╨╧рб▒с>■  &(■   %                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴7 ё┐Т bjbjUU "7|7|Т      lb╞╞╞╞ ╥ b!╢ъъъъъъъъlnnn8ж■д■в$╫ ў ~╞ъъъъъ╞▓ъъ█▓▓▓ъvъъl▓ъl▓о▓``ъ▐ └&б┌Р├bd╞`R`` ё0!`u ▓u `▓* J┘The Danger List Freshwater Mussels When you think of endangred species, you probably think of rhinos, tigers, elphants, and other animals that live in countries on other continents. But many animals that live close to your home are also on the danger list. Birds, amphibians, butterflies, and mussels that live in our region are currently considered endangered. Animal population decline for many reasons. Their food sources decline because of development. Their habitats are destroyed. Or they are hunted for sport or for eocnomic gain. This is the case with many freshwater mussel species. Freshwater mussels are currently the most endangered group of animals in the United States. Of the 305 species of muscles found in our bodies of fresh water (rivers and lakes), 67 percent are considered to be either threatened or endangered. By comparison, only 14 percent of bird species in the United States are threatened or endangered. One of the reasons why muscles are in such critical danger is pohing. You might wonder why anyone would want to poach muscles from our freshwater lakes and streams. The answer is pearls. Freshwater muscles are used in the Asian cultured pearl industry, which brings in $3 billion a year. Freshwater muscle shells are cut into small pieces and polished into speres. The spheres are placed in salt water oysters. The oysters react to this intrusion by covering the piece of mussel shell with a coating that eventually becomes a pearl. This process produces a cultured pearl in as little as six months. It might take a decade for a natural pearl to develop. Freshwater muscle shells frm the Midwest United States are considered to be the best material for culturing high-quality pearls. To supply the Asian cultured pearl industry, poachers are stripping our streams and lakes of mussles. Mussels sell for as much as $9 a pound, and a single poacher can dredge enough mussels in a single night to make several thousand dollars. Like many other species, mussels are the ultimate victims of greed. The prce that we all pay for this greed is a loss of diversity. Keep your eyes open for illegal activities such as mussle poaching to help preserve our wildlife. $[bТ ¤∙¤6БCJCJ#$klRSзи╚╔8 9 л м Т ¤√√∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙Т ¤ P░╨/ ░р=!░"░#Ра$Ра%░ iD@ё D Normal1$5$7$8$9DH$_HmH sH tH <A@Є б< Default Paragraph Font,>@Є, Title$a$5БCJ$2J@2 Subtitle$a$5БCJТ       аzЩ   аzЩHТJ#$klRSзи╚╔89лмФШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААТ Т Т 6?ow цьRUЇ°ciФ╖║lЧщы80:ИФ::::::   Stan Thompson)C:\DEVELOP\CLP1\DATA\UNIT1\WORD\EX3-1.DOCLaura Dowling A:\EX3-1.dotФ @Epson Stylus COLOR IILPT1:EPST2Epson Stylus COLOR IIEpson Stylus COLOR IIPФjнАы pdhhъЄ Epson Stylus COLOR IILPT1:Epson Stylus COLOR IIPФjнАы pdhhъЄ Epson Stylus COLOR IILPT1:АRRBRRТ`@  Unknown            GРЗ: Times New Roman5РАSymbol3&Р З: Arial"AМ╨hczcz=Г$Де└xxА20dн$a2ГД   The Danger List Stan ThompsonLaura Dowling■  рЕЯЄ∙OhлС+'│┘0АРШ░╝╘рЁ  0 < H T`hpxфThe Danger Listhe Stan ThompsonttanEx3-1hoLaura Dowling2urMicrosoft Word 9.0@МЖG@@УЦ┌Р├@УЦ┌Р├=■  ╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙о0 hpИРШа и░╕└ ╚ ффDowling Familyна The Danger List Title ■   ■   ■    !"#$■   ¤   '■   ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Root Entry         └Fв┌Р├)А1Table             WordDocument        "SummaryInformation(    DocumentSummaryInformation8            CompObj    jObjectPool            в┌Р├в┌Р├            ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ■       └FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8Ї9▓q