THIS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

FLORIDA IS ON PACE TO BREAK THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF LEPROSY CASES AT THE CENTER FOR THIS UPTICK COULD BE THE RYZEN ARMADILLOS MAKING AN APPEARANCE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUNDS OF MOTOWN ARE COMING TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

MEET THE TRIO OF ARTISTS WHO ARE BRINGING THE RHYTHMS AND HARMONIES OF SOUL MUSIC'S PAST INTO THE MODERN ERA AND GRABBING SOME SMITH'S AND SURPRISES ON THE CANINE CLASS FIELD TRIP.

IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE PLAY TIME THAT THESE PUPS ARE IN PREPARATION MODE AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

HELLO.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

ROUGHLY 100 YEARS AGO, THE 9 BANDED ARMADILLO WAS AN INVASIVE SPECIES TO FLORIDA SPREADING INTO THE ECOSYSTEM AFTER ESCAPING AS EITHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS OR AS PETS.

NOW A DOCTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SAYS THE ARMORED MAMMALS COULD BE ONE REASON FOR THE RISE IN LEPROSY CASES IN FLORIDA.

ALREADY THIS YEAR, THOUGH, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS CONFIRMED 19 CASES OF LEPROSY.

IT'S ON PACE TO PASS THE MODERN HIGH OF 39 CASES FROM 2025.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH SAYS 9 BANDED ARMADILLOS NATURALLY CARRY THE BACTERIA THAT TRANSMITS LEPROSY, WHICH CAN BE SPREAD THROUGH SOIL OR DIRECT CONTACT.

>> FOR MORE, I AM JOINED BY DR.

ONE COMPOST GRAUER A PROFESSOR.

>> AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AT THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> MY PLEASURE.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH THAT.

>> DOCTOR LEPROSY.

>> DATES BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMES.

IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST HUMAN INFECTIONS.

IT'S EVER BEEN RECORDED.

>> WE DON'T HEAR THAT MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL RECENTLY AS CASES SEEM TO BE ON THE RISE.

WHAT IS LEPROSY AND HOW COMMON IS IT?

>> YEARS LIBERTY IS ONE OF THE.

THIS BUT AERIAL INFECTIONS IN HUMANS.

AND IT'S REALLY IT'S ONE OF THE FEW BUT PERIOD INFECTIONS THAT THE RECORD OF RARE 200 THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN THE PAST.

IT'S A VERY DISTINCT ATTIC.

THE SEAS BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HEAR ABOUT IT FROM VERY LONG TIME AGO AND IT CAN AFFECT HUMANS IN THE WAY THAT IT'S VERY SYSTEMATIC.

BUT IT'S NOT.

SUPER SUPER HIGHLY PREVALENT.

IT'S STILL AROUND WONDERFUL MAIN OBJECT THERE.

THE OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS TO ERADICATE LEPROSY FROM THE WORLD AND A CHALLENGE.

BUT IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS IN.

>> WHY ARE WE SEEING MORE CASES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA?

>> WILL IS IN.

THERE.

IT'S NOT FOR THE CLEAR.

ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND LEPROSY CASES IS THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR CENTER FOR THE DOUBLE UP SPECIALLY AND HUMANS.

SO SOMETIMES A PERSON CAN BE EXPOSED TO IT.

AND THEN MANY YEARS LATER START SHOWING SYMPTOMS.

AND IT'S ALSO NOT A VERY COMMON DECESOS.

IT'S SOMETHING CHAIRMAN, JIM, EVEN TO ONLY NOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE EFFORT.

A LOT MORE.

THEY'RE TRAINING SO THAT IT CAN BE DONE TO FIGHT.

MORE EASILY.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S A SHOWING UP MORE CASES ARE SHOWING UP.

BUT ALSO WE DON'T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WE DON'T CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, EXACTLY WHERE IT'S BEING ACQUIRED.

OF COURSE, IT CAN BE ACQUIRED DIRECT FROM DIRECT CONFLICT FROM PERCENT.

OR AN ANIMAL.

AND HERE IN FLORIDA.

AND THAT'S WHERE I SPECIALIZE.

I SPECIALIZE WITH ARMADILLOS.

IS THERE.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR MONTH IN THOSE CAN BE INVOLVED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN CARRY LEPROSY.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE ONLY MAMMAL IN THE AMERICAS THAT CAN CARRY AND ACTUALLY DEVON LOVE LETTER C AND SO WE THINK THAT THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE CASE IS WHY WE'RE SEEING IN FLORIDA SINCE IS THAT NATO AND THE MOTORS SOLD ON THAT.

>> DR.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AN ARMADILLO OR ITS HABITAT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SCARED OF ARMADILLOS ARMADILLOS ARE RE DEGREE LITTLE CREATURES THERE HARM THIS.

THEY DON'T ARMADILLOS DON'T BUY THE MACE, CORRECT, BUT THEY DON'T BUY.

THEY WON'T CHASE PEOPLE OR ANYTHING.

THE ONLY PROGRAM OF THEIR LIVES IS THAT THEY ARE A POSSIBLE HOST FOR THIS REFERRED BUSINESS.

SEE SO THEY CAN CARRY IT.

NOT ALL ARMADILLOS CARRY LEPROSY.

SO IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN, ONE OF THE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO REALLY EMPHASIZE IS THAT IF YOU WORK IN THE GARDEN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ARMADILLOS ARE THERE GOING TO BE IN YOUR GARDEN IN YOUR YARD, CHASING FORENSICS UP WITH THE FEED ON.

THEY'LL BE BEGIN AROUND RUNNING AROUND.

SO.

YOU COULD BE EXPOSED TO SOIL THAT WAS IN CONTACT WITH OUR MONDAY LOOKS.

SO IF YOU WORK IN THE GARDEN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS RECOMMEND IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY NIGER ENDS ON YOUR ENDS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU CAN ACQUIRE THE MATERIAL.

WEAR.

GLOVES IS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE SORROW, ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO WASH YOUR HANDS WITH A LOT OF SOAP AND WATER AFTERWARDS AND JUST BE VIGILANT THAT YOU SEE OUR MOTHERS AROUND.

JUST TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS SO THAT YOU'RE NOT EXPOSED TO THEM.

>> AND FINALLY, WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OPTIONS AS WELL FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE DIAGNOSED WITH IT?

>> YES, JUST LIKE I SAID FIRST STEP IS TO BE DONE TO FIND THAT YOU HAVE THE DISEASE AND SECOND GOING TO AN EXPERT.

THERE BY ALL THE TREATMENTS, THE SOONER LIKE EVERY DISEASE.

YOU KNOW, THE SOONER YOU CATCH IT, THE COM.

I KNOW THAT IT HAS.

IT HAS TOO LONG.

THESE SO THESE MATERIALS WELL UP FRONT, THE NERVES.

SO IF THE NURSE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DEFECTED AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT NO TREATMENT AND THERE COULD BE SOME NERVE DAMAGE.

BUT IF YOU CATCH IT SOON, IT'S TREATABLE.

SO IT'S NOT A PROMISE NOT TO IS NOT A DISEASE THAT IS NOT TREATABLE.

THAT HAS NO SOLUTION.

IT'S TREATABLE.

IT'S AS IMPORTANT LIKE I SAID, TOOK ACTION SOON.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR, ONE COMPOST CLOWER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> FOR >> MORE HEALTH STORIES AND TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE LATEST DATA FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, YOU CAN VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, LOOKING FOR WAYS TO STEM THE RISING TIDES BUSINESSES IN SOUTH FLORIDA ARE RETHINKING THEIR APPROACH IS TO SEA WALLS AND BARRIERS AND KEEPING COMMUNITIES DRY WHEN IT COMES IT WAS 67 YEARS AGO WHEN MUSIC PRODUCER BARRY GORDY JUNIOR OPENED UP HITS BILL USA AND BROUGHT THE RHYTHMS OF MOTOWN INTO MAINSTREAM POPULAR MUSIC.

THE TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY PERFORMERS WHO PUT DETROIT MUSIC ON THE MAP IS COMING TO FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE LEGACY, MOTOWN IN MORE SHOWCASES ARTISTS LIKE THE JACKSON 5.

THE TEMPTATIONS IN STEVIE WONDER WHILE INCORPORATING TIGHT, HARMONIES AND CLASSIC SHOWMANSHIP WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE.

>> THERE'S A PARTY GOING ON IN THE GOLDSTEIN CABARET AT FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE CAST MEMBER NIGEL RICHARDS TELLS US HOW THE SHOW LEGACY, MOTOWN AND MORE IS ON.

IT SAYS ON THEIR FEET FROM THE JUMP IN MOTOWN IS ENDING ITS MUSIC FROM THE HEART.

AND SHE REALLY IT'S MUSIC THAT YOU REALLY FEELS SO.

>> FROM THE START OF THE SHOW, WE START THE JACKSON 5 MEDLEY.

YOU CAN FEEL THE MUSIC.

YOU CAN FEEL THE PULSE.

I MEAN, IT'S A PARTY FROM START TO FINISH THE JACKSON 5 MEDLEY IMMEDIATELY HAS PEOPLE CLAPPING AND SINGING ALONG, BUT NOTES CAST MEMBER JUSTIN RENTALS.

THE AUDIENCE REALLY COMES ALIVE DURING THE TRIO'S RENDITION OF NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE.

>> A DEEPLY EMOTIONAL BALLAD WHICH YOUNG MAN AGONIZE OVER BEING UNABLE >> IS OVER 30 35 SONGS THAT WE SING THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

MOTOWN THEMED AND MORE.

BUT I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE SONGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY IS OUR ACAPELLA MEDLEY.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU GO.

>> AND THAT CAN SINK.

BUT >> NO.

AND THEN THE KIDS SAKE OF ALL.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

>> YOU CAN HEAR IN THE AUDIENCE, THE EXCITEMENT AND THE AMAZEMENT WHEN WE PULL OFF THOSE 3 PART HARMONIES, YOU HEAR LOTS OF CLOUDS AND AMAZING.

AND I MEAN, PEOPLE START CLAPPING EVEN BEFORE WE FINISH OUR FINAL NOTE.

>> THE NAME OF THE SHOW IS LEGACY, MOTOWN AND MORE SINGER BRYCE OF DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRIO SEGWAYS FROM THE JACKSON 5 TO THE BEATLES.

>> I WOULD SAY BE WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST WE ACTION THAT WE HAVE OUT OF THE AUDIENCE.

AND THE SECOND WE DO THAT AND BECAUSE WE DO IT SO EARLY, CAN WE DO THAT?

IT'S LIKE, OKAY.

WELL, THE REST OF THE SHOW'S HISTORY LIKE WE GOT ON THE ALL THE SHOW ALSO INCLUDES A TRIP BACK TO A TIME BEFORE BERRY GORDY JUNIOR FOUNDED MOTOWN RECORDS.

WE TAKE THEM BACK TO THE DOO-WOP ERA.

>> WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STANDING UNDER A STREET LAMP IN YOUR TO SINGING WITH THE VOICES AND THEY REALLY ENJOY THAT SEGMENT.

4 TOPS MEDLEY WITH SUGAR PIE HONEY BUNCH.

IT'S ANOTHER CROWD FAVORITE.

>> AS IS THEIR ACAPELLA RENDITION OF THE 5 SATURN'S IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT.

A SONG ABOUT HOPING TO REUNITE WITH A FORMER SHARE.

>> IN THE STANDS, AND I FOR NIGEL RICHARDS.

>> THE SEGMENT DEVOTED TO STEVIE WONDER IS A PERSONAL FAVORITE TV WONDERS THE KING OF BALANCE AND IT'S FUN TO SING AS WELL.

SO I STARTED OFFICER DAN AND THEN WE GOT TO SUPERSTITION AND I SURE AM.

>> WE ALL WHAT IS THIS SOME DAY?

SHE'S NOT THE SUM OF THE DAY SHOULD, OF COURSE KNOWS.

PRICE OF I CAN'T PUT ON A SHOW ABOUT MOTOWN WITHOUT FEATURING MARVIN.

GET.

>> EVEN OR IN THE 90'S.

I FEEL LIKE MY SOUL WAS BORN BY 2030, YEARS EARLIER.

AND SO I JUST LOVE.

HOW IS THIS?

WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE THIS MUSIC THAT IS A RELAY DOUBLE TO EVERYBODY AND JUST CONTINUE TO SHARE THE JOY THAT THE MUSIC HAS CREATED.

SHE'D LIKE TO SEE MOTOWN AND MORE IS LIKE FEW OTHER CABARET EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE FREE TO SAYING YOU ARE FREE TO DANCE.

YOU ARE.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

THE SHOW IS A CELEBRATION.

IT'S JOY.

IT'S BRINGING BACK WHEN PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THEIR FULL HEART ON MUSIC.

NO MATTER WHAT THEY WERE PUTTING OUT.

>> LEGACY, MOTOWN AND MORE IS ON STAGE OF FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE THROUGH OCTOBER 11.

>> TOM, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU LEARNED DURING YOUR INTERVIEWS FOR THIS SEGMENT THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING?

JENNIFER.

I REALLY DID.

>> BEFORE HE JOINED THE CAST OF MOTOWN AND MORE.

JUSTIN REYNOLDS PORTRAYED SMOKEY ROBINSON AND 2 OTHER SHOWS THE NATIONAL TOUR OF MOTOWN, THE MUSICAL AND THE MARVIN GAYE MUSICAL.

WHEN HE WAS IN THOSE SHOWS, REYNOLDS GOT TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH BERRY GORDY JUNIOR.

HE'S THE ONE WHO FOUNDED THE MOTOWN LABEL IN 1959.

MOTOWN RECORDS PROPEL GROUPS LIKE THE SUPREMES, THE JACKSON 5, STEVIE WONDER, MARVIN GAYE TO THE TOP OF THE BILLBOARD 100 CHART AND IT BECAME THE LARGEST BLACK OWNED COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1960'S, REYNOLDS HAS SHARED WHAT HE LEARNED FROM GORDY ABOUT THE MOTOWN SOUND AND TOP TALENT WITH HIS CAST MATES WHICH REALLY ENHANCES THEIR PERFORMANCES.

>> WELL, AS ALWAYS, TOM HALL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING THIS.

>> GREAT STORY AS ALWAYS.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO THEY ARE LIKE WEIS.

>> FOR MORE ON THE ARTS AND SHOWS HAPPENING ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

KEEP UP WITH ALL OF TOM HALLS REPORTING BY SIMPLY VISITING WGCU DOT ORG.

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA CLIMATE CENTER, SEA LEVELS HAVE INCREASED IN SOUTH FLORIDA BY NEARLY 8 INCHES SINCE THE MID 20TH CENTURY.

NOW, ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS ARE ADAPTING INFRA STRUCTURE AND TRYING TO HELP COASTAL COMMUNITIES THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TAKES A LOOK AT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT IS ADAPTING TO THE CHANGE IN WEATHER.

>> SOUTH FLORIDA, WE'VE ALREADY BOUGHT INTO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXTREME FLOODING AND EXTREME HEAT AND HOW WE ADAPT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING QUESTION, BUT ALSO AN INTERESTING TRANSITION.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THING WE'RE PROBABLY WEAKEST ON RIGHT NOW IN SOUTH FLORIDA IS HOW DO WE TRANSITION IN THIS FUTURE SEA-LEVEL RISE WHEN WE HAVE 3 FEET, 6 FEET OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THESE PARKS THAT ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH STORM WATER BUT DEALING WITH A MULTITUDE OF THOSE ASPECTS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE ALONG SHORELINES, LOOKING AT NATURE BASED FEATURES.

>> BECAUSE OF THAT METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE A BIOMIMICRY DESIGN INTO THE WEST FACE OF THE SEAWALL.

THAT'S TED OF THE SEAWALL BEING FLAT.

IT HAS A MANGO TREE ROOT DESIGN THAT YOU SAW HERE GIVING BARNACLES LIKEN THE OYSTERS.

IT CAN BE WHATEVER IS LOCAL SO WE CAN MIMIC IT TO TRACK NATIVE SPECIES AND THE BENEFIT IS NUMBER ONE THAT MAKES THE SEAWALL ESSENTIALLY ARTIFICIAL REEF.

A 2, 1, 2, IT DISSIPATES WAVE ENERGY.

SO WHERE ARE REGULAR SEAWALL REFLECTS 100% OF THE WAVE, ENERGY AND CAUSES EROSION OVER.

TOPPING ARE LIVING SEAWALL ABSORBS ALMOST 50%.

>> SOUTH FLORIDA IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AS THE ONLY SUBTROPICAL TROPICAL REGION.

WE HAVE.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A TESTING GROUND TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWCASE AND DEMONSTRATE HOW A COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE.

NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE UNDER THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ARE GOING TO ESSENTIALLY CHANGE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT EXTREMELY OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

>> FLORIDA IS HOME TO ONE OF THE DENSEST POPULATIONS OF BALD EAGLES IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, FLORIDA AUDUBON SAYS AT LEAST 1500 NESTING PAIRS LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.

DESPITE THE UPWARD TREND IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, THREATS TO THE PROTECTED SPECIES ARE OF CONCERN.

AUDUBON, FLORIDA SAYS IN MAY, IN COLLIER COUNTY, HOME CONSTRUCTION RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING FINED OVER CODE VIOLATIONS MEANT TO PROTECT THE EAGLE POPULATION.

>> FOR MORE, I AM NOW JOINED BY CHERYL BURR'S AUDUBON FLORIDA'S.

>> EAGLE WATCH PROGRAM MANAGER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKYOU WHEN WAS THIS CASE RESOLVED?

>> THIS CASE WAS RESOLVED IN JULY.

DARTED IN ARCH.

>> AND CODE ENFORCEMENT FOUND.

TO ROOFS BEING BUILT WITHIN 150 FEET OF AN EAGLES ASKED.

AND THAT'S AGAINST CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THERE THEY GO BY THE TO THE 330 FOOT BUFFER AND THEY BASICALLY GAVE THEM A STOP WORK ORDER.

THEY DID NOT STOP WORKING.

THEY WENT TO THE GENERAL MAGISTRATE FOR VIOLATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THEY DID VIOLATE THE CODE AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT'S AND THE HOMEOWNERS, THE CONTRACTORS AND THE SUBCONTRACTORS WERE ALL FINED.

>> AND IS THAT JUST AN EXAMPLE OF CASES WHERE YOUR ORGANIZATION REALLY MOVE FORWARD?

THE PROTECTION OF THE SPECIES.

YES.

>> YES, IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO AGAIN.

>> MIND THOSE BUFFERS CODE ENFORCEMENT'S THESE EAGLES WHO ARE ACTUALLY THEY HAD A 5 WEEK-OLD EAGLES EAGLETS IN THE NEST, 2 OF THEM.

SO THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEST DISTURBANCE WAS GREAT THERE, SPECIALLY BEING 150 FEET AWAY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING OUR ORGANIZATION DOES IS WE MONITOR THESE NESTS TO TRY TO PROTECT THE GULLS AS WELL.

>> ARE YOU SEEING MORE CASES LIKE WITH, YOU KNOW, INVOLVING ROOFERS?

ARE DEVELOPERS WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT BE OBEYING THESE PARTICULAR CODES THAT ARE IN PLACE.

>> WE SEE IT NOT AS OFTEN, ACTUALLY LATELY, WE HAVE RUN INTO A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.

WE KNOW FLORIDA, YOU KNOW, IS BEING BUILT EVERY DAY.

BUILT UP EVERY DAY.

THE LAST COUPLE OF ENCOUNTERS WE'VE HAD WITH OUR EAGLE WATCH VOLUNTEERS, THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE, EVEN THE CREWS ARE VERY AWARE OF THE EAGLE NAST'S AND THEY ARE PLACING BUFFERS IN FOR SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND THE BUILDERS.

>> AND IT BRINGS US TO THE POINT OF WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO AS INDIVIDUALS AS FLORIDIANS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EAGLES CONTINUE TO THRIVE?

>> WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHERE THE NESTS ARE AND B, A JUST PRESENTS AND RESPECTFUL, RESPECTFUL EVEN AS WASHERS.

WE MONITOR NESTS FOR EAGLE.

WATCH ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN GUIDELINES.

THE ONE WE WATCHED THE NASSAR ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING OUT FOR WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE NOT DISTURBING.

THE EAGLES.

BASICALLY THE OTHER THING TO CAR STRIKES, A LOT OF THEM HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT.

JUST BE COGNIZANT DRIVE SLOWLY, YOU KNOW, PICK UP YOUR TRASH IN FISHING LINE.

WE HAVE ISSUES WITH FISHING LINE IN THE MASKS BE COGNIZANT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR FISHING LINE.

DON'T CUT THE LINE FOR THE THE FISH TO BE ON THE LINE FOR THE EAGLES TO BRING BACK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO EVEN ON A SMALL THING.

EVEN ON A SMALL LEVEL BASIS OF LIKE THE FISHING LINE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO DOESN'T AFFECT EVERYTHING ELSE OUT THERE.

THE CHERYL BALD EAGLE NUMBERS IN FLORIDA.

>> THEY'D WINDLE TO FEWER THAN 100 NESTING PAIRS AND THE EARLY 70'S.

AND TODAY I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CLOSE TO 1500 PAIRS.

HOW HAS THIS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

>> THROUGH CONSERVATION, WE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY NUMBERS WERE DWINDLING LIST DUE TO DDT.

AND WE RESOLVE THAT BY ELIMINATING DDT ALLOWING THE EAGLES TOO NOT HAVE THAT PESTICIDE THAT CAME.

AND ACTUALLY IT WAS IN THEIR IN THEIR EGGS.

SO THE EGG SHELLS WOULD BE VERY SUN.

AND THEN THE THE X ONE HOT.

SO ONCE WE GET RID OF THE PESTICIDES, THE THE EAGLES GOT BACK INTO A REGULAR PRODUCTION CYCLE AND HAVE JUST FLOURISHED.

SINCE THEN, THE VERY RESILIENT BIRDS.

>> AND WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING MORE THAN 70 BALD EAGLE NESTS IN COLLIER COUNTY.

AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING UPWARD, WHICH IS POSITIVE NEWS.

WHAT DOES THAT INDICATE AS FAR AS CONSERVATION AND YOUR EFFORTS REGARDING THIS AREA?

>> IT IS GREAT INDICATOR THAT BALD EAGLES ARE THRIVING.

THE RESILIENT WE FIND MORE AND MORE NESTS EACH YEAR IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES, ESPECIALLY IN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTY DOWN THERE.

WE'VE JUST SEEN SO MANY MORE EAGLES NESTING THERE, WHICH IS JUST A GREAT, A GREAT TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING BASICALLY ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH IS FABULOUS.

>> SHAREALL MERCED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND FOR YOUR IMPORTANT WORK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

YOU TOO.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER BALD EAGLE FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

ACCORDING TO GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, THE LARGEST BALD EAGLE NEST IN RECORDED HISTORY WAS FOUND IN ST.

PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, BACK IN 1963, THE NEST WAS 9 FEET, 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

AND OVER 20 FEET DEEP.

IT ALSO WEIGHED MORE THAN 2 TIMES.

YOU CAN FIND ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHEN YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE WCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM THE SERVICE DOG PACK.

MEET THE MARINE MAMMALS ARE A COMMON SIGHT AT MOTE SCIENCE EDUCATION AQUARIUM IN SARASOTA.

BUT LAST WEEK, DOGS WALK THROUGH THE HALLS AS PART OF THE UNIQUE FIELD TRIP.

THE VISIT IS PART OF THEIR TRAINING TO BECOME SERVICE GUIDE DOGS WGCUS EILEEN KELLEY HAS THE STORY.

>> THEIR LITTLE NOSES TURN UPWARD AS SEA CREATURES SEEMINGLY GLIDE BEFORE THEIR EYES.

THERE'S A MOMENT OF STILLNESS AND ON BEFORE TALES.

START WAGGING.

ONE OF THE STUDENTS IS ARTHUR.

THIS ONE IS GONE.

AND THEN THERE'S CHATTER GUIDE DOGS IN TRAINING, TESTING THEIR SKILLS AT SPOTTING ELEVATORS AND EMPTY CHAIRS AT THE MOTE SCIENCE EDUCATION AQUARIUM.

THE DAX IN LEARNING TO NAVIGATE CROWDS AND MANAGING IMPULSES TO OVERCOME SMELLS AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS.

LIKE A GAGGLE OF CHILDREN FOR CHINA AT SEA TURTLE FOR THE TRULY GIFTED STUDENTS.

THE RUSH OF IT ALL SO BRIEF FOR THE REST OF THE STUDENT GUIDE DOGS IN TRAINING.

THEY'LL HAVE OTHER CHANCES TO GET THERE.

BUT WHAT GOES IN CHECK, ACCORDING TO DOGS IN CONSTRUCTOR CHELSEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT MOMENT IS RECOVERING.

SO IT'S OKAY FOR DOGS TO MAYBE.

>> THE LITTLE SUSPICIOUS OR LIKE JUST NOT KNOW HOW TO.

WE KNOW.

>> WE ACTED BASED.

THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THERE IS RECOVERING.

SO WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL THEY DO IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT STARTLES THEM SURPRISES THEM.

WE WON'T SEE THEM RECOVERING BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB.

STILL.

AND WE GET THAT BY HAVING A CONFIDENT DOT.

>> FOR THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS, ALL DIRT HAS BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR WITH THE MANATEE COUNTY ORGANIZATION, ARTHUR, GLENN, AND CHEDDAR OR STUDENTS IN TRAINING.

SO A LOT OF THE TIMES ARE DOGS HAVEN'T SEEN THINGS LIKE THIS BEFORE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN BE COOL, CALM, COLLECTED, CONFIDENT IN ON FIRE.

>> RENTS.

>> SO DOING THAT ARE ALSO PRACTICING THE SKILLS THAT THEY ARE READY NOW IF YOU'D LIKE, THIS ARE SO IMPORTANT, IT REALLY HELPS BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE IN ANY ENVIRONMENT.

>> THE STUDENTS WERE GETTING IN SOME NECESSARY FIELDWORK TO ONE DAY HELP THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.

>> THIS IS A CHEDDAR'S FIRST RODEO SAID TO SPEAK.

THE 15 MONTH-OLD HAS BEEN TO MOTE BEFORE.

>> TESTING HIS STEADINESS AROUND THE SEALIFE CHILDREN AND OTHER DOGS.

WHICH PROVED TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR CHEDDAR, SAYS TRAINER DILLARD REPLY.

I WOULD SAY THE MOST DISTRACTING THING FOR HIM WAS JUST WORKING AROUND THE OTHER DOGS.

I DID CHALLENGE HIM A LITTLE BIT AND MADE HIM WORK A LITTLE CLOSER.

>> TO GIVE THEM SOME PRACTICE.

HE'LL BE DOING THAT.

A LOT IN COLLEGE AND I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED BY HOW HE DID WITH ALL THE DISTRACTIONS TO.

>> SOON CHEDDAR WILL GRADUATE AND BE READY FOR HIS NEXT CHAPTER.

COLLEGE AS PART OF THIS CONTINUED TRAINING, HE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CERTIFIED TRAINER TO HONE IN ON HIS SKILLS IN ONE DAY, BE A GUIDE DOG.

>> WE WORKED ON ALL THE FOUNDATIONS AND HE HAS NOW GOTTEN TO BE TO THE AGE WHERE HE'S READY TO COME TO COLLEGE, WHERE HE WILL BEGIN HIS FORMAL TRAINING.

SO HE'LL WORK WITH OUR CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS AND HE WILL BEGIN WORKING ON HIS TRAINING.

WRY ALSO LIKE TO SAY HE GETS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MAYBE PICK OUT HIS MAJOR AND SEE WHAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR HIM.

>> AND HER DOG LOVERS WHO THINK THIS PRETTY CALL YOU'RE IN LUCK.

THERE ARE ALWAYS PLENTY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE DOGS BEFORE THEY HEAD OFF TO COLLEGE AND THEN ONE DAY GET PAIRED WITH A HUMAN.

>> IT REALLY HELPS TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.

THEY'RE INDEPENDENTS HACK AND REALLY HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE WORLD WITH A REALLY ADORABLE PARTNER.

AND JUST SEEING THOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DOGS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY MATCH.

IT.

>> INDEED.

>> NO MATTER IF YOU HAVE 2 LEGS OR 4 LEGS.

>> AND SOMETIMES A WACKY, BUT STEPPING OUTSIDE THE FAMILIAR WALLS OF THE CLASSROOM FOR REAL-LIFE VIEW OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING SEA CREATURES.

IT CAN TRULY BE MAGICAL.

YEAH, I THINK HE DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

VERY PROUD OF THEM.

>> THE WGCU NEWS THIS IS EILEEN KELLY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR SOUT