March 2023 Newsletter

Hi Green Kids!

Welcome to the Green Kids Club Newsletter where you can keep up with the Green Kids Club happenings each month, learn some new things, and challenge yourself as a true Green Kid ambassador for the planet!

Photo to commemorate this month's Save the Panther Day - Cougars are panthers!

Environmental Hero

Leslie Weinstein

Our environmental hero this quarter is the inspiring Leslie Weinstein, the founder of Turtles Fly Too. This organization helps rescue sea turtles - and occasionally other aquatic animals as well - by flying them to locations where they can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Last month, we told you about how Leslie got interested in sea turtles and founded Turtles Fly Too. You can click here to read all about it, or click here to watch our video interview.

This month we want to tell you more about why turtles need so much help and how much work was done in just one spot last year to save sea turtles.

The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Massachusetts released their report called the "2022 Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle Season." The report says "The 2022 cold-stun season proved to be eventful, with over 888 turtles stranding on Cape Cod and the islands...These turtles have been foraging in the summer and early fall in Cape Cod Bay and farther north in the Gulf of Maine. As they migrate south, some turtles become trapped by the 'hook' of Cape Cod, where they become more and more lethargic in cooling waters, unable to swim out of the bay. Once the water temperatures drop to 50 degrees, three of the four sea turtle species that occur in Massachusetts waters (Green, Loggerhead, and Kemp’s Ridley) begin stranding on bayside beaches. The Massachusetts cold-stunned sea turtle event is the largest of its kind in the world, involving hundreds of endangered and threatened turtles annually."

Last year alone, Turtles Fly Too flew 385 turtles to warmer places to help in their rehabilitation! Way to go Leslie!

Books

We have re-illustrated one of our classic stories, Gorilla's Roar, with beautiful art done by Andreas Wessel-Therhorn.

The Green Kids and their pal Kondo, a junior ranger, visit their friend Zahara. When they arrive, they are shocked to see that she has a baby gorilla she has named Kunga.

Join the children as they venture through the jungle to return Kunga to his parents and home. Buy your copy here and use code SPRING23 for 20% off your purchase!

Our Books are now on Kindle and Amazon!

Grizzly 399 Hibernation Pandemonium and Elee and the Shining Star are two of many of our books now listed on Kindle Amazon.

Listen Here!

Hear authors, Sylvia Medina and Grace Peters, talk about our book Hope for Kareem. They did a book club with Project Chimps on February 16. Click here to see us on YouTube! Thank you so much Project Chimps for inviting us to share this time with you!

Stories We Have Been Following

Breaking News ~ Grizzly Bears!

It is already time! Just a few days ago on March 7, the first grizzly bear out of hibernation was spotted via radio telemetry in Yellowstone National Park. It is likely male, as they tend to emerge earlier than females, who will come out next month or in May with cubs in tow. We are eagerly watching for signs of Grizzly 399. We are anxious to see if she will have a new cub this year or not! Stay tuned as we keep you updated on her and other bear news!

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Magazine

California Mountain Lion Burial

We reported earlier this year on the death of P-22, the famous mountain lion living in Griffith Park in California. This week he was laid to rest in a private tribal burial ceremony in the Santa Monica Mountains. The lion's remains were initially taken to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, with the intent of being displayed for public viewing. Local tribal officials objected. They consider mountain lions to be sacred and asked for the right to bury him in Griffith Park.

Beth Pratt, California regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, said P-22 was buried in a "beautiful and moving ceremony that showed such reverence and respect for this remarkable animal...As we laid him to rest, a red-tailed hawk flew overhead and called loudly, perhaps there to help him on his journey."

Because of P-22 and other wild animals in the area, California officials are working towards solutions to help the other mountain lions in that area live peaceably among people, including plans to build the largest vegetated overpass in the world, spanning the 10 lanes of the Hollywood/Ventura 101 Freeway. It will be called the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing and it is scheduled to be completed in 2025. Stay tuned as we follow these and other efforts to help animals and people coexist peaceably!

March Animal & Environment Observances

Photo courtesy of PBS

Month: (Alpha Order)

Dolphin Awareness Month

2023 Weeks: (Alpha Order)

Festival of Owls Week - March 3-5, 2023 (First Full Weekend in March)
International Festival of Owls March 3-5, 2023
National Aardvark Week - Second Week of March
National Animal Poison Prevention Week - March 19-25, 2023 (Third Full Week of March)

2023 Days: (Date Order)

National Horse Protection Day - March 1
National Pig Day - March 1
World Wildlife Day - March 3
Key Deer Awareness Day - March 11
Learn About Butterflies Day - March 14
Save a Spider Day - March 14
Buzzard Day - March 15
National Panda Day - March 16
Save the Panther Day - March 18, 2023 (Third Saturday in March)
World Frog Day - March 20
World Sparrow Day - March 20
International Day of the Seal - March 22
Manatee Appreciation Day - March 29, 2023 (Last Wednesday in March)

Environmental Non-Profit or NGO Highlight

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

March is Dolphin Awareness Month. A group we have great admiration for is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose mission is to "protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife."

Sea Shepherd supports education and research about marine life and habitats, they have ships that actively confront illegal fishing activities, and they are particularly effective in working to save the endangered Vaquita Porpoise. Green Kids hopes to connect with them in the upcoming months and interview them about their important work, so stay tuned to learn more about Sea Shepherd and the Vaquitas. Watch this video for a sneak peek at their work.

March Book Giveaway

This month you can get our newly illustrated Gorilla's Roar! The first two people to email us and tell us why they want the book will receive one from us!