A Rare Beauty

I picked the Western Painted turtles because they are cool and colourful. The painted turtles live in habitats such as ponds, marshes, small lakes, ditches and sluggish streams that usually have muddy bottoms and lots of aquatic plants. These turtles usually live in areas from southern BC to Nova Scotia, and all the way south to Kansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The risks to these endangered species are that they require- wetlands and ponds for hiding and foraging. This habitat is found in very few places within their range because of construction. Deterioration and destruction of their habitat, through pollution, waterway interference and urbanization, is their major threat. The habitats for the Western Painted turtles are usually modified to fit human needs and not theirs. I don't want to see these turtles disappear from the earth forever because of us. Changes we can make are protecting where they live. Taking their homes away from them, prevents the turtles from reproducing. We also need to avoid disturbing them or their habitats. We need to restore their habitats and remove their predators from these areas. I learned that Western Painted turtles are cool by going to a bible camp called SYC and kayaking in the Gardom Lake with my friends. We found turtles swimming in the lake; it was so much fun! I LOVE WESTERN PAINTED TURTLES! There are only 49 different painted turtle species and only 800 to 900 painted turtles estimated left.

Savannah, Grade 9

One Flame

My animal is the Flammulated Owl; a small bird that weighs roughly  55 to 65 grams. This bird is at risk from our lumber industries, as well as pesticides and poisons. This art work shows an Owl in a world were everything is fading away and blending into nothing. It symbolizes the Flammulatd Owl's loss of home and their depravity of life. Us humans might realize, one day, that we could have stopped and changed our ways of dealing with these animals, but by then it will be too late.

Taylor, Grade 9

Spirit Bear Facing Extinction

In my artwork, the spirit bear depicted has its four paws submerged in oil. The spirit bears are greatly threatened by a proposal to make a pipeline across their coast. Behind the spirit bear are several tall buildings, this is to show that we are taking over their home and logging their habitat for our own selfish reasons. I hope people understand that these beautiful bears and other mystical animals must be protected and we must take action or we may never see these creatures again. Spirit bears live solely on the coast of British Columbia and are known for their unique white coat. If we continue to pillage and log this coast, we will wipe out the salmon, the spirit bears source of food, and will be taking their ideal hibernating and denning habitat. This animal faces extinction if we do not stop logging this coast or using it for our selfish wants. Legislation could improve their situation by making laws to protect this coast and the small population (200) of spirit bears left in the world. I would like to see the endangered animals of BC living in harmony with us. We need to respect and care for these animals, not rob them of their lives. I have learnt from this process that we can take action and we must do something to save these fast dying numbers of endangered species.

Heather, Grade 9