If you'd like to be added to our email list to be advised when we're having talks at the library or of any events, please send us an email to northportfowl@gmail.com We do not share your email information.
February 20, 6pm - 7:30pm, NPFOWL welcomes Terry Root to speak on why plastics and wildlife shouldn't mix. We will meet at the Shannon Staub Library in North Port, located at 4675 Career Lane, North Port, FL.
Because of the plastic trash from one species, humans, uncountable innocent wildlife victims suffer throughout the oceans and on land.
The plastic polymer was invented in 1907 and other than what has been burned, all that plastic still exits.
Indeed, we have created over 8 billion tons of plastic since 1907. About one million plastic bags are used each minute around the world.
About 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into the oceans each year. One hundred percent of the sea salt tested had micro plastics in it. So, whenever you have sea salt you are also eating plastic.
Marine animals that are most commonly impacted by plastics include sea turtles, seals and seal lions, seabirds, fish, and whales and porpoises. Land animals hurt by plastics run the gamut, from turtles to birds to mammals. By far the single-use plastics are the worst, such as bags, straws and bottles.
We can easily change our habits, such as instead of using plastic wrap, we can use dish covers, which can be washed and reused numerous times. Also, cut open anything plastic that forms a circle, like 6-pack beer-can holders, that can accidentally slip over an animal’s head.
We can make a BIG difference, we just need to care enough to do it.
About Terry Root:
Terry L. Root is Senior Fellow (University Faculty) Emerita in Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. Her research addressed how plants and animals are changing with the changing climate. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change 4th Assessment Report that in 2007 was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Vice President Al Gore. Also, she was a lead author for the 3rd Assessment Report (2001) and a Review Editor for the 5th Assessment Report (2014). In addition to other honors, Root was awarded the Spirit of Defenders Award for Science by Defenders of Wildlife in 2010, and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the conservation organization Point Blue. She serves as science advisor to several non-governmental organizations, has served on the boards of many environmental organizations, and is currently science advisor of numerous organizations like American Wind and Wildlife Institute and serves on the board of the National Audubon as a Director and as Assistant Secretary.
Root earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of New Mexico, her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Colorado and her doctorate in Biology from Princeton University. She was a Professor at the University of Michigan for 14 years, until she moved to Stanford University where she was on the faculty for 15 years. She retired and moved to Sarasota, FL, in the summer of 2015. When not giving talks and dabbling still in scientific research, she is actively pursuing her hobby of throwing pottery on the wheel.
March 20, 6pm - 7:30pm Mollie Holland on how to properly care for retention ponds and waterways and to keep them free from stormwater runoff. Mollie works for Sarasota County. More details to follow.
February 20, 6pm - 7:30pm, NPFOWL welcomes Terry Root to speak on why plastics and wildlife shouldn't mix. We will meet at the Shannon Staub Library in North Port, located at 4675 Career Lane, North Port, FL.
Because of the plastic trash from one species, humans, uncountable innocent wildlife victims suffer throughout the oceans and on land.
The plastic polymer was invented in 1907 and other than what has been burned, all that plastic still exits.
Indeed, we have created over 8 billion tons of plastic since 1907. About one million plastic bags are used each minute around the world.
About 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into the oceans each year. One hundred percent of the sea salt tested had micro plastics in it. So, whenever you have sea salt you are also eating plastic.
Marine animals that are most commonly impacted by plastics include sea turtles, seals and seal lions, seabirds, fish, and whales and porpoises. Land animals hurt by plastics run the gamut, from turtles to birds to mammals. By far the single-use plastics are the worst, such as bags, straws and bottles.
We can easily change our habits, such as instead of using plastic wrap, we can use dish covers, which can be washed and reused numerous times. Also, cut open anything plastic that forms a circle, like 6-pack beer-can holders, that can accidentally slip over an animal’s head.
We can make a BIG difference, we just need to care enough to do it.
About Terry Root:
Terry L. Root is Senior Fellow (University Faculty) Emerita in Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. Her research addressed how plants and animals are changing with the changing climate. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change 4th Assessment Report that in 2007 was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Vice President Al Gore. Also, she was a lead author for the 3rd Assessment Report (2001) and a Review Editor for the 5th Assessment Report (2014). In addition to other honors, Root was awarded the Spirit of Defenders Award for Science by Defenders of Wildlife in 2010, and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the conservation organization Point Blue. She serves as science advisor to several non-governmental organizations, has served on the boards of many environmental organizations, and is currently science advisor of numerous organizations like American Wind and Wildlife Institute and serves on the board of the National Audubon as a Director and as Assistant Secretary.
Root earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of New Mexico, her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Colorado and her doctorate in Biology from Princeton University. She was a Professor at the University of Michigan for 14 years, until she moved to Stanford University where she was on the faculty for 15 years. She retired and moved to Sarasota, FL, in the summer of 2015. When not giving talks and dabbling still in scientific research, she is actively pursuing her hobby of throwing pottery on the wheel.
March 20, 6pm - 7:30pm Mollie Holland on how to properly care for retention ponds and waterways and to keep them free from stormwater runoff. Mollie works for Sarasota County. More details to follow.
Below shares some fun where a gopher tortoise burrow is being inspected by a young visitor. The City of North Port Public Works department has been great environmental stewards which has been demonstrated by their care to protect the city's tortoises.