animals are disappearing. They are being poached for their tusks, also known as ivory. For many years, the government has tried to stop illegal poaching, but the process still goes on today. The ivory is sold in black markets to make jewelry. The African elephant is currently vulnerable and the Asian elephant is endangered. The Asian elephant has four subspecies, and all of them are threatened in the wild. Human development is causing habitat loss, which is taking up their food, the vegetation. Roads and canals are replaced instead of trees. Conflict brings out when an elephant is seen in civilization and elephants or people can be hurt. They are also being captured for timber use and males without tusks have a low breeding chance.

    You can always help the elephant. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell people about it.
2. Donate to organizations that help elephants.
3. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
4. Boycott ivory and advocate against it.
5. Stop riding elephants for tourist attraction.

Help the elephant!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Chimpanzee!

Help the Chimpanzee!

    Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the chimpanzee. The chimpanzee lives deep in the Congo Basin in Africa, and is one of the world’s most intelligent animals ever. In fact, they are much like humans. They share about 98% of humans’ DNA, and many characteristics in their lifestyle and behavior show how much they are alike us. They care for their children for a long period of time and they live for more than fifty years. They have the knowledge to make tools, like sticking a twig in a termite hole to get their food. Even though they spend their life in trees, they can walk on their feet for a mile.

    Although humans aren’t so different from chimpanzees, we are the reason for pushing them into extinction. They are currently in a status of “endangered” for many reasons in human development. In Africa, people are eating chimps as bushmeat. Bushmeat is when the people hunt an endangered wild animal as food. Even though bushmeat is primarily used for people in poverty that can’t find anything else to eat, chimpanzee has become a common food source for wealthy residents, like how people eat wild animals and say it’s “gourmet”. But that’s not the only contributing factor. Young chimpanzee babies are being traded as exotic pets, and people don’t know how to take care of it properly, endangering its life. The Ebola Virus Disease is affecting many chimpanzee’s lives, causing multiple fatal deaths.

    There are many ways to help the chimpanzee. You could:

1. Donate to organizations that help this species.
2. Spread the word and tell people about it.
3. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
4. Boycott bushmeat and illegal hunting.
5. Go against the exotic pet trade.
6. Tell people about the Ebola Virus Disease.

Help the chimpanzee!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Bighorn Sheep!

Help the Bighorn Sheep!

Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Bighorn sheep. The Bighorn sheep are known for their great ability to climb high, rocky regions and keep their stability to this adaptation. They have “big horns”, just as their name suggests, which are only found males. These North American animals travel in herds that carry about five to fifteen sheeps in amount. Their diet consists of North American plants, such as the willow and  rabbit brush, while the Bighorn sheep that live in the heated deserts of North America eat certain plants such as cacti.

While there are some animals that prey on Bighorn sheep, that isn’t the major problem this species has to face. Habitat loss is a contributing factor to the declining population of the Bighorn sheep. Domesticated sheep takes up their environment. These farm sheep eat most of the food available for the wild species of sheep and  spread pneumonia, a disease that makes breathing difficult.

There are many ways to help the Bighorn sheep. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell people you know about Bighorn sheep.
2. Donate to organizations that help this species.
3. “Adopt” the Bighorn sheep at:  http://www.defenders.org/bighorn-sheep/what-you-can-do
4. Start a petition and get people to sign it.

Help save the Bighorn sheep!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

 

Help the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly!

Help the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly. The Bay Checkerspot Butterfly has a glorious pattern on the back of the wings that resembles somewhat like a tiger’s face. They are pretty small, with a wingspan of two inches. The Bay Checkerspot Butterfly is found in the San Francisco Bay Area, and also Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. This butterfly species rests on a host plant, and always has to be a native plant species to the area. During springtime, the females lay eggs on the plant and after a week, they hatch to caterpillars. The caterpillars are black and orange, with a little bit of hair. They feast on dwarf plantain, and during the summer when the plants die, they enter a period of dormancy. They crawl under rocks to protect themselves from predators. They awaken the next spring and form into a chrysalis. A few weeks later, they become full-grown butterflies. The average lifespan is one year.

          The Bay Checkerspot Butterflies were once abundant in the area. However, during the late ‘90s and 2000’s, the population declined drastically. Scientists discovered later that the nitrogen gas from cars in the nearby highways was causing the change. The soil was abnormally enriched and invasive plants move into the field, overpopulating the native plant species that the butterfly needs to survive on. The status of the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly is unknown, but most likely in the endangered or vulnerable status. After attempts to repopulate the butterfly, finally in 2013, 699 of the butterflies were found.

          There are many ways to help this butterfly. You could:

1. Donate to organizations that help the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly. http://www.friendsofedgewood.org/donate
2. Spread the word.
3. Start a petition and get people to sign it.
4. Try to not use cars so much anymore.

Help the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the American Burying Beetle!

Help the American Burying Beetle!

          Hello, this is IGL, and this post is about the American Burying Beetle. The American Burying Beetle once was very abundant and was present in thirty-five states. However, this species of insect is now only seen in six states of the United States. The beetle was placed in the endangered animals list in August of 1938, which his very sad. The American Burying Beetle is sort of black with orange wings. They are nocturnal and can detect dead carcasses of animals an hour after it dies and two miles away. The beetles group together and carry the carcass to a hole where they bury the body so other insects can’t eat their food.

          The American Burying Beetle was once prosperous, but now is very scarce. According to Endangered American Burying Beetle Update, there are only less than a thousand of these bugs present in population today. The use of pesticides has depleted their population. Less prey also contributes to the loss. Certain species of birds have gone extinct because of land change and the American Burying Beetle preyed on those species of bird in the past.

          You can help the American Burying Beetle. You Could:

1.     Donate to organizations that support this species of insect.

2.    Spread the word.

3.    Make a petition and get people to sign it.

4.    Support the Saint Louis Zoo’s program, which is to reproduce the beetles in captivity then release them into the wild.

5.    Decrease your own use of pesticides.

 

Help the American Burying Beetle!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL