FLORIDA WILD USA

VOCABULARY

Endangered: danger of loss or injuryEnvironment: total surroundingsProtected: shielded from harm or injury

Many people live in Florida. Many animals

live here, too. People sometimes cause

changes in the environment. Some changes help the animals. Other

changes are problems for them.

THE FLORIDA PANTHER

The Florida panther lives only in Florida.

This panther is endangered. There are only about 60 Florida panthers left in

the wild. Panthers need a lot of space

to hunt and raise their young.

But more and more people are moving into the habitat of the panthers. This

means there are fewer places for panthers to live in Florida.

Now people are trying to help the panthers. They have set aside

places where the panthers’ habitat is

protected. They built fences and crossings on busy roads. These

help to protect panthers.

Wildlife crossings help to protect panthers from being hit by

cars and trucks.

PANTHER

MANATEESFlorida manatees, or sea cows, live in

warm water where sea grass grows, but they breathe air. These “gentle giants,” which are related to elephants, have

wrinkled gray-brown skin. They use their lips the way elephants use their trunks.

But manatees have lost much of their habitat. They are endangered. This is because people have moved to where

the manatees live. The animals get tangled in fishing nets. Sometimes

boats hit the manatees.

Now Florida has laws to protect these animals.

Some people rescue injured manatees. Some people teach others how

to protect these animals.

People can help Florida manatee.

MANATEE

ALLIGATORS

Florida is home to the American alligator, a large reptile related to the crocodile. Alligators live in marshes, swamps, and other wetlands. But the way people use

water can change these wetlands.

This causes problems for alligators. To help, people in Florida are

learning to share their environment with

alligators.

ALLIGATOR