Big Cypress National Preserve

Big cats are some of the most beautiful animals on the face of the planet. Their strength and agility are stunning. Yet, in spite of these attributes, many big cats have been faced with a variety of obstacles that have hindered their healthy lifestyles. The Florida panther has been especially affected by these obstacles. In the November 1997 issue of National Parks, Yvette La Pierre’s description of the Florida panther in her article entitled “On the edge: Florida panthers, which once roamed the southeastern states, have been reduced to one population” is sad because it reveals that the Florida panther population has been greatly harmed as a result of pollutants, habitat loss, and inbreeding. Pollutants have been an especially major issue for the Florida panther in recent years. Places such as large farms and factories produce great quantities of pesticides and chemicals—many of which end up in the waterways of the Florida panthers’ habitat. While modern crop and item production methods have greatly benefited society, these practices have come with a cost. Yvette La Pierre reports, “scientists have found high levels of mercury in some dead panthers” (44). Instances such…

Denali National Park is best known for its highest peak, Denali, or “the high one”, that reaches 20,320 feet tall. Each summer, tourists flock to the park, jump on tour buses, and cruise along the roads in guided tours to sightsee. Each year, more than 400,000 people visit the park to hike, catch a glimpse of the highest peak, see animals, and much more. In 1917, after many efforts, many headed by naturalist Charles Sheldon, Denali National Park was created. The park holds many wonders, like the…

Burmese pythons—an invasive species in south Florida—could find comfortable climatic conditions in roughly a third of the United States according to new "climate maps" developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Although other factors such as type of food available and suitable shelter also play a role, Burmese pythons and other giant constrictor snakes have shown themselves to be highly adaptable to new environments. The just-released USGS maps can help natural resource agencies manage and…

habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation (National Park Service, n.d.). We need to recognize the signs and figure out how the stop the extinctions of today’s ecosystem. To get an idea of the shape and characteristics of a mature Florida panther, picture a large cat that has no spots and consists of mainly one color. Each Felis concolor consists of a solid tan body with a dark brown streak down its spine.…

improved by the government to improve water transportation. The government’s main motivation in acquiring certain structures in U.S cities were the recent New Deal policies that were created at the time to support impoverished farmers, large-scale irrigation projects and establish new national parks. Congress started many small land and natural resource projects to prevent erosion and stilting in forestland around the country. Specific projects were also conducted to acquire property in St.…