THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, UNDERSTANDING THE SKILLS OF PREDICTING A HURRICANE.

WE TALKED TO THE LEAD STORM RESEARCHER FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE EFFORTS NEEDED TO TRACK THE SUMMER SQUALLS.

IT'S A FIGHT TO SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY AS ITS POPULATION FALLS TO DRESS TO CLOSE.

CONSERVATIONISTS ARE WORKING TO HELP REBUILD THE POLLINATOR POPULATION.

AND WE SEEING DOWN THE CATTLE TRAIL FOLLOWING AN OLD FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL TRADITION.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WHILE LAST YEAR'S HURRICANE SEASON MAY HAVE FELT LIKE A REPRIEVE FROM THE PAST TO REBUILD.

STILL GOES ON ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, 3 HURRICANES IN 2 YEARS.

WE'RE ALMOST TO THE FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY'S VESTER FIELD STATION WGCUS MIKE BRAUN SHOWS US THE STATION'S COME BACK AND ITS IMPORTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO STUDYING AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

>> INVESTOR IS BACK.

>> THAT SENTIMENT WAS EXPRESSED WITH PRIDE MONDAY, BUT DOCTOR GREG TOLLEY ENOUGH, IT USED TO USE THE WATER SCHOOL.

VESTER FIELD STATION IS CONNECTED TO THE WATER SCHOOL.

>> VESTER ALONG WITH FTC'S CATHOLIC CENTER AT THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN PLACE, CRUCIAL ROLE AS A GATEWAY FOR RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION.

OUR FACULTY STAFF AND STUDENTS WHOSE VESTER TO EXPLORE COASTAL WATERS HONOR ECOSYSTEMS, INVESTIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.

CALI WAS JOINED AT THE BEACH ROAD STATION BY FGCU PRESIDENT POSSIBLE TIMBER.

>> CALL YOU COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CEO EILEEN CONLEY.

HE STIR INVESTED DIRECTOR DOCTOR MICHAEL PARSONS AS THE OFFICIALLY REOPENED VESTER STATION.

I THINK THE BIGGEST HOPE WAS THAT WE HAVE THIS BACK UP AND RUNNING AND STUDENTS WOULD BE BACK HERE DOING THEIR RESEARCH.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, THEY TOOK THAT 150,000 AND HAVE STRETCHED BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS OF HOW MANY KEY SAYS THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLACE WHAT THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SO REALLY, STUART, A THAT GRANT TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THEIR BUCK AND THAT FROM A DONOR PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE STRUCTURES YOU SEE AROUND YOU SAID ON LAND THAT ONCE HOSTED A COMMERCIAL FISH OZ.

AND LATER AT OLD FLORIDA STYLE RESORT PARTICLES.

>> TODAY THEY SERVE AS A LAUNCHPAD FOR DISCOVERY AND OUTDOOR LABORATORY WHERE STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS TOGETHER STUDY THAT COASTAL SYSTEMS THAT DEFINED THIS REGION.

>> IT WAS THE SECOND REOPENING SINCE HURRICANE IAN DECIMATED THE SITE IN 2022, THE CELEBRATION REALLY OF COMING BACK ON LINE AND BEING ACTIVE AND US.

>> HAVING EVERYBODY SEE WHAT INVESTORS ABOUT AND WHAT OUR POTENTIAL IS AND WHAT OUR CAPABILITIES ARE MOVING FORWARD.

SO REALLY, IT'S NO BIG OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE'RE BACK AND THAT, YOU KNOW, BEST ARE IS VIBRANT AND READY, READY FOR ACTION.

>> HURRICANES MILTON AND HELENE IN 2024.

ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEST OR BUT THE RECOVERY IS NOW COMPLETE.

EACH METHOD WE USE KIND OF GIVES US A FIGURE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN DO IT INSTANTLY IS PRETTY COOL.

>> PARSONS HAS SOME REGRETS, ESPECIALLY WITH RESEARCH IN SAMPLES LAST BUT IS RESIGNED TO THOSE LOSSES.

GRAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE SAMPLES WE LOST ARE GONE.

>> AND SO WE'LL JUST HAVE A GROWING FAITH IN THAT WRECK OF.

BUT WE CAN WORK AROUND THAT.

WE DO HAVE SOME SAMPLES THAT WERE UP ON AND OTHER DATA STREAMS.

THE SAME MAN.

BUT THAT'S JUST JUST LIKE PEOPLE WHO LOST A PINS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOST THAT'S JUST GONE.

>> AND ONE THING THAT HAULING PARSONS, TIMBER AND OTHERS WERE ALL IN AGREEMENT ABOUT IT WITH THE STATION NOW BACK TO OPERATING STATUS.

RESEARCH CAN CONTINUE AND EDUCATION CAN'T REASON THAT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER IN FUNCTIONAL AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> OF COURSE, YOU LOOK AROUND AND ALL YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING THINGS OFF THE GROUND.

BUT IT'S NICE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SET THIS UP.

>> SO WHEN A HURRICANE'S COMING, THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE PIECES APART AND MOVE THINGS UP, GET IT OFF THE GROUND SO THAT WE'RE NOT RE FLOODING AND REPLACING.

AND THAT'S THE PIECE WITH RESILIENCE AND MITIGATION.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT THAT WHATEVER MONEY WE ARE PUTTING INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM AND NOT JUST BAND-AID IN IT IN THE FUTURE.

HENCE ANOTHER STORM.

AND WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT HERE AT BEST ARE AND HAVE REALLY HELP PREPARE THEMSELVES, SERVE THE NEXT STORM BECAUSE THERE WILL BE ONE JUST AS SOUTHWEST.

FLORIDA'S RESILIENT BEST ARE AS RESILIENT AS WELL.

>> AND SO VESTER WHERE WE WERE GONE, WE HAD 3 HURRICANES IN 2 YEARS.

WE'RE BACK AND WE'RE STILL STANDING AT WORK BETTER THAN EVER.

AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO COME.

HERE ARE MORE ABOUT OUR >> FORGET THE WGCU NEWS.

I'M MIKE BRAUN >> HURRICANE SEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS ON JUNE.

1ST.

BUT RESEARCHERS AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ARE ALREADY BUSY WORKING ON THE FORECAST FOR THE 2026 HURRICANE SEASON WGCUS SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS SPOKE WITH SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST PHIL KLOTZBACH TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE ACCURATE STORM PREDICTIONS.

>> WHAT'S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT IDEA THAT THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AIR PRESSURE AND THE WIND SPEED WHEN THEY SEE A HURRICANE FORECAST.

>> NORMALLY BEEN ON THE WIND AND THE PRESSURE ARE VERY CLOSELY RELATED BECAUSE BASICALLY THE PRESSURE IS LOOKING AT SAY IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE, SO WEREN'T AND RAISED IN RIGHT CENTER.

YOU LOOK AT MITT, YOU MEASURE THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IN THE REASON WHY WE HAVE WINDS IN A HURRICANE IS BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENCE IN PRESSURE BETWEEN KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE OF THE STORM KIND OF AND JUST LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND IT VERSUS WHAT?

WHAT'S IN THE IN SWAT OF RAIN AT THE CENTER.

AND SO IF THAT PRESSURE IN THE CENTER OF A HURRICANE IS VERY LOW, HAS TO BE A STRONGER STORM.

SO IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY, YOU LOOK AT WHEN VERSUS PRESSURE AND HOW MUCH DAMAGE STORMS CAUSE.

THEY WERE VERY STRONGLY CORRELATE.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF STRONG WINDS AND HURRICANES AND CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE.

BUT THE PRESSURE ACTUALLY CORRELATES A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH THE OVERALL DAMAGE.

IN RECENT YEARS.

SEVERAL GULF STORMS, HAD STRENGTHENED VERY QUICKLY.

>> THE EITHER OUT AND GO FOR JUST FOR LANDFALL.

WHAT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS IN THE GULF MAKE THAT SUDDEN JUMP IN STRENGTH LIKELY?

>> OBVIOUSLY, WHAT?

THAT'S A BIG TOPIC RIGHT NOW AS RAPID INTENSIFICATION ARE THE STORMS UNDERGOING RAPID INTENSIFICATION, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN THEY USED TO?

IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT THRESHOLD YOU LOOK AT EXACTLY WHERE, BUT CERTAINLY RAPID INTENSIFICATION IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, COMEDY POSE A CHALLENGE YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF GETTING READY PREPAREDNESS.

BUT ONE GOOD THING IS THAT WE DOWN NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER FORECAST OF RAPID INTENSIFICATION HAVE IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY IN RECENT YEARS.

AND IN THE CASE OF HURRICANE MELISSA LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY FORECASTED TO BECOME A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE WHEN IT WAS ONLY A CATEGORY ONE.

AND THAT WAS DUE TO JUST A LOT OF REALLY GOOD SOLID MODEL GUIDANCE.

SO.

>> FLORIDA'S KIND OF HAD A STREAKY.

HURRICANE HISTORY.

>> WE SEEM TO SWING BETWEEN THESE LONG, QUIET STRETCHES AND THESE CLUSTERS OF DAMAGING HURRICANES.

AND IN YOUR VIEW.

THE HURRICANE RISK FOR THE GULF COAST.

DOES THAT TEND TO COME IN BUNCHES OR ARE THEY SPREAD OUT MORE EVENLY OVER TIME?

YOU ARE GETTING AT THESE NOISY THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, 2040 1005 FORD IS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> THEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO VEGAS AT THE END OF 2005, IT AND I BET FORWARD IS GOING TO 0 HURRICANE LANDFALLS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOT OUT TO GIVE YOU SOME REALLY GOT IT AT FLORIDA DID FOR 10 YEARS, NOT ONE HURRICANE AT THE STATE WHICH THE ODDS ARE EXTREMELY LOW.

IF YOU ARE BASED ON COMMON HISTORICAL ODDS OF GOING 10 YEARS IN A ROW AND THE HURRICANES.

BUT THEN SINCE THEN UNTIL 2025 FLORIDA WAS HIT QUITE A BIT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, EVEN IN 2020 EXTREMELY BUSY SEASON, 30 STORMS IN THE ATLANTIC AND NOT ONE HURRICANE IN FLORIDA.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S SO THAT THERE ARE THESE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET GET LUCKY OR GET A MONKEY.

BUT OVERALL, NO, FLORIDA DOES HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COASTLINE.

SO THERE IS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.

A PART OF THE YOU KNOW, IS IT ISN'T LARGE ENOUGH AREA COASTLINE THAT THE ODDS OF GETTING ANY YEAR.

>> HISTORICALLY ARE HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

LATE SEASON.

GULF STORMS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.

THE STORMS IN GULF IN THE GULF CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR FLORIDA.

IN SIMPLE TERMS.

WHAT MAKES LATE SEASON STORMS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

IF ANYTHING.

>> HISTORICALLY, ABOUT 15% YEAR STORMS FORM IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER, BUT OVER 50% IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE CARIBBEAN STORMS FORM THE CARIBBEAN LATE IN THE SEASON.

THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY WARM OCEAN WATER DOWN THERE.

AND SO NORMALLY KIND OF THE REST OF THE ATLANTIC, IT'S NOT SO CONDUCIVE FOR STORM FORMATION, BUT THE CARIBBEAN CAN BE EXTREMELY CONDUCIVE.

THOSE STORMS CAN JUST KIND OF CAN THE WEST AND MAKE LANDFALL IN CENTRAL AMERICA WITH SOME OF THAT, THERE'S KIND OF AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CAN PICK UP A STORM AND TAKE IT NORTH OR NORTHEAST.

THOSE WILL BE THE STORMS.

I'M SAYING CAUSE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS OF THE U.S.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LATE THAT THE NUMBER OF STORMS HURRICANE HELENE, OBVIOUSLY LIKE HURRICANE IAN LATE IN SEPTEMBER.

BUT ALSO YOU HAVE STORMS IN OVER AN OCTOBER LIKE HURRICANE MICHAEL IN 2018 THAT COME OUT OF THE CARE GOES CAT IN NORTH ARE A LITTLE BIT NORTHEAST CAUSING ALL SORTS OF SIGNIFICANT BASICALLY LATE SEASON STORMS CAN BECOME QUITE INTENSE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

AND THEN IF YOU JUST HAVE KIND OF AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE KIND OF COLD, THAT STORM UP, IT CAN CAUSE REALLY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS.

FOR FLORIDA.

OUR STAMP INTO THE NORTHERN GULF.

>> AS HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES, STAY UP TO DATE.

WITH ALL OF YOUR WEATHER RELATED NEWS BY HEADING TO WGC.

YOU DOT ORG.

COMING UP NEXT, THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY.

WHITE LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE EVEN AFTER THE SPECIES HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

ANOTHER RECENT COLD SNAP HAS LED TO A GROWING LIST OF TROUBLES FOR FLORIDA'S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

WHETHER IT'S UNEXPECTED SNOW FLURRIES OR HURRICANES, A LITTLE METEOROLOGICAL FORESIGHT COULD HELP KEEP AGRICULTURE STRONG WGC USE.

AND THE RODRIGUEZ HIGHLIGHTS A NEW SYSTEM THAT KEEPS GROWERS AHEAD OF THE CURVE DURING UNCHARACTERISTIC WEATHER.

>> IT'S CALLED THE FLORIDA AUTOMATED WEATHER NETWORK ORPHAN FOR SHORT, A COLLECTION OF 49 WEATHER STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

EVERY 15 MINUTES EACH STATION CAPTURES A SNAPSHOT OF REAL-TIME WEATHER DATA IN ITS LOCATION.

THIS INCLUDES TEMPERATURE SOIL, MOISTURE, WIND SPEEDS AND MORE MAKING THIS INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE IS PROJECT MANAGER RICK CLUSTERS MAIN PRIORITY.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS >> EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS AVAILABLE.

>> ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT'S ALL PUBLIC.

SO THERE'S NO.

>> SUBSCRIPTION.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS.

>> ON TOP OF CURRENT CONDITIONS, GROWERS CAN GATHER HISTORICAL DATA FROM THE WEBSITE AND FORECAST FOR THE COMING DAYS.

THIS GIVES FARMS TIME TO PREPARE AHEAD, WHETHER IT BE FOR DROUGHTS, HEAVY RAINS OR ESPECIALLY COLD WEATHER GROWER.

JOHN PAUL'S PRIMARY FARM IS BASED IN DESOTO COUNTY.

HE USES DATA FROM THE ARCADIA FUND SITE WHEN MAKING GROWING DECISIONS.

HE SAYS FLORIDA'S CLIMATE MAKES IT A HOT BED FOR WHAT'S CALLED CITRUS GREENING DISEASE, WHICH IS TRANSFERRED BY BUCKS.

>> WITH ALL THE HUMIDITY IN THE HOT WEATHER, OUR TREES FLUSH LOT AND SAYS OUR TREES FLUSH A LOT.

THE SILLY LOVE THAT LIKE A BUFFET AND CHINESE BUFFET OR SOMETHING, JUST GO CRAZY IN THE YEARS TO GO IN THERE.

AND ROLAND, AND THEY AFFECT THE TREE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND.

>> WELL, THERE IS NO CURE FOR THE GREENING ITSELF.

CITRUS GROWERS LIKE PAUL USED FUNDS FOR CASTING AND IRRIGATION SCHEDULING TOOLS TO AVOID LOSING HEALTHY TREES.

IF A COLD FRONT IS COMING THROUGH MINIMAL WATER USAGE STOPS FRUIT FROM FREEZING.

IF CONDITIONS LIKE TEMPERATURE AND SOIL, MOISTURE ARE NOT IDEAL FOR CITRUS GROWERS CAN SPRAY MAGNESIUM SILICATE A GROWTH AGENT MOGIE'S ECRI UF IFAS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

MULTI COUNTY CITRUS AGENT EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR DECISION INFORMING TOOLS LIKE FUN IN THE FACE OF CITRUS GREENING, WHICH IS REDUCED TO FLORIDA'S ORANGE PRODUCTION BY MORE THAN 90% IN THE PAST 2 YEARS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> HE DECLINED THAT IMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THIS.

IT IS A GOOD EVENING DISEASE.

AND WE HAD 24 TO 25.

HE IS A GO.

IN THIS STORY.

THIS AT THIS AND THE CITY IN FLORIDA.

SO MANY GO AS 100.

THE HEALTH OF BUSINESS.

THEY ARE SENDING THAT IN AND AND MOST LIKELY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BACK.

HE SAID TO US.

>> FUN IS IT MEANT TO BE A HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TOOL, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE STORM DATA INCLUDING WIND SPEEDS AND RAINFALL NUMBERS AFTER THE STORM.

LUSHER SAYS IT'S YET ANOTHER WAY THE NETWORK HELPS FARMERS RAIN OR SHINE.

THE CROP INSURANCE FOLKS.

>> ARE PRETTY ROUTINELY CONTACTING US FOR ARCHIVED DATA SO THEY CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR OUR WIND SPEEDS IN CERTAIN AREAS TO SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A FARMER IS APPLYING FOR SOME RELIEF, SOME RELIEF FROM THAT STORM.

THEY CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR DATA AND CONFIRM, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE?

WHAT THEY'RE REPORTING HAPPENED TO THEIR FARM.

>> AS FOR WHAT'S NEXT FOR FUN, MAINTAINING THE EXISTING WEATHER STATIONS IS THE GOAL.

BUT IF THE NEED ARISES, LUSHER AND HIS TEAM ARE PREPARED TO BUILD NEW SITES TO COVER GAPS IN COVERAGE FOR WGC.

YOU NEWS OF THE RAJ WEEKENDS.

>> A BATTLE IS BREWING TO HELP SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY.

>> OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THE NORTH AMERICAN MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION HAS DECLINED BY OVER 80% IN 2024, THE POLLINATORS WERE DESIGNATED AS THREATENED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

BUT NO FEDERAL PROTECTIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

WE ARE JOINED BY TARA CURRY, A SENIOR SCIENTIST WITH THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS CURRY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

>> WELL, CAN YOU TELL US HOW SPECIAL AND WONDERFUL THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS?

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?

>> SO MARKETS ARE SO LOVELY THERE.

THE GRACEFUL ORANGE AND BLACK BUTTERFLIES.

THEY'RE FAMILIAR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM CHILDHOOD FROM WATCHING THEM AT A MORE FOLKS THEY'RE FOUND IN 48 STATES.

SO THEY'RE A VERY COMMON.

THEY WERE VERY COMMON BUTTERFLY THAT ARE JUST SPECIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I LOVE THE MY FAVORITE THING IN SUMMER IS TO WALK AROUND MY YARD AND LOOK FOR MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE IN REALLY BIG TROUBLE.

THEY'VE DECLINED BY MORE THAN 80%.

AND THEY WERE PROPOSED FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROTECTION AND THE END OF 2024.

BUT THAT PROTECTION WASN'T FINALIZED.

SO THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, WHERE I'M A SENIOR SCIENTIST FILED A LAWSUIT LAST WEEK TO GET A BINDING DATE FOR FINALIZING THAT PROTECTION.

>> WHAT HAS LED TO THE DELAY IN GETTING THE SPECIES, THE FEDERAL PROTECTION THAT IT DESERVES.

>> REALLY BUREAUCRATIC FOOT DRAGGING.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY AS EVERYONE KNOWS.

AND SO.

TEND TO PRIORITIZE PROTECTING NATURE AND AND LOOKING OUT FOR ECOSYSTEMS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE FILED THE LAWSUIT SO THAT THERE WILL BE A BINDING DATE TO MAKE A DECISION ON FINALIZING THEIR PROTECTION.

>> AND WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH A LAWSUIT?

>> SO WHAT STARTS AGAIN?

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROTECTION, WHICH IT'S ALREADY BEEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED.

SO WE KNOW THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR ONCE THEY GAIN IT, THEY'LL GET A COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY PLAN FOR HOW TO RECOVER THE GET ONGOING FUNDING TO DO THINGS LIKE PLANT MILKWEED RESTORE HABITAT, DO MORE RESEARCH ON TO THE MIGRATIONS AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE CONNECTED HABITAT CORRIDOR SO THAT WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FROM CANADA ALL THE WAY TO MEXICO, THEY HAVE A SAFE ROUTE TO TRAVEL.

>> NOW IN YOUR LAWSUIT, YOU CLAIM THERE'S A 74% CHANCE THAT THE EASTERN MONARCH COULD GO EXTINCT AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO PLACES LIKE FLORIDA.

IF THAT HAPPENS?

>> SO THAT'S FOR KNOW, THE SPECIES STATUS ASSESSMENT THAT THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PREPARED IN RESPONSE TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT LISTING PETITION THAT WE FILED.

SO THEY FOUND THAT THERE'S UP TO A 74% CHANCE THAT WE COULD LOSE THE EASTERN POPULATION.

FLORIDA ACTUALLY IS SPECIAL AND THAT THERE ARE 2 GROUPS OF MONARCHS THERE.

THE EASTERN MIGRATORY POPULATION PASSES THROUGH FLORIDA ON THEIR WAY TO MEXICO AND THEN ON THEIR WAY NORTH AGAIN, SOUTH FLORIDA HAS A RESIDENT POPULATION OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

AND SO THOSE BUTTERFLIES JUST LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA YEAR AROUND IT AND DON'T MIGRATE AT ALL.

>> SO WE'RE LUCKY IN THAT RESPECT.

NOW, NOT YEAH, NOT A SINGLE PLANT OR ANIMAL WAS PROTECTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

AND THIS HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE 1981, HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU THAT SOMETHING CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE TO HELP MONARCH BUTTERFLIES THIS YEAR.

>> THIS YEAR, I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT DOWN THE AM OPTIMISTIC THAT MONARCHS WILL GET THE PROTECTION THAT THEY NEED.

AND MEANWHILE, PEOPLE CAN HELP MONARCHS IN SO MANY WAYS BY PLANTING NATIVE FLOWERS, PLANTING NATIVE MILKWEED.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA AND NOT TO PLAN TROPICAL MILK CRATE, WHICH IS INVASIVE AND WHICH ISN'T HEALTHY FOR THE MONARCHS BECAUSE IT HARBORS SPORES OF THIS PARASITE.

THAT INTERFERES WITH METAMORPHOSIS.

SOME SOUTH FLORIDA PEOPLE TO PULL OUT THERE.

TROPICAL MILKWEED ON IMPLANT NATIVE MILKWEED AND CUT THAT MOOKIE DOWN AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

IT WILL GROW BACK FROM THE ROOTS, BUT THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE PARASITE LOAD THAT UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF MONARCHS IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAVE THIS PARASITE CALLED EVEN IS PRETTY UNHEALTHY.

AND IS HERBERT ON THE TROPICAL MILKWEED?

>> WHAT ARE ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE FACING IN BUILDING THEIR POPULATIONS AND AND ALSO WHAT ABOUT PESTICIDES AND INSECTICIDES?

WHAT IMPACT IS THAT HAVING ON THEIR POPULATION?

>> IT'S REALLY SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT PESTICIDES, INSECTICIDES ONLY HARM THE BUGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL.

BUT ACTUALLY ALL IN AND IN AMERICA.

WE JUST USED TO MANY PESTICIDES IN GENERAL.

THERE'S LIKE OTHER SOLUTIONS.

THERE'S INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT.

THERE'S TONS OF RESOURCES ON THE WEB ABOUT HOW TO USE FEWER PESTICIDES ARE NO PESTICIDES IN YOUR YARD.

AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE TRY TO HELP MONARCHS BY PLANTING ORNAMENTAL MILKWEED OR OTHER PLANTS.

BUT IF THEY HAVE A LITTLE TAG ON THEM THAT SAYS THEY'VE BEEN PROTECTED FROM A FENCE.

THAT MEANS THEY'VE BEEN TREATED WITH NEONICOTINOIDS INSECTICIDES AND THOSE ARE HARMFUL TO THE POLLINATORS THAT PEOPLE ARE PLANTING THEM TO TRY TO HELP.

SO IT'S BETTER TO LOOK FOR ORGANIC AND NATIVE PLANS.

>> GOOD INFORMATION NOW, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE HAVE SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT GOING ON.

WHAT IMPACT DOES DEVELOPMENT HAVE ON MONARCHS WHO USE FLORIDA HAS A PATH TOWARDS MEXICO DURING THEIR MIGRATIONS.

>> THINK ABOUT HOW MANY ROADS A MONARCH BUTTERFLY HAS TO CROSS TO GET FROM CANADA TO MEXICO.

SO ROAD KILL IS ACTUALLY A SERIOUS CONSERVATION CONCERN FOR MONARCHS.

AND THE OTHER THING WITH DEVELOPMENT IS A LOT OF TIMES THE PLANT'S THAT PEOPLE PUT IN OUR NON NATIVE PLANTS AND THEY'RE TREATED WITH PESTICIDES THAT ARE HARMFUL TO MONARCH.

SO DOING POLLINATOR FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION WHEN AREAS ARE DEVELOPED.

>> SO WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE WATCHING OR LISTENING ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT THESE BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES?

RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL?

>> THEY THEY SAY THE MONARCHS ARE A GATEWAY BUG BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO HELP THEM AND HELPING THEM WILL HELP LOTS OF OTHER IMPERILED INSECTS AND POLLINATORS AND SO NOT USING PESTICIDES, PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS PLANTING A VARIETY OF FLOWERS.

THAT BLOOM FROM SPRING THROUGH FALL SO THAT WHEN THE MONARCHS ARE MIGRATING, THEY CAN GET THE NECTAR THAT THEY NEED EVEN PUTTING DOWN LIKE A A BOWL OF WATER WITH THE ROCKS IN IT AND CHANGING, MET EVERY DAY WILL GIVE POLLINATORS AND BUTTERFLIES AND BEES AT A PLACE TO DRINK WATER AND YOU CAN SET UP A MONARCH WAY STATION.

THERE'S LOTS OF INSTRUCTIONS ONLINE ABOUT HOW TO HELP POLLINATORS THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE FOUNDATION HAS A WHOLE PAGE ABOUT MONARCHS AND FLORIDA AND WHAT TO PLAN FOR THEM AND HOW TO HELP THEM.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ALL CAN DO SOME SMALL PART.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

MS CURRIE.

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

THANKS FOR CURRY MONARCHS.

>> FOR MORE ON THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO HELP ENDANGERED SPECIES, YOU CAN HEAD TO THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IS WEBSITE AT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK, A RETURN TO THE ROOTS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE FOLLOWED THE BEATEN PATH OF THE COWBOYS TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF THE CATTLE DRIVE TO THIS DAY.

AS BUSINESS GREW IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DURING THE 18 80'S, THE AREA BECAME KNOWN FOR ONE MAJOR INDUSTRY CATTLE.

FLORIDA COWBOYS MANAGE THE AREA MOVING LARGE HERDS OF BOVINES THROUGH THE SCRUB AND SWAP WITHOUT THE NEED FOR FENCES.

AS PART OF OUR LOOK BACK AT FLORIDA TO 50, WE SEE HOW MODERN RANCHERS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR ROOTS BY MAINTAINING THE TRADITION OF THE CATTLE DRIVE.

>> IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, MY COUSIN THAT STILL WORK OUT AT THE LAKE COUNTY.

HE OBVIOUSLY GOT TOUCHED BY IT.

AND EVERYBODY CONNECTED.

>> I'M REALIZING I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT TREND.

IT'S JUST YOU AND YOUR MORTGAGE.

>> AND HOLD TRUE TO OUR TRADITIONS THAT ARE MORE WILLING TO KIND OF SACRIFICE TO KEEP THINGS ALIVE.

>> IT'S ON ALSO ANOTHER SPECIAL.

>> IT WAS A LITTLE COLD A COUPLE DAYS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE RIP THROUGH IT AND IT REALLY MADE A GREAT BONDING SITUATION.

>> WELL, NEXT, SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE AND THE CATTLE DRIVE.

22.

SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE.

I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORY AND I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT.

THE DRIVE IS WHY WE DO IT.

I JUST HAD TO COME BACK.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY KEEP DOING THIS AND THEY MAKE ANOTHER ONE YEARS.

>> THIS IS JUST SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.

AND THEY DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK.

>> IT DEFINITELY YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GET STRONGER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU ARE WRECKING INTO YOU ARE.

>> ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.

THIS OVERALL PADDLING TOGETHER, BASICALLY.

>> IF SOMEONE NEEDS SOMETHING, THERE'S SOMEONE THERE TO HELP THEM.

WELL.

>> DOING NOTHING BUT RELAXING AND ENJOYING AND REFLECTING ON THE DAY.

PRETTY MUCH THE BEST PART.

>> THAT STORY IS PART OF OUR FLORIDA TO 50 SERIES LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.

IT IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

NEXT TIME ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS THE TOLL OF GOING FOR THE GOLD HAS THE WINTER OLYMPICS.

AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN.

ATHLETES PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG OR YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.