GREENZINE - news about environmental programs for children

Ranger Rick, Oct, 2000

ANIMALS IN THE NEWS!

TURTLE TURNAROUND?

Things may be looking up for the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle - especially at their favorite nesting beach in Mexico.

In the past, people, coyotes, or sea birds there often grabbed turtle eggs or hatchlings. So teams of Mexicans and Americans have been helping the turtles out. Each day they patrol the nesting beach. When they find some newly laid turtle eggs, they put them in protected areas. And now the number of turtle nests is more than double what it was 20 years ago.

But the turtles still have their troubles, especially at sea. They sometimes get caught in shrimp nets. Many Kemp's ridleys also get tangled up in floating fishing lines and trash - or run over by ships. So people still need to try harder to help these turtles.

PRAIRIE PATCH

Once, much of our Midwest was wild prairie. Mile after mile of grasses and wildflowers waved in the breeze. Millions of buffalo ate the plants, and thousands of wolves ate the buffalo. Prairie dogs and burrowing owls were everywhere. But today 99% of that prairie is gone. People plowed it under for farms or covered it with buildings and roads.

Could anything be done to bring back a piece of that beautiful wild place? Some middle-schoolers in Carlinville, Illinois, sure thought so!

The students decided to raise money to buy some land. So they held raffles and put on displays - until they had about $2,000.

But then a farmer surprised them - by giving them 10 acres. So the students put their money to work another way. They bought and planted all kinds of native prairie grasses and wildflowers.

You can bet those kids were standing tall - and proud - when their little patch of prairie took root!

VIRTUAL FISH

A new exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston (above) is really cool! It's called Virtual FishTank.TM Here visitors can create their own computerized or "virtual" fish and tell it how to behave. Then they see how their fish gets along - or doesn't - with other "living things" in the tank. To check it out, go to this Web site:

www.mos.org/exhibits/current_exhibits/virtualfishtank

GO FOR IT!

Maybe your class or school club has helped solve a local environmental problem. If so, then you may want to go for one of the Sea World/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2001. For a brochure, get an adult to call 1-877-792-4332. Or go to www.seaworld.org

on their Web site and click on "Environmental Excellence Awards."

THIS ZOO'S FOR YOU!

Have you ever dreamed about someday working at a zoo? Or have you just wondered what it's like behind the scenes at one? Here's a way to find out and even "meet" some real zoo workers. Just log on to the San Diego Zoo's Web site at

www.sandiegozoo.org/wildideas/kids/job_profiles.html

CHECK IT OUT

I Spy . . . Fall's a great time of year to check out what's been hidden in the trees and shrubs in your neighborhood. For example, you might spot a bird's nest, now empty. Most songbirds build cup-shaped nests. Some nests are tucked in tree forks, and others hang from branches.

Way high up in trees, you might spy a squirrel's nest. It's a large, messy pile of sticks and leaves.

If you peek carefully into dense evergreen shrubs, you might be surprised. Some birds build nests in sheltered spots like this.

Just remember, it's OK to look, but leave all nests where you find them.

Fall Sounds

Listen for the chirping of crickets at night. They're really noisy this time of year. Males "sing" by rubbing their two front wings together. Different songs mean different things. Some are to attract mates, and some tell other males to stay away. Notice the temperature and how fast the crickets chirp: On warmer nights, they chirp faster. Listen carefully through the fall. And then, one cold and frosty night, all will be silent. Could it be the end of the cricket chorus for the season?

KIDS CAN

TRY IT!