Latest news with #GreaterGood
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary rebuilt after hurricanes thanks to Greater Good Charities
The Brief The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary was rebuilt after the recent hurricanes thanks to Greater Good Charities. When a wounded or injured bird is found, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary takes them in to rehabilitate and care for them until they can be released back into the wild. Greater Good's Pet Program and Construction Team brought in the lift vehicles, netting and other construction equipment to rebuild the outdoor aviary enclosures. INDIAN SHORES, Fla. - When a wounded or injured bird is found, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary takes them in to rehabilitate and care for them until they can be released back into the wild. But when the 2024 hurricanes sacked the Pinellas coast, it was more than the small non-profit could handle on their own. "Hurricane Helene and Milton really was a two punch for us," shared Melissa Edwards. She is the Avian Hospital Director at the Sanctuary. "Helene flooded all of our buildings (and) all of our enclosures; and then Milton really did some damage to the netting that makes up all of our seabird enclosures." The backstory If they had been a traditional business, they would have been out of business. However, those same hurricanes caused injuries to birds, and the venue is the home to 100 birds that cannot be released due to the nature of their injuries; so shutting down was not an option. "We had over $600,000 in damages after both storms, and that's a lot for a small non-profit," admitted Edwards. READ: Incredible Duck Race raises money for Kiwanis Club of Tampa Volunteers helped with the physical cleanup of the property and donations helped to fund the renovation work for the structures. However, some of the bird enclosures required technical help that was beyond the skill level of local volunteers. That's where Greater Good Charities was able to help. What they're saying "We love working with other non-profits that are doing great work like this," shared Zach Baker of Greater Good Charities, "Because we can take our construction expertise and come in and get them back on their feet; so they can do what they do really well." Greater Good's Pet Program and Construction Team brought in the lift vehicles, netting and other construction equipment to rebuild the outdoor aviary enclosures. "This has just been a huge amount of netting," said Baker, "It's a 3rd of a mile of rigging that's been going up, just a ton of material. Our construction team that is here now specializes in renovating for animals." In the course of just a few days the entire outdoor habitat area was repaired or rebuilt, and all for free. "To be able to have another non-profit who helps so many other organizations supporting wildlife and animals," stated Edwards, "It's really humbling that they saw our purpose and really thought it was important enough to help us out." What you can do The facility is open again thanks to all the volunteers and help from other non-profit groups. To learn more about the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary to visit or support them financially, you can click here. To learn more about Greater Good Charities and their mission around the world, you can visit their website. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Travis Anthony. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists' stunning observation of hybrid 'grolar' bear sparks concern: 'Ill-suited to adapt'
As Arctic ice melts and temperatures rise, an unexpected hybrid bear is beginning to shape the shifting landscape: the "grolar" bear. Grolar bears, the offspring of polar and grizzly bears, are rare but striking consequences of climate change. While their emergence raises intriguing questions about wildlife adaptation, as GreaterGood recently covered, it also signals deeper disruptions to ecosystems that could have lasting effects on wildlife and human communities alike. Polar and grizzly bears once occupied distinct habitats, with polar bears living in the Arctic and grizzly bears in tundras and forests farther south. But as the Arctic warms, polar bears are being pushed inland, where their territory now overlaps with that of grizzlies. This shift has led to the rise of grolar bears, first spotted in 2006 in the western Arctic. Though the hybridization is still rare, experts expect it to increase as climate change accelerates. It's a stark reminder of how climate change is reshaping entire ecosystems and threatening the delicate balance on which both wildlife and human livelihoods depend. Due to a suboptimal combination of traits from their predecessors, grolar bears are poorly suited to both marine and land environments. This makes survival in either habitat far more difficult, drastically reducing their chances of survival. Evan Richardson, who specializes in polar bear research, told Polar Bears International that grolar bears are "ill-suited to adapt" to the habitat of either grizzly or polar bears. Experts warn that as climate change continues, the overlap between grizzly and polar bear habitats will expand, likely leading to more hybridization. But while grolar bears may eventually survive in transitional zones, they cannot fill the ecological roles that polar and grizzly bears play in their respective environments. Furthermore, polar bears face the threat of starvation without sea ice, as seals, which are their primary prey, are inaccessible on land. This has profound consequences not just for polar bears but for the entire food chain in the Arctic. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Conservationists emphasize that protecting polar bear habitats and curbing climate change are urgent priorities to maintain the biodiversity of the Arctic. The Arctic Council is advocating for enhanced conservation measures, while worldwide climate initiatives are working to curb ice melt. There are also steps we can take as individuals to help safeguard the delicate balance of this essential and unique ecosystem. If you want to support Arctic conservation, you can look for organizations that focus on preservation in this area. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
