Thank you!

This class has been a fantastic experience! I have learned so much about sustainability, gained my sense of place, and gotten involved with an animal rescue. Sustainability is so much more than "going green", we need to respect wildlife, other people, and use resources responsibly. When I first moved here, I didn't think Fort Myers was all that great. But now I know it's full of history, with a lot of influential people living here. There are also a diverse and unique habitats here, and it's been a lot of fun to explore them. Shy Wolf Sanctuary has been one of the best things to happen in this class. I am going to continue volunteering, even though all my hours are done. I am glad I have taken this class, even though it's required. I feel like I learned a lot and I can have intelligent conversations with people about those topics. I just want to say thank you for teaching us so much! And, as I have said, I have changed my ways to become more sustainable so that we can have this environment for the next genertations.

Otter Crossing

(http://www.picable.com/Signs/Unusual-Road-Signs---Otters-Crossing.5098)

I was driving home last night and a otter crossed the road in a very busy area, right over Estero Parkway Bridge. It was around 1:30 AM and it was also dark, which made it difficult to see it. He was running from an area that used to be woods, but is now cleared for construction. It's going to be an extension of apartments, where a lot of FGCU students live. I've been watching this clearing happening and it made me wonder where all the animals that lived there were going to go, and I guess they are trying to cross the road where there is less than an acre of woods there, which will probably be cut down soon too. This is not the first time I've seen an otter cross this busy road, and it worries me. There is so much construction happening in Florida because of all the people who want to live here, and soon, there may not be a place where these animals can find refuge. It makes me really appreaciate how FGCU has land that they will absolutely not build on. FGCU students can appreciate wildlife and wilderness of Florida right on campus. I just hope the construction and building happening here at least starts to slow down before there are no wooded areas.

My Changes

This class has changed my views on how I live. I used to think being "green" was carpooling and recycling; now I know different. Mostly, the "Footprint" activity showed me, but the readings have also opened my eyes. So this is what I have changed in my lifestyle due to this class:

1. I don't drink from plastic water bottles anymore; I have gotten a reusable bottle.
2. I don't eat as much red meat.
3. I try to eat more locally grown vegetables.
4. I have attempted to grow a vegetable garden at my house.
5. I notice the wildlife and plants more. And I can now identify a lot of them.
6. I try to go on a hike at least once a week and I can't wait to keep exploring all the amazing places and parks in the area.

White-Tailed Deer

SO, for this journal entry I had drawn a picture of deer I had seen a couple days ago. However, my scanner has decided not to work and the scanned picture I have of it isn't able to be put on here. Instead, I'll just tell you what I saw.

I now work at a stable that is in East Fort Myers, a little past CREW if you know where that is. I have to be there at 7 am, which is also when a lot of wildlife is out. As I was driving, I saw a doe with her 2 fawns. They were just grazing on the side of the road where right behind them is a large, open field. I was inspired to draw them because they were just so beautiful and calming. One of the fawns was just laying down taking a nap while the other was exploring(I drove slow so I could watch them for a little bit). I just hope that with all the building going on in Florida, we don't loose the deer. Although there are a lot of them, they are very important to the habitats they live in because they provide food and they create fertilizer, which helps the plants grow. They are such an important part of the Florida wilderness and I always love it when I get to see even one of them.

Sense of Place

Through this class, I have established a sense of place here. I didn't realize how amazing and unique SW Florida is. I went to Ocala for the holidays and that's when I realized how much I appreciate the habitats here. Up North, there was only one habitat, and that was large large trees everywhere. Although beautiful, it was all the same. Down here, there are pine flatwoods, cypress hammocks, wetlands, and more. Plus, there is so much wildlife every you look here, up there I didn't see any animals...other than the occasional squirrel. SW Florida is a remarkable and beautiful place, and I feel lucky to live here.

Sustainability...To Me

From this class, I have learned what sustainability is and what I can do to become sustainable. My idea of sustainability is that we can get all we need from our natural environment. I think of ECHO Farm when I think of this topic. They showed how somebody could grow a garden in any type of environment. They also showed us how to get clean water, irrigation systems, what plants could be used for what, farming animals, and so much more. After visiting there is when I really understood what it means to be sustainable. It is working WITH the land instead of AGAINST it. I have actually started my own garden to try to be more sustainable.

The Florida Panther

(Courtesy of http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/animals/images/fl_panther_all.jpg)

The Florida Panther is a beloved and treasure animal to the state of Florida, as a matter of fact it is our state animal. Many people know that the panther is endangered but there are more reasons to it other than these animals ending up on the side of the road. In this article, http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/article1087962.ece, a scientist finds explains that the main reason are birth defects. "In his May 2008 report, Dr. Mark Cunningham listed three genetic defects — a badly kinked tail, an undescended testicle and, most troubling, a quarter-inch hole in the big cat's heart. Such defects were supposed to be gone from the panther population, vanquished by a bold experiment 15 years ago that involved crossbreeding with Texas cougars". I have never seen a Florida Panther in the wild, and this news is upsetting because I would love to see one. Also, as we learned in this class, that every animal in a habitat has a role to play. If that animal becomes extince, than the food chain becomes unbalanced. With this being such a large predator, this could become a huge problem in Florida if they ever did dissapear.