Suggested activity:

• Choose a local Florida species and assign research to connect the animal’s physical needs to our native habitat (especially to trees, forests and wetlands).
• Then, choose an endangered or threatened species and have students compare:
•  how deforestation, and
• fragmentation (the reduction of the native forest and forested animal corridors into isolated, remote pockets), and
• environmental factors have imperiled the endangered or threatened animal.

Expand research to include a discussion of how reduced genetic diversity weakens animal colonies and makes them vulnerable to disease, decline and death.

Suggested identification and inquiries as to animals selected:

• Number of types of theats to the animal
• Scientific name
• Can it migrate? 
  • If so, where?
• Current status, threatened, endangered, etc.
• Unusual facts or features
• Name family, genus and species
• Local issues involving this animal
• What is its habitat and range?
• What protective measures exist?
  • Suggestions for future measures, can tie into government studies and functions
• Complete description of animal
  • Photographs, illustrations, videos
• Current number of animals known to exist                 
• Primary and secondary foods and diet           
• Reproduction patterns

Some endangered/threatened Florida animals:

• American alligator
• Gray Bat
• Shaus Swallowtail Butterfly
• Audubon’s Crested Caracava
• Whooping Crane           
• American crocodile
• Bald eagle
• Florida scrub jay
• Anastasia Island Beach Mouse     
• Florida panther
• Green sea turtle
• Leatherback turtle
• Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
• Roseate tern
• Wood Stork
• Red-cockaded woodpecker