Natural disasters, invasive species, and people have one thing in common: the ability to affect an ecosystem and our native species. What is special about people is that we can help the creatures that dwell on the beach, in the forest, and in the wetlands, but we rarely do it. Florida’s native animals are dying because of our actions and inaction. The main reasons why animals are dying are habitat loss and fragmentation. Even though hurricanes and the Burmese python can throw an ecosystem off balance, human expansion—building a parking lot for a theme park on top of an alligator’s nest—is a disappointing act and an insult to the animals that live there.
Humans are the primary drivers of habitat loss, which happens when land is cleared to plant farms, build residential areas, industrial factories, etc. This destruction pushes animals out of their homes, and they often have nowhere to go. One tragic example is the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet, native to the southeastern United States. Deforestation to make room for farmland and hunting for their feathers led to its downfall in the early 20th century. Sadly, this is happening to many other species like the Florida Panther, the West Indian Manatee, and the Florida Scrub Jay, who depend on their habitat to eat, breed, and thrive, and as housing and roads expand, the limited space for the animals will be more fragmented. Without intervention, our natives will go extinct too.
In addition to destroying the animals’ homes, people’s carelessness is slowly making their habitat unlivable. Littering is an example of how little effort we put into preserving our environment. Trash that is carelessly discarded can poison wildlife and pollute their water sources. Not only does the waste entangle and suffocate animals, but it also breaks down into microplastics, which are commonly ingested by fish, sea turtles, and many more marine life by accident, which causes internal injuries and poisoning. Over time, these microplastics can build up in the food chain and affect more creatures and humans. If our negligence isn’t stopped, we will inadvertently kill tens of thousands of creatures and humans along with them.
Florida’s ecosystems are under attack, not just from natural disasters or invasive species but from our careless, destructive, and often preventable actions. Hundreds of thousands of wildlife lose their homes because we need to expand our expressways or construct more housing, and our laziness and negligence of waste disposal should not be left unnoticed. On the bright side, we have the power to reverse some of the damage we have done. By reducing, reusing, and recycling your plastics, properly disposing of your trash, participating in community cleanup efforts, and advocating for eco-friendly urban planning, we can make a major impact on a better and more sustainable future.