LandWater Challenge 1 Everglades Avengers Alan Halaly Anna

Land/Water Challenge #1 • Everglades Avengers • Alan Halaly, Anna Bayuk, Leah Ronkin, Sol-Be Park, Aidan Ramasar, and Rebekka Friborg • Coral Springs Middle School • Coral Springs, FL 1

PART 1: What’s the environmental issue? The Everglades Avengers are interested in preventing the release of nonnative species into the Everglades by pet store customers. Nonnative species introduced into the Everglades affect the delicate ecosystem causing the decline in our native species. Species such as the Burmese Python may not have natural predators or outcompete our native species. Burmese Pythons even eat alligators! So the Everglades Avengers say “Keep it Everglades Wild!” 2

PART 2: What’s your action plan? The Everglades Avengers will complete the following tasks: • Conduct research using the internet to find what species sold in pet stores have been released into the Everglades. • Inform other Coral Springs Middle School students of the problem involving nonnative species introduced into the Everglades bought from pet stores by speaking to classes. “Keep it Everglades Wild!” 3

PART 2: What’s your action plan? (continued) • Go into local pet stores and conduct interviews with the manager to see if the store has a policy of providing information and screening customers before pets are sold. • Ask pet stores if a flier can be placed on the community bulletin that promotes, “Keep it Everglades Wild!”. 4

PART 2: What’s your action plan? (continued) • Post fliers in Coral Springs Middle School science classrooms to remind students of our message, “Keep it Everglades Wild!” – All members will be assigned to research, half of the members will go to local pet stores to conduct interviews and post fliers, and the rest will volunteer to speak to other CSMS students through the science classes in order to inform others and post fliers. – Success will be determined by the number of students that hear our message. 5

PART 3: How did you implement your ideas? • Our team researched on the internet and found an extensive resource with detailed information regarding nonnative species present in the Everglades. "Nonnative Species: Florida's Excotic Fish and Wildlife. " Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. N. p. , n. d. Web. 6 Oct 2013. <http: //www. myfwc. com/nonnatives>. • When interviewing a Pet Store manager, we learned of a local effort that places dogs that have been abandoned in the Everglades. This was something we did not expect to learn, but reinforced the seriousness of being a pet owner. "100 Plus Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida. ". 100 Plus Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida, n. d. Web. 6 Oct 2013. <http: /100 plusabandoneddogsofevergladesflorida. com/>. 6

PART 3: How did you implement your ideas? (continued) • Students visited science classes at CSMS and informed others about releasing nonnative species into the Everglades. • Fliers were posted in each science classroom to remind students to “Keep it Everglades Wild!” 7

PART 3: How did you implement your ideas? (continued) • Fliers were posted at the following locations: Pet Supplies Plus 1368 SW 160 Ave Sunrise, FL 33326 And Pet Supermarket 4555 Weston Rd. Davie, FL 3331 • Juan Mejia, the store manager at Pet Supplies Plus reviewed the policies that are reviewed before they sell pets. He added that they are very concerned about the health and wellbeing of their animals and do all they can to ensure responsible pet ownership. 8

PART 4: Evaluate your plan. What are the results? Our team felt that our efforts were successful. The pet stores were very supportive and concerned about the welfare of these animals just as we were. The managers were glad to speak with us and volunteered to put up our fliers. We were worried that the pet stores would not care for us to be asking questions, but we were very pleasantly surprised. 9

PART 4: Evaluate your plan. What are the results? (continued) Members spoke to other sixth graders at Coral Springs Middle School going into the science classrooms. Fliers were posted in each one of these classrooms. The total number of students that are now aware of our efforts is approximately 370. The members would like to continue to expand our reach and plan to visit seventh and eight grade science classrooms. Fliers were also given to the sixth grade assistant principal, D. Karbowski and CSMS principal, Ian Murray. 10

PART 4: Evaluate your plan. What are the results? (continued) The Everglades Avengers learned a number of things from our efforts. The most important being that our Everglades are a national treasure and we must work to preserve it. Nonnative species will impact our ecosystem and may change it forever, losing our heritage. Our South Florida community needs to be more responsible when it comes to caring for our animals. 11

What will your team/school/teacher advisor do with their winnings? • All students involved in the Lexus Eco Challenge will use their proceeds to purchase technology for education. • Coral Springs Middle School’s winnings will be used to purchase science equipment for the science department. • Winnings for the teacher advisor will be used to acquire technology to improve the learning environment. 12

y r e ll a G t c e oj t ou y a Pr Please help prevent the release of nonnative species into the Everglades. Nonnative species that include birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, amphibians, and marine life impact the Everglades ecosystem. Nonnative species like the Burmese Python prey on native species of birds, mammals, and even alligators! L r ie Fl Keep it “Everglades Wild”! Take advantage of the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program and bring in exotic pets that you can no longer afford or wish to keep. Next Amnesty Event: Saturday, November 16, 2013 10 a. m. until 2 p. m. Florida Panther Festival, http: //www. floridapantherfestival. com/index. html North Collier Regional Park 15000 Livingston Road Naples, Fl 34119 Brought to you by the Everglades Avengers 13

Project Gallery Recorded interview of pet store manager 14

The Everglades Avengers say, “Keep it Everglades Wild”! 15