THIS THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP.

WELL, PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS AN INTEREST RATE CUT FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

THE LATEST DECISION MOVES THE SCALES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE FED'S LATEST DECISION TO RAISE THE SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATE MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE IS STILL PLAGUED BY LARGE BLOOMS OF TOXIC BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

AFTER MONTHS OF ITS PRESENCE, SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CALLING THIS YEAR'S BLOOM THE WORST THEY HAVE EVER SEEN.

AND WET WEATHER IS PAVING THE WAY FOR PERFECT CANE TOAD.

CONDITIONS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN CASE YOUR PET HAS AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE INVASIVE SPECIES.

I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS, THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS RAISED ITS SHORT-TERM INTEREST RATE IN WHAT'S CONSIDERED AN ATTEMPT TO HELP SLOW INFLATION.

THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE 12 MEMBER COMMITTEE IS IN OPPOSITION OF THE WISHES OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE LIQUOR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

>> DR VICTOR CLAAR JOINS US NOW AND DOCTOR, FIRST, HELP US UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A QUARTER OF A PERCENTAGE RATE HIKE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES THAT THE FED HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH ON IN ABOUT 3 YEARS SINCE 2023.

AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD REALLY PERSISTENT INFLATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THIS IS A SIGNAL THAT MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST 3 YEARS THE FED HAS REALIZED THAT INFLATION WHILE IT CONTINUES TO BE SORT OF LOW AND SLOW, IT CONTINUES TO BE OUT OF LINE WITH THEIR ONGOING GO FOR A PRICE INFLATION, WHICH IS JUST 2% PER YEAR.

SO IF THEY RAISE INTEREST RATES, WHICH WILL MAKE MORTGAGES MORE EXPENSIVE CAR LOANS, MORE MORE EXPENSIVE BUSINESS LOANS FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, MORE EXPENSIVE IF THEY'RE RAISING THOSE RATES.

IT'S BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

PERSISTENT INFLATION THAT PESKY IN INFLATION, THEN THEY ARE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DRIVING DOWN PURCHASES BY CONSUMERS AND FIRMS THAT THEY BORROW MONEY TO FINANCE.

>> WHERE WILL THE PUBLIC SEE THE IMPACT OF THIS?

>> WE ARE ALREADY SEEING IT BECAUSE FINANCIAL MARKETS ANTICIPATED A BIT OF AN INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES TODAY.

HOME MORTGAGE RATES HAVE BEEN RISING ACCORDINGLY.

FINANCIAL MARKETS OFTEN REACT TO NOT JUST NEWS, BUT ALSO THE ANTICIPATION OF NEWS.

AND SO OFTEN IF THERE'S MONEY TO BE NEED TO BE LOST.

YOU GO AHEAD AND FINANCE THINGS OR BORROW MONEY, NOT BASED ON HOW THINGS ARE THIS MINUTE, BUT BASED ON HOW YOU THINK THINGS MIGHT BE DOWN THE ROAD.

SO BIKE, SO PEOPLE LENDING MONEY, THEY'VE ALREADY RAISE INTEREST RATES A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT WE WERE HEADED THAT DIRECTION ANYWAY.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY'RE AT THE HIGHEST SO FAR IN 2026.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND FOR FROM AN INVESTMENT POINT?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR INVESTORS?

>> SO WHEN THE FED USES ITS ONE AND ONLY ONE TOOL, WHICH IS INTEREST RATES, IT WORKS REALLY, REALLY WELL WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE ECONOMY.

IF YOU THINK OF IT LIKE A HORSE IS RAIN OR PULLING ON A STRING, PEOPLE WANT TO STRING IT'S REALLY EASY TO REIN THINGS IN.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE FED DOES WHEN IT RAISES INTEREST RATES.

IF IT THINKS PEOPLE ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY AND THEIR FINANCING THOSE PURCHASES TO DO IT IF THEY WANT TO SLOW DOWN THAT DEMAND, THEN THEY RAISE INTEREST RATES AND THEY MAKE IT EVEN HARDER TO AFFORD TO PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY WHEN THAT DEMAND DECREASES, IT MAKES PRICES SLOW DOWN AND NOT RISE QUITE AS QUICKLY AS THEY HAD BEFORE.

WHEN MONEY IS CHEAP PRICES RISE.

MY MONEY'S EXPENSIVE PRICES.

WISE LESS LOW LINK.

>> YES, BECAUSE IT SEEMS A BIT COUNTERINTUITIVE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE THAT WILL RAISING AT INTEREST RATE JUST A QUARTER OF A PERCENTAGE POINT THAT IS EXPECTED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON INFLATION.

>> IF YOU ARE A POTENTIAL HOME BUYER RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT GOOD IN EITHER DIRECTION.

ON ONE HAND, YOUR RATE IS MORE THAN IT'S BEEN BEFORE.

WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BUYING THAT NEW HOUSE PRICES ARE HIGHER.

FOOD IS HIGHER.

GASOLINE IS HIGHER.

AND IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING A NEW HOME, EVEN IF PRICES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HOMES HAVE MODERATED A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S THE FINANCING NOW THAT WILL BE EVEN HIGHER.

THE FED DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS.

THE FED DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE LOAN TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME.

BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ONGOING PERSISTENT INFLATION THAT AFFECT EVERYBODY, HOMEOWNERS AND OTHERWISE.

>> NOW, WILL THIS IMPACT ARE JUST SKYROCKETING FUEL COSTS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING?

>> SO THE FED IS CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION IN GENERAL, BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T THIS ACTION TODAY MAY SLOW DOWN PRICE INFLATION OVERALL, BUT BECAUSE THE INCREASES WE'VE SEEN IN OIL PRICES, DIESEL PRICES AND GASOLINE PRICES, WHICH IS WHERE WE SEE IT THE MOST EVERY DAY, WE SEE THOSE GAS PRICES.

THIS PROBABLY WON'T MAKE THOSE PARTICULAR PRICES LOWER, BUT IT MAY SLOW DOWN OVERALL PRICE PRESSURE FOR ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE BUY IN A TYPICAL WEEK.

>> SO WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS DECISION HAD TO BE A VERY TOUGH CALL FOR THE FED.

IT'S ALSO IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OVERALL REACTION IS GOING TO BE?

>> SO FINANCIAL MARKETS TYPICALLY REACT TO THE UNEXPECTED.

SO AT LEAST INITIALLY AFTER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE TODAY, THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A REACTION IN FINANCIAL MARKETS BECAUSE MOST INVESTORS ANTICIPATED AN INTEREST RATE INCREASE AND THAT IS WHAT WE GOT.

AND IT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE EXPECTED.

I THINK THE WILD CARD AT THIS POINT IS WHETHER WE'RE IN FOR EVEN MORE INTEREST RATE INCREASES OVER THE COURSE OF 2026, MAYBE WE'RE ONE AND DONE WITH THIS SINGLE SIMPLE OR SMALL INTEREST RATE INCREASE.

MAYBE THE FED, THOUGH, THINGS THAT THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF EVEN MORE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO EASE US INTO AN OVERALL RATE OF INFLATION.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE ONE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAD.

BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE DOING THIS MAINLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE INFLATION FIRE IT USED TO BE RAGING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NOW IT'S SMOLDERING AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFLATIONARY FIRE IS PUT OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR THE FED AT THIS POINT?

>> THE NEXT STEP FOR THE FED IS TO DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING.

SEE HOW MARKETS REACT.

SEE HOW INDICATORS LIKE PRODUCER PRICE INDEX IS AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS SEE WHETHER THOSE CHANGE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND THEN THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.

THEY WANT TO RAISE RATES AT THEIR NEXT MEETINGS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN THE FED IS MEETING.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHAT, WHETHER THEY'LL DO SOMETHING AND WHAT EXACTLY THEY'LL DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BUT WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YES, WE WAIT AGAIN.

THINK THE SUMMIT STARTER VICK TO CAR.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> ECON GURU, I LIKE TO CALL YOU THAT.

I'LL TAKE A THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

FOR MORE STORIES ON THE ECONOMY.

>> AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR FINANCES PREPARED.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, SWATHES OF TOXIC BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLANKET SECTIONS OF LAKE O ENVIRONMENTALIST OR WORRY THAT THIS TREND MIGHT CONTINUE WELL INTO THE FALL.

FOR MONTHS.

A PERSISTENT BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOM HAS COVERED SECTIONS OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND NOW WE'RE FINDING OUT THERE MAY BE NO END IN SIGHT.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, AERIAL IMAGES CAPTURED A MASSIVE ACT OF BLOOM THAT COVERS ABOUT 240 MILES OF THE LARGEST FRESH WATER LAKE IN FLORIDA, ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA WATER QUALITY DASHBOARD SINCE SEPTEMBER.

FIRST BLUE GREEN ALGAE TOXINS WERE FOUND IN MULTIPLE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE LAKE.

TOM BAYLISS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOM ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

AND TOM, IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO GO AWAY AND IT IS OF GREAT CONCERN.

>> YEAH, JENNIFER, THIS BEEN UNUSUALLY LONG LASTING AND LARGE BLOOM.

OUR VIDEO SHOWS LAKE OKEECHOBEE IN JULY WHEN MORE THAN HALF OF IT WAS COVERED WITH PATCHES AND STREAKS OF BLUE GREEN ALGAE.

NOW IT'S SEPTEMBER.

AND HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE STILL FINDING TOXINS AND PARTS OF THE LAKE.

THIS IS WHAT LAKE OKEECHOBEE LOOKS LIKE FROM THE AIR.

RALPH R WORD IS A VOLUNTEER PILOT FOR CALUSA WATERKEEPER WHO FLIES ENVIRONMENTAL MISSIONS AND SHARES HIS VIDEO AT WTC.

YOU.

IN JULY, OUR WOOD SAID MORE THAN HALF OF THE LAKE WAS COVERED BY THE BLUE.

HE CALLED IT PRETTY CLOSE TO THE WORST HE'D SEEN AND IT IS NOT GOING AWAY.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE AN ACTIVE HEALTH ALERT IN PLACE AFTER WATER.

QUALITY TESTS FOUND BLUE GREEN ALGAE TOXINS IN PARTS OF THE LAKE.

WARM WATER, SUNLIGHT AND STILL CONDITIONS ALONG WITH EXCESS NUTRIENTS.

HELP THE BACTERIA MULTIPLY INTO LARGE BLOOMS.

THIS YEAR, SOUTH FLORIDA'S LONG DROUGHT ALSO DRIVES THE LAKE DOWN TO AROUND 11 FEET MORE THAN 2 FEET BELOW NORMAL THIS SUMMER.

PART OF THE NORTHERN LAKE BED EVEN DRIED OUT ENOUGH TO BURN.

THE LAKE HAS RISEN SOME BUT REMAINS LOW.

NOW A LOW WATER DOES NOT CAUSE BLUE GREEN ALGAE BY A SOUTH BUT A SHALLOW WARM LAKE CREATES CONDITIONS.

THE ORGANISMS LIKE AND THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE.

DECADES OF RUNOFF HAVE LEFT A LEGACY OF PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN IN THE WATERSHED AND THEN THE LAKE.

BOTTOM UP.

>> AND TOM, THERE'S ALSO CONCERN ABOUT THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE MAKING ITS WAY AND REACHING THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER.

>> THE GROUPS INCLUDING CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER, THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND CALUSA WATERKEEPER HAVE WARNED FOR YEARS ABOUT THE DAMAGE.

HARMFUL ALGAE CAN CAUSE.

BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR.

THE LAKE IS LOW.

WATER MANAGERS ARE NOT FACING A LAKE SO HIGH THAT THEY HAVE TO SEND HUGE AMOUNTS OF WATER DOWN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

SO THERE'S NO INDICATION RIGHT NOW THAT THIS BLOOM IS ABOUT TO PRODUCE A REPEAT OF 2018.

THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM IS INSIDE THE LAKE WHERE THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE INTO TOXINS ARE STILL BEING FOUND.

>> SO WHERE DOES THE EXTENT OF THE BLOOM SAID NOW?

>> IT'S NOT WHERE IT WAS AT ITS PEAK IN JULY, JENNIFER, BUT IT'S NOT OVER.

THE LAKE HAS COME UP SOME WITH SOME RAIN, BUT IT REMAINS LOW.

AND SEPTEMBER HEALTH ALERT SHOW THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE TOXINS ARE STILL PRESENT.

A MASSIVE SUMMER BLOOM IS LINGERING INTO THE FALL.

>> TOM, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THIS.

MARK.

>> FOR MORE STORIES FROM SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

WHEN KIMBERLY'S REEF WAS LAUNCHED BY FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY IN 2023, THE ARTIFICIAL REEF PRESENTED A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR OFFSHORE WATERS TO PREPARE.

RESEARCHERS.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR THOSE SUBMERGED CONDITIONS AS PART OF THE UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY KIMBERLY'S REEF, AN UNDERWATER LIVING LABORATORY WGCUS PAM.

JAMES EXPLORES THE EDUCATION NEEDED BEFORE DIVING INTO THE GULF.

>> LOOKING FOR RED TIDE GAUGE IN THE WATER TEMPERATURE AND COUNTING.

FISH ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXPERIMENTS HAPPENING ON FGCU USED KIMBERLY'S RE.

SOME OF THIS RESEARCH CAN BE DONE FROM A BOAT FOR MANY SCIENTISTS SUCH AS FGCU PROFESSOR MELISSA MAY THE BEST WAY TO STUDY THE REEF >> IT'S BELOW THE SURFACE.

KIMBERLY'S REEF WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO BE A LIVING RESEARCH LAB THAT WE HIT GO OUT TO SCUBA DIVE ON AND COLLECT DATA AND USE IT CONTINUOUSLY.

>> BUT BEFORE ANYONE, DON SCUBA GEAR FOR THEIR RESEARCH, THEY FIRST MUST TAKE THE SCIENTIFIC DIVING PROGRAM AT FGCU.

>> THE >> FINE TO BIG DIVING COURSES, NAMES THAT.

BUT IT'S A BIT OF A MISNOMER BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK ON THE SAFETY PART.

FIRST, GETTING PEOPLE UNDER WATER WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN UNDER WATER IN A WHILE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONDUCTING DIVE SAFELY.

SO THEN WE CAN FOCUS ON THE SCIENCE.

>> KELLY JOHNSON TEACHES THE DIVING CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF UNDERWATER SCIENCES WHILE LEARNING HOW TO DO UNDERWATER RESEARCH IS PART OF THE PROGRAM BECOMING A SAFE DIVER IN ANY WATER CONDITION IS MOST IMPORTANT TO FGCU USED DIVE SAFETY OFFICER.

SOME OF THE SITES THAT I PICK ARE INTENDED TO CHALLENGE OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE COMFORTABLE UNDER WATER.

>> WE GO TO A PLACE CALLED HUDSON GRADO, WHICH IS THAT HANEKE SINKHOLE.

SO IT'S DARK.

>> AND THAT ADDS CHALLENGES TO ANY ACTIVITY THAT YOU'RE DOING UNDERWATER, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SOME OF OUR SITES OFFSHORE HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CAN BE QUITE LOW.

VISIBILITY, BUT ONCE THEY'RE FINISHED WITH THAT DIVE AND THEY DO A SUCCESSFUL GUY THERE, THEY FEEL SO EMPOWERED.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REALLY BIG GOALS THAT CLASSES TO.

IS HE COMFORTABLE AND TO KNOW WHERE IT'S LIKE.

YOU'RE COUPLE IN A SITUATION LIKE I CAN TRUST YOU TO GO DO THIS.

I DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOU.

>> AS COORDINATOR OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR FGCU IS BEST TO MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD STATION.

ADAM KATZ, WHO SAYS THE SCIENTIFIC DIVING PROGRAM IS CRUCIAL FOR UNDERWATER SCIENTISTS.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO BE FLAT.

I WAS GONNA BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.

BLUE WATER.

IT USED TO BEING AND NOT THE BEST CONDITIONS.

AND IF WE NEED TO GO DO WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, CAMPBELL, LIKE RECENTLY BE ABLE TO GET A JOB OR WATER.

>> SO THE STUDENTS LEARN ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNIQUES TO BE ABLE TO WORK THE BETTER AND MORE SAFELY UNDER WATER.

AND THEN WE BUILD ON THOSE TECHNIQUES TO ADS, SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES THAT ARE RESEARCHERS ARE REQUIRED TO DO TO CONDUCT THERE INVESTIGATIONS UNDER WATER.

ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IS CALLED A SEDIMENT TRAP.

>> THE TRAP IS A SIMPLE PVC PIPE ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OR A HARD SURFACE WHERE IT HOVERS TO CAPTURE DEBRIS IN THE WATER COLUMN.

>> AND ONE OF OUR RESEARCHERS WHO IS INTERESTED IN HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.

IT'S TRYING TO CATCH RED TIDE IN IT.

AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES THAT THE STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AFTER THEY GRADUATE SUCCESSFULLY FROM THIS COURSE.

>> OTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE FISH SURVEYS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS FOR KINSEY PRUITT AT THE WATER SCHOOL.

>> MY PART OF THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO SORT OF CREATE A FIELD GUIDE.

FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ASSISTANCE.

FUTURE STUDENTS WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT TO ALLOW THEM EASIER IDENTIFICATION OF FISH AS WELL AS TEACH THEM HOW TO DETERMINE CERTAIN METRICS.

>> FGCU SENIOR MACY KNOW HE'S COMBINED HER LOVE OF MARINE SCIENCE.

ART.

AND SCIENTIFIC DIVING BY CREATING SCULPTURES TO ENHANCE THE BIODIVERSITY ON KIMBERLY'S REEF.

>> WELL, I REALLY WANTED TO BE IN ON THE ACTION AND TO GET TO NOT ONLY BE THE ONE CREATING THE SCULPTURES THAT BE GOING ON OR IF THAT BE THE ONE INSTALLING THEM AND MONITORING THEM AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH.

I'M USING THOSE SCULPTURES SO CERTIFICATION AS A SCIENTIFIC DIVER WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> BEYOND THE CRITICAL RESEARCHED THE SCIENTIFIC TYPE PROGRAM AT FGCU HAS ADDITIONAL BENEFITS >> IT IS AN AUTOMATIC JOY.

ONCE YOUR HEAD GOES BELOW THE SURFACE.

AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND I LOVE BRINGING THAT JOY IN SHARING THAT WITH OUR STUDENTS HERE.

IF YOU.

>> WGCU PUBLIC MEDIA'S LATEST DOCUMENTARY KIMBERLY'S REFUND UNDER WATER LIVING LABORATORY CHRONICLES THE ORIGINS AND EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THIS REMARKABLE SUBMERGED RESEARCH FACILITY.

IT PREMIERES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1ST AT 08:00PM RIGHT HERE ON W G TV.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

RAINY SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ALSO THE AFTERNOON RAIN SHOWERS ARE BRINGING MUCH NEEDED RELIEF, BUT THEY ALSO CREATE THE PERFECT BREEDING GROUND FOR CANE TOADS.

THE TOES BREED ALL YEAR ROUND IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

BUT PEAK ACTIVITY HAPPENS DURING RAINY SEASON WITH WARM TEMPERATURES.

ONE FEMALE CAN LAY THOUSANDS OF EGGS TWICE A YEAR.

THE POISONOUS TOADS CAN BE FOUND IN YARDS ON ON YOUR SIDEWALKS AND AROUND BUILDINGS.

THEY CAN EASILY COME IN CONTACT WITH YOUR PET, WHICH CAN BE DEADLY.

>> BECCA MOORE IS THE CEO OF PATTY BAKER, HUMANE SOCIETY IN NAPLES.

>> JOINS US NOW IN THE WGCU STUDIOS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS REALLY IS KIND TO BE HERE.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE A LETHAL TO OUR DOGS AND OR CASH OR THE SUBJECT CANE TOADS.

YEAH.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW DANGEROUS THESE LITTLE CRITTERS ARE?

>> THEY'RE VERY DANGEROUS.

>> THEY HAVE PLACES CLANS THAT SAT ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

THEY DON'T SHOOT THE TALKS THEN.

BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENS IS OUR CANINE FRIENDS ARE DOGS.

THEY LIKE TO INVESTIGATE WITH THEIR MOUTH.

AND SO OFTEN TIMES A DOG WILL SEE A TOAD.

SEE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A TOAD AND GO TO GRAB IT.

AND THAT IS WHEN THE CANE TOAD HAS BECOME INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

AND IF YOUR PET LICKS OR SQUEEZES ON WITH IT.

HE SAYS IT'S TIME TO EAT THAT OWED.

IT IS GOING TO RELEASE THOSE TOXINS AND THOSE TOXINS WORK VERY QUICKLY.

>> WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT YOU ARE PET HAS COME IN CONTACT.

>> WITH ONE, THOUGH, HE'S ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT GETTING GETS MISS.

THE MOST IS RED GUM.

SO AS THAT TALKS AND HAS ENTERED YOUR DOG'S MOUTH, IT CAN ACTUALLY START TO SECRETE THROUGH THE GUMS AS WHAT WE TEACH IS TO REALLY LOOK FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PRETTY QUICKLY IS FROTHING AT THE MOUTH THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAULING ARE CLAWING AT THEIR MOUTH AGAIN, VERY QUICKLY.

THEY WILL BECOME DISORIENTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE SEE SEIZURES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE WORST THING THAT WE CAN SEE AS CARDIAC ARREST SO IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR PET HAS GOTTEN A HOLD OF A CANE TOAD OR TOWED IN GENERAL, YOU SAID LIKELY ASSUME THAT CANE TOAD AND DO WHAT YOU CAN TOO MINIMIZE THAT TALK THE CITY GETTING INTO A DOG SYSTEM.

AND HOW DOES A PET OWNER DO THAT?

SURE.

SO WE TEACH TO WHITE THE INSIDE OF THEIR MOUTH.

YOU'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY REMOVE.

IT'S LIKE A WHITE STICKY SUBSTANCES.

WHAT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE THEY WANT TO WIPE THAT FROM THEIR GUMS ALL AROUND.

AND THEN YOU WANT TO FLUSH THEM OUT.

BUT WHAT WE TEACH IS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE FLUSHING FORWARD SO OFTEN TIMES YOU WANT TO TELL TO THE DOG'S HEAD AND FLUSH THIS WAY.

AND WHEN WE'RE REALLY STRESSED OUT WHEN WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WE CAN SOMETIMES RINSING THE MOUTH AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY PUSHING THE TALKS AND FURTHER DOWN.

SO YOU DO WANT TO THINK ABOUT FLUSHING FORWARD AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WE TEACH IS WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, YOU ARE YOU ARE STARTING THE PROCESS OF GETTING YOUR PET TO THE VET.

THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE HERE.

THERE IS NO AT HOME REMEDY YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF YOUR ANIMAL HAS COME IN CONTACT OR POTENTIALLY INGESTED CANE TOAD, YOU WANT TO GET THAT PET TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY NOTICED.

>> FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

SO WEST FLORIDA, THEY ARE PLENTIFUL.

YES.

>> WE HAVE WE KNOW WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY CANE TOADS WE HAVE OUR I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY.

BUT THEY ARE EVERYWHERE DURING THE RAINY SEASON.

WE DO SEE MORE OF THEM.

BUT THIS IS FLORIDA.

SO ULTIMATELY THERE IS NEVER A REAL DOWN TIME FOR THEM.

THEY ARE NOCTURNAL.

SO WE DO A LOT OF TEACHING PUTT PET OWNERS ABOUT SAFETY AT NIGHT AND HOW YOU CAN PREVENT THOSE THOSE CREATURES FROM ENTERING OR DIE.

>> AND HOW IS THAT?

WHAT CAN WE DO ALSO?

THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.

SO CANE TOADS.

LOVE BUGS.

>> BUGS.

LOVE, LIGHT.

SO YOU DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T KEEP A LIGHT ON PERMANENTLY THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

SO OBVIOUSLY HAVING MORE OF A MOTION SENSOR TYPE LIGHT OR THEY ALSO MAKE BUG BOLD THAT YOU CAN USE AS WELL.

THAT MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT ABOVE THAT MIGHT BE SWIRLING IN YOUR YARD.

ANOTHER THING THAT YOU WANT TO REMEMBER IS CANE TOADS.

LOVE SNACKS.

AND SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT THE YARDS THAT POTENTIALLY ARE LEAVING OUT FOOD FOR THEIR PETS.

MAYBE THEY'RE CAUGHT.

SO YOU DO WANT TO REMOVE ANY FOOD BOWLS AT NIGHT BECAUSE AS THEY THAN YOU MIGHT SEE THEM IN YOUR FOOD AREA WHEN YOU'RE FEEDING YOUR DOG OR YOUR CAP.

>> SO CANE TOADS ARE LETHAL TO DOGS AND CATS AND A ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE MOST OF TIME.

YOU KNOW, LOOSELY IS NOT EXCLUSIVE THE CANINES.

WE JUST TEND TO SEE MORE INSTANCES OF CANINES AND ADJUSTING.

>> LIKING SQUEEZING A CANE TOAD AND NEEDING EMERGENCY SUPPORT CATS TEND TO SEE IT LOOK AWAY, WALK AWAY.

AND NOT JUST THAT.

NOT TO SAY THAT A CAT WOULDN'T IN JUST A CANE TOAD, BUT WE DON'T SEE IT IS NOT.

>> AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, WHICH IS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW.

>> EMERGENCY HELP IS REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY.

>> THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

THAT'S NOT WHERE YOUR DOG COULD LITERALLY PASSED AWAY IN FRONT OF YOU.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN TAKE HOURS TO EVOLVE.

AND TRUTHFULLY, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CANE TOAD HAS BEEN ADJUSTED, THAT YOUR PET HAS COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CANE TOAD.

YOU TAKE THOSE 2 AT HOME MOMENTS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO WIPE AS MUCH ABOUT TALKS AND THE MOUTH FLUSH AND CALL OR GET IN THE CAR AND HEAD TO YOUR VETERINARIAN.

IT'S IMPORTANT AS A PET OWNER TO ALWAYS KNOW THE CLOSEST EMERGENCY THAT AND OF COURSE, ENSURING THAT YOU DO HAVE A VET ON CALL.

ALL RIGHT MORRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TAKE YOUR CALLS.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM REGARDING CANE TOADS.

ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, CANE TOADS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED TO FLORIDA IN THE 1930'S TO CONTROL PESTS IN THE SUGAR CANE FIELDS THAT INITIAL POPULATION DID NOT SURVIVE.

BUT LATER IN THE 1950'S THEY WERE BROUGHT BACK THROUGH THE PET TRADE INDUSTRY.

AND SINCE THEY HAVE APPARENTLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE SPORTS AND FITNESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES MORE THAN 24 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY PICKLEBALL IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW THAT EQUATES TO MILLIONS OF BROKEN PICKLEBALL IS GOING TO WASTE WGCUS KATE KRONON SPOKE WITH THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR WORKING ON A WAY TO CHANGE THAT.

>> PICCOLO PLAYERS GO THROUGH 500 MILLION VOLS EACH YEAR.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OFF THE COURT?

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENT DYLAN ROSENTHAL HAS A SOLUTION TURN THEM INTO EVEN MORE PICKLEBALL US.

>> THIS IS THE WORLD'S FIRST RECYCLE.

TAKE A WALK.

>> A FEW COMPANIES RECYCLE PICKLEBALL CENTER.

KEY CHAINS ARE PLASTIC PRODUCTS.

BUT ROSENTHAL IS THE FIRST TO SUCCEED IN TRANSFORMING CRACKED BROKEN PICKLE INTO NEW ONES.

HE STARTED PLAYING WITH HIS FRIENDS AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.

>> WHEN I STARTED COMING OUT HERE EVERY DAY IN THE MORNING SPOT A YEAR AGO, AND THESE CRACK REGULARLY AND WHATEVER, WHETHER YOU'RE IN.

BUT WHEN IT'S COLD, YOU CAN CRACK A BALL AND ONE HIT FIRST HIT FRESH BALL OUT OF THE PACKET.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, EVERY TIME I LIFTED UP THE TRASH CAN THROW A BALL IN THERE.

I'D SEE.

25 30 OTHER IN THERE.

I WAS LIKE THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING HERE.

>> ROSENDAHL STARTED HIS COMPANY.

THAT'S BACK.

PICKLE AFTER WINNING FGCU USED INNOVATION CHALLENGE.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

BINS ARE PLACED AT PICKLEBALL COURTS TO RECOVER BREAKING.

THEN THEY ARE COLLECTED GROUND INTO FINE PARTICLES.

HENRY MOLDED INTO NEW RE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL US.

HE JUST COMPLETED HIS FIRST TEST RUN AND IS NOW WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN ORLANDO TO KEEP PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT.

>> WHAT WE'RE BUILDING IS THE BASE OF TURNING THE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT INTO THE WORLD'S FIRST SUSTAINABLE SPORT.

AND IF YOU KIND OF BREAK THAT DOWN, IT'S SUPER IMPACTFUL.

AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, SOCCER FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, NONE OF THESE SPORTS HAVE ANY SORT OF MAINSTREAM RECYCLING SOLUTION FOR THEIR WHEN THEY'RE AT THE END OF LIFE.

WORST PICKLEBALL, SOMETHING SIMPLEST BOSTIC.

WE REALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING THAT'S COME COMING OUT OF THIS COURT AND SAVE MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF PLASTIC THAT JUST GOES TO LANDFILLS EVERY YEAR.

>> THAT'S BACK.

PICKLE NOW HAS OVER 50 PENCE FROM HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ALL THE WAY TO LOS ANGELES WITH A PROMISING START, ROSENTHAL AIMS TO BRING RECYCLED PICK UP TO PLAYERS ACROSS AMERICA.

>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT THESE PLAYED JUST AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER.

TAKE A BALL THAT'S OUT THERE BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT MISSION.

TELL EVERYONE HOW MUCH WASTE IS GETTING CREATIVE IN THE SPORT AND SHOW THAT WE HAVE A REAL SOLUTION FOR IT.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> IN ESTERO WITH ANDREW >> IN ESTERO WITH ANDREW MELENDEZ, I'M KATE KRONON FOR WGCU NEWS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME.